The second in a three part series centered on Cicero. This is Cicero at his peak of popularity and career. A Senator acting as a consul along with Hybrida, who is his co-consul but Cicero is definitely in charge.

Again told by Tiro, his slave and secretary, the story is often confusing due to so many Roman names sounding alike, but still so interesting. The plot to invade Rome by Catilina takes a large portion of the book. Cicero acting as one of the leaders to unveil the plot which lead to several being killed without the benefit of a trial (which later is his downfall).

Julius Caesar begins to take on much of the story as he gains strength and popularity by appealing to "the people" causing much worry among the Patricians. Cicero early on understands the threat that Caesar may become but is never able to gain the support to stop him. Pompey, the great general, is back in Rome after many victories. He and Caesar join along with Pompey's bitter enemy, Crassus begin to form the First Triumvirate which is the beginning of the end for the Roman republic.

The politics of the day seem much like what is going on in our country today. Very interesting. ( )

Part two of a novelization of the life of Cicero, covering his counselship, the Cataline conspiracy and the rise of Caesar. As good as part one if not better. There are so many lessons in here for us today that it's impossible to list them in a review. Read these books. History is a mirror, and we should oft inspect our reflections. ( )

The second volume of a trilogy, but the first that I have read, this book gripped me from page 1. Narrated by Tiro, Cicero's slave and secretary, this book embroils us in the life, and specifically the politics of ancient Rome at the time of Cicero, Caesar, Pompey and all those other characters about whom we perhaps know only a few dry facts from our history books. Roman political life at the time is depicted as brutal, corrupt, and with a set of rules that can change from day to day, dependsnt on whose political star is in the ascendent. The politicians at the time seem to have been guided by naked ambition, face-saving, a desire to gain popularity either with their peers or the people: there are no lasting victories.

Life and times in Rome are vividly described, and Tiro is a sympathetic, lively and painstaking story teller. His portrayal of the main characters in the novel is rounded, perhaps slightly less so in the case of the women, but he shows each of them off with all their human strengths and frailties.

I'm not a political animal, but I made time for this book until I got to the last page. The pace of the narration, and the unremitting nastiness of the events depicted means I'm in no mood to go to either one of the other books in the trilogy just for now. But this is a fascinating account of extraordinary times, so I will eventually do so, I'm certain of that. ( )

Një orator, një sociopat, një oligark, një pasunar i pacipë që merr përsipër të flasë për drejtësi shoqërore, ndihmë për të varfrit dhe bukë falas në një qytet që po transformohet brenda natës nga pasuritë e pabesueshme të akumuluara në grabitjen e vendeve të tjera.

Shkrimtari britanik Robert Harris na sjell një thriller makiavelian nga Roma e lashtë, parë nga sytë e një skllavi. Banda kriminale të punësuar nga pasunarë të rënë nga vakti që përzjehen me delikatesën e argumentimeve ligjore dhe besëtytënitë fetare, shoqëruar me aventura. Pasuria sjell babëzi, babëzia sjell epsh, epshi sjell gjithëfarëlloj krimesh.Romani i Harrisit lexohet njëkohësisht si një histori plot humor dhe një udhërrëfyes se si funksionon politika, ajo e Romës së lashtë, por më së shumti, kjo e kohës sonë.

Ndërsa trilogjia mbi jetën e Ciceronit, Imperium, Lustrim dhe Diktatori përkthehej në shqip, një prej lexuesve vriste mendjen nëse përkthimi i këtyre librave do të ishte një gjë e mirë apo një gjë e keqe për vendin. E keqe, në kuptimin që çdo politikan mund të mësojë hiletë e politikës më të pacipë dhe çdo idealist mund të zhgënjehet me fatin që patën të gjithë idealistët e asaj përplasjeje të pamëshirshme që ndodhi dy mijë vjet më parë mes politikës së fjalës dhe politikës së dhunës.

Brilliantly imagined, fantastically realised. ( )