New Books by Lindsey Davis and Stephen Saylor

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 11:07 pm by Ben Witherington

New Books by Lindsey Davis and Stephen Saylor 2015-03-13T23:07:33-04:00 Ben Witherington

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Over the past twenty or so years, there are few authors I’ve enjoyed reading more than Lindsey Davis, especially her Falco series of novels about ancient Rome. Her most recent release, ‘Master and God’ (474 pages St. Martins Press) is not a volume in that series, but it is, in a word, excellent, and longer than some of those volumes, but just as much fun, and witty. The scene is the reign of Domitian, basically all of it, hence the title ‘Master and God’ (or in Latin ‘Dominus et Deus’) which Domitian expected people to call him— seeing him as a deified living mortal. It is indeed likely that it is Domitian that both the Gospel of John (see John 20), and Revelation is critiquing as the anti-Christ figure— seeing him as the latter day Nero (666).

The central characters in this novel are not members of the ruling family, or even patricians but rather two ordinary folk— Flavia Lucilla a freedwoman and Gaius Vinius Clodianus a soldier and eventually a Praetorian of note. The evolving and distressing tale of Domitian serves as back story and foreground for the ongoing story of the tempestuous on again off again relationship between the tre-traditional Gaius Vinius and the feisty Lucilla.

I read this book on Kindle, and it has been easily the most enjoyable read I have had in a long while. Rich in detail, full of drama and hijinks, abounding with humor, and with an eye for historical analysis and accuracy, Davis gives us a clear glance into Rome between about A.D. 80 and 96, in other words a look at the end of the era of the three Flavian emperors— Vespasian, Titus, and finally sullen, paranoid, but militarily capable Domitian.

In one sense this novel weaves an entertaining tapestry of social life in the latter part of the NT era. In another sense it presents us with a revealing glance of the paranoia that existed at the seat of absolute power in Rome. One never grows fond of Domitian, with his many draconian measures and unnecessary suspicions and executions, but one becomes very attached to the the tale of Lucilla and Gaius as they tiptoe their way through the halls of power, one as a hairdresser to the ruling family, the other as one of the chief guards of the Emperor.

Along the way we learn about Roman wars, Roman hairstyles, Roman villas, Roman food preferences, the life of slaves and freedmen, and the dicey realm of the Praetorian guards. I love the descriptive power that Davis brings to the task and her wry British humor, and in regard to the former, she rivals P.D. James in her ability to paint a detailed believable picture.

By contrast, Stephen Saylor’s ‘The Seven Wonders of the World’ is something of a disappointment.

Yes, it is another Gordianus novel (336 pages– Minotaur Books) which could have been entitled ‘Gordianus– the Early Years’. Yes, it is interesting to read the descriptions of the seven wonders of the world as the novel unfolds as a travelogue (young Gordianus and his tutor visit the seven wonders during a time when it is advisable to get the heck out of Rome). Yes, there are some entertaining moments in this novel when young Gordianus shows the sort of deduction powers currently on offer by young Sherlock on the BBC.

But in part this novel involves recycled material, and it definitely does not have the depth or scope or real drama of some of the previous Gordianus novels, though mercifully it has almost no typos, a dramatic contrast to the Empire novel which came out a year or so ago.

Perhaps most disappointing is Saylor’s attempt to turn Gordianus into a freewheeling sexual experimenter as a teenager, which, even allowing for the raging hormones of youth, seems quite out of character based on the previous Gordianus novels. Perhaps we are to think that this is something Gordianus out-grew, but honestly some of this falls into the category of tawdry and beneath the dignitas of the more adult Gordianus novels. Along the way we do learn where exactly his eventual Jewish wife Bethesda comes into the picture.

I love the work of Stephen Saylor on the whole, but this patchwork quilt doesn’t quite hold together. It is only late in the novel that one can see the thread which links the various episodes together— a conspiracy against the powers that be. But that only lies beneath the surface and is not really the focus of the story telling about the seven wonders. We may hope for better things from Saylor’s pen next time. If you only have time to read one of these novels in the remainder of the summer— go for the Davis’ epic.

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