Rubicon by Tom Holland

Perhaps it's not as tightly written as Persian Fire; perhaps it's the name of the characters;  perhaps it's the soap opera nature of the story of the Roman Republic; nonetheless the read was not as compelling necessitating immediacy and a compulsory read. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the book fine, enjoyed the history of the republic's demise. It just that didn't capture my imagination.

Rubicon is a consumable history of the dying decades of the Roman Republic, from the great civil war (circ 500 bc) with Rome's Italian allies to the reign of August Caesar (circa 30 bc). It traces the events and characters that propelled the final throes of the five hundred year old Republican government. His writing style is again more like a novel than a historical lecture which makes the content accessible on the one hand but at times can feel more like a syndicated gossip column. 

An american audience can't help but draw connections between Rome's Republic and modern day America (note the book was published in 2005 long before our current dictator)

As you read you can debate whether stronger executive power in the face of adversity, balanced against the perceived loss of liberties accruing from increased executive power, a timeless theme, is inevitable. I think it is . That's how it was back then and frighteningly provides a  compelling reason to look to the past -  it's too close to what could happen tomorrow.

Persian Fire. The first world empire and battle for the west. by Tom Holland

Persian Fire by Tom Holland

Well I wish I had read this before our family trip to Greece and Turkey! A very engulfing  history of Persia as well as the founding of democracy in Greece circa 480 bc.   Holland recasts the Greek-Persian conflict as the first clash in a long-standing tension between East and West, echoing now in ISIS pretensions to a Muslim caliphate. In the words of one reviewer Holland shows ...' that he could master a complex and fast-moving narrative from ancient history and make it a pleasure for both general readers and the learned. '

He modernizes the first written Greek history  and how they outlasted Xerxes the king of kings (from Persia ) What happened is that the victories gave the ancient Greeks a sense of superiority over easterners which their modern epigones (an undistinguished follower or imitator- great word eh. I borrowed it! I didn't know it before today) in Europe and America, who did not carry a shield at Marathon, or row a boat in salamis, nevertheless seek to enjoy.  Had the Greeks been defeated in the epochal naval battle at Salamis, not only would the West have lost its first struggle for independence and survival, but it is unlikely that there would ever have been such an entity as the West at all.

A side note  I came away knowing more details of the Spartan life than I needed to know. They were extreme.

Totally enjoyed the book. And am eagerly anticipating Rubicon - let me learn of Rome and of Caesar!