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nickbramhall 's review for:

3.0

An entertaining book chronicalling the rise of Cicero, the greatest lawyer and politician the Roman Republic ever saw. Detailing both his political and advocacy triumphs and tribulations it exposes the flawed Roman political system with its bribery and corruption, but also its shining example of democracy in a troubled world which was to be lost with the rise of the empire only a few decades after the book finishes.

Told through the eyes of Cicero's secretary and slave Tiro it is an interesting read, mixing historical events with artistic license. As with his previous novel, Pompei, which I enjoyed a lot, the world of Ancient Rome is brought compellingly to life and you do feel embroiled in the workings of the senate and its close relationship with the city of Rome that all is built upon.

For all that the book felt like it could have explored the machinations of the Republic in greater deal and at times would have benefited from a less biased viewpoint in order to address some of the principle flaws in Cicero's character whilst developing others who surrounded him. As with any Harris novel it is written in more of a thriller style, making it quite the page turner, but without the complexity the subject matter deserved (an argument which cannot be levelled at Pompei).