This is a book that talks about the zenith of the life of roman statesman - Cicero[1], as written by his trusted slave and assistant Tiro[2]. Through this writing Robert Harris has created an entertaining tale of the super metropolis of the old world. Colorful characters, a fast paced plot make it great reading material. Tiro pens down two major periods of Cicero’s life. The first section deals with Cicero’s life as a Roman senator, trying to rise up the senate and Roman law courts as an outsider(one who is not considered and aristocrat).
While the second section of the book deals with his accent to the role of Roman consul. If historical fictions could be racy, then this book would definitely be a benchmark. Couldn’t put it down . almost read it at one go. If you’re a’Rome’ fan then this is one book you shouldn’t miss. A lot of general readers I know have also loved it. What I liked most about the book was the character outline. Robert Harris has managed to bring them to life, portraying each character as individuals driven by thought, motivations, self interest and aspirations. He has also placed familiar people like Caesar and Pompey at the right places to ensure that your interest doesn’t wane.
How much of this is by design / commercial interest or actually necessary to the plot of the book is for you to decide. The only thing that was probably questionable about the book was the overly modern depiction of Rome. You wouldn’t believe that we are talking about an ancient city. It seems like this could be happening in present day Mumbai or New York. Once again, puritans might think this is a gimmick to sell more books . others might say that Rome was truly the blueprint for modern cities. Memorable quotes: "If you want sympath, get a dog" - Ancient adage referred to by Cicero The book is a quick read and worth it overall.