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    Conspirata: A Novel of Ancient Rome
    Conspirata: A Novel of Ancient Rome
    Conspirata: A Novel of Ancient Rome
    Audiobook14 hours

    Conspirata: A Novel of Ancient Rome

    Written by Robert Harris

    Narrated by Simon Jones

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    About this audiobook

    Conspirata is “a portrait of ancient politics as a blood sport,” raves The New York Times. As he did with Imperium, Robert Harris again turns Roman history into a gripping thriller as Cicero faces a new power struggle in a world filled with treachery, violence, and vengeance.

    On the eve of Cicero’s inauguration as consul of Rome, a grisly discovery sends fear rippling through a city already racked by unrest. A young slave boy has been felled by a hammer, his throat slit and his organs removed, apparently as a human sacrifice. For Cicero, the ill omens of this hideous murder only increase his dangerous situation: elected leader by the people but despised by the heads of the two rival political camps. Caught in a shell game that leaves him forever putting out fires only to have them ignite elsewhere, Cicero plays for the future of the republic…and his life. There is a plot to assassinate him, abetted by a rising young star of the Roman senate named Gaius Julius Caesar—and it will take all the embattled consul’s wit, strength, and force of will to stop the plot and keep Rome from becoming a dictatorship.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateFeb 2, 2010
    ISBN9780743566797
    Author

    Robert Harris

    Robert Harris is the author of Pompeii, Enigma, and Fatherland. He has been a television correspondent with the BBC and a newspaper columnist for the London Sunday Times and The Daily Telegraph. His novels have sold more than ten million copies and been translated into thirty languages. He lives in Berkshire, England, with his wife and four children.

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    Reviews for Conspirata

    4/5

    571 ratings69 reviews

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    • 3/5
      For a novel titled "Imperium," I found it odd that Cicero only manages to HAVE imperium for about the last six pages of the novel. I did enjoy following the story of his rise to power, though I found that I couldn't like him very much. I guess I find it hard to respect a character who is willing to change his stand or his loyalties simply to ensure his power increases. Welcome to politics, I guess. I also give credit to the author for not avoiding those personality flaws to make Cicero seem more heroic or lovable. I suppose there will be another installment, since Cicero's exploits certainly didn't end the day he attained the consulship.
    • 5/5
      Harris is an excellent author, painting characters that are believable and sympathetic and putting them in tight situations.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed the first 1/3 of this book and then I lost interest.
    • 5/5
      Robert Harris does great justice to Rome and it’s people
    • 5/5
      The depiction of Rome is vivid and the characters are drawn clearly. It's a great read.It's disturbing, however, to learn that the same electoral shenanigans that are going on today were going on 2,000 years ago. Then, as now, there were constant attempts to limit the franchise. Then, as now, politicians used illusory crises to grab power and restrict civil liberties. Does nothing ever change?
    • 5/5
      This book was fantastic. I felt as though I was reading a modern biography. I was aware that Cicero was an important figure in the Rome of Caesar's day, but I gained new insight into his importance in the development of democracy. Now I am reading through some of his letters and speeches which I found in google books.
    • 4/5
      Tiro, the confidential secretary of a Roamn seantor opens the door to a terrified stranger he sets in motion a chain of events that will propel his master into one of the most suspensfulcourtroom dramas in history. The stranger is a Sicilian a victim of the island's governor, the Senator is Cicero, an ambitious lawyer and great orator who is determined to obtain Imperium - suprem power in the state.
    • 4/5
      Quite good fictionalization of the life of Cicero, as told by his slave Tiro. The dialog and characterizations all worked, the only minor complaint is that there seemed to be no unifying element to the plot. Cicero went to Sicily, spoke in court, plotted with and against various people.I could see no direct evidence that this novel is going to be part of a series, but there was a strange note in the afterword about acknowleding other sources "in due course." Hmmm.
    • 5/5
      An absorbing read! I read Lustrum (the 2nd one in the series) before I read this but it didn't really matter. Follows Cicero's rise to consul from the perspective of his slave secretary Tiro. Very enjoyable narrative in one of my favourite periods of history. Enjoyed the back story of Pompey and Caesar.Looking forward to number 3 in the series coming this autumn.
    • 4/5
      Lustrum by Robert Harris - good

      Those that know me, know I'm quite obsessive about the near (by that I mean Mediterranean and Middle East) Ancient World and love to travel to see the remains of past glories. Surprisingly though, I know very little about the history of Republican Rome, so this book was very interesting for me as it fictionalises the life of Cicero through the eyes of his slave/secretary Tiro. That some of the characters are real is undoubted and the author has based the books on the speeches of Cicero. The story that is woven around these speeches can only be imagined - as with all historical fiction.

      I found that Robert Harris brought the sights, sounds and, sadly, smells of Rome to life for me. I read his book Pompeii years ago in my pre-review era and found it a little far fetched and predictable (and I don't mean because Vesuvius erupted, more about his plotting round it), but also vividly enjoyable.

      I didn't necessarily like all the characters that the author gave these people but I did like all the plotting and conniving that he gave them and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

      The only downside: I only realised part way through, that I should have read Imperium (also on my bookshelf) first as it deals with Cicero's earlier life. Ah well, if I leave it long enough it shouldn't spoil it too much to read them in the wrong order.
    • 3/5
      This is a biography of Cicero, sort of, a bit of historical fiction as it is told by his secretary Tiro. Historical references tell us that Tiro wrote a real biography of his former master, but it was apparently lost in the dark ages following the fall of Rome. Harris tells us that the events in the book are true and he has imagined how they might have happened without telling us anything that is not true.I enjoyed this a fair bit. Harris does bring history to life. Cicero doesn't come across as a likeable fellow. In fact, no one with the exception of our narrator Tiro is very endearing. I am glad that Harris didn't try to paint Cicero pretty and gave us something that feels real. Although I found this interesting, I never felt really pulled into it and engaged. 3 - 3 1/2 stars
    • 4/5
      I have read virtually all this author's books, and he just keeps getting better, both as a writer and as a teller of tales. Until Imperium I thought of Harris as a writer of high-class airport books - nothing wrong in that! - but this transcends that genre altogether. A superb, engrossing novel.
    • 4/5
      Really well written and researched story of Cicero's rise to power and life in ancient Rome. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Kept me totally hooked. The parallels in what happened then and what is happening with government in the US now are interesting.
    • 3/5
      I enjoyed his book Pompeii more than this one, but this was pretty good, good enough for me to get through in just about 3 weeks -- pretty good for me. Interesting characters, interesting time, I love the trials and reasoned arguments!
    • 5/5
      I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had just the right blend of historical information, drama, characterization and even humor. Even though the outcome of the main throughline of the plot (will Cicero achieve his goal of becoming ruler of Rome?) is known by anyone who's familiar with the history of ancient Rome, Harris manages to maintain a surprising level of suspense and excitement. Note that I "read" this book in unabridged audiobook format from Audible, and found the narration to be excellent.
    • 5/5
      Utterly superb historical fiction! The book follows the progression of Roman laywer Cicero through to the highest echelons of Roman power, as seen through the eyes of his slave and secretary Tiro (also the inventor of shorthand!). As great as Cicero's true story might be, what makes this book such a great read is the fascinating picture of ancient Roman life painted by Harris, and the rich cast of characters he assembles. Sure, it might not be everyones cup of tea, but I don't think historical fiction gets much better than this. Masterful work from Mr Harris!
    • 5/5
      Great book, historically heavy, with an interesting storyline underlined with what would seem, without further research, a technically correct setting. Similar in style to Michal Chrichton. Other good books by author include "Pompeii".
    • 5/5
      Better than his other books. A good picture of Cicero and his life for those interested in Roman times.
    • 3/5
      It's very well written. I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second, I think. There was a little bit in the middle where it seemed to get bogged down just politics and less "intrigue" of what was going on. If you are into politics, I think you'll like this book more than I did. I did enjoy the book though. It also shows a darker side to Julius Caesar...
    • 5/5
      Finished the first book in the Cicero Trilogy, as usual with all Robert Harris books this was a cracking read. This book covered the early part of his political life up until he became a Consul. This book helped me clarify the political process in Ancient Rome, as well as giving the precursor for modern trials. It is a surprise Cicero made it given the enemies Cicero made along the way, including Crassus. I look forward to continuing the trilogy.
    • 5/5
      Imperium by Robert Harris is the fictionalised biography of Marcus Tullius Cicero as written by his slave secretary Tiro with whom he shares a bond of philosophy & intellect.Whilst it's a fictionalised biography the events in the book do follow history as it happened quite closely, just with various blanks filled in and some events spiced up.In terms of the actual work itself, it's a good book that's well written. It draws you into the world of ancient roman politics and intrigue then keeps you there turning page after page as Cicero climbs the latter and occasionally falls down a few rungs.Don't be deterred by the setting - it's an excellent Robert Harris book.
    • 4/5
      Imperium, a kind of historical political thriller, is mainly about the life of Cicero (up to when he becomes a consul) through the eyes of his slave, Tiro. I really enjoyed this book, because a lot of books that take place during the Roman republic and empire tend to be centered around the military men, which Cicero is decidedly not.

      I enjoyed the political intrigue quite a bit, and I like that the story was told through the eyes of his slave/freedman/secretary. While the story takes some liberties, as I would assume any historical fiction piece would do, I enjoyed looking up some of the aspects of the book to see how the book compared to known historical facts.

      I look forward to the next book in the series, and other works of Harris.
    • 5/5
      I love Cicero and have read a good deal of his speeches and letters - yes, he was a pompous old fellow, but vulnerable and human, too, and very clever. This book portrays him so accurately (to judge from the work we have left) and draws the historical background so convincingly I would seriously recommend it to people starting out on classical Latin studies to give them a true flavour of the period. Lovely, well-paced, endearing and exciting.
    • 3/5
      A perfectly serviceable fictionalized account of Cicero's life and career up to the consulship, as told by his slave, Tiro. Largely historically accurate, Harris of course takes liberties to fill in the gaps and personalize the story, based largely on histories of the time and Cicero's own writings. A light amusement, this book would probably be most interesting (or perhaps most infuriating) to students of the late Roman Republic.
    • 3/5
      It started off OK, but it finished sort of 'meh'. Not bad, just not all that good. Very detailed, and seemed to be historically accurate (ancient Rome is not a well-known era for me), but for much of the book there really didn't seem to be anything happening. Guess political pot boilers aren't my cup of tea. I did enjoy Harris' writing style, so will probably read others of his work at some time.
    • 5/5
      It’s a great audio book. Book 2 in the series. I didn’t love where it ended then I realized there is a third book in the series that’s not on Scribd. Called Dictator. Must read all 3. Worth the read.
    • 4/5
      Great historical novel about the political process in ancient Rome. Harris writes about the big necessities of political life: Getting out the vote, agenda setting and good old political power play. It's all here and it's fun.
    • 4/5
      An unexpectedly engrossing novel, set as a biographical memoir of Roman politican and orator Cicero. Written as a first-person narrative by his secretary (and slave) Tiro, it focuses principally on his early and mid life. Not for all readers, but if you enjoy historical fiction or the classical era, you should definitely check this title out. Medium length read (3 hours total).
    • 5/5
      Great storytelling by Robert Harris and amazing narration by Simon Jones (Brideshead Revisited and Downton Abbey film).
    • 3/5

      This book was about the life of Cicero as told by his loyal slave.  Parts of the story were very interesting, but there were some parts that dragged on quite a bit.  I liked the story's viewpoint because you were able to see various aspects of Roman life.