Conspirata: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Robert Harris

Conspirata: A Novel of Ancient Rome
By Robert Harris
Rating: 8 of 10

If you liked (or like me loved) Robert Harris’ historical novel on Cicero, Imperium, then you have to read this follow-up book, Conspirata.  Imperium tells the story of Cicero’s rise to power from the perspective of his secretary.  Conspirata tells the story of his downfall.

I loved Imperium (Latin for “power”) in large part because you learned a lot about the ancient art of rhetoric, or the art of speech and communication to persuade, and you heard Cicero using rhetoric to build power and authority.  The big question of Imperium was, how far will Cicero go to claim power and authority?  That question is not fully answered in the first book, but by the end of Conspirata you have the answer.

Harris weaves the characters of Cicero, Claudius, Caesar, and Pompey together in a gripping plot.  Like all good historical fiction, Conspirata drove me to history.  I realized how little I actually know about these key historical figures of Rome.  I want to know more. So I’ve checked out a couple of other books on the history of Rome.

I don’t want to spoil the plot, so I won’t say much more about the book, except that I would have given the book a 9 of 10, but I found the last page or two to be something of a letdown.  Perhaps Harris was simply following history in how he told the story.  I don’t know, but I am curious whether Cicero’s fate as told by Harris is historically accurate.  I hope to find out soon.

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