Conspirata

A Novel of Ancient Rome

By: Robert Harris

Narrated by: Simon Jones

Length: 14 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

On the eve of Marcus Cicero's inauguration as consul of Rome, the grisly death of a boy sends ripples of fear through a city already wracked by civil unrest, crime, and debauchery of every kind. Felled by a hammer, his throat slit and his organs removed, the young slave appears to have been offered as a human sacrifice, forbidden as an abomination in the Roman Republic.

For Cicero, the ill forebodings of this hideous murder only increase his frustrations and the dangers he already faces as Rome's leader: elected by the people but despised by the heads of the two rival camps, the patricians and populists.

Caught in a political shell game that leaves him forever putting out fires only to have them ignite elsewhere, Cicero plays both for the future of the republic and his very life. There is a plot to assassinate Cicero, abetted by a rising young star of the Roman senate named Gaius Julius Caesar - and it will take all the embattled consul's wit, strength, and force of will to stop it and keep Rome from becoming a dictatorship.

In this second novel of his Roman trilogy, following the best-selling Imperium, Robert Harris once again weaves a compelling and historically accurate tale of intrigue told in the wise and compassionate voice of Cicero's slave and private secretary, Tiro. In the manner of I, Claudius, Harris vividly evokes ancient Rome and its politics for today's listeners, documenting a world not unlike our own - where the impulse toward dominance competes with the risk of overreach, where high-minded ideals can be a liability, and where someone is always waiting in the wings for a chance to set the world on fire.

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend us your ears: listen to another Novel of Ancient Rome.

©2010 Robert Harris (P)2010 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"Republican Rome, with all its grandeur and corruption, has rarely been made as vivid....The allure of power and the perils that attend it have seldom been so brilliantly anatomized in a thriller." ( The Sunday Times, London)

Excellent

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and can not wait for the conclusion. Both the story and the narrator are excellent. If you enjoy historical fiction then I would highly recommend this one, and the first one in the series (Imperium)

Excellent

This trilogy is my first look into the daily lives of Roman's. I'm enthralled and imagine I'll listen to then all again.

The House of Cards of Ancient Rome

Greatly enjoying the continued adventures of Cicero and his badass secretary. On to part three!

Great Listen for Roman History Fans

Enjoyed this book. Would love to have met Cicero. Fascinating man living in fascinating times.

Historical Fiction at Its Best

This is a wonderful audiobook--both in the story and the narration. I was bowled over by "Imperium," the first book in Harris's Cicero trilogy, and was dubious that the second book could be as good. I'm happy to say that my fears were unfounded. Admittedly, the story has a less clear moral arc and is darker than that of Cicero's rise to Consul, but that is the real difference between rising to power and wielding it. This is a more complex book, but every bit as gripping: from the Catiline Conspiracy to the rise of Caesar resulting in Cicero's exile. No spoilers here: this is all in the history books. Yet, thanks in part to Simon Jones's excellent narration, I felt such empathy for the lead characters that I actually found myself hoping it would turn out differently.

Good historical fiction adds a depth of understanding that a pure history book cannot. Conspirata is a great example of doing just that.

Politics and Prestige

"Conspirata" is the story of Cicero during and after his Roman consulship. It was a period of intrigues and power plays, with patricians and plebes struggling for dominion. Winding though all the plots is the crafty and subtle hand of Julius Caesar, carefully building towards replacing the government of the Republic with his autocratic rule. In these times, courts were influenced not merely by facts in a case, but by the legal representatives oratatorical skill, dignitas and authoritas. Cicero is portrayed as complex character of faults and honor. He overcomes humble ancestry with superior ability and a genius for oratory. This is, in my opinion, an excellent and consistently fascinating novel.

Marcus Cicero as Consul

This is book two of a trilogy about Marcus Cicero. The book is a historical novel which is a great way to learn history. Simon Jones does a great job with the narration. The first book took us his through Cicero's early life up to his election as Consul of Rome. "Conspirata" tells us the story of Cicero's time as Consul and all the political drama of Rome at the time. Julies Caesar's coming to power during the four years after Cicero is out of office. The politics apparently has not changed over the year but at least now they do not kill each other. The story is told from the view point of his private secretary the slave Tiro. Tiro is given his freedom at the end of the book but chose instead to follow Cicero into exile. Looking forward to the last volume of the trilogy.

Great read

I truly enjoyed this book. I like Roman history probalby dating back to my four years of Latin study in highschool. Caesar, Cicero are, fortunately, still alive in their writings and speeches. The book is a work of fiction and the trials of Cicero are engaging as any good crime novel. You do have to get over the narrator who seems to be doing an impersonation of Peter Ustinov doing his interpretaion of how Romans would sound if thay spoke English. I doubet if they were that pompous and arogant sounding. Some of the "charcters"spuuttered their English so stiffly that if they were any moe Englsih they wouldn't tbe able to speak at all. You get over it because it is a good story. Given that...it is a very good read and I enjoyed every minute of it.

CICERO CONQUERS

GREAT BOOK, SUPERB SERIES. BEFORE LISTENING TO THE FINAL VOLUME, I RE-READ THE FIRST TWO BOOKS AND FOUND THEM EVEN MORE FASCINATING AND SMOOTHLY WRITTEN THAN I REMEMBERED. ONE REALLY CARES ABOUT THIS AMAZING HISTORICAL PERSONAGE.
EXCELLENT READING AND CHARACTER PORTRAYAL BY SIMON JONES. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, BEST DONE IN SEQUENCE,

Harris Keeps getting better and better!

His other books are very good. This one is the best yet. Historical Fiction at it's finest. Excellent Plot, Narration, Character Development.

I really enjoyed this Audio Book