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The Temple of the Muses SPQR IV John Roberts 8601404994876 Books

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The Temple of the Muses SPQR IV John Roberts 8601404994876 Books

Just about my favorite Decius book. Our hero is in Alexandria, Egypt, and while investigating a murder, he picks up a great deal of information about Alexandrian architecture and the local religious cults - in addition to visiting the tomb of Alexander the Great AND meeting the ten-year-old Princess Cleopatra. This last is a delightful portrait - this serious-minded and intelligent child questioning Decius about what it's like to be Roman, and commenting on the peculiar goings-on at her father's court - you can see why Julius Caesar and Mark Antony both fell for her ;-)

What I really like about the Decius series is how *normal* the author makes it all sound. People keep household slaves, worship multiple deities, are married by family arrangement, and go in for strenuous electioneering - completely true to its time, yet it feels like now, rather than long ago and far away. The best kind of historical fiction.


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The Temple of the Muses SPQR IV John Roberts 8601404994876 Books Reviews

My late sister got me hooked on SPQR. She sent me the first two books (from Austria) several years ago as a gift. I liked them so much that I continued buying them, all now in the format. They are always entertaining, educational, gripping and, what's also important, funny. When I read in one of the reviews that the original author dealing in this genre was Steven Saylor, and that he was better than John Maddox Roberts, I bought one of his books (Roman Blood). It was interesting, but brutal and without the humor of Roberts. So I'm back to buying SPQR books (and re-reading them)
Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger is in Alexandria, Egypt on a diplomatic mission, having temporarily worn out his welcome in the city of Rome. Decius is a self-described expert at "snooping" and the reader is not surprised that in this novel he quickly finds himself investigating a murder and a conspiracy against Rome. This one is particularly fast-paced, with as much action as the reader can handle. This is a tightly-knit and well-written story, and it also functions as something of a travelogue to ancient Alexandria, which was a powerful center of commerce and learning in the ancient world.

This one proceeds at a breakneck pace, and when it ends (no spoilers here) it leaves the reader wanting more. Fortunately there are many more installments in the SPQR series, of which this novel is the fourth, including Decius' much later return to Alexandria to confront some of the enemies he left behind. This is one of the very best of the SPQR series. Best read with an excellent (unwatered) glass of Falernian (or its California equivalent) in hand. Highly recommended. RJB.
I love these novels. I just love the action, the thrills, the humor. Decius Caecilius Metellus the Younger is like James Bond for the historical novels. He is a lover and a fighter. And he fights dirty.
But he is always getting into trouble and this is no doubt why he ended up in Alexandria, Egypt, which makes Rome look like a city full of devote nuns. This city is every young Roman males' wet dream and they would give their right nut to be there.
But it is also an important region of the world, one that is very important to Rome. Wealth, grain, power flows out of Egypt to Rome. Problems in Egypt mean big trouble for thr Republic. And guess who just ran into big trouble?
I enjoyed this book almost as much as all the books before it combined. It was nice to see the main character in a new culture, a new setting, a new part of the Roman world. Add a couple of murders, a Greek courtesan, plots from the East, a cat, and a new cult and you get a GREAT story.
If you liked this novel I would suggest The House of the Vestals The Investigations of Gordianus the Finder (House of Vestals) a series of short stories by Steven Saylor, one of which is set in Alexandria. And I also suggest What Life was Like on the Banks of the Nile Egypt 3050 - 30 BC which you can enjoy and learn about the culture without getting in too deep. But if you want to get serious about learning about this setting there is also two books I can suggest - A History of Ancient Egypt and The Corn Supply of Ancient Rome (Oxford University Press academic monograph reprints).
Enjoy!
For once, the exile isn't skipped over, here we find our friend Decius in Alexandria once again deemed by the family better out of Rome. Of course, he quickly finds his way into trouble once again. This time he finds himself investigating the murder of a scholar from the Library of Alexandria and stumbles into so much more. We meet the whole set of Ptolemys - Ptolemy, Berenice, and Cleopatra. The general who later kills Pompey is lurking about as well. Fun mystery and nie look at younger versions of characters we normally see in different phases of life.
Just about my favorite Decius book. Our hero is in Alexandria, Egypt, and while investigating a murder, he picks up a great deal of information about Alexandrian architecture and the local religious cults - in addition to visiting the tomb of Alexander the Great AND meeting the ten-year-old Princess Cleopatra. This last is a delightful portrait - this serious-minded and intelligent child questioning Decius about what it's like to be Roman, and commenting on the peculiar goings-on at her father's court - you can see why Julius Caesar and Mark Antony both fell for her ;-)

What I really like about the Decius series is how *normal* the author makes it all sound. People keep household slaves, worship multiple deities, are married by family arrangement, and go in for strenuous electioneering - completely true to its time, yet it feels like now, rather than long ago and far away. The best kind of historical fiction.