Imperium
by Robert Harris
|
|
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of Imperium.
discuss this book
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
Where's the love? Add this book to your favorite list.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 551)
recommends it for:
historical fiction enthusiasts
Well, I just finished listening to "Imperium" by Robert Harris. Once more, Harris delves into the inner workings of the Roman Empire only this time, he retreats back to the Republican era and creates a fictional biography of Marcus Tullius Cicero as seen through the eyes of his slave secreatary, Tiro.
Since I was originally seduced into my passion for learning about the Roman Empire by Colleen McCullough and her "Masters of Rome" series of novels, I naturally began this in...more
Since I was originally seduced into my passion for learning about the Roman Empire by Colleen McCullough and her "Masters of Rome" series of novels, I naturally began this in...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Imperium by Robert Harris.
Before I start I must say that I enjoy Robert Harris books. I picked up Fatherland in one of those "buy three books get the fourth free" promotions. I had no intention of getting it but you know how it is, you can never find the right amount of books on the promotion table, so I picked it up. I was hooked. I then read Archangel and loved it. Since then I've managed to read through all his other books and haven't been disappointed. Thus it was that, when I ...more
Before I start I must say that I enjoy Robert Harris books. I picked up Fatherland in one of those "buy three books get the fourth free" promotions. I had no intention of getting it but you know how it is, you can never find the right amount of books on the promotion table, so I picked it up. I was hooked. I then read Archangel and loved it. Since then I've managed to read through all his other books and haven't been disappointed. Thus it was that, when I ...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in December, 2007
I loved this book. Harris has written a novel that combines a good political potboiler with solid historical fiction, based on real events in the life of the famous Roman senator and consul Cicero.
Narrated by Cicero's slave and scribe, Tiro, who invented an early elaborate version of shorthand so he could take down speeches and debates as they occurred, the novel joins Cicero as a young man, and then takes us through his landmark prosecution of Verres, a corrupt governor of Sicily (and you w...more
Narrated by Cicero's slave and scribe, Tiro, who invented an early elaborate version of shorthand so he could take down speeches and debates as they occurred, the novel joins Cicero as a young man, and then takes us through his landmark prosecution of Verres, a corrupt governor of Sicily (and you w...more
Like this review?
yes
2 comments
Read in November, 2007
An entertaining book chronicalling the rise of Cicero, the greatest lawyer and politician the Roman Republic ever saw. Detailing both his political and advocacy triumphs and tribulations it exposes the flawed Roman political system with its bribery and corruption, but also its shining example of democracy in a troubled world which was to be lost with the rise of the empire only a few decades after the book finishes.
Told through the eyes of Cicero's secretary and slave Tiro it is an interesti...more
Told through the eyes of Cicero's secretary and slave Tiro it is an interesti...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in June, 2007
recommends it for:
lovers of historical fiction, courtroom drama, and politics
Last year my editor at Gramedia presented me with three choices for my next translation project, and after reading their synopses at Amazon, I chose this one. After two-three years returning to full-time translating, I've found that I prefer translating novels with a non-modern-American setting, especially fantasy and historical fiction. This one fits the bill.
I never regretted my choice. Imperium was a joy to translate. I dove into the world of Ancient Rome Republic in the first cen...more
I never regretted my choice. Imperium was a joy to translate. I dove into the world of Ancient Rome Republic in the first cen...more
Like this review?
yes
89 comments
Read in August, 2008
Slick, pacey, populist thriller - about a middle aged lawyer in pre-imperial Rome.
But this is no ordinary advocate, this is the great Cicero: poet, philosopher, lawyer, orator, politician; acquaintance of Caesar, Cato, Crassus, Pompey and Octavian. And this is no ordinary, airport-novel dross. What it lacks in depth of characterisation or in elegance of prose, it more than makes up for in detailed research and well-pitched narrative. I raced through its 500 pages in a couple of days. For the ...more
But this is no ordinary advocate, this is the great Cicero: poet, philosopher, lawyer, orator, politician; acquaintance of Caesar, Cato, Crassus, Pompey and Octavian. And this is no ordinary, airport-novel dross. What it lacks in depth of characterisation or in elegance of prose, it more than makes up for in detailed research and well-pitched narrative. I raced through its 500 pages in a couple of days. For the ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
I`m glad I started this year with a good book just like this one. So Yeah. I did REALLY enjoy it. Not only one gets to know about the life of Cicero along with other important characters of Ancient Rome, but its also an opportunity to get a closer look at political structure of that of Rome, traditions and daily life. I liked the style of the author, being not perorating (even tho thats the story about the great orator), informative and even a bit businesslike - and yet book manages to grab and ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
lovers of History
A reviewer called this novel "Labour in Togas" because of the many parallels one can draw between Tony Blair's ascent and Cicero's career. Both men stood against the "aristocracy" and represented the common people; both men had to change the laws of their governments because of "terrorists"; and both men eventually found themselves shaking hands with their enemies in order to maintain their power. Imperium is a historical novel that builds its thrills much like a Jo...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
I have a long shameful Cicero history. Absolutely hated him in high school and college, since I'm not that fabulous in Latin and found translating him both painful and boring. Then for some reason a few years back I read Anthony Everitt's biography on Cicero and discoverd a whole new appreciation for him and felt bad for all the years of badmouthing.
So, I looked forward to this book--told from the viewpoint of the greatest secretary of all time, Tiro. Novel covers the Verres trial and the po...more
So, I looked forward to this book--told from the viewpoint of the greatest secretary of all time, Tiro. Novel covers the Verres trial and the po...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2008
"You can always spot a fool, for he is the man who will tell you he knows who is going to win an election. But an election is a living thing--you might almost say, the most vigorously alive thing there is--with thousands upon thousands of brains and limbs and eyes and thoughts and desires, and it will wriggle and turn and run off in directions no one ever predicted, sometimes just for the joy of proving the wiseacres wrong."
A historical novel about Cicero, from the point of view of...more
A historical novel about Cicero, from the point of view of...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2007
This was a fun, engaging and quick read for a Latin teacher on the beach, with broader appeal too. There's good reason he's a bestseller. Imperium tells two episodes from the life of famous Roman lawyer & orator Cicero from the eyes of his personal scribe, Tiro. First, the lawsuit that gave him fame, his successful prosecution of the corrupt Verres, who extorted millions while governor of Sicily. Second, the back-room dealings and political drama leading up to Cicero's election as con...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in December, 2006
Roman politics and intrigues; Cicero, Pompey, Caesar; and a little about some women who portrayed this quote from my friend Adrian: "Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes with her arms crossed."
I weally weally wanted to translate this book, but I had so much projects on hand when it fell to my lap, so I reluctantly gave it up to someone else (someone who I think is also a goodreads member and did a wonderful job on the translation; I will edit it early next year, I ho...more
I weally weally wanted to translate this book, but I had so much projects on hand when it fell to my lap, so I reluctantly gave it up to someone else (someone who I think is also a goodreads member and did a wonderful job on the translation; I will edit it early next year, I ho...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
I'm not going to lie; I'm usually self-conscious when listing the books I'm reading on this thing. I want people to take me seriously and respect my choices, as I wish them to be reflective of a person who is interested in books of import and intellectual worth.
Which is why I was just a wee bit embarassed when I bought this book - categorized as "historical fiction" - on sale for $5 at Borders. Considering my secret, guilt-ridden over-indulgence in this novel, it would be better cl...more
Which is why I was just a wee bit embarassed when I bought this book - categorized as "historical fiction" - on sale for $5 at Borders. Considering my secret, guilt-ridden over-indulgence in this novel, it would be better cl...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
WOW.......kata pertama yg aku harus ucapkan ama buku ini.Robert HArris bener2 jadi kayak TIRO!Aku kagum banget ama cara dia menggambarkan hal yg terjadi ratusan tahun yg lalu,bahkan secara detail bgt.Aku bener2 angkat 5 jempolku but ROBERT HARIS!gak ada ruginya deh baca buku ini,bikin kita bnyk tahu ttg sejarah Romawi,apalagi Caesar ternyata jahat juga,hihihihihi.Aku masih kagum dengan cara pandang Robert Harris menempatkan dirinya sebagai TIRO,seolah2 Robert HArris lah si TIRO itu,bener2 jenius...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2007
recommends it for:
Anyone with love for politics and rhetoric
The most useful insight for me was when Cicero, the protagonist in this fiction-history of one of the greatest Roman rhetoricians and politicians, is that the persuader needs to find something to believe in if he is to argue persuasively.
There was a section in with Cicero pondered for a long time when he had to defend someone that was quite patently guilty over many charges. He homes in on a nationalistic emotion of "I am a Roman citizen" and milked it for all it is worth.
I won...more
There was a section in with Cicero pondered for a long time when he had to defend someone that was quite patently guilty over many charges. He homes in on a nationalistic emotion of "I am a Roman citizen" and milked it for all it is worth.
I won...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
those interested in history, politics, or Rome
A vivid story of political jockeying in ancient Rome. Funny at points and as historically accurate as a fiction novel could be.
I was expecting a literary version of the HBO series 'Rome', focusing on Caesar, Marc Anthony, Brutus, and the other famous major players of Roman politics, but in Harris' novel, Cicero and his scribe take center stage, with the heavy hitters of Roman history playing minor parts. This method actually worked great because it allowed the story to focus more on the be...more
I was expecting a literary version of the HBO series 'Rome', focusing on Caesar, Marc Anthony, Brutus, and the other famous major players of Roman politics, but in Harris' novel, Cicero and his scribe take center stage, with the heavy hitters of Roman history playing minor parts. This method actually worked great because it allowed the story to focus more on the be...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in October, 2007
I loved loved loved this book. I read Pompeii also by Robert Harris and really enjoyed the story, the hugely rich historical detail and accuracy, the character depth, the superb writing - everything. Imperium about Cicero's ascent to Roman consul had me really hooked. The book was satisfyingly long and I was disappointed when I finished that I didn't have another 400 pages of reading. The only thing about these type of books though is that it really is the story-line or plot and history you'...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2007
Tambahan 24 Mei: Oh iya, bagi teman-teman yang membaca novel ini dan ingin tahu lebih jauh tentang berbagai istilah, tempat, dan tokoh di dalamnya, aku sempat membuat catatan riset dalam proses penerjemahannya, yang berisi uraian singkat dan link ke berbagai artikel internet (utamanya Wikipedia). Dalam novel Indonesianya sendiri aku tidak banyak menambah catatan kaki, yang menurutku...more
Like this review?
yes
17 comments
Read in December, 2007
When I saw this book at the bookstore I literally gasped. I'd read other works of historical fiction by Robert Harris, including Enigma and Archangel, and watched the movie Fatherland on HBO. They are incredibly good, and for a while I would keep checking but he hadn't published anything new. Imperium was a bit harder to follow than the other, more contemporary novels but it was a great book. He captures what ancient Rome was like and also gets you hooked reading a legal/political thriller....more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
recommends it for:
Politicians
I loves me a good Ancient Rome story, and this one was awesome. You can tell Robert Harris did a ton of research for this novel, and as a former journalist I have much respect for that. Also, this is the first part of a planned trilogy, so that gives me something to look forward to.
p.s. Fun fact: Robert Harris and Nick Hornby are brothers-in-law (Harris is married to Hornby's sister). Their books are quite different, both in tone and subject matter, so it's not a pairing you would expect.
p.s. Fun fact: Robert Harris and Nick Hornby are brothers-in-law (Harris is married to Hornby's sister). Their books are quite different, both in tone and subject matter, so it's not a pairing you would expect.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
