A fierce defender of the Roman republic and the rule of law, Cicero struggles to promote his principles amid marital discord and increasingly volatile political circumstances. He’s flawed but entirely human as he makes several disastrous mistakes and is obliged to make compromises to serve a greater goal.
As before, his thoughts and exploits are rendered via the lucid narration of Tiro, his loyal secretary. Spanning 15 years, Tiro’s account covers significant ground, from the breakdown of the First Triumvirate through the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, Caesar’s dictatorship, and the blood-soaked chaos after his assassination. The cast is extensive, but the plotting is brisk, and Harris never loses sight of his themes' – or his protagonist’s – relevance for today.
Dictator will be published by Knopf on January 12th (hardcover, 416pp, $26.95). This review first appeared in the 12/15 issue of Booklist, which went online today. I hadn't read either of the first two books in the series, though always meant to get to them; fortunately, this third in the trilogy stood alone just fine. If you're an admirer of Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series, you'll want to put this on your list as well. The British publisher is Hutchinson, and the second book is called Lustrum in the UK.
I hadn't heard of this trilogy. Sounds good. The last time I read a novel about Cicero it was in my teens, and was by Taylor Caldwell. I did enjoy it at the time, though I suspect I wouldn't enjoy it as much now.
ReplyDeleteWould you believe I haven't read any of Caldwell's novels. I wasn't reading much historical fiction when I was a teenager. I hadn't realized she'd written about Cicero.
DeleteI read the first two books in this trilogy earlier in the year and loved both - and I'm not usually drawn to novels set in Ancient Rome. I'm looking forward to reading Dictator!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recommendations - I need to go back and read the first two books. I'm not especially drawn to novels focusing on politics, but this series may change my mind.
DeleteI've been looking forward to the conclusion of this trilogy for a long time!
ReplyDeleteI had heard there was some concern because Harris wrote another novel (An Officer and a Spy, which won the Walter Scott Prize) in between books 2 and 3 of the Cicero trilogy. People were wondering if he was intending to get back to it and wrap up Cicero's story. But the wait is almost over!
DeletePersonally, it feels very coolio that Harris can write other books while doing a trilogy. Good for him -- not every writer can do that.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. Switching gears like that mid-series must be very difficult.
DeleteI notice Cicero keeps popping up: I think he's having a rebirth. Wonder why now.
ReplyDeleteInteresting if that's the case - I haven't noticed it, but I probably haven't been paying attention. There was a major bio about him published almost 15 years ago, I remember.
DeleteThis sounds like a good "fiction book for nonfiction readers" - so hard to find good titles.
ReplyDeleteSarah OL
It would make a good crossover title. The research appears to be very thorough. My husband's been reading the last two in Jeff Shaara's recent four-book series about the Civil War, and those would also fit.
DeleteYes, I've been waiting on this one a very long time and happily it was worth the wait - a fitting conclusion.
ReplyDeleteI forgive Harris for leaving me hanging, because in that hiatus he produced what I think is his best novel to date -"An Officer and a Spy", the story of the Dreyfus Affair. Brilliant stuff, and as with much of his work, so many resonances for today.
I bought a copy of Officer and a Spy last month after checking out of the library earlier in the semester and not managing to get to it in time. Maybe I'll get a chance to read it over the holiday break. Good to know you thought it was even better than Dictator.
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