The Venus Throw (Roma Sub Rosa) - Hardcover

Saylor, Steven

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312119127 ISBN 13: 9780312119126

Publisher: St Martins Pr, 1995

Synopsis

In an ancient Rome torn apart by corruption and decadence, Gordianus the Finder investigates the brutal assassinations of several Egyptian envoys and finds himself in the midst of a deadly and seductive game of murder and intrigue.

About this title

Review

Steven Saylor's series of thrillers about Gordianus the Finder play cleverly with what we think we know about the last days of the Roman Republic. Gordianus does the legwork for prosecutors and defenders in a system of trials which have become increasingly politicised; even his former patron Cicero has become less interested in justice than in winning and Gordianus is, almost notoriously, the last honest man in Rome. Most of his cases deal with murder trials in which Cicero appeared--part of the fun of reading Saylor is his attentive reading of the great advocate's brilliantly partisan rhetoric. And for those less interested in such intellectual games, the books are attractively atmospheric, showing a Rome still small enough for everyone to know each other's business. Here Gordianus finds himself investigating the murder of a former mentor, Dio, a philosopher and leader of an embassy from Egypt; the triumvirs, Pompey, Caesar and Crassus, are contemplating annexing Egypt and its exiled king is only too prepared to act as their catspaw. And Gordianus finds himself the ally of Clodius and Clodia, the two most notoriously dissolute siblings ...There is nothing so deceptive as what we think we know and Gordianus is as often tricked here as is the reader. --Roz Kaveney

Review

"Imaginative . . . Saylor's style is smooth . . . A absorbing look at a time when men tried to rule themselves wisely and failed."--"San Francisco Chronicle"

"Saylor writes with vision and clarity, balancing sound historical scholarship with a gift for storytelling."--"Anniston Star"

"Engrossing . . . Intensely dramatic . . . Erotic, funny, compelling . . . A bona fide page-turner."--"Detroit Free Press"

"Steven Saylor transports you to Ancient Rome with spellbinding effectiveness."--"Austin Chronicle"

"Engrossing . . . Simmering with eroticism . . . An absorbing brew of Rome's decay."--"Publishers Weekly"

"Finely etched historical background . . . The finest flower yet of Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa Series."--"Kirkus Reviews "

Imaginative . . . Saylor's style is smooth . . . A absorbing look at a time when men tried to rule themselves wisely and failed. "San Francisco Chronicle"

Saylor writes with vision and clarity, balancing sound historical scholarship with a gift for storytelling. "Anniston Star"

Engrossing . . . Intensely dramatic . . . Erotic, funny, compelling . . . A bona fide page-turner. "Detroit Free Press"

Steven Saylor transports you to Ancient Rome with spellbinding effectiveness. "Austin Chronicle"

Engrossing . . . Simmering with eroticism . . . An absorbing brew of Rome's decay. "Publishers Weekly"

Finely etched historical background . . . The finest flower yet of Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa Series. "Kirkus Reviews""

Imaginative . . . Saylor's style is smooth . . . A absorbing look at a time when men tried to rule themselves wisely and failed. San Francisco Chronicle

Saylor writes with vision and clarity, balancing sound historical scholarship with a gift for storytelling. Anniston Star

Engrossing . . . Intensely dramatic . . . Erotic, funny, compelling . . . A bona fide page-turner. Detroit Free Press

Steven Saylor transports you to Ancient Rome with spellbinding effectiveness. Austin Chronicle

Engrossing . . . Simmering with eroticism . . . An absorbing brew of Rome's decay. Publishers Weekly

Finely etched historical background . . . The finest flower yet of Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa Series. Kirkus Reviews

"

"Imaginative . . . Saylor's style is smooth . . . A absorbing look at a time when men tried to rule themselves wisely and failed." --San Francisco Chronicle

"Saylor writes with vision and clarity, balancing sound historical scholarship with a gift for storytelling." --Anniston Star

"Engrossing . . . Intensely dramatic . . . Erotic, funny, compelling . . . A bona fide page-turner." --Detroit Free Press

"Steven Saylor transports you to Ancient Rome with spellbinding effectiveness." --Austin Chronicle

"Engrossing . . . Simmering with eroticism . . . An absorbing brew of Rome's decay." --Publishers Weekly

"Finely etched historical background . . . The finest flower yet of Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa Series." --Kirkus Reviews

Edition details

• Publisher: St Martins Pr
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0312119127
• ISBN 13: 9780312119126
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 308