Roman historical novels offer fascinating material

Community

August 23, 2010

By Roman Leary Director of Edgecombe County Library The Daily Southerner Mon Aug 23, 2010, 12:31 PM EDT

TARBORO — Into the seat of government, surrounded by lackeys and hangers-on, strides the great man. His face, lined and careworn, looks older than his 56 years, but he is still tough, muscular, a force to be reckoned with. His eyes, as keen as a falcon's, coolly regard the room of assembled senators. Theoretically, they are his peers and he reigns over them only by their sufferance. In fact, he wields power of such unprecedented scope and magnitude that for generations to come his very name will be synonymous with absolute, unquestioned authority.

His eyes meet those of a religious official, a noisome, carping fellow who had earlier warned him of the approach of dangerous times.

"Where are your predictions now?" he asks the would-be soothsayer. "The day you were afraid of has come and I'm still alive."

"Yes," the prophet replies, "come, but not gone."

The words give the great man pause. For a moment, brief and fleeting, he considers turning about and leaving. Then the moment passes and Gaius Julius Caesar proceeds to his chair, not realizing that in less than fifteen minutes he will be dead, cut down in one of the most famous political assassinations in history.

The men who killed Caesar did so (for the most part) in the belief that they were preserving the Roman Republic. In fact, their actions proved only to assist in its collapse and helped to lay the foundations for the rise of empire under the auspices of Augustus.

The story is more than 2,000 years old, but it still has the power to command the imagination. The personalities involved are so colorful and dynamic, their goals and ambitions are so familiar, that any study of the period feels less like an academic exercise than time spent reading a fast-paced political thriller.

At ECML, the interested reader can find plenty of fascinating material covering this turbulent era. One of the best places to start is with Tom Holland's "Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic." Holland's account of the Republic's fall is popular history at its best; witty, fast-paced and accessible.

One of the most compelling characters in Holland's narrative is Augustus Caesar, who was propelled into power at the age of 19 by an unexpected legacy from his murdered grand-uncle. At first dismissed by his contemporaries as an inexperienced boy, he proved to be both ruthless and cunning and ultimately ruled the Roman Empire for 41 years. The story of his rise and reign is ably told by historian Anthony Everitt in his book "Augustus: The Life of Rome's First Emperor."

Everitt has also written a fantastic biography of one of Augustus' early nemeses: "Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician" is the story of the last great defender of the Republic, a man whose speeches and philosophical writings exercised a profound influence on the thinking of the men who founded the government we live under today. John Adams' first book and proudest possession was his collected Cicero.

Patrons who enjoy audiobooks should check out the historical novels "Imperium" and "Conspirata," both by British author Thomas Harris. Incredibly well-written (and often surprisingly funny) they offer a fictionalized, but factually accurate, story of Cicero's life. The narrator, Simon Jones, delivers a pitch-perfect performance that should stand as model for other audiobook readers on how to do it right. Be warned, however, Conspirata ends on a cliffhanger and the third part of the trilogy is yet to be released.

Anyone with even a passing interest in politics – modern, ancient, or in-between – would be enriched by spending time with this material. It has become a tiresome cliché to state that there are "lessons to be learned today" from these events. Yet, like most clichés, the phrase contains truth. While no modern democracy accurately reflects life in the Roman Republic, the image can still be made out; distorted but still recognizable, twisted and tinted like a funhouse mirror streaked with blood.

Roman Leary is director of Edgecombe County Memorial Library.

Text Only

Community

Local brothers shoot swans while on the fly
January 16, 2012 1 Photo
Fisherman Knight
James L. Knight has served Edgecombe County for nearly 15 years as Sheriff. Not only is he passionate about being a supportive influence to the youth and elderly of the community, he also finds relief by catching the breeze as he fishes in ponds and the deep blue sea.

January 16, 2012 1 Photo
Filling for election begins Monday
Filing in the May 8 Primary Election gets underway at noon Monday and the Edgecombe County Board of Elections (BOE) is gearing up for some interesting races. Filing for the election continues through Feb. 29 and may be done on the fourth floor of the County Administration Building in Tarboro.

February 8, 2012
Bridge work
A new bridge over the Tar River in Edgecomb County will be constructed on Springfield Road north of Rocky Mount. The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded the $1.6 million contract was awarded to United Contractors LLC of Great Falls, S.C. Work can begin as early as June 1 and must be completed by Dec. 31.

February 8, 2012
‘MEMORIES OF A SMALL TOWN COP’
One of Tarboro’s newest published author, Gerald Ward, left, gives a copy of his book, “Memories of a Small Town Cop” to his father, Horace Ward, Friday at Cotton Grill in Tarboro as an early birthday gift. The book reveals true stories of the father and son careers as law enforcement officers and pictures.

February 6, 2012 1 Photo
Rotary Club receives lesson on WWII
For his Rotary program responsibility, Mears Pitt invited Tarboro native Sallie Carlisle, to give a talk to the Rotary Club about Normandy, France and what it is like there today. In her presentation, Carlisle included several slides taken of the countryside and the villages during her summers spent there.

February 6, 2012
Captains Oysters Seafood Market
Oysters, oysters and more oysters!
Captains Oysters Seafood Market, located at 2106 St. Andrew St. in Tarboro, specializes in oysters and an array of seafood items that come direct from the coast of North Carolina.

February 2, 2012
Flat Screen TV Winner....
Stephanie Luchele (left) was the winner of Bryan Drugs 40th Anniversary TV Giveaway. Stephanie is presented the TV by pharmacy owner Dean Bryan (right).

February 2, 2012
Today in History Viet Nam Peace Accord
On January 27, 1973, the Viet Nam War ended. On that day, President Richard Nixon negotiated a peace settlement, ending America’s longest war. The ceasefire began at midnight on that day, with troop withdrawal beginning several months later, in March, 1973. The Viet Nam peace settlement called for the release of prisoners of war within 60 days, and for American forces to be withdrawn during that period.

January 27, 2012 1 Photo
DONATION FROM PROVIDENCE BANK
Sister Mary Ann Czaja of Tarboro Community outreach accepts a donation check in the amount of $250 from Providence Bank City Executive John Dew. Photo by: Chip Wigginton.

January 27, 2012 1 Photo
More Community Headlines

Community

Search Results

Roman historical novels offer fascinating material

Site Map