Imperium by Robert Harris
January 10th 2007 09:00
Imperium by Robert Harris
It follows the mercurial rise of a young senator called Cicero in Roman politics. The novel is narrated by Tiro, Cicero's slave and now his invaluable amanuensis. Tiro had even invented shorthand to keep up with the senator's incessant flow of words. In history, there was an actual biography of Cicero written by Tyro which is now lost to us. Some of the conceit of this novel is to supply the re-imagined life of Cicero by Tyro.
In the beginning Cicero is a rookie senator who has worked hard to improve his oratory but his rigorous training makes the second best lawyer in Rome but does make him the political start he wanted to be. He is married to Terentia, an aristocratic woman who is conscious that he is married beneath her station but also fiercely protective of her home and hearth. He has a precious daughter called Tullia who is the apple of his eye.
This then is the world of Cicero until one day a man called Sthenius knocks his door. He is a vicitm of the corrupt exertion of a powerful governor called Verres. Verres has not only dispossessed Sthenius of his possessions but also has a orders his execution. Verres is politically well-connected and Cicero would be pleading the case of well an underdog. But as he realises the extent of Verres' depredations and comes to know that the first best lawyer in Rome is pleading on his behalf, Cicero takes the plunge. Thus starts one of the most interesting court cases in history of law.
As the case proceeds, inspite of some heavy challenges, Cicero also recognises the potential for his advancement: he can become an aedile or perhaps an praetorian based on the outcome of this case. And there is also that small matter of justice in his heart. The case won, Cicero is a big name and a huge star and now starts the second part of the novel with Cicero lunching with the bigwigs and being part of the conspiracies of the heavyweights.
When I first heard of the title, I immediately thought that this will be one more oblique references to the supposed current imperium. I was not wide off the mark. By the end of the period portrayed here, Rome turned from a republic into an empire, with Julius Caesar as its first emperor. This provides the all too familiar pop culture reference (remember Star Wars?) and since a Republican is in office these days, the reference is inescapable and not so oblique. Harris does not just stop at that of course, he also likens 9/11 attacks to pirate raids on Rome which started the power struggle that resulted the end of the republic. Translation. America's days as a republic are numbered. Boohoo.
As a reporter for BBC, Harris must have had the opportunity to observe the political life up close and Harris fills the novel with those little details that you'd find in a political gossip column. For all its glibness nevertheless, Imperium is a snappy, craftily engaged and mightily entertaining novel. Perhaps it's to do with Cicero who is drawn creditably by Harris. Perhaps it's to do with the ancient era called Rome whose magic is still potent. Whatever be the reason, I was charmed and so will you.
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