Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Robert Harris
Synopsis:
When Tiro, the confidential secretary (and slave) of a Roman senator, opens the door to a terrified stranger on a cold November morning, he sets in motion a chain of events that will eventually propel his master into one of the most suspenseful courtroom dramas in history. The stranger is a Sicilian, a victim of the island's corrupt Roman governor, Verres. The senator is Marcus Cicero -- an ambitious young lawyer and spellbinding orator, who at the age of twenty-seven is determined to attain imperium -- supreme power in the state.
Of all the great figures of the Roman world, none was more fascinating or charismatic than Cicero. And Tiro -- the inventor of shorthand and author of numerous books, including a celebrated biography of his master (which was lost in the Dark Ages) -- was always by his side.
Compellingly written in Tiro's voice, Imperium is the re-creation of his vanished masterpiece, recounting in vivid detail the story of Cicero's quest for glory, competing with some of the most powerful and intimidating figures of his -- or any other -- age: Pompey, Caesar, Crassus, and the many other powerful Romans who changed history.
Robert Harris, the world's master of innovative historical fiction, lures us into a violent, treacherous world of Roman politics at once exotically different from and yet startlingly similar to our own -- a world of Senate intrigue and electoral corruption, special prosecutors and political adventurism -- to describe how one clever, compassionate, devious, vulnerable man fought to reach the top.
My Review:
“Power brings a man many luxuries, but a clean pair of hands is seldom among them.”
The first volume in a trilogy of books about Cicero, Imperium opens with Cicero studying rhetoric to develop himself and follows him through his election for the praetorship. Along the road, we find ourselves involved in political intrigues, corruption trials, family drama, and more, watching as Cicero uses his greatest gift his words and voice to make a name for himself.
A man who raises from a humble nobody to become Consul (the strongest level of leadership in government) and becomes recognized as the grandest orator in history. Using simply his voice and his extraordinary talent for presentation, he begins his career by advocating in court for a man who lost everything to a corrupt Roman governor. After winning the case in grand style, he astounds commoners and senators likewise with his unique powers of speech and his penchant for fighting for the underdog.
As the book develops, Cicero rises through the ranks of leadership, gaining allies and friends, and making mortal enemies. Along the road he gains the protection of the great general Pompey, he makes the enmity of the somewhat less great general Crassus, and he watches as a young Julius Caesar enters politics and begins his journey to becoming Rome’s first dictator.
The story is told by Tiro, Cicero’s slave and personal assistant and confidant. It is written as if Tiro were reading from his account of Cicero’s life. There was a Tiro who supposedly wrote a biography; sadly, that record has been lost to time. The whole book contains only one or two details of physical violence, yet it captures your interest the same as the best thrillers; this is a proof not only to the unparalleled ability of Cicero to produce a vast quantity of captivating and persuasive speeches but also to the author’s ability to turn politics and courtroom adventure into something that is highly readable.
It’s absolutely clear that Harris has done his research here. Every page of Imperium feels like you’re reading something produced by someone who has lived and breathed this world. The book’s conceit that it’s the memoirs of Cicero as described by his personal secretary Tiro works beautifully, providing Harris a unique voice that can both take part in the narrative and comment on it.
More than anything else, Harris’s novel brings this fascinating man to life in all of his greatness and flaws, letting you see how he became such an iconic and important figure at a moment in history that had no shortage of them, and how he both succeeded and isolated himself at the same time. It’s informative, richly detailed, and knowledgeable, and yet it flows like the best novels, keeping you hooked on every development.
Must read for anyone who loves political intrigue, Roman history, and the wisdom of the ancient world. You'll come away with a new admiration for Cicero, the self-made "new man" who rose from obscurity to the consulship without money, family lineage, or military fame.
My Rating:
✬✬✬✬✬
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