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A review by gilroi
Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Robert Harris
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I try very hard to rate things with the scope of the material in mind-- essentially, if you're reading Lord of the Rings and are disappointed by Aragorn's lack of tax policy, that's on you, not the author (and conversely, if you're reading A Song of Ice and Fire and disappointed by the wealth of violence, that's also on you). Usually this is pretty simple, but this book has an odd scope that left me occasionally at a loss.
This book is written from the perspective of Cicero's enslaved secretary, Tiro. One would expect, that the scope would include things like Tiro's life, his experiences being an enslaved person-- yet it's extremely clear Robert Harris has no interest in this perspective. He wants to write about Cicero, and thus Tiro, his narrator, is relegated to a kind of third person perspective granted omniscience by time. Tiro is more of a literary device than a character. Is this a strike against the book? Probably?
Robert Harris is a deft enough writer to make me occasionally forget this giant hole in his work - which is saying something, considering how perpetually hungry I am for the perspective of the non-elite (as Jerry Toner puts it) in the Roman world. His political writing is sharp and fierce, and the story never drags, even when Cicero is kicking his feet in boredom. Tiro is a deft narrator, because Tiro is really just Harris in a tunic, explaining the intricacies of Roman law, politics, and the painful insertion of human flesh and soul between.
I've said before that all stories dealing with Roman history, but this period especially, can dip easily into the well of tragedy, and Harris' writing takes great advantage of that. I find Cicero, as a historical personage, irritating at best, and yet I found him a grand character here. Harris makes sure that you don't have to actually like Cicero to like these books, you just have to be interested in his career, and I admit I wasn't before-- I started reading this book months ago and straight up gave up. I'm glad I came back to it, because with a fresher mind, the writing really sparkles.
If you want a book with political intrigue that is beautifully written, elegantly staged, and described with a sharp eye for detail, you'll love this novel. If you're looking for a keen eye into the life of the enslaved, well, you won't find it here.
This book is written from the perspective of Cicero's enslaved secretary, Tiro. One would expect, that the scope would include things like Tiro's life, his experiences being an enslaved person-- yet it's extremely clear Robert Harris has no interest in this perspective. He wants to write about Cicero, and thus Tiro, his narrator, is relegated to a kind of third person perspective granted omniscience by time. Tiro is more of a literary device than a character. Is this a strike against the book? Probably?
Robert Harris is a deft enough writer to make me occasionally forget this giant hole in his work - which is saying something, considering how perpetually hungry I am for the perspective of the non-elite (as Jerry Toner puts it) in the Roman world. His political writing is sharp and fierce, and the story never drags, even when Cicero is kicking his feet in boredom. Tiro is a deft narrator, because Tiro is really just Harris in a tunic, explaining the intricacies of Roman law, politics, and the painful insertion of human flesh and soul between.
I've said before that all stories dealing with Roman history, but this period especially, can dip easily into the well of tragedy, and Harris' writing takes great advantage of that. I find Cicero, as a historical personage, irritating at best, and yet I found him a grand character here. Harris makes sure that you don't have to actually like Cicero to like these books, you just have to be interested in his career, and I admit I wasn't before-- I started reading this book months ago and straight up gave up. I'm glad I came back to it, because with a fresher mind, the writing really sparkles.
If you want a book with political intrigue that is beautifully written, elegantly staged, and described with a sharp eye for detail, you'll love this novel. If you're looking for a keen eye into the life of the enslaved, well, you won't find it here.