In honor of this fatal day, I want to point out something exciting that I looked not for, but am delighted to hear. Colleen McCullough has written another Masters of Rome novel!
Perhaps it was the success of the HBO Rome series. Perhaps it was a lackluster response to her recent, contemporary novels. Maybe she just couldn’t leave behind the vivid and compelling world she had fashioned out of the dry texts of history. Whatever the cause, THE QUEEN OF BEASTS is coming in February. I’ve only found it on Amazon.uk so far, but I’m sure an American edition is planned at some point.
If you’re not familiar with her pervious forrays into Roman history, treat yourself. It’s a lot of names, and a lot of events, but what a beautiful, thoughtful, insightful ride it is! Starting with THE FIRST MAN IN ROME, the series includes THE GRASS CROWN, FORTUNE’S FAVORITES, CAESAR’S WOMEN, CAESAR, and THE OCTOBER HORSE, which concludes with the battle at Phillipi, where Brutus and Cassius were killed.
Since Caesar was the subject of the whole series, from his background and birth to his death on this date and the aftermath, she had previously declared herself done with Rome. I’m exstatic that she’s not. There are few books I’ve enjoyed more, and it makes me want to know more about Roman history, something I would never have said before her books.
So, here’s to September and the week I’ll set aside to savor her latest work. It looks like it covers the events of Shakespeare’s ANTONY & CLEOPATRA. I’m all a-flutter, giddy with anticipation. Looks like I’ll have to re-read the series.
And now, bow your head to acknowledge the memory of one of the greatest men who ever lived, who died this day. If he died for envy, or out of a misguided attempt to preserve the past, or some other cause, he was perhaps the single most capable men to walk the earth, and it is fitting his passing is still remembered.
Ave, Caesar.
