Conspirata – a Novel of Ancient Rome, by Robert Harris

This is the second novel (in Great Britain it was published as Lustrum) in the trilogy by Robert Harris about Marcus Tullius Cicero; consul, lawyer, orator and master of rhetorics. This novel is the sequel to the best-selling novel Imperium. In many ways it is a legal and political thriller, every bit as exciting and spell-binding as for instance the current-day thrillers of John Grisham, with excellent description of the power games played by Cicero and his contemporaries: Catalina, Clodius, Julius Caesar, Gnaeus Pompey, and Marcus Antonius.

While the previous novel traced the rise of Cicero from smart lawyer and good orator to consul of Rome, this book tells the tale of his consulship and the time immediately following it. It is a very strong tale of shifting alliances, greed, sexual liaisons, personal ambition, love, hate, and total betrayal among the elites of Rome.

Harris’ book is superb. His scholarship is impeccable, his story-telling is mesmerizing, and his writing is a pure treat. And the story he tells in this volume moves quickly and is very fast-paced. Cicero becomes a consul. But even before his consulship begins, he is faced, in Conspitrata, with strong indications, in the form of a child sacrificed in a bestial fashion, that there exists a conspiracy against himself and Rome. A seemingly large group of powerful citizens, many of them from the highest ranking families, have come up with a plan to murder him and destabilize Rome.

It is well known that Cicero managed to successfully outwit the conspirators, and that the uprising by Catalina was thwarted as well. And that, due to this, Cicero was viewed as a savior of the republic and became a very highly regarded figure. We follow him closely through these trials, and also the following period when he enjoys the fruits of his labors. However, the good times did not last long. Cicero had an uncanny ability to make the most powerful men in Rome his enemies.

When Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus formed an alliance and seized power, the tide turned dramatically against Cicero. And when Caesar also let loose the beastly Clodius, who hated Cicero more than any, on him, bad turned quickly to much, much worse for Cicero.

Conspirata is an intriguing tale of conspiracy, power and political maneuvering in Rome. The book is very convincing. Robert Harris tells an impressively strong tale of the forces that influences the history of Roma and that led to the downfall of the republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. An excellent historical novel of Roma, and one which I do not hesitate to recommend.

Links to books by Robert Harris at Amazon US, Amazon UK, and Amazon CAN.

Tagged as: Ancient Rome, book review, Cicero and Caesar, Robert Harris