Alexandria (novel)

Alexandria  
Author(s) Lindsey Davis
Cover artist Mark Edwards
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Series Marcus Didius Falco
Genre(s) Crime
Publisher Century, Mysterious Press
Publication date 5 February 2009
Media type Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages 288
ISBN 1846052882
OCLC Number 267224251
Preceded by Saturnalia

Alexandria is a crime novel by Lindsey Davis, published in 2009. It is the nineteenth in her Falco series, starring Marcus Didius Falco, Informer and Imperial Agent.

Contents

Plot introduction

The story is set in AD 77, in Alexandria, Egypt, which was at that time part of the Roman Empire. Falco and his family travel to Egypt to see two of the seven wonders of the world, the Lighthouse of Alexandria and the Great Pyramid of Giza, but are caught up in investigation into a mysterious death, and soon several deaths. The plot revolves around the Library of Alexandria, with reference to library management practice, corruption, illegal autopsies, a man-eating crocodile, and the legendary catoblepas.

Author's comment

Davis has said:[1]

“ ... [I spent some time] researching in the British Library - and since I always enjoy double use of experiences, you may find my observations reflected in scenes in the new book which are set in the legendary Great Library of Alexandria. ... Not that there could ever be academic back-stabbing, murder, arson and fraud at that wonderful building on the Euston Road and I certainly never came across an on-site autopsy of a librarian who would end up mummified! ”

See also

References

  1. ^ Davis, Lindsey (January 2009) (not yet on website as at 2009-02-17). The Lindsey Davis Newsletter. 9. Century. p. 1. http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/lindsey_davis/index.html. 

The Silver Pigs (1989) · Shadows in Bronze (1990) · Venus in Copper (1991) · The Iron Hand of Mars (1992) · Poseidon's Gold (1993) · Last Act in Palmyra (1994) · Time to Depart (1995) · A Dying Light in Corduba (1996) · Three Hands in the Fountain (1997) · Two for the Lions (1998) · One Virgin Too Many (1999) · Ode to a Banker (2000) · A Body in the Bath House (2001) · The Jupiter Myth (2002) · The Accusers (2003) · Scandal Takes a Holiday (2004) · See Delphi and Die (2005) · Saturnalia (2007) · Alexandria (2009) · Nemesis (2010)