Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Robert Harris Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome
Book Review: The fall of Rome and Cicero
Summary: 4 Stars
Accurate, rapid novel told from the perspective of Cicero's secretary, a Greek slave named Tiro. Good, balanced view of Cicero who is, in my opinion, overrated by casual readers. Book Review: An excellent book (with only one disappointment!)
Summary: 5 Stars
Harris' novel of ancient Rome and the rise of Cicero is compelling, fascinating and engrossing. Clearly Harris' knowledge of ancient Rome - its culture, language, politics, people, religion and expansion - is deep and authoritative. He brings the eternal city to life. Cicero's career is detailed by his slave, secretary and friend Tiro. Tiro actually existed and the details known about him are seemlessly sealed into Harris' novel. The Roman, Asconius Pedianus, wrote that Tiro composed a biography of Cicero, but it is sadly lost. Harris' novel is a wonderful imagining of what that biography might have been like. If you are a fan of Roman history, or enjoyed Harris' book on Pompeii, you'll thoroughly enjoy Imperium.
There is one disappointment, however. Harris stops his novel shortly after Cicero exposes Cataline's conspiracy. Caesar's assassination...Cicero's powerful but deadly denunciations of Mark Antony...Cicero's murder with the symbolic loss of head and hands...we get nothing about those events. I sincerely hope Harris is preparing a sequel to fill us in on what he believes Tiro would have thought about these momentous events.
Book Review: Brilliant historical novel about Cicero
Summary: 5 Stars
How did Cicero, an country lawyer become a Roman Consul? Harris has written a superb easily understandable account. The story is told by Tiro, Cicero's talented slave and assistant (Tiro invented the shorthand). Tiro written account of Cicero's life never survived beyond the 6th century. Harris does an admirable job describing Cicero's and Tiro's lives with historical accuracy.
Harris' knowledge of Rome in the period 70 BC is so extensive that he effortlessly recreates the time period with authority and authenticity. Cicero's initial claim to fame was his prosecution of a powerful noble, Gaius Verres, for corruption and extortion. This prosecution required real political courage, and at the same time he had to compromise some of his principles to achieve victory. He used this victory to rise up the ladder of power. Usually in order to become a Consul one needs either money or connections or military victories. Cicero had none of these and this makes his feat truly remarkable.
Our founding fathers read Cicero and the history of the Roman empire and Greek civilization to formulate our laws. One feels right at home reading about special prosecutors, corrupt senators, ruthless businessman and cut throat lawyers. What happened in 70 BC was no different from what is happening in the modern era. I now understand Roman civilization now more than I ever had previously and I also can see how it was destroyed by power hungry men such as Caesar who showed contempt for Roman law.
Book Review: Overall well written but disappointing lead in
Summary: 4 Stars
Writing about ancient Rome must present stark chalenges because of the lack of readily accessible material on character. Harris does well to describe the day to day life of the average Roman and the political climate.
When finishing the book I felt somewhat disappointed and mislead by the summary on the book jacket. The summary suggested that the story would revolve around a political trial begun when the narrator answers the door to reveal a former nobleman from a Roman colony. However, that trial and several others are quickly dealt with without drama and so from a legal drama view, the book was disappointing, but from a political perspective, the book was very good.
Book Review: Excellent!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an excellent story of ancient Rome. The history is invalueable and I felt like I really knew the characters from the author's style of writing.
I highly recommend this book!