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And for those people who know nothing about Shakespeare's' Julius Caesar or seen any of the Hollywood movies, I guess I've given the plot away!
That is one of the problems with knowing the outcome of a story, will the story line just meander to that inevitable end and we close the book feeling cheated.
Not with this book! Valerio Massimo Manfredi brings his skills and knowledge as a Italian historian, writer, archaeologist and journalist to bear and has written a gripping yarn that is contextually and historically plausible. The story begins on the 8 March at 6am and the clock ticks down, chapter by chapter, as several plots (one to prevent the assassination the other ensure the assassination) wind their way to their ultimate conclusion. Manfredi is able to delve into the main characters' minds and we, as the reader, get a sense of the political intrigue, the deep loyalties toward Caesar and the hostility and hated, although, directed at Julius Caesar, were more towards what he represented. The story grips you and, although you may know the result, there is a climactic build up over 19 chapters as the net is slowly drawn around Caesar. The final chapters continue the political intrigue with Mark Antony revealing what could be considered as the ultimate coup de grace.
Manfredi provides a helpful insight into the history and context to the story by including a list of characters. In it we discover, who of his characters were real people who existed at the time, who were totally fictitious, or who were fictitious but developed from real people. This section is also useful to understand the whys and wherefors of the political relationships and attitudes, and, life and structure of Roman society at the time.
An enjoyable and suspenseful read and, as a valuable adjunct, a short history lesson on 8 days in the life and times of Julius Caesar.
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