Scan barcode
A review by bookadventurer
The Course Of Honour by Lindsey Davis
4.0
This book falls into a category with Katherine by Anya Seton. They’re both historical people important enough to be in the records we have, and important enough to have a low chance of a happily ever after with a lifetime partner, but who nevertheless manage to find and hold on to that one other person. Katherine is about John of Gaunt and his mistress, Katherine Swynford. Their (illegitimate) children, incidentally, become the Tudor dynasty. The Course of Honour is about Emperor Vespasian and his mistress, Antonia Caenis - an enslaved person, then a freed woman. I checked - the ancient historians have their relationship survive.
Normally, when I’m reading historical fiction, I don’t like reading about the legends, the queens and celebrities, because they often weren’t happy or long-lived. Is it a universal rule that you can have fame or happiness, but not both?
As with all of Davis’ books, this one brings Ancient Rome to life. You can practically smell the uncleared streets and taste the weird feast foods. I love reading Davis for that reason alone, although she does a great job at slow burn, fits-into-real-life romance, too.
Nerd that I am, I checked up on some of the emperors and happenings in my OCD (that’s a dictionary, not a condition), and the facts seemed pretty accurate. More to the point, it’s made me want to read more about Ancient Rome, so I’ve started SPQR by Mary Beard and will dip into and out of Suetonius and Tacitus. Books I never read when I was supposed to in college.
Normally, when I’m reading historical fiction, I don’t like reading about the legends, the queens and celebrities, because they often weren’t happy or long-lived. Is it a universal rule that you can have fame or happiness, but not both?
As with all of Davis’ books, this one brings Ancient Rome to life. You can practically smell the uncleared streets and taste the weird feast foods. I love reading Davis for that reason alone, although she does a great job at slow burn, fits-into-real-life romance, too.
Nerd that I am, I checked up on some of the emperors and happenings in my OCD (that’s a dictionary, not a condition), and the facts seemed pretty accurate. More to the point, it’s made me want to read more about Ancient Rome, so I’ve started SPQR by Mary Beard and will dip into and out of Suetonius and Tacitus. Books I never read when I was supposed to in college.