ABOUT THE AUTHOR
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Harris_(novelist)
http://bna.galegroup.com/bna/short_bio/GALE%7C15087823/Harris,%20Robert%20(British%20writer)
SUMMARY
On the eve of Marcus Cicero's inauguration as consul of Rome, the grisly death of a boy sends ripples of fear through a city already wracked by civil unrest, crime, and debauchery of every kind. Felled by a hammer, his throat slit and his organs removed, the young slave appears to have been offered as a human sacrifice, forbidden as an abomination in the Roman Republic. For Cicero, the ill forebodings of this hideous murder only increase his frustrations and the dangers he already faces as Rome's leader: elected by the people but despised by the heads of the two rival camps, the patricians and populists. Caught in a political shell game that leaves him forever putting out fires only to have them ignite elsewhere, Cicero plays both for the future of the republic and his very life. There is a plot to assassinate Cicero, abetted by a rising young star of the Roman senate named Gaius Julius Caesar -- and it will take all the embattled consul's wit, strength, and force of will to stop it and keep Rome from becoming a dictatorship.
In this second novel of his Roman trilogy, following the bestselling Imperium, Robert Harris once again weaves a compelling and historically accurate tale of intrigue told in the wise and compassionate voice of Cicero's slave and private secretary, Tiro.
In the manner of I, Claudius, Harris vividly evokes ancient Rome and its politics for today's readers, documenting a world not unlike our own -- where the impulse toward dominance competes with the risk of overreach, where high-minded ideals can be a liability, and where someone is always waiting in the wings for a chance to set the world on fire.
REVIEWS—shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize, 2010
LIBRARY JOURNAL
A vibrant reading by British actor/multiple Audie Award winner Simon Jones brings instantly to life Harris's second title in his Cicero trilogy, following the international best seller Imperium (2006). At the height of his political power and popularity, Cicero must thwart both an assassination attempt and a serious plot to overthrow the Republic. The story is wryly and amusingly told from the slave-as-fly-on-the-wall perspective of Cicero's secretary, Tiro. A very thoughtful and engaging novel highly recommended for adult audiences. He was recommended for "readers who enjoy the complexities of Steven Saylor's historical Roman mysteries and the historical detail of Colleen McCullough's “Master of Rome' series,". Cliff Glaviano, Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH
BOOKLIST REWIEW
Harris provides the second installment in the intriguing life story of one of ancient Rome's most complex historical figures. Picking up where he left off at the conclusion of Imperium (2006), Tiro, Cicero's faithful manservant and confidential secretary, continues to narrate the experiences and the exploits of his master. Cicero, at the top of his political game in 63 BC, is elected consul of Rome. In an epic power struggle for influence and control, he matches wits with political and military heavyweights Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus. Just at this heady juncture in Cicero's public tenure, the body of an eviscerated child is pulled from the Tiber River. This gruesome discovery sets into motion a series of dramatic events that will have a profound impact upon Cicero's personal future and the fate of the entire Roman Empire. Once again, Harris reinvigorates history, breathing new life into a cast of timeworn historical characters and events. After devouring the middle course of this trilogy, historical fiction fans will still be hungry for more.--Flanagan, Margaret
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