Following on from Imperium and Conspirata, Dictator finishes this trilogy of novels about ancient Rome, telling the story of statesman and philosopher Cicero, and the end of the Roman Republic. It is told from the perspective of Tiro, Cicero’s personal secretary and slave. Tiro is devoted to his master but also is able to see his faults. Historians can assess the accuracy of the account, and Harris explicitly says that he chose to prefer a good story over facts when necessary. Cicero was a brilliant orator and political analyst and he rose to power in Rome even though he was not from an Aristocratic family. He was living at a particularly turbulent time in Rome’s long history, when many people plotted to acquire power.

Readers already familiar with the history may still enjoy the excellent story-telling. Tiro is a charismatic and observant character, who never complains about being a slave, but still is very happy to be freed when it eventually happens. We learn about Cicero’s personal life and his political scheming, his relationships with his friends and his enemies, and follow their developments over the decades. Readers less familiar with this history will find it an excellent way of learning about what happened in an easy way. Of course, it can’t be a complete story, and it may lead the reader astray in some parts, but certainly the main parts are historically accurate.

One of the central lessons of the trilogy is just how violent these times were, with hundreds of thousands regularly dying in wars. This was a brutal age when the lives of slaves and soldiers counted for little, and leaders were ready to sacrifice them if it could lead to personal gain. Their morality was very focused on their honor and reputation, and they wanted to be glorified. There’s lots of drama here, and Harris’s book is eminently readable.

© 2018 Christian Perring

Christian Perring teaches in NYC.