Roma
The Novel of Ancient Rome
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3.9 • 112 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
An Epic Saga of Rome: From the Founding of the Eternal City to the Death of the Republic
Spanning a thousand years and following the shifting fortunes of two families through the ages, Roma is the epic saga of Rome, the city and its people. Critically acclaimed novelist Steven Saylor weaves history, legend, and new archaeological discoveries into a spellbinding narrative, giving new life to the drama of the city's first thousand years.
From the founding of Rome by the ill-fated twins Romulus and Remus, through its astonishing ascent to become the capital of the most powerful empire in history, Roma recounts the tragedy of the hero-traitor Coriolanus, the capture of the city by the Gauls, the invasion of Hannibal, the bitter political struggles of the patricians and plebeians, and the ultimate death of Rome's republic with the triumph and assassination of Julius Caesar.
Witnessing this history, and sometimes playing key roles, are the descendants of two of Rome's first families, the Potitius and Pinarius clans. One is the confidant of Romulus, one is born a slave and tempts a Vestal virgin to break her vows, one becomes a mass murderer, and one becomes the heir of Julius Caesar. Linking the generations is a mysterious talisman as ancient as the city itself.
Epic in every sense of the word, Roma is a panoramic historical saga and NY Times bestselling author Steven Saylor's finest achievement to date. An immersive journey into the heart of ancient Rome, this novel is perfect for fans of historical fiction set in the ancient world.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Author of the critically acclaimed Roma Sub Rosa series of historical mysteries, Saylor (The Judgment of Caesar) breaks out on an epic scale in this sprawling novel tracing Rome's extraordinary development over five centuries, as seen through the eyes of succeeding generations of one of its founding families. Skipping over several generations at a time, Saylor puts the Potitii family descendants at the side of Romulus and Remus at the official founding of the city; of Scipio Africanus during the Punic Wars; of the legendary reformers Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus during the turbulent second-century B.C.; and of Julius and Augustus Caesar as the Republic ebbs into Empire. Solidly anchored in fact and vividly imagined, this long book moves at a sprightly clip and features some vibrant personages. One of the most memorable is Pinaria, a Vestal Virgin who loses her innocence to a enigmatic slave, and secondaries such as the deformed giant Cacus who terrorizes the early Roman settlement. Linked by blood and by a gold amulet (in the shape of a winged phallus) that is passed from generation to generation, the Potitii family gets to see some fascinating things.
Customer Reviews
Roma
A good read
Book crashes
I love the book but can't finish it because it crashes the App when I try to open it. My other books are fine.