Imperium - Robert Harris

    2006; 305 pages.  New Author? : No. Full Title: “Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome”   Genre : Historical Fiction; Intrigue; Roman History.  Overall Rating : 7*/10.

    The year is 79 BC, and the Roman Republic faces a crisis.

    It's not an external danger, although there is a pesky uprising over in Spain, and down south, Spartacus is still barely hanging on in revolt with a few other slaves.  Oh, and some guy named Mithradates VI is giving the Roman army fits, but that’s way the heck over by the Black Sea, so who cares?  Essentially, Rome holds sway over the entire civilized Western world.

    Instead, the threat is internal, in the realm of politics.  The Republican form of government that has been the foundation of Rome for centuries is in turmoil.  The Aristocracy controls the Senate, and they've effectively neutered the Tribunes, who are supposed to be the voice of the common people.  “One man, one vote” no longer exists, thanks to voter suppression and blatant bribery.  Then there's the military commanders, whose power the rich and poor alike have always been leery of, who now muse about taking the reins of the government into their own hands.

    What can be done about any of this?  Does anyone really want to take on these power-hungry forces?  Maybe it’s time to find a “man of the people” to make some stirring speeches, prosecute those who covet power, and, with a little luck, not get himself assassinated by any of these those whose toes he steps on.  But where can such a sucker …erm… candidate be found?

    Hmm.  How about that young, naïve, never-been-in-the-army, stuttering Cicero?

What’s To Like...

    Imperium is the first book in Robert Harris's trilogy that features Cicero as the main protagonist during a most critical time for the Roman Empire.  The tale is told in the first-person POV, that of Tiro, a slave (for now) and Cicero's chief secretary.  Tiro is not a fictional character; he even has his own Wikipedia page, which you can read here.

    The book is divided into two roughly-equal parts.  Part One is called “Senator”, and covers Cicero’s first efforts to be a public servant of Rome by becoming an orator, a prosecuting attorney, and doing whatever is necessary to climb the political ladder.  Part Two is called “Praetorian” wherein he enters into the higher, and more risky, political levels.  There are 18 chapters (or “rolls” since Tiro is recording them on papyrus) for the 305 pages,.  The title refers to a position of absolute authority where a Roman citizen could sway over the entire empire.  Traditionally the Roman populace was loath to entrust any one person with such enormous power.

    As a history-buff, I was delighted to be immersed the ancient Roman setting.  I learned the three principles of Stoicism (they were big on philosophy back in those days), and was happy to see Cincinnatus, Archimedes, and Greek fire mentioned.  I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of ink devoted to Carthage, who came oh-so-close to toppling Rome a century and a half earlier, and I was humbled when Hamilcar Barca, the namesake used at this blog, got cited.  Tiro is a scribe, so his writing materials feature prominently in the story, including paper, shorthand (an invention of Tiro’s), Hieratica, wax tablets, notebooks, textbooks, papyrus, children’s drawings, and books.  All of these are historically accurate, according to a book I read earlier this year, and reviewed here.

    I liked Robert Harris’s portrayal of the mindset ofRome in the 1^st-century B.C.  There is a definite schism between the upper and lower classes, with the poor-but-numerically superior class getting constantly shafted, both in the courtrooms and at the polls.  You can feel the tension in the air.  I also liked the situational ethics that Cicero faces several times as a lawyer: how do you provide a legal defense for someone who is plainly and loathsomely guilty?

    The ending is sufficiently suspenseful while also setting up the next book, Conspirata.  Cicero attains his personal dream job, but it comes at the cost of making a lot of political enemies.  It is obvious that Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus will be major players in the next phase of Rome’s government, and it will be interesting to see how they, along with other historical notables, such as Marc Antony and Cato, will fit into Tiro's tale.  Not surprisingly, most of the historically significant story threads remain unresolved, but Imperium closes at a significant point in Cicero’s life, and I’d still call this a standalone novel.

Kewlest New Word…

Cynosure (n.) : a person or thing that is the center of attention or admiration.

Others : Peroration (n.); Hieratica (n.); Quiff (n.); philology (n.).

Excerpts...

    Lucius became the conduit between Cicero and his clients, meeting them in secret at different locations across the city.  He was in many respects very similar to Cicero.  He was almost the same age, clever and amusing, a gifted philosopher.  The two had grown up together in the East.  But there was one huge difference: Lucius entirely lacked worldly ambition.  He lived alone, in a small house full of books, and did nothing all day except read and think – a most dangerous occupation for a man, which in my experience leads invariably to dyspepsia and melancholy.  (pg. 68)

    “You realize this is of no consequence to me, but only to yourself?  It does not matter who is my advocate; nothing changes for me.  I shall be acquitted.  But for you now – instead of my friendship, you will have my enmity.”

    Cicero shrugged.  “I prefer not to have the enmity of any man, but when it is unavoidable, I shall endure it.”

    “You will never have endured an enmity such as mine, I promise you that.  Ask the Africans.”  He grinned.  “Ask Gratidianus.”

    “You removed his tongue, Catilina.  Conversation would be difficult.”  (pg. 244)

“I must advise you, Catilina, as your defense attorney, that it would be a grievous mistake to murder your prosecutor.”  (pg. 240)

    The quibbles are mostly a matter of personal taste.  The storyline is heavy on the intrigue and light on the action.  This is in no way the fault of Robert Harris.  History is history, and not a lot of the historical characters were getting killed just yet.  As a legal thriller, I think the book is just fine, so if you enjoy John Grisham novels, you’ll probably eat this up.

    There are a slew of characters to keep track of, and after a while all those Roman names started sounding the same.  It would’ve been nice to have a Dramatis Personae at the start of the book.  But I since I keep notes, this wasn’t that big of a deal for me.

    Finally, be aware that there is a fair amount of cussing throughout the book, and it’s in un-euphemistic English, not Latin.  This didn’t bother me (although I always wonder what the ancient cuss phrases really were), but linguistic prudes may be offended.  Besides, there’s something about an ancient Roman official saying “he can kiss my backside” that naturally appeals to me.

    7 Stars.  I enjoyed the historical aspects of Imperium immensely, but kept hoping someone would stab a senator or slit his own wrists.  But patience is a virtue; I have a feeling those things will show up the other two books in the series.