It's all set within Rome itself and it's mainly about people and political events, so don't expect battles or heroic centurions. It follows one family, from generation to generation, as they deal with the various emperors and great events that shaped the mighty Rome.
But is it any good? Yes, for the most part it's well written, has interesting characters and is almost a history lesson without becoming boring or dry. And it is! It lasts for a long time so will keep you going until the next credit rolls in. I've read some of Saylor's stuff in the past and enjoyed it so when I saw this very long audiobook for the princely sum of one credit I knew it would be good value. As it passes from generation to generation, the fascinum seems to exercise a power not only over those who wear it, but over the very fate of the empire. However diverse their destinies, all the Pinarii are united by the mysterious gold talisman called the fascinum handed down from a time before Rome existed. Others explore the mysteries of astrology, follow the teachings of the wiseman Apollonius of Tyana, or celebrate the beautiful youth elevated by Hadrian to the status of a god.
Some cling to the worship of the gods who made Rome great. While the Pinarii struggle for survival, they also search for meaning. One falls under the spell of Nero, while another is drawn to the strange new cult of those who call themselves Christians. One becomes the lover of a Vestal virgin. One becomes the plaything of the notorious Messalina. But at the novel’s heart are the choices and temptations faced by each generation of the Pinarii. The deadly paranoia of Domitian gives way to the Golden Age of Trajan and Hadrian - but even the most enlightened emperors wield the power to destroy their subjects on a whim.Įmpire is filled with the dramatic, defining moments of the age, including the Great Fire of 64 A.D, Nero’s persecution of the Christians, and the astounding opening games of the Colosseum. Continuing the epic story begun in his i>New York Times best-selling novel Roma, Steven Saylor charts the destinies of five more generations of the aristocratic Pinarius family, from the reign of Augustus to height of Rome’s empire.The Pinarii witness the machinations of Tiberius, the madness of Caligula, and the decadence of Nero.
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