The First Man in Rome

October 1, 1990
If nothing else, this hefty tome, the first of a projected series, proves that McCullough ( The Thornbirds ) can write a serious historical novel that edifies while it entertains. Evoking with impeccably researched, meticulous detail the political and social fabric of Rome in the last days of the Republic, McCullough demonstrates a thoroughgoing understanding of an age in which birth and blood lines determine one's fate, and the auctoritas and dignitas of the Roman family mean more than any personal relationship. When the narrative opens in 110 B.C., this rigidly stratified social order has begun to erode. The protagonist, Gaius Marius, is the symbol of that gradual change. He is the embodiment of the novel's title, a genuine New Man who transcends his Italian origins and earns the ultimate political accolade--the consulship--for an unprecedented six terms. A brilliant military leader, Marius defeats the invading barbarian German tribes. Wily, shrewd and pragmatic, Marius is not above using bribery and chicanery to achieve political ends. Nor, indeed, are his fellow officials, whose sophisticated machinations are in odd juxtaposition with their penchant for jeering at one another, which leads to fisticuffs, brawls and even assassinations. As usual, McCullough tells a good story, describing political intrigue, social infighting and bloody battles with authoritative skill, interpolating domestic drama and even a soupcon of romance. The glossary alone makes fascinating reading; in it, for example, McCullough reasons that Roman men did not wear ``under-drawers.'' The narrative's measured pace, however, is further slowed by the characters' cumbersome names, which require concentrated attention. Those willing to hunker down for a stretch of close reading will be rewarded with a memorable picture of an age with many aspects that share characteristics ontemporaneous with our own. Maps and illustrations by the author. 300,000 first printing; BOMC main selection; author tour. (Oct.).

This impeccably researched historical novel of the Roman Empire centers upon two men, outcasts for differing reasons, who strive for recognition by using their brilliance and their cunning. Marius, the general who created the modern-day model for the army and defeated the invading German hordes, is also the devoted husband of Julia Caesar, as well as an articulate senator and powerful First Man in Rome. Sulla, his brother-in-law and cohort, allies himself with the underbelly of the center of the world. Jill Tanner is masterful with Latin and Greek, with townships in the provinces, and with foreign kings and scoundrels. She never falters with the crowds of amassing Roman citizens and allows each character to emote or to plot or to murder. This extraordinarily rich experience is a saga to be revisited. B.H.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine