"The First Man in Rome was not the best man: he was the First among other men who were his equals…To be the First Man in Rome was something far better than kingship…"
In the first century BC, at the height of the Roman Republic, two men set their sights on becoming the First Man—the Roman more respected than any other. Marius, a heroic man of strength and means, lacks the noble blood to contend for the First Man but overcomes his common status when he marries into the patrician house of Caesar. Sulla, a pleasure-seeking aristocrat without money of his own, is transformed by his ambitions into a fierce and daring warrior. Together the two men will shape history as they are thrust into a raging storm, engaging in deadly political contests and waging far-off wars for a state battling to hold on to its enormous power.
Rich with unforgettable characters and unerring historical accuracy, The First Man in Rome is a vivid tale of power, treachery, and a great Republic hurtling towards civil war.
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"Finally, after 6 months of stopping and starting, I was able to finish this book. The delay was due to the hecticness of my schedule rather than the content - quite the contrary, this was a fascinating look into the people and circumstances that brought about the fall of the Roman republic. It's written in the style of a classical, old-fashioned epic, so the depictions of battles and sex scenes are not graphic and, in fact, can be slightly disappointing. I know that, after hundreds of pages of build-up, I was really looking forward to the showdown between Gaius Marius and the Cimbri Germans, but the author avoided going into extensive detail about the battle itself and that was a bit of a letdown. She chooses instead of focus on intrigues and one-on-one confrontations. Her knowledge of Roman military tactics and the geography and topography of that region are extensive, and she painstakingly details both. Some readers may find this tedious, but I was engrossed. All in all, this was a worthwhile read but isn't for the faint of heart. Can't wait to read the rest of the series."
—
Colleen (4 out of 5 stars)