Imperium - by Robert Harris (Paperback)

About the Book

From the bestselling author of "Fatherland" and "Pompeii" comes the compelling first novel in a trilogy about the great orator Cicero and his struggle for power in ancient Rome.

Book Synopsis

From the bestselling author of Fatherland and Pompeii, comes the first novel of a trilogy about the struggle for power in ancient Rome.

In his "most accomplished work to date" (Los Angeles Times), master of historical fiction Robert Harris lures readers back in time to the compelling life of Roman Senator Marcus Cicero. The re-creation of a vanished biography written by his household slave and righthand man, Tiro, Imperium follows Cicero's extraordinary struggle to attain supreme power in Rome.

On a cold November morning, Tiro opens the door to find a terrified, bedraggled stranger begging for help. Once a Sicilian aristocrat, the man was robbed by the corrupt Roman governor, Verres, who is now trying to convict him under false pretenses and sentence him to a violent death. The man claims that only the great senator Marcus Cicero, one of Rome's most ambitious lawyers and spellbinding orators, can bring him justice in a crooked society manipulated by the villainous governor. But for Cicero, it is a chance to prove himself worthy of absolute power. What follows is one of the most gripping courtroom dramas in history, and the beginning of a quest for political glory by a man who fought his way to the top using only his voice--defeating the most daunting figures in Roman history.

Review Quotes

"A joy to read in every way." - The Independent

"A minutely observed political novel...set during the most poignant era in ancient Roman history." -- Newsday (New York)

"An entertainingly vivid picture of one of history's most fascinating elected officials." - USA Today

"Excellent.... Full of back-biting and double-dealing, compromise and intrigue." -- Time Out

"Harris's zest for political machinations serves the material well." -- The Washington Post

"In Harris's hands the great game [of politics] becomes a beautiful one." -- The Times (London)

"Meticulous, absorbing and informative." - The New York Times Book Review