The long-awaited final volume of the Cicero Trilogy, from a beloved bestselling author “incapable of writing an unenjoyable book” (The Wall Street Journal). At the age of forty-eight, Cicero—the greatest orator of his time—is in exile, his power sacrificed on the altar of his principles. The only way to return to Rome is to pledge his support to a charismatic and dangerous enemy: Julius Caesar. … dangerous enemy: Julius Caesar. Harnessing his political cunning, unrivalled intellect, and the sheer brilliance of his words, Cicero fights his way back to prominence. Yet no public figure is completely safeguarded against the unscrupulous ambition of others.
Riveting and tumultuous, Dictator encompasses the most epic events in ancient history, including the collapse of the Roman Republic, the murder of Pompey, and the assassination of Caesar. But its central question is a timeless one: how to keep political freedom unsullied by personal gain, vested interests, and the corrosive effects of ceaseless foreign wars. In Robert Harris’s indelible portrait, Cicero is a deeply fascinating hero for his own time and for ours.
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I absolutely love Harris’s trilogy on Cicero. This is the third book, and I hated fo rit to end.
Harris is one of those authors who grabs you and won’t let go. I feel that I know Cicero and Tiro (his secretary and biographer) like they are old friends whose story I need to catch up on. Although I pretty much know the history, it still feels like I am experiencing the story for the first time; the writing is fresh and the tension builds steadily all the way to the end. Caught between doing the right thing and managing his own cowardice, between feeling responsible for Rome’s survival but unwilling to get his hands dirty—figuratively—Cicero vacillates between ignoble warring parties. He is alternatively indebted to Pompey, then to Crassus, then to Caesar. Alas, though he tries to satisfy all of them, his efforts are often clumsy and much too transparent. Worse than that, Cicero is totally incapable of following their slippery maneuvers:
Vibullius tugged off his gloves, unbuckled the side of his breastplate, reached under the metal and pulled out a document which he carefully unwrapped. “The reason I’ve come from Luca is because that’s where Pompey, Caesar and Crassus have been meeting.”
Cicero frowned. “No, that’s impossible. Pompey is going to Sardinia—he told me so himself.”
“A man can do both, can he not?” replied Vibullius affably. “He can go to Luca and then go to Sardinia. I can tell you in fact how it came about. After your little speech in the Senate, Crassus traveled up to see Caesar in Ravenna to tell him what you’d said. Then they both crossed Italy to intercept Pompey before he took ship at Pisa. The three of them spent several days together, discussing many matters—among them what’s to be done about you.”
I felt suddenly queasy. Cicero was more robust: “There’s no need to be impertinent.”
“And the gist of it is this: ‘Shut up, Marcus Tullius.’”
Partly because of his arrogance, partly because of artifice, Cicero can’t help but make enemies. Inevitably, his most violent opponent, the wicked Clodius Pulcher, orchestrated his exile—and nearly caused his death. After cowering in fear for many months, only by humiliating himself and begging Caesar for help does Cicero eventually worm his way back to Rome. Although Caesar acts like his generous patron and even his friend, Cicero is not fooled; nor can he keep his nose out of politics—even applauding Caesar’s murder. We witness the ruin of the Roman Republic and the shameful events that follow. No one is a hero. No one is blameless, Cicero most of all. But even so, you can’t help but lament his pitiful end. Highly recommended.
Best writer of historical fiction alive today.
Every new Harris book creates expectations for me. He usually concentrates on a figure or two and then, with their help plus his unique talent, defining a period and a subject.
He is usually careful not to repeat characters in different books. Thus, although the Roman Empire was written by him about three books already, there was tension and diversity.
The beauty of Harris’s previous writing was expressed in the revival of the heroes, their integration in the time and position so that as I read, I walked with them, accompanied the rise and fall of Cicero. The present book brings back Cicero and his peacemaking efforts with the emperor. Unlike the previous books, this one is missing it’s “soul and special atmosphere.”
There is too much “action” and too little soul.
Perhaps that was the intention of the writer, to display Cicero “as the persecuted”, unable to maneuver in the imperial intrigue.
Nevertheless, despite what I wrote, it is worth reading this book as part of Harris’s Total perception of Rome.