It is said that the victor will always be the
judge and the vanquished, the accused.
A
good historical fiction writer acts as defence lawyer for these accused and
gives them an opportunity to be heard. The best historical fiction writers are
those who can convince us, readers, that history has committed a great
disservice to these vanquished. I started reading the trilogy last year on my way to a conference interstate. I was so enthralled with the story that by the time I was back home, three days later, I have finished Brook Allen’s two books.
Part 1 (Son of Rome) of the trilogy provides a
sympathetic narrative on the early years of Marcus and how these influenced his
actions and decisions later - his mixed feelings about Julius Ceasar, his
dogged enmity towards Cicero, his relations with Publius Clodius Polcher and
Curio, his utter lack of sympathy for Octavius, and his position on the
restoration of the Republic.
Part 3 (Soldier of Fate) concludes Antonius’s
remarkable story. It narrates Marcus’s Parthian campaign which started on a
high note and horrendously went all wrong at the end; his domestic woes being
married to Octavia in Rome and Cleopatra in Egypt; the unceasing arguments with
Octavian; the disillusionment of his soldiers, and the tragic Battle of Actium. The book also provided a good view on Antonius's conflicted position: on the one hand he had his trusted seasoned Roman soldiers and strategists; on the other hand, he had Cleopatra, who provided coin and who had no qualms of making known that she was a key political player and will take an active part in the campaigns.
In between Brook’s second and third parts of the trilogy, we
have exchanged messages, book recommendations, and thoughts on ancient
Rome. She is both an amazing writer and a
gracious person! I was thrilled to join her virtual book launch of Soldier of Fate
– an exhilarating meeting of persons who share the same love for the Roman empire and
excitement at the release of the third part and conclusion of Marcus’s saga.
Without doubt, Brook Allen has ably given
Marcus Antonius his day in court. She has provided deep insights on what made Marcus
tick – why he acted the way he did, his great points, flaws, generosity, exuberance, capacity
for love, and inner demons. The beauty
of the trilogy is that while it astounds readers of the extent of the power and
might of Rome’s political and military machinery, it makes readers empathise of
what it was like to be on the other side - continuously harangued by
propaganda, bitterly abandoned by the troops, betrayed by perceived allies, and
plagued by self-doubts on how a true Roman should carry himself.
Helmets off to Brook for this wonderful trilogy and significant contribution to the ancient Roman lore!
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