New York Times Bestseller: A magnificent novel of ancient Rome and
the tragic life of Cicero, who tried in vain to save the republic he
loved from tyranny.
In this riveting tale, the Roman Empire in its final glory is seen
through the eyes of philosopher, orator, and political theorist Marcus
Tullius Cicero.
From his birth in 106 BC in the hill town of Arpinum, Cicero, the
educated son of a wealthy member of the equestrian order, is destined
for greatness. At a young age, he discovers the legend of the Unknown
God, the coming Messiah, and it propels the rising lawyer on a journey
of spiritual conflict and self-discovery. From his tumultuous family
life to his tenuous alliance with Julius Caesar to a fateful love affair
with the Roman empress Livia and, finally, to the political role that
will make him a target of powerful enemies, A Pillar of Iron is the
story of Cicero's legacy as one the greatest influences on Western
civilization.
Based on hundreds of speeches, voluminous private correspondence, and
ancient texts and manuscripts, this bestselling epic brings into focus
Cicero's complicated relationships with his contemporaries, including
Caesar, Mark Antony, and Crassus, and brilliantly captures the
pageantry, turmoil, and intrigue of life in ancient Rome. According to
legendary editor Maxwell Perkins, author "Taylor Caldwell is a
storyteller first, last and foremost, and once you begin reading one of
her books, you can't help finishing it."
