Lustrum

Lustrum is the second in Robert Harris' planned trilogy about Cicero, Imperium being the first. In Lustrum, Cicero has finally become consul, which was the culmination of Imperium, but must immediately manage numerous plots against himself and the republic proper.Harris's craftsmanship and polish have slipped a bit since Imperium. The vocabulary and the sentences are slightly less interesting. There was less effort made in pruning down the large character list (the end of the book has a dramatis personae, but I only realized it was there after I had finished the book, so it did me no good). There was too much expository dialogue and too few scenes, like when Cicero is snubbed returning from Sicily, that let the reader infer emotions for himself. Overall, Lustrum gives an impression of being a second draft, whereas Imperium was a fourth or fifth draft. But the book, despite not being one of Harris's most polished, is still far better than what's typically published.What Harris still does particularly well, even better than in Imperium I thought, was to link the politics of ancient Rome to modern politics, to show how universal are human foibles. Harris does this brilliantly in his treatment of the Clodius scandal and of Cicero's amazement that what he thought was of fairly minor import could entirely derail affairs of state for months at least. Yet Harris' treatment of the reactions of the various characters is a bet more deft and subtle than was his link between the Roman reaction to pirates (in Imperium) and modern day reaction to terrorism.I should mention throughout that the character of Cato was extremely interesting, as in " 'Marcus Porcius Cato,' said Cicero uneasily, for one could never be sure which way Cato's logic would lead him." (p. 238)In the following I will mention a few particular lines and plot points.Thus the following does contain SPOILERS so do not read until you have read the book:- Caesar's proposal for commutation of death to life for the conspirators because "Life will mean life" (p. 235) I am not sure whether the modern "Life means life" movement derived from that or not.- Cicero's hypothetical "Answer me this: if the head of a household were to find his children killed by a slave, his wife murdered and his house burned, and did not inflict the supreme penalty in return, would he be thought kindly and compassionate"? (p. 237). No doubt Governor Dukakis should have quoted Cicero when he was famously asked during a debate if he would support the death penalty for someone who had attacked his family.- the entire debate on whether the death penalty is appropriate for crimes planned but never executed.- "Cicero always took the view that income should adjust to meet expenditure rather than the other way round" (p. 256)- "[Clodius] had learned well from Cicero the tricks of political campaigning: keep your speeches short, remember names, tell jokes, put on a show; above all, render and issue, however complex, into a story anyone can grasp." (p. 294)- In the Clodius affair, Harris carefully alludes to certain modern political scandals: "[Lucullus] just wants a trial [of Clodius] on any terms. You know he's been preparing for this day for years. He has all manner of witnesses lined up ready to testify to Clodius's immorality - even the slave girls who changed the sheets on his bed in Misenum" (p. 301). And the reply here is similarly topical "Is it wise to have that kind of detail aired in public?" and "the people of Rome licked their lips and prepared for what promised to be the most scandalous trial in the republic's history." (p. 302). (Actually the whole passage around here, where Cicero first scents danger in the Clodius situation, is extremely well done). Harris later notes how such a scandal "involving the ruling classes is titillating beyond measure" and that a larger venue than usual to hold the trial had to be found because of its great interest. (p. 304)- Harris's translations are quite powerful. For example, in Cicero's defense of Murena, a soldier, he compared him to Servius, a lawyer: "You are up before dawn to rally your clients; he to rally his army. You are woken by the call of cocks, he by the call of trumpets. You draw up a form of proceedings, he a line of battle. He understands how to keep off the enemy's forces, you rainwater. He has been engaged in extending boundaries, you in defining them." (p. 199). Of course, Cicero would have done well to remember this later when he himself tried to fight against military leaders like Pompey and Caesar. And his later terrible assessment of Cato as one who had taken a harsh stoic philosophy: "Unfortunately Cato has seized on this doctrine not just as a topic for discussion but as a way of life."- Likewise, Harris' translation of Against Cataline is more powerful than the usual stilted versions: "How much longer must we put up with your madness? Is there no end to your arrogance? Don't you understand that we know what you're up to? Don't you appreciate that your conspiracy is uncovered? ... Oh what times are these, and oh what morals! The senate knows everything, the consul knows everything, and yet this man is still alive." (p. 184).Finally, one question the book raises is whether what happened to Cicero is really his fault. The author seems entirely sympathetic to Cicero, and carefully tries to find excuses for all his mistakes. Certainly in Imperium, Cicero is an entirely sympathetic character.Here, I am not so sure. Cicero's fierce opposition to the land bill, although showing he was a product of his times, is less sympathetic from a modern perspective. His treatment of Tiro, and his political position on slavery, was improper by modern standards, and indeed he did not even treat Tiro honestly (saying he would be freed earlier than he was). Cicero's authoring his own books about his own heroism seemed reckless. Finally, I have less sympathy than the author for Cicero's role in the prosecution of Clodius, which led directly to his own exile. Harris or Tiro justify Cicero's behavior in two ways: (a) Cicero tried not to get involved, only being drawn in to testify by his accidental revelation of the alibi; and (b) Cicero was trying to appease Terentia, his wife. Neither of these really justify his actions. As to (a), Cicero could, and should after Clodia's appeal at least, have helped Clodius more forcefully; Cicero could still have simply refused to testify; and the "accidental statement" about the alibi seems implausible. As to (b), it was Cicero's role to assess the politics, not Terentia's. By acting as he did, Cicero did not help Terentia, he ended up destroying his own family. He cannot, as he tried to do to Clodia (Clodius's sister), pass the blame to Terentia.So Cicero comes across finally as somewhat less sympathetic either than in Imperium or for that matter how Harris seems to consider him. Obviously, if a politician orders the affairs of state not in accordance with political aims but in order to avoid offending his wife's religious views, he should not be surprised when those decisions turn out to be politically unwise.

The plot and details thereof provide for a gripping story in the life of an interesting individual, Cicero. Overall it gives a good feel as to what life in Ancient Rome might have been like!

Like its predecessor "Imperium", Conspirata/Lustrum (same book) is a very gripping book. If this book could be summed up in one line it would be "Cicero Plays Political Chess with Caesar".This book begins just prior to the Cataline conspiracies and ends on the day Cicero is exiled by his 'one time friend' Clodius. The 5 year period the book covers focuses on Cicero's Consulship, the Cataline conspiracies (there were to some degree two conspiracies) and the First Triumvirate. While Cicero isn't completely unscrupulous he does manage to uphold some moral standard to protect the Republic (he wasn't called the 'righteous pagan' by the Catholic Church for nothing).Two things I warn the reader about:1. If you are a Caesarphile and believe that Julius Caesar was a nice guy killed by an evil Senate then you may not like this book. Shakespeare impressed upon me that Caesar was rather innocent and did not deserve his fate. This book shows Caesar in another light and makes one literally yell out loud for Cicero to execute Caesar while he had the chance.2. The book starts a little slow at the beginning of his consulship. Don't worry it doesn't take long to pick up speed.While you don't need to read the first Robert Harris book about Cicero 'Imperium' I recommend that you do. Imperium is a quick read and it really sets the stage for Lustrum; explaining more about Cicero the 'human' than the 'oratory machine'.If you like historical fiction you cannot go wrong with this book. I am looking forward to the next book Harris writes about Cicero.

Robert Harris is a master of his subject and a fantastic and fantasyfull story teller.You might have read about the rise and the demise of the roman empire in your History class. That is very good. Reading Robert Harris's books adds another dimension to the course of history. With his human insight he has created a reproduction of events where real (well, nearly) people live, make their decisions and suffer the consequences without the aid of the knowledge tha historians have, how it all played out.How easy would it be if you knew what your actions ( or inactions) would lead to in the long run. But while the decisive moments are rollin over you , you do not know that they are decisive nor do you know how your actions will be seen by the generatios that follow, by people whose values are completely different and based on a reality that did not even exist ehen you were under fire.tRobert Harris has given me a lot to think about. Things that happened in my life and stuff I did that was stupid.his is the greatest gift he gave me. "What if it was you"

This is an excellent book in all respects, and I thoroughly enjoyed the read. I am deducting a star here because I am missing in Harris's foreword an acknowledgement of Berthold Brecht's "Die Geschäfte des Herrn Julius Cäsar". The two books (written almost 70 years apart) are dealing with almost the same conflict and the same few years at the end of the Roman republic. They have the same perspective, the eyes of the secretary of a major player (in Brecht's case, the fictitious Rarus, secretary to Caesar), and they approach the period with the same disrespectful (but refreshing) outlook which you don't get when you read Caesar or Cicero in your Latin class.I find it hard to believe that Harris (who must speak German quite well) was not aware of Brecht's book, which unfortunately, as far as I can tell, has never been published in English.

A stunning trilogy. Robert Harris has accomplished what many historical authors may aspire to but few attain. He has created an ancient Rome alive with the sights, the sounds, the smells of a city towards the latter years of the republic. He has painted a picture in my mind of warring commanders: Pompey, Caesar. Crassus. He has allowed me to view both the beauty of Rome from the aristocratic Palatine to the stench of the inner-city streets. He shows Romans as a people obsessed with wealth, and from wealth flows power, influence, and the ultimate prize a position in the senate leading to first consul adoration.Pompey the great commander, the chief general in the state….” A large chair was carried in for the Imperator, and he settled himself into it. An ivory pointer was placed in his hand. A carpet was unrolled at his feet into which was woven a map of the east, and as the senators gazed down he began gesticulating at it to illustrate his achievements”…. Caesar, the chief priest, adored by all the masses, fresh from military success, biding his time as he waits, panther like, moulding the men of influence to attend to his every whim. These two together with the wealthy Crassus form the triumvirate, a power base for them to dictate and manipulate. It is however a dangerous thing to allow so much “imperium” into the hands of the few.Cicero’s year as 1st consul is drawing to a close, and some of his finest accomplishments are now just a distant memory. When he faces a direct threat on his life it is to his wealthy companions that he turns for help and support, but such friendship will always require payback. Robert Harris shoes not only the strong side of Cicero but his weaknesses. His aspirations to climb the social ladder, result in a questionable decision when he borrows money to purchase a grand property owned by Crassus in the exclusive Palatine hill. As the candle slowly fades on a glittering senatorial career, and as the influence of a few wealthy men starts to emerge, the scene is set for a bloody conflict. Rome should have learnt the lessons of the past that it is a grave mistake to leave so much power in the hands of a powerful minority.A wonderful story, the subtle blending of fact and fiction makes Lustrum an essential read…the final chapter “The Dictator” now awaits me” Highly recommended.

Read this book in 2009, and its the 2nd volume of the great "Cicero" trilogy, set in Ancient Rome.The book starts in the year 63 BC, and Rome buzzing with seven men hungry for power, Consul Cicero, his ruthless rival Caesar, Rome greatest General at the moment Pompey, Crassus the richest man, the political fanatic Cato, Catalina a psychopath and an ambitious playboy Clodius.These real historical rivals will ensure that this Roman world of cruelties and seductions, alliances and betrayals will come to fruition in all its hostility, and all this is witnessed by our narrator, Tiro, slave and confidential secretary to Cicero.Various circumstances, like the child's mutilated body or and a scandalous trial, and not to forget the unleash the Roman mob, will set Rome in fire and death.What is to follow is an intriguing and suspenseful historical tale about the horrors and tedious enticements that will take place to get that ultimate power, and in this world of betrayal and death Cicero must how seem to survive between these wolves hungry for power.Highly recommended, for this is a superbly addition to this amazing trilogy, and that's why I like to call this episode: "A Marvellous Cicero Lustrum Sequel"!

This is great historical fiction, weaving a story around real people and real events. It relies far less on blood and gore than a lotvof historical fiction. It uses politics and dialogue in the most engrossing manner to tell the story of the most fascinating passage of history, as Rome went through a painful transition from Republic to Empire.

I read and enjoyed this some time ago but my wife who has developed an interest in Ancient Rome following her reading of the first part of the trilogy; Imperium, is just about to start. Doing nothing by halves she is reading histories and watching Mary Beard's series and (best for me) watching, on Netflix, the series "Rome" swords, sandals and lots of sex and violence but rather blurry on accurate history if it gets in the way of a good story.Robert Harris is an intelligent writer, perhaps my favourite, I've read most of his books and have never been disappointed. Basically the story is about the life and times of Cicero a staunch republican as seen through the eyes of his slave Tiro and set against the tumultuous backdrop of Rome's bloody transition from a republic to the short lived dictatorship of Julius Caesar. Cicero rose from humble beginnings to become a consul, the top job, of Rome. This is not a dry history book it is peopled with characters who have a life and about whom you begin to care. the history is there but as these were "exciting" times so is the history. This is an excellent book and may be read as a stand alone book but I recommend you read Imperium first. The third part of the trilogy (not yet read) is called Dictator.

Robert Harris, always so readable, manages to put flesh on the key players in the history of ancient Rome. He must have put many hours of research into this book - and the others in the Cicero trilogy - and I am very grateful to him. As a story alone, it would not have enthralled me..... but as a story worked around historical figures and events, it was a fascinating way to learn history and appreciate how Rome gradually moved from a workable and surprisingly democratic Republic to a dictatorship, spearheaded by the astute and scheming Julius Caesar.My only slight problem was that the vast number of characters with similar Roman names and varying roles were quite hard to sort out, even with the excellent x-ray facility on my Kindle. I would have appreciated a few words to remind me of their significance when these characters reappeared in the narrative.I am looking forward to completing the set by reading Dictator.