Take a photo of a barcode or cover
laku 's review for:
Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome
by Robert Harris
"How will posterity judge us, eh, Tiro?" he said. "That is the only question for a statesman. But before it can judge us, it must first remember who we are."
I should have read this book last year while listening to the relevant years in the History of Rome podcast, just because there were a couple of people I could not place, and there's nothing that can't be improved by a commentary in Mike Duncan's voice. But even with that caveat, this was such a gripping read.
I remembered enough history to know who would end up on which side, which made their first interactions or opinions even more interesting to follow; seeing how young Cato is presented was particularly fun considering the almost deific status he will assume later on, even more so as I recently read Seneca's Letters on Ethics where he gets mentioned twice on every page as this paragon of bravery and virtue.
Harris never attempts to simplify the complexity of the republican political system, but still managed to immerse me in what living, and being ambitious, in those times meant. I was so invested in bringing down Verres in the first part, and genuinely terrified for Cicero when he went against Catilina in the second. I loved Cicero and his cunning mind, and his relationship with his family and friends, especially Terentia, but I would've liked more from his friendship with Tiro. I hope we'll see more in the next book.
I should have read this book last year while listening to the relevant years in the History of Rome podcast, just because there were a couple of people I could not place, and there's nothing that can't be improved by a commentary in Mike Duncan's voice. But even with that caveat, this was such a gripping read.
I remembered enough history to know who would end up on which side, which made their first interactions or opinions even more interesting to follow; seeing how young Cato is presented was particularly fun considering the almost deific status he will assume later on, even more so as I recently read Seneca's Letters on Ethics where he gets mentioned twice on every page as this paragon of bravery and virtue.
Harris never attempts to simplify the complexity of the republican political system, but still managed to immerse me in what living, and being ambitious, in those times meant. I was so invested in bringing down Verres in the first part, and genuinely terrified for Cicero when he went against Catilina in the second. I loved Cicero and his cunning mind, and his relationship with his family and friends, especially Terentia, but I would've liked more from his friendship with Tiro. I hope we'll see more in the next book.