The Ides of March: Valerio Massimo Manfredi

"March, 44 BC. Rome, in all her glory, has expanded her territories beyond the wildest dreams of her citizens, led by Caius Julius Caesar — Pontifex Maximus, dictator perpetuo, invincible military leader and only fifty-six years old. He is a man in command of his destiny, who wields enormous power throughout the vast empire. However his god-given mission – to end the blood-splattered fratricidal wars, reconcile implacably hostile factions and preserve Roman civilization and world order – is teetering dangerously close to collapse… His power is draining away. None of his supporters can stop the inexorably evolving plot against him and prophecy will explode into truth on the Ides of March and the world will change forever. This is political thriller laced through with all the intrigue and action surrounding one of the most crucial turning points in the history of western civilization."




Bought for me by mistake (I had been asking for the George Clooney film, The Ides of March) I was initially sceptical of the appeal of a book about the assassination of Caesar. I'm generally not a fan of the Romans (often portrayed in a fairly boring manner), and wasn't sure how much could be strung out of the events of Caesar's death that hadn't been done elsewhere.

It's fair to say that this was better than expected. It was a fast paced and surprisingly interesting read - in part because of the decision to split the focus between Caesar, the plotters and those trying to save the dictator from his fate.

Problems remain however. It's the fictional narrative that's the best - the ride of Caesar's most trusted lieutenant from Gaul to Rome, pursued by agents of the conspirators, and his attempts to get a message warning of Brutus's role in the plot. These parts elevate the weaker elements of the story - generally the factual sections which can often be twinned with rampant speculation and tend to steer the storyline off path to introduce historically significant, but narratively unimportant characters.

By only making passing mention of his rise to power or the fall-out of his death the book forgets the fact that dying is the least interesting thing Caesar ever did. In ending with the funeral of Caesar the story leaves at a point where history actually becomes more engaging again. The problem with Caesar's death is that it should really be the end or the beginning of the story - not the solitary event.

For all the skill present in writing the book, its subject matter eventually kills it dead.

Also Try:
Bernard Cornwell, Harlequin
Conn Iggulden, The Gates of Rome
Rosemary Sutcliff, The Eagle of the Ninth