In the international bestseller "Roma", Steven Saylor told the story of the first thousand years of Rome by following the descendants of a single bloodline. Now, in "Empire", Saylor charts the destinies of five more generations of the Pinarius family, from the reign of the first emperor, Augustus, to the glorious height of Rome's empire under Hadrian. Through the eyes of the Pinarii, we witness the machinations of Tiberius, the madness of Caligula, the cruel escapades of Nero, and the chaos of the Year of Four Emperors in 69 A.D. The deadly paranoia of Domitian is followed by the Golden Age of Trajan and Hadrianobut even the most enlightened emperors wield the power to inflict death and destruction on a whim. Empire is strewn with spectacular scenes, including the Great Fire of 64 A.D. that ravaged the city, Nero's terrifying persecution of the Christians, and the mind-blowing opening games of the Colosseum. But at the novel's heart are the wrenching choices and seductive temptations faced by each new generation of the Pinarii. One unwittingly becomes the sexual plaything of the notorious Messalina. One enters into a clandestine affair with a Vestal virgin. One falls under the charismatic spell of Nero, while another is drawn into the strange new cult of those who deny the gods and call themselves Christians. However diverse their destinies and desires, all the Pinarii are united by one thing: the mysterious golden talisman called the fascinum handed down from a time before Rome existed. 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. Praise for Steven Saylor: 'Saylor expertly weaves the true history of Rome with the lives and loves of its fictional citizens' - "Daily Express". 'Saylor's scholarship is breathtaking and his writing enthrals' - Ruth Rendell. 'With the scalpel-like deftness of a Hollywood director, Saylor puts his finger on the very essence of Roman history' - "Times Literary Supplement". 'Readers will find his work wonderfully (and gracefully) researched...this is entertainment of the first order' - "Washington Post".
Empire (Rome 2)
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'Saylor expertly weaves the true history of Rome with the lives and loves of its fictional citizens.' Daily Express; 'Saylor's scholarship is breathtaking and his writing enthrals.' Ruth Rendell; 'With the scalpel-like deftness of a Hollywood director, Saylor puts his finger on the very essence of Roman history.' Times Literary Supplement; 'Readers will find his work wonderfully (and gracefully) researched...this is entertainment of the first order'. --Washington Post
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The eagerly awaited sequel to the bestselling Roma - now in paperback.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
32 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is simply awful.
Let me be clear. I have been a longtime fan of Steven Saylor. The first two thirds of his Roma sub Rosa series about Gordianus the Finder are brilliant.
My problem with Saylor really began with Roma, the first in his pompous new series about ancient Rome, and really brings Empire to a halt. What seems to have happened is that Saylor has done huge amounts of research and feels the need to ensure everyone knows it. As a result the book - as far as I had to heart to read it anyway - is a long series of dialogues when a character can't just say what is happening - it has to be then explained in terms of what the history of the person/place/event is, what the colour of their clothes were - what the metaphysical or allegorical omens of the day were. All of which simply seems to say "Aren't I clever with what I know.." But you really just want to shout at the page "Get on with it".
Because Saylor's writing style is so ponderous and exasperating quite what the story is becomes meaningless. To his credit (hence two stars)he's trying to tell the story of ancient Rome from birth to death through one family line. But by now you just don't care. I'm saddened to say I couldn't finish this - and hope the charity shop at least makes some money from my misery.
If you want to read really classy stories about Rome read Robert Harris, or go back to Robert Graves and I Claudius. Give Saylor a very wide miss. Sorry.
Let me be clear. I have been a longtime fan of Steven Saylor. The first two thirds of his Roma sub Rosa series about Gordianus the Finder are brilliant.
My problem with Saylor really began with Roma, the first in his pompous new series about ancient Rome, and really brings Empire to a halt. What seems to have happened is that Saylor has done huge amounts of research and feels the need to ensure everyone knows it. As a result the book - as far as I had to heart to read it anyway - is a long series of dialogues when a character can't just say what is happening - it has to be then explained in terms of what the history of the person/place/event is, what the colour of their clothes were - what the metaphysical or allegorical omens of the day were. All of which simply seems to say "Aren't I clever with what I know.." But you really just want to shout at the page "Get on with it".
Because Saylor's writing style is so ponderous and exasperating quite what the story is becomes meaningless. To his credit (hence two stars)he's trying to tell the story of ancient Rome from birth to death through one family line. But by now you just don't care. I'm saddened to say I couldn't finish this - and hope the charity shop at least makes some money from my misery.
If you want to read really classy stories about Rome read Robert Harris, or go back to Robert Graves and I Claudius. Give Saylor a very wide miss. Sorry.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By C. Baily
Format:Kindle Edition
Like others, I have been a great fan of Gordianus. Bringing to life some of Cicero's great forensic speeches was always a worthwhile project, and Saylor's execution was well-judged. I kind of half-enjoyed the more plodding Roma, because it dealt with little-visited periods of Roman history.
But Empire is a different matter. I found I wasn't learning much, because unlike the Gordianus series, or Lindsey Davis' Falco, where it's easy to tell the difference between the historical figures and the lowlifes who provide most of the narrative, here you have to know already that Pinarius senior is a historical figure, but (as far as I know) his descendants aren't. The dialogue is over-didactic and stilted. On the whole, not much fun.
But I stayed with it until page 93, when I found that the ancient family amulet, interpreted by Claudius as a winged phallus, is suddenly reinterpreted by the more radically-minded twin - in 41AD, less than a decade after the crucifixion - as the Christian cross 'on which our saviour, Jesus Christ, was killed' and which is thereby 'a holy symbol'. As any fule kno, the cross did not emerge distinctively as a Christian symbol for another century at least.
Sorry, Steven, I really can't be bothered with The Robe revisited. Save it for the US market.
But Empire is a different matter. I found I wasn't learning much, because unlike the Gordianus series, or Lindsey Davis' Falco, where it's easy to tell the difference between the historical figures and the lowlifes who provide most of the narrative, here you have to know already that Pinarius senior is a historical figure, but (as far as I know) his descendants aren't. The dialogue is over-didactic and stilted. On the whole, not much fun.
But I stayed with it until page 93, when I found that the ancient family amulet, interpreted by Claudius as a winged phallus, is suddenly reinterpreted by the more radically-minded twin - in 41AD, less than a decade after the crucifixion - as the Christian cross 'on which our saviour, Jesus Christ, was killed' and which is thereby 'a holy symbol'. As any fule kno, the cross did not emerge distinctively as a Christian symbol for another century at least.
Sorry, Steven, I really can't be bothered with The Robe revisited. Save it for the US market.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was rather underwhelmed with this book. I felt as if I was being educated, and indeed I was but that was not my aim. The plot did keep me reading however.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Empire (Rome 2)
Fantastic read....so much information that it needs to read at least twice. Recommend for anyone interested in history- and of course, Rome - particularly if they are planning to... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mrs. Mn Edwards
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read!
Well produced, good quality read, especially if you are into Roman fiction yarns. Will read more of Steven Sayers books.
Published 6 months ago by I. G. Hill
3.0 out of 5 stars
Info dumping
Taylor has plagued this book with 'info dumping' that is overloading the reader with information that is either not necessary to the story or that reads like a page from a history... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Writer87
3.0 out of 5 stars
this empire has fallen
i had previously read saylors first volume in this saga Roma the story of one roman family from the foundation to the end of the republic and enjoyed it
Empire tells the... Read more
Empire tells the... Read more
Published 19 months ago by mark1000
3.0 out of 5 stars
WHY!!!!!!!
I was given "Empire" as a Birthday present and read the first two chapers .. I then decided to download "Roma" on my kindle... "Roma" is a 5 star book .. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Brian Daniels
2.0 out of 5 stars
Gahhhhhh!
Is this the death of what was a really good series?
In the past its always been a bit ploddy and slow, but i always took that as part of the story, its not designed for pace... Read more
In the past its always been a bit ploddy and slow, but i always took that as part of the story, its not designed for pace... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Parm
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent read
an excellent follow up to Roma, historicaly accurate, the story murging fact and fiction, enjoyed it tremendously. can't wait till the next installment.
Published on 17 Feb 2011 by osprey
3.0 out of 5 stars
Just a little contrived.
It took me some time to track this book down since, before Christmas, it seemed conspicuous by its absence from the shelves. Marketing I suppose! Read more
Published on 21 Jan 2011 by Iphidaimos
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