The First Man in Rome

Rating:
Summary: Wild Stuff, these Romans
Review: A delightful, gripping account of the first domino to fall leading to the end of the Roman Republic. The plot unfolds perfectly, however one must read through the next novel in the series ["The Grass Crown"] to reach that proverbial last domino. Still, "First Man" sets the stage beautifully, and is a great novel in and of itself -- drama, tragedy, and comedy all wrapped up into a neat package.

The indepth, intricate portrayal of the relationship between Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sulla (as well as that between Marius and the Senate) is necessary to understand the transformation of Rome from Republic to Empire. Still, the author manages to make it vastly entertaining. The character development is superb, particularly that of the two aforementioned main characters. Notably, McCullough brings forth a particularly fantastic grasp of the most complex character of the times: Sulla. He is decadent, deceptive, ruthlessly selfish and wicked, yet likable and charming. McCullough does a superb job of painting this complex caricature... oh, she had a grasp on him alright... one feels like one knows Sulla, understands him and the fountainhead of how he came to be what he is. This is no mean feat by this talented writer.

The book is one of the best (if not the best)researched historical fiction novels I have ever come across... and I have read many. Kudos to Ms. McCullough for this gift, and for all of the novels of the Masters of Rome series. The only way to improve on these brilliant tomes is to write another.

I'm waiting patiently.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome book!!
Review: It's hard to describe the sheer magnificence of this book. The details that McCullough offers the reader about everyday Roman life are breathtaking. This is a trip through time and a wonderfull one to say the least. I have read tons of historical fictional books (my favorites) and this book rates as one of the most thoroughly detailed books I've ever read on a subject short of being a textbook. The author takes this period and completly breathes life unto historical figures dead over 2,000 years ago and with such amazing clarity that the whole book is believable and totally engrossing.
Unfortunately the sheer size of the book can be intimidating, and it takes quite awhile to actually start getting into the book as the reader struggles a little trying to remember all the roman names. She moves from characters a little too much for my liking but it all ties in as the relationships between characters develop. There are a few chapters that are on the dull side, but theres so much inside this book that soon enough theres something to interest every reader, whether it be war, romance, or political intrigue. Gripping page turning novel its not (though at times it is), but a wonderfull highly detailed and believable look inside the incredible Roman civilization it is. Some chapters are so good that I found myself unhappy when the author moved on to another character because I was dying to read more and more about this person.
McCullough is a great writer and I appreciate that although some of the material within can be considered adult material she doesn't get overly explicit with it as alot of authors nowdays are doing.
If you have any interest at all in this subject matter get this book, you won't be disappointed.... It's a gem!

Rating:
Summary: Historical Fiction At Its Finest
Review: This series of books has been the best reading experience I've had since Michener. Ms. McCullough's research is impeccable and the plot moves along at a furious speed. The characters themselves are great, forcing you to invest time into understanding what motivates them. The 2 main characters of Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius are so well-crafted that one feels an immediate bond with them. Of all the books in this series, the first two are the best. As the author inevitably moves on to the great Ceasar, the books get bogged down. However, I would recommend all of them to anyone interested in good historical fiction and the history of Rome.

Rating:
Summary: ...Where the will of great mens forever changes the World
Review: "Audiobook"

Imagine, hours after hours immersed into the passioning tragicomedy of the pre-caesar roman republic.

Sometimes, authors of historical novel tend to focus on the facts and forget to entertain the reader. Other will make you have a good time but you will not have gotten any new knowledge out of the book. The great author achieves a good balance. This saga is right on target.

There is a little for everybody, history, love, family dispute, politics, battles...exactly as in real life. It is realist and it is easy to go along with the greatness of Marius, the Italian with humble origins who wants to be first man in Rome, to follow the devious but focused mind of Sulla, the pervert ambitious aristocrat.

But even more interesting, this is the prologue of the Caesar series and we start being acquainted with the Caesar family with Julius' grandfather. Along the book the path of that great character get slowly knitted by the great beings that were his parents and grand-parents.

For history lovers with good concentration (there are a lot of similar names) it deserves a passionate read.

Rating:
Summary: Epic
Review: A great peice of historical fiction. You will feel as if you live in Republican Rome. The authors recreation of this period is flawless. From the villas of the Palatine to the desert of Libya this book IS history. If you have ver quetioned if war was an extension of politics this book will set you straight. The two main characters are both excellent Generals and Politicians, and yet are extremely different people. I am too poor a writter to put into words the charecterizations in this book. You will love Mariu, hate Numidicus and respect Scaurus. Sulla you will both love and hate, but respect most of all. This book got me so interested in the period I read the first hand account by the historian Sallust on whose The Jugurthan War half of this book is based. If you have read this book take heart that the snail merchant's rout up the mountain strongold of Jugurtha actually happened. This book is simply exceptional.

Rating:
Summary: Superb Historical Fiction
Review: Colleen McCullough's "The First Man in Rome" expertly weaves social, political and linguistic history to create a gripping page turner. The story paints an excellent picture of the lives of individuals and the period as a whole without ever loosing the thread that pulls you to the plot's conclusion. It seems to me that this book was well researched as well and is much better than some of the other "historical" (read pure) fiction about Caeser. I highly recommend this book. Try this series and then Robert Grave's I Claudius and you can enjoy a vivid window into history from 110 B.C. until 40? A.D.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Kick-Off of Titanic Series
Review: Colleen McCullough's "The First Man in Rome" is a magnificent, towering portrait of the men (and, to a lesser extent, the women) who unknowingly bring about the destruction of the Roman Republic while trying to save it.

With an enchanting eye for detail (her description of the great lengths Romans will go to even while at war in order to protect the secret of a prized snail population is delightful), McCullouch breathes life into some of Rome's most famous and infamous characters. Gaius Marius is a provincial military man, a "hayseed with no Greek" in the eyes of most patrician Romans, desperate to prove himself because he knows, with every fiber of his bull-like being, that he is the best man in Rome. Protecting a dirty little secret that it has been foretold that Marius will be consul seven times -- an unprecedented feat, given that you had to wait ten years between terms in office -- and will become the Third Founder of Rome, Marius has the military brains and the vast fortune, but not the upbringing to rise to his destined station.

All that changes when the head of the impoverished-yet-impeccably noble Caesar clan, Julius (not *that* Julius - he comes later in the series) offers an alliance with Marius -- marriage for cash. In one fell swoop, allied with the Caesars (descended directly from Venus herself), Marius is on the rise.

Also rising, from even greater depths, is the wolflike Lucius Cornelius Sulla. Of almost as noble of birth as the Caesars, Sulla is even more destitute, forced to share his bed with women who love him desperately. Too creepy to be called sinister, depraved but not quite evil, Sulla is only too willing to use poison to achieve what ends he may. Sulla is one of McCullouch's great characters, and he far more complex than Marius.

Eventually, Marius and Sulla go to war in Africa against Rome's rival, Jugurtha, and victories there lead to Marius' command of the Roman armies against the horrifying Germans who storm out of the distant north.

More than a mere military history, although McCullouch has gift for describing the horrors of battle without too much gore, "The First Man in Rome" also throws the reader into the middle of Senate intrigue. Led by Scaurus, the Princeps Senatus, the Roman patricians do not sit idly by as Marius rises to power.

Throwing even more heft into this novel is the powerful cast of female characters. Roman society did not officially honor its women with votes, elected office, or titles, but it is clear to all and sundry that Roman women are players to be reckoned with, and this side of the story is what elevates McCullouch's efforts above and beyond so many other novels about Rome.

One advantage McCullouch uses to her advantage in this, the first novel in her "Masters of Rome" series, is that there are relatively limited surviving historical records of this time period. We have much more extant history from later years. McCullouch uses this freedom to flesh out her characters and her story as she will, and the result is wonderful. A detailed glossary, maps, and even sketches of the main characters all provide the details necessary for this time period.

A must for any fan of historical fiction or of the Roman world.

Rating:
Summary: Bling
Review: As I placed Colleen McCullough's The First Man in Rome down on the table when I had finished it, I felt anticipation at the thought of reading the second book, Fortune's Favorites. McCullough manages to incorporate the historical events of this Roman era with the typical day to day pastimes of Senators, wives, and slaves. It seems that dozens of plots occur in this rich text that are all intriguing and different, but at the end of the day she is able to tie them all into to one another and the protagonists of the tale. As a student of the Roman arena, I found myself drawn in by the history. Then questioning whether or not these events major events occurred as she so well stated. I even found myself researching the authenticity of the story, relieved to find that my worries were unwarranted and aside from liberties she may have needed to take in conversations among the characters, found that I could enjoy and learn simultaneously from the text that I read. In addition, I have never seen a better portrayal of Gaius Marius. In his character are all the traits of kindness, pragmatics, and genius on the battle field. However, the perfect "right arm" to him in the novel is Lucius Cornelius Sulla. Following the events that history has placed as her guidelines for the story, McCullough has taken what she has been dealt and turned it into straight flush.

Rating:
Summary: A snore
Review: I listened to this book on audio while commuting to and from work. When the author wrote about the relationships between the main characters it was OK, but the political speeches were so long and so boring I actually couldn't wait to get to work so I could turn it off. Everyone's name started to sound the same to me. I have a policy of always finishing a book that I have started, but this one really tested me. I will not be listening to any more books in this series.

Rating:
Summary: The start of something epic
Review: Colleen McCullough launches quite a voyage into an amazing period of history with this first volume of the "First Man In Rome" series. While it begins slowly it is no mere expositional foray into the period but actually lays solid groundwork for an incredible journey which will span half a century during one of the most formative periods in western culture. Considering the complex nature of Roman society, culture and politics during the late Republican period this first outing manages to capture a flavor and texture that brings not only its characters but also the entire essense of Rome to life. Should a reader find themselves becoming lost in the richness and scope of this tale, they would do well to move immediately through the balance of the series, consisting of five more volumes, all of which will propel them along a sweeping narrative that culminates in world shaking events that literally changed history. A "must read" for lovers of history (particularly Roman history) and stories of grand scope and dazzling characters.