About this deal
His success is confirmed when the court hears of the case of a Roman citizen, named Herennius, beheaded by Verres because he knew of the Governor taking bribes from the pirates. To fund his case and also his aedile election campaign, Cicero is obliged once more to borrow money from Terentia. We know that he had some association with Caesar, and we vaguely remember “When, O Catiline, do you mean to cease abusing our patience?
With regards his Cicero trilogy, I’d recommend reading the first book, Imperium, and skipping the rest. The opening novel, Imperium, is probably the best of the three, with the second and third novels coming axcross as a little flatter, recitations of what happened next. The worldbuilding is fair - I would say that McCullough does do a better job of evoking how different the culture of the Republic was, whereas Harris' Rome feels distinctly modern and rather British.The book was serialised as the Book at Bedtime on BBC Radio 4 from 4 to 15 September 2006, read by Douglas Hodge. Other kindle readers may also find too late that there is a glossary and cast of characters at the end. Rome is in a panic with the burning of Ostia by the pirates and when the Latin Festival finishes, Gabinius mounts the rostra to demand a supreme commander. Robert Harris is the author of fifteen bestselling novels: the Cicero Trilogy - Imperium, Lustrum and Dictator - Fatherland, Enigma, Archangel, Pompeii, The Ghost, The Fear Index, An Officer and a Spy, which won four prizes including the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, Conclave, Munich, The Second Sleep, V2 and Act of Oblivion.
There is so much historical fact to mention that the author just does not have or take the time to do anything with his characters. At a meeting at Pompey's house, Cicero reads out the extract from the Annals and it is decided to use the same precedent – although a dangerous one for the health of the republic – to get Pompey the supreme command. Cicero is summoned to the house of Metellus Pius, pontifex maximus, and requested to prosecute Catilina over his extortion as governor in Africa.It is here that Cicero begins to develop the powerful physique and voice that will make him such a popular and effective orator. Cicero's plan is to have Gabinius summon Pompey to the rostra the next day, asking him to serve as supreme commander, and to have Pompey reject it and then the people would demand he take it.