Imperium (novel)
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| Imperium | |
 First edition cover |
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| Author | Robert Harris. |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Historical novel |
| Publisher | Hutchinson |
| Publication date | 4 September 2006 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 416 pp (first edition, hardback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-09-180095-1 (first edition, hardback) |
| Preceded by | Pompeii |
Imperium is a 2006 novel by Robert Harris. It is a fictionalised biography of Cicero, told through the first-person narrator of his secretary Tiro, beginning with the prosecution of Verres. It was serialised as the Book at Bedtime on BBC Radio 4 from 4th to 15th September 2006, read by Douglas Hodge. An abridged audiobook on compact disc is available, read by British actor Oliver Ford Davies. Unabridged audiobooks on compact disc are also available, read by Simon Jones and Bill Wallis.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
Imperium tells the story of Cicero's early career until the point at which he becomes a consul. It follows three main events: the trial of Gaius Verres (a corrupt governor); a political crisis involving Pompey the Great and his arch-rival Crassus; and Cicero's election campaign and election as consul.
[edit] Quotes
"Sometimes it is foolish to articulate an ambition too early - exposing it prematurely to the laughter and skepticism of the world can destroy it before it is even properly born. But sometimes the opposite occurs, and the very act of mentioning a thing makes it suddenly seem possible, even plausible. That was how it was that night. When Cicero pronounced the word 'consul' he planted it in the ground like a standard for us all to admire. And for a moment we glimpsed the brilliant, starry future through his eyes, and saw that he was right: that if he took down Verres, he had a chance; that he might - just - with luck - go all the way to the summit..."
[edit] Release details
- 2006, UK, Hutchinson (ISBN 0-09-180095-1), Pub date 4 September 2006, hardback (First edition)
- 2006, UK, Simon & Schuster (ISBN 0-7432-6603-X), Pub date 26 September 2006, hardback
[edit] External links
- A little bit of politics (interview), Observer, 3rd September 2006
- Putting the past together (review), Guardian, 2nd September 2006
- 'Digested read' (parody) by Jim Crace
- Der letzte Republikaner (interview, German), Telepolis, 11th November 2006
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