Robert Harris' Marcus Tullius Cicero trilogy is a fictional account of Cicero's life written by his famous aide and secretary, Tiro. Tiro was Cicero's indispensable assistant throughout his career, and while he did write a biography, it was lost when the Roman Empire fell. Harris seeks to recreate this work based on historical sources, closely adhering to the historical record. It's safe to say that if we had Tiro's actual work, it would be very similar to this fine, well-written, and engrossing series of novels.

In this third novel, we follow Cicero's life from just before Julius Caesar seizes power in Rome to first Caesar's, and then Cicero's death. Historians and Rome enthusiasts have always been fascinated by this period in history, during which the ancient Roman Republic finally succumbs to the one-man rule that Roman politics had vehemently opposed for centuries.

Different authors and historians have described Cicero's role during this time in various ways. Some have seen him as ineffective, self-centered, and vain, while others, as in this novel, view him as an idealist seeking to preserve the Roman Republic. Harris's portrayal of Cicero depicts him as hardworking and tough-minded, with a harsh judgment of stupidity, and dedicated to preserving the Republic. This novel seems to offer a more accurate perspective on Cicero than many other authors have presented.

Most importantly, this novel, like Harris' entire series, is highly readable and engrossing. It provides excellent entertainment and is a wonderful read.