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COURSE OF HONOR, THE
by Lindsey Davis
Warner Books, February 2003
336 pages
$12.95
ISBN: 0446679666


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

In 1976, the BBC broadcast a miniseries called I, Claudius, based on the books by Robert Grave, and even today, probably 20 years after I last saw the series, THE COURSE OF HONOR brought back those 12 hours vividly even though this book has a completely different focus. Originally published 1997, this was actually Lindsey Davis' first book and the one which caused her to start the Falco series of mysteries set in Ancient Rome during the reign of Vespasian.

In Suetonius' biography it is written that Vespasian 'took up again with Caenis, his former mistress and one of Antonia's freedwomen and secretaries, who remained his wife in all but name even when he became Emperor'. Davis took this sentence and ran with it, writing what is a superb love story and history set in Ancient Rome from before the death of Antonia until the death of Caenis.

The events in Ancient Rome form a background to the life of Caenis. History is told from the point of view of the young slave, illegally cooking a sausage in an unused room, who first meets two young men, Vespasian and his brother, newly arrived in Rome from their country home, through her manumission by Antonia, daughter of Caesar, through her death, at the side of Caesar.

Reviewed by Barbara Franchi, January 2003

This book has more than one review. Click here to show all.

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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