The Fugitive from Corinth (Roman Mysteries) [Hardcover]

Caroline Lawrence (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 3, 2006 | Age Level: 11 and up | Grade Level: 6 and up | Series: Roman Mysteries (Book 10)

When Flavia's tutor, Aristo, escapes after committing a violent crime, she and her friends Jonathan, Nubia and Lupus track him across Greece. Why did Aristo do it? And where is he going? As she did with Ancient Rome, Caroline Lawrence brings Greece to life with vivid detail and great excitement.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'mixes ancient history with Scooby-Doo modernity... There's a lot of cheerful colour, but the comic business is also balanced out by spooky mytholgical allusions.' -- Will Cohu TELEGRAPH WEBSITE 13.12.05 'Caroline Lawrence offers a fascinating glimpse into life in ancient Greece.' -- Elizabeth Hawkesley HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Caroline Lawrence is the author of nine previous books in the popular Roman Mysteries series. Born in California, she studied classical archeology at Cambridge University, and Hebrew and Jewish studies at the University of London, where she still makes her home.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 11 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Roaring Brook Press; First Edition edition (October 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1596430834
• ISBN-13: 978-1596430839
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #936,180 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Million-selling author Caroline Lawrence writes detective stories with the double aim of entertaining children and teaching them. Combining fast-moving plots with historical accuracy means her history mystery stories are beloved of children, parents and teachers.

In 2009, Caroline won the Classical Association Prize for her Roman Mysteries series, which comprises over 20 books and inspired a glossy BBC TV series in the UK.

In 2011 Caroline launched a second historical detective series, the Western Mysteries, staring P.K. Pinkerton: a 12-year-old doubly orphaned detective who has trouble "reading people". The Case of the Deadly Desperados was the Sunday New York Times Editors' Choice in February 2012.

Caroline says: "I want to know everything about the past, especially the exciting things. Also the sounds, smells, sights and tastes. I write historical novels because nobody has invented a Time Machine. And I write for kids because 11 is my inner age."

Caroline is also writing a spin-off series of Roman books for readers aged 7+, starting with
The Sewer Demon

Here are the Roman Mystery novels in series order:

The Thieves Of Ostia: The Roman Mysteries 1
The Secrets Of Vesuvius: The Roman Mysteries 2
The Pirates Of Pompeii: The Roman Mysteries 3
The Assassins Of Rome: The Roman Mysteries 4
The Dolphins Of Laurentum: The Roman Mysteries 5
The Twelve Tasks Of Flavia Gemina:The Roman Mysteries 6
The Enemies Of Jupiter: The Roman Mysteries 7
The Gladiators From Capua: The Roman Mysteries 8
The Colossus Of Rhodes: The Roman Mysteries 9
The Fugitive From Corinth: The Roman Mysteries 10
The Sirens Of Surrentum: The Roman Mysteries 11
The Charioteer Of Delphi: The Roman Mysteries 12
The Slave-Girl From Jerusalem: The Roman Mysteries 13
The Beggar Of Volubilis: The Roman Mysteries 14
The Scribes From Alexandria: The Roman Mysteries 15
The Prophet From Ephesus: The Roman Mysteries 16
The Man From Pomegranate Street: The Roman Mysteries 17

Here are the mini-mysteries:

The Legionary From Londinium And Other Mini-Mysteries
Trimalchio's Feast And Other Mini-Mysteries

Plus quiz books, omnibus editions, a travel book and a treasury:

The First Roman Mysteries Quiz Book
The Second Roman Mysteries Quiz Book
The Roman Mysteries Omnibus (Books 1-3) (B) (Feb)
The Roman Mysteries Omnibus (Books 4-6) (B)
From Ostia To Alexandria With Flavia Gemina
The Roman Mysteries Treasury

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Out for Justice in Ancient Greece, September 18, 2008

By 

D. A Wend (Arlington Heights, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Fugitive from Corinth (Roman Mysteries) (Hardcover)

The Fugitive from Corinth is the 10th book in the Roman Mysteries series. The Delphina has returned from Rhodes and everyone is taking a well-deserved break in Corinth, staying at an expensive hotel (or hospitium) before the voyage home. Aristo, the tutor of the children, has apparently committed a crime of violence and taken flight to Athens. Flavia is determined to pursue and capture her tutor so he can be put on trial for his crime. Together with Atticus, one of the sailors on the Delphina, the four sleuths and Tigris the dog set out after Aristo. Following the trail, they end up traveling to Delphi and eventually to Athens, always just behind their quarry.

It was interesting to read about traveling in a carruca. Caroline Lawrence provides a good feel for the dangers of the road and the day-to-day drudgery of travel, including flee-infested hotels. This book, like its predecessors, is beautifully written. There is a detailed description of the shrine of Delphi and the famous oracle, and Flavia is even able to pose a question but does not like her answer. There also is a nice description of the Acropolis and the Temple of Athena. This book conveys the emotional states of the characters very well and they all grow up quite a bit as the story progresses. An interesting aspect of the story is that Jonathan regularly consults a guide book, which reminds us that the Romans were avid tourists.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Sometimes the Right Girl is Right in Front of You...", August 18, 2010

By 

R. M. Fisher "Raye" (New Zealand = Middle Earth!) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Fugitive from Corinth (Roman Mysteries) (Hardcover)

The tenth book in Caroline Lawrence's "The Roman Mystery" series is set in ancient Greece, as our four young protagonists journey home after their adventures in The Colossus of Rhodes. Headstrong Flavia, intellectual Jonathan, introspective Nubian and fearless Lupus are enjoying the sights and sounds of Corinth from their luxurious hospitium (or hotel) when they hear unexpected news from their beloved tutor Aristo: he has decided to stay in Greece with his family. The children are upset at the thought of loosing such a good friend, but things are about to get even more serious.

That night Flavia's father, Captain Marcus Gemini, is stabbed in his own bed and Aristo is dragged from the room with a shocked expression on his face and a bloody knife in his hand. As the children work to save Marcus's life, they are brought news that Aristo escaped his captors and is now on the run further into Greece. Naturally, the four sleuths are in hot pursuit to bring him to justice, and to find out why on earth Aristo would want to kill his employer in the first place. Armed with a wax rendering of Aristo and joined by an evasive youth who calls himself Nikos, the children set their sights on the Oracle of Delphi as their destination, hoping to catch up with Aristo as he flees.

As always Lawrence has crafted a thrilling story that draws upon solid characterization, an intriguing plot, and extensive research into the customs, architecture and geography of the past in order to create a fully realized world. The children's journey from Corinth to Athens is fraught with danger, but also beauty, insight and humor as the foursome struggle with exhaustion, directions, wild animals, and each other. The locations are brought to life through Lawrence's vivid prose, whether it be the food, clothing or scenery, as well as the accurate depictions of famous ancient landmarks.

Experienced readers are feed enough clues to figure out the crux of the mystery well in advance, but the plot still comes together in a satisfying way once the children reach the Oracle of Delphi and the Cave of the Furies. There is also some closure here on Lupus and his long-lost mother, but unfortunately the long-awaited reunion is handled in a rather slip-shod way and looses some of its power as a result. After waiting for so long to see mother and son together again, the narrative barely dwells on them.

It's clear that Lawrence is moving into some more mature themes as the series goes on; for the first time the children are dealing with murder (well, attempted murder) and there are very subtle allusions to sex, homosexuality, and rape - so fleeting that the moral guardians will pass them by, but still present for those with a keen eye. This trend seems set to continue with The Sirens of Surrentum, during which hormones kick in for the prepubescent youngsters.

I had previously begun my reading experience of "The Roman Mysteries" with The Enemies of Jupiter and made it as far as The Colossus of Rhodes before realizing that I was doing myself and the series a disservice by reading these books out of order. Each successive book draws on the ones that have gone before it, and beginning this late in the series would be a mistake. If you're eager to give this excellent series a try, then you'll have to start with The Thieves of Ostia and work your way back up. It's worth it.