Imperium is the first of a planned trilogy about the life and times of the great Roman orator and politician Cicero. Imperium (“the power of life and death as vested by the state in an individual”) takes place from 79 B.C. to 64 B.C. The story is narrated long after Cicero’s death by Tiro, Cicero’s slave, personal secretary, and confidant for 36 years. Tiro developed a method of shorthand to record his master’s continuous flow of words and thoughts. Tiro begins the story as he approaches 100 years of age and no longer fears repercussion for recording a tale of political intrigue. He promptly tells the reader that his former master may not always “emerge as a paragon of virtue – power brings a man many luxuries, but a clean pair of hands is seldom among them.”
This richly textured, fictionalized account of the first part of Cicero’s career introduces him as he struggled to achieve notoriety for himself and to wage the more noble cause to preserve the Roman Republic. He challenged the great Roman warriors Pompey and Crassus (best known for his violent suppression of the slave revolts led by Spartacus). Cicero’s brilliant prosecution of a wealthy, powerful, evil Sicilian earned him hero status with the common man. Yet he was intimidated by his wealthy, volatile wife Terentia, who financed his career.
Imperium is at times horrifying, as we are reminded of the 6,000 crucified slaves that lined the Appian Way, and various other forms of torture and intimidation employed by the Romans. Mr. Harris softens the narrative with humor and we are reminded that the Romans really knew how to party (Toga! Toga! Toga!). The audio production of this book is expertly performed by Simon Jones. His portrayals of the various dynamic personalities are superb. As the author says, “a novel filled with oratory was made to be spoken aloud by actors.”