
Persona Non Grata
A Novel of the Roman Empire
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Narrated by:
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Simon Vance
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By:
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Ruth Downie
About this listen
With Tilla getting icy greetings from his relatives, Lucius's brother-in-law mysteriously drowned at sea, and the whole Ruso family teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, it's hard to imagine an unhappier reunion. That is, until Severus, the family's chief creditor, winds up dead, and the real trouble begins.
Engrossing, intricate, and - as always - wonderfully comic, Ruth Downie's latest is a brilliant new installment in this irresistible series. This is everything we've come to expect from our charming, luckless hero.
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend us your ears: listen to another Novel of the Roman Empire.©2009 Ruth Downie (P)2009 TantorListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
Great Series
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Well done!
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What made the experience of listening to Persona Non Grata the most enjoyable?
The narrator could not be better suited for this book. Peerless.Any additional comments?
Of the first three novels in this series, this one is my favorite. It has a fiendishly complicated cast of characters. I suggest jotting down the names as they apoear in the storyline.My favorite of the first three books of the series
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better and better
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Fun
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I have (via their websites) nagged both Ms. Downie and Mr. Vance about the release of the audio version of her latest Ruso novel. It is well worth the wait! I enjoy this series so very much -- I have listened to Medicus and Terra Incognita many times.
I find the protagonists delightfully drawn, and the secondary characters unique and very engaging.
I missed Albanus in this one, though...his eagerness and simplicity are a wonderful foil for Ruso's cynicism and weariness.
The environmental background is delightfully portrayed. I felt the dry heat of southern Gaul and, with Tilla, found myself wishing for the cool, moist air of Britannia. Her conclusions about the nature of "civilization" are spot on.
Mr. Vance's narration is a perfect match for these characters. I can't imagine anyone else doing Ruso. He captures Ruso's gruff manner as well as his well-hidden empathy and heart. In this book he gives well-nuanced voice to the new characters introduced into Ruso's world. I especially enjoyed the tone of his interpretation of Marcia, Ruso's half-sister. He gives her just the right touch of adolescent whining, pouting and rebellion!
"Gods above!" I rate this as a 5 for sheer enjoyment.
Well worth the wait!
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If you could sum up Persona Non Grata in three words, what would they be?
Enjoyable listen - and funny too!What about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?
Simon Vance does a beautiful job covering all of the voices. He keeps a perfect cadence in his reading ... never rushing it but always drawing out the situational ironies (which Ruth Downie does so beautifully).Simon Vance is great!!!
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How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?
more complex charactersWhat about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?
smooth , very good tone and pacingDid Persona Non Grata inspire you to do anything?
you are kidding, right?!Any additional comments?
does what it does well -- and then you are done. snack food with some historical seasoning thrown in.fun but obvious -- like a good bowl of popcorn
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In this, the third in the series, Ruso, a Medicus from the Roman army, travels to visit his family in Gaulish Rome with his partner, Tilla, who is from the northern reaches of the empire (Scotland). While the people of the community consider Tilla a barbarian, through her eyes, we see the lack of civility of the Roman empire, from unscrupulous business practices to the barbarity of what is viewed as “entertainment” in the colosseum.
I appreciated the authenticity of this novel. It was clear that Downie had done a lot of research to create the background setting, catching the culture, society, sights, sounds, tastes, smells, of this time period. Interestingly, it was as Christianity was beginning to emerge and the reader sees this new cult/religion through the eyes of different characters.
Simon Vance is an excellent narrator, breathing life into Ruso and other characters with his voice. The story, though complicated, was easy to follow due to the writing and narration.
I’d listened to the two previous books in this series a few years ago, so they weren’t fresh in my mind, but I am glad I had them as background. Nevertheless, I do think this book stands alone, as well. Highly recommend!
Pulls You In and Won't Let You Go!
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Thank you Ruth
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