From Publishers Weekly
If
nothing else, this hefty tome, the first of a projected series, proves
that McCullough ( The Thornbirds ) can write a serious historical novel
that edifies while it entertains. Evoking with impeccably researched,
meticulous detail the political and social fabric of Rome in the last
days of the Republic, McCullough demonstrates a thoroughgoing
understanding of an age in which birth and blood lines determine one's
fate, and the auctoritas and dignitas of the Roman family mean more than
any personal relationship. When the narrative opens in 110 B.C., this
rigidly stratified social order has begun to erode. The protagonist,
Gaius Marius, is the symbol of that gradual change. He is the embodiment
of the novel's title, a genuine New Man who transcends his Italian
origins and earns the ultimate political accolade--the consulship--for
an unprecedented six terms. A brilliant military leader, Marius defeats
the invading barbarian German tribes. Wily, shrewd and pragmatic, Marius
is not above using bribery and chicanery to achieve political ends.
Nor, indeed, are his fellow officials, whose sophisticated machinations
are in odd juxtaposition with their penchant for jeering at one another,
which leads to fisticuffs, brawls and even assassinations. As usual,
McCullough tells a good story, describing political intrigue, social
infighting and bloody battles with authoritative skill, interpolating
domestic drama and even a soupcon of romance. The glossary alone makes
fascinating reading; in it, for example, McCullough reasons that Roman
men did not wear "under-drawers." The narrative's measured pace,
however, is further slowed by the characters' cumbersome names, which
require concentrated attention. Those willing to hunker down for a
stretch of close reading will be rewarded with a memorable picture of an
age with many aspects that share characteristics ontemporaneous with
our own. Maps and illustrations by the author. 300,000 first printing;
BOMC main selection; author tour. (Oct.).
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
This
big, complex novel detailing the beginnings of the downfall of the
Roman Republic is a startling change of pace for McCullough ( The Thorn
Birds, LJ 5/1/77). Gaius Marius, an upstart New Man from the Italian
provinces, and Lucius Cornelius Sulla, a patrician Roman brought up in
the slums of the Subura, are both ambitious enough to want to become
First Man in Rome, despite their social handicaps. The author deftly
weaves politics, family rivalries, and battle scenes into a riveting
story replete with fascinating details of everyday Roman life. The
research is obviously painstaking; the author includes a large glossary
of more than 100 pages as well as a pronunciation key for the Roman
names. Highly recommended. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/90. BOMC
main selection.
- Marilyn Jordan, North Miami P.L., Fla.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.