What I’m Reading: Lustrum
This post should be more accurately titled ‘What I Read Last Week’. Andyway, I didn’t realize this was the second part in a trilogy until the rather abrupt ending. But this is a badass book – not quite as good as Imperium (part 1) in my opinion, but still strong stuff.
Lustrum covers the life of Marcus Tullis Cicero from the start of his Consulship through his exile from Rome. The great thing about Rome is that the folks left so much primary source material laying around. The author managers to weave Cicero’s famous historical speeches throughout the narritive and giving them context that is lost in a boring Classics class.
And that’s ultimately why I enjoy European history, especially the classical variety. The people and their machiavellian schemes and personalities are instantly recognizable in a way that leaves, for example, Chinese, Persian, or Arab histories severely lacking. I think Indian history might have some of it, but I haven’t made enough effort there.
I also like to visit places that I read about, and my digestive system quivers in fear at the thought of eating street food in Calcutta.
