Roma (Roma, #1) By Steven Saylor

Steven Saylor definitely took on a huge task when he chose to write a novelized history of Rome from the viewpoint of one of the oldest patrician families, but least-known in modern times --- the Pinarii, and their cousins the Potitii. The novel touches on the important turning-points of Rome's history, when members of the Pinarii or the Potitii are constantly being caught up in momentous events --- the sack of Rome by Gauls, the Carthaginian wars, the campaign of Scipio, the dictatorship of Sulla, and so on --- and actually living the events, with the uncertainty and awe of a person caught up in the middle of something with no idea how it will end. The Pinarius or Potitius central to each episode of the book is our main character but not history's main character, and as the family descends through time and is influenced by past character's actions, so are we as readers. This is half-story, half-history, in the Livian vein and a great homage to Livy's history of Rome. The facts are mostly solid, and if two facts were available, well we are writing a novel here, not a textbook, and we (the writer) are allowed to pick whichever one fits the story we want to tell the best. I feel compelled now to check a few of Saylor's facts, like was Julius Caesar's sister Julia really married to a Pinarius, or has Saylor made that up out of whole cloth; because if all these occurrences of Pinarii and Potitii were Saylor has them occurring are documentable fact, then Saylor's masterful filling-in-of-the-blanks is even more refined and elegant than I thought.

The source material Saylor lists in the book's Afterword is also excellent, including his use of T.P. Wiseman's Remus A Roman Myth as source material on the pre-foundation history of Rome and the various foundation myths. I cannot praise enough this decision on Saylor's part. Saylor's Remus was not a carbon copy of Wiseman's Remus, but many of Wiseman's observations seem to have influenced Saylor's character creation, and his imagination of the earliest layout of the city. Whereas Wiseman deals academically with the Romulus & Remus story, Saylor says to himself How can I make this plausible in the real world, not the world of myth? and then he goes and does so. I can't say enough, even in the review of a different book, about the value of Wiseman's work on Remus to classical scholars; and if you are going to take on the task of tackling Saylor's Roma, then Wiseman's Remus: A Roman Myth will subsequently be no trouble at all and might help the reader flesh out the pre-historic Roman world as presented by Saylor. The one is so clearly, and well, informed by the other.

The omniscient narration of Roma does not have the same voice as the character-centric narration of Saylor's Gordianus the Finder mystery series, for which I am truly grateful. The writing style employed for mysteries would not suit a larger work such as Roma. Different genres require different approaches, and it is not every writer who can go from one to another easily and successfully. The tone and style of Roma is suitable to a long fiction work with many characters and a complex plot full of details. The book has been broken up into historical episodes, loosely based on a single generation of characters, but of course the common thread running through all the episodes is the family being focussed on (usually the Pinarii). You only need to worry about one Lucius Pinarius at a time, which is a relief, as Romans were not very creative namers and you tended to get two or three of every name in a single generation. When one Lucius Pinarius thinks back to the actions of another Lucius Pinarius, Saylor says something like Lucius remembered that his great-great-grandfather, also named Lucius Pinarius, did such-and-such or knew so-and-so, and that is enough to jog the reader's memory: Oh yeah, I remember that, or Oh my gosh kid, you are so misinformed! But as misinformation (or lies?) from a previous generation become enshrined in popular memory, they become historical fact, and it seems to me that in the book itself Saylor has found a way to comment on the veracity (or not) of the historical facts we're operating with today. Did it really happen the way we think it did? Or is there a historical truth there that will never come to light? And how does knowing that is a possibility change the way we view history itself?

In short: This may be a bit overwhelming for the Roman history novice, who isn't vaguely familiar with the people and places Saylor employs in his narrative. There's a lot in this book to soak up. If you aren't daunted by that, all the better for you. For the reader fairly familiar with Roman history, especially the the early books of Livy and the half-forgotten period of the Kings and the early Republic, my recommendation is have at with abandon, you will love this. Historical Fiction **Should Read as 4.5 Stars!**

This great historical novel is set between 1000 BC until around the time of Julius Caesar's assassination.

Two families will figure dominantly in this wonderful novel, and they are the Potitius and the Pinarius clans.

One is confidant of Romulus, one the founding twins of Rome besides Remus, the other is borne a slave and who will tempt a Vestal Virgin to break her vows.

Important events happening during these centuries will be seen from their prospective, and these families fortunes and tragedies will be highlighted in this story within this legendary place called Rome.

From the tragedy of the hero-traitor Coriolanus, the capture by the Gauls, Hannibal's invasion and the assassination of Julius Caesar within the political struggles of Rome as a Republic.

What is to follow is a wonderful tale about Rome, from the founding by Romulus and Remus towards a Rome at the end of being a Republic, and all this is brought to us by the author in a most inspiring and delightful fashion.

Very much recommended, for this is a superb begin of a masterly Roma series, and that's why I like to call this first episode: An Excellent Roma! Historical Fiction Roma is the story of Rome over a massive arc of time - from the mists of prehistory to the supremacy of Augustus and the establishment of Empire. The story is told from the perspective of two families - the Potitii and Pinarii. The story follows these two families as they pass through time as witnesses (and frequently) victims to great events.

I'm not sure that this book will be everyone's cup of tea, but I enjoyed it immensely. I read a lot of historical fiction set in the Roman era. I always felt as if I lacked a certain amount of context and understanding of some of the background. I knew that there were Roman Kings that had been replaced by a republic. I knew vaguely about Romulus and Remus. I knew about Sulla and Marius. But I really didn't have a feel for these great events and people. Roma brings these people and events to life. Reading Roma I had a front seat view into the growth and evolution of that great city. Having read Roma I feel as if I will better appreciate other historical fiction set in the Roman period.

The weakness of the book is at the same time its strength. The book is really broken up into a series of short stories and these are mixed. Some are spectacular. The story of the vestal virgin who breaks her vows was moving and heartbreaking. Other stories are weaker. My own sense is that the stories of the earlier period were better than the later period as the mists of time allow the author a little more freedom to work his magic.

Despite the unevenness of the stories, I enjoyed the book. The book left me with a sense of the city and how it changed. In particular, it sharpened my sense of the role of religion in the state. Roman religious ritual and practice was intimately bound up with the state itself. Knowing that a powerufl new religion lurks just over the horizon I wonder how much of that awareness was the author's work versus my own impression. Regardless, I can smell the danger to the Roman state just around the corner and am eager to read the next book, Empire. (Empire starts at roughly the death or Augustus and continues through about 500 years).

I enjoyed the book. IV out of V stars. Historical Fiction Roma by Saylor is a very fun read. I enjoyed it quite a bit and would have given it 5 stars, save for the last part dealing with Caesar. But we will get to that.

Roma is a historical fiction novel that weaves in mythology and history to tell the tale of Rome. Starting in 1000 BC, it tells the story of Rome through the vehicle of the Potitus and Pinari clans.
The tale covers the foundation of Rome and heads into the stories of Romulus and Remus, continuing through major events of Roman history. I especially enjoyed the maps showing the growth of the city and where the important monuments were located. As someone who travels a lot, I always appreciate knowing about the cities I wander around in-it gives a wonderful context for the sights I see.

While 80% of the book is superb, it is Saylor's attempt to involve the Pinarius clan in the events of Caesar and Octavian where it misses a beat. His interpretation of Julius Caesar is a bit off and not consistent with actual history- from the story about the pirates who had kidnapped JC (no they weren't caught partying, Caesar was able to find their hidden base by counting the number of coves that lead to their hideout), to the relationship between Antony and Caesar (Saylor neglects to point out Antony was somewhat involved with the conspirators)..there are some odd takes on the actual history. Perhaps artistic license? The same could be said of the small part devoted to Octavian. I'm not sure where he got the idea that Octavian wasn't a handsome individual. All the art, as well as busts of the young Octavian (which I saw in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence) show the reverse. Also, Octavian NEVER called himself Emperor, he preferred the title First Man in Rome. Just saying.

But do not let a very small part of a large tale keep you from enjoying this wonderful book. I truly thought the blending of myth and history in the first parts to be superb. If you are looking for a wonderful read about the foundations and early history of Rome-then this historical fiction is great for you. It does not give a great deal of historical detail, and should not be considered a history book, it is a great historical fiction work set in ancient Rome. Historical Fiction Excellent fiction. If I were to recommend a book to a child in order for them to learn more about Romans, this would be it.

For the more experienced reader, Livy would suffice. Historical Fiction

Steven Saylor ã 8 Read

Este livro é uma saga épica de Roma, da cidade e do povo romano, que abraca um período de um milhar de anos e acompanha as aventuras e desventuras de duas famílias, ao longo de sucessivas gerações. Entretecendo a história, a lenda e as mais recentes descobertas arqueológicas numa narrativa fascinante, confere nova vida aos dramas vividos nos primeiros mil anos da cidade - desde a sua fundação pelos malfadados Rómulo e remo até ao assínio de Júlio César. Uma epopeia em todos os sentidos da palavra e o título mais aclamado de Saylor. Roma (Roma, #1)

Marvellous sweeping saga by the author of the Gordianus the Finder books.

There are two families, cousins, this is their story interwined with that of Rome. From pre-history to the end of the Republic, the story of these families moves with that of Rome.

I love Steven Saylor's reasoning behind some of the more arcane rituals of Roman religiosity.

Saylor has a lively imagination and has created a thoroughly believable background to the city-state that was Rome.

Well written and impeccably researched, Roma is an excellent read. Historical Fiction An epic biography of the city, spanning a thousand years from the first meeting of traders across the as-yet unnamed hills to the rise of Augustus Caesar. Legendary figures such as Romulus and Remus are made historical, and Saylor even gives one possible source for the birth of the legends of Hercules and his vanquishing of the monster Cacus. Obviously, with a tome this vast, the narrative skips staccato-like over decades and centuries, but Saylor makes stops at all the high and low points: the rise and fall of the hero-turned traitor Coriolanus; the sack of Rome by the Gauls; the invasion of Hannibal; the attempt of the Gracchi to reform the class system and their subsequent assassination; the rise and death of Julius Caesar.

I was mostly disappointed in this book. In many ways it reminded me of Edward Rutherfurd’s Sarum, also the epic biography of a city that follows the rise and fall in fortunes of very old families in the city. This book has some of Sarum’s flaws, as well, especially its didactic, lecturing tone. I’m a fan of Saylor’s Sub Rosa series, and sadly, I didn’t get that feel of being totally immersed in a time and culture that I do in the Gordianus books. For the most part, these characters don’t visit the baths or watch gladiators or visit slave markets or play ancient dice games or walk dusty streets shoulder to shoulder with slaves, soldiers, and philosophers; they sit around and explain their surroundings. It’s understandable that Saylor wants to keep the readers abreast of the years of history he must perforce glide over, but the result is a book that is often dry and extremely exposition-heavy, particularly between eras. I found myself wondering how it would sound if in a novel set during, say, World War II, a character were to say to another, “You know, of course, how Germany’s dictator, Hitler, has invaded Poland, and that our current leader, Churchill, advocates nothing but total war, in stark contrast to his predecessor Chamberlain, who is popularly regarded as an appeaser.” It would sound forced and wholly artificial, just as Saylor’s quite similar explanations do. Even worse, his exposition is not limited to historical forces. Saylor has characters saying such things as “My son, Gaius, and my two daughters…” to people who are their close friends. Given the length of the book and the number of personages in it, this is understandable and perhaps the most efficient way to introduce new concepts and characters, but, again, it has an artificial ring. For these reasons, I enjoyed the book best when Saylor was sticking to history that was educated guesses (the very early days shrouded in legend), or the later, Augustian, years when everything had been established. Historical Fiction 4.5 stars. This was a very engaging, interesting and fun to read. Spaning about 1000 years of ancient Rome's history following two family's through time this was much better then I expected. Thought it would be hard to connect with the story with all the time jumping but it was much more engaging and entertaining then I thought and I highly recommend it Historical Fiction -En novela, independientemente de los resultados, los experimentos siempre se agradecen. Al menos la intención-.

Género. Novela Histórica.

Lo que nos cuenta. Mil años de Historia (ni de Roma exactamente, si nos ponemos estrictos, ni todos ellos, en realidad) en clave de ficción, retratados desde la perspectiva de supuestos testigos de excepción pero secundarios en el devenir de los acontecimientos.

¿Quiere saber más del libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/... Historical Fiction Good book, but not as fun as Saylor's Gordianus the Finder novels/stories.

I think my problem here is the same that I have with lots of historical fiction -- or at least that branch of historical fiction which tries to cover decades & centuries in the course of one novel: you don't get to stay with any one character long enough to really care about them.

The only author I've read who dealt with this satisfactorily is Edward Rutherfurd (I can't recommend his book Sarum enough). Every family member he focused on across the scope of British history was strangely similar to his ancestors, so much so that in my head, they all looked like the same person, even though they were separated by centuries. :-)

But I digress. The book is well-written & full of interesting tidbits about Roman history. Just what it says on the tin. If that's what you're looking for, you'll be well-served here. Historical Fiction