Course of Honour [IMPORT] (Paperback)

by Lindsey Davis (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: ARROW (RAND); New Ed edition (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0099227428
• ISBN-13: 978-0099227427
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,094,011 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An honourable course, April 14, 2003

By	Iain S. Palin (Northern Ireland) - See all my reviews

Flavius Vespasianus was one of Rome's better, if less glamorous, emperors - not mad, not bad, and not interested in expansionist military adventures. He came to power as the "last general standing" at the end of the short and brutal civil wars that followed the death of Nero, and proved an excellent safe pair of hands to restore the political and financial stability of the Empire. His upbringing had fitted him well for this. Vespasian was born into a noble family that had seen better days and was heading towards poverty (at least by noble standards). He advanced slowly through the "cursus honorum" or "course of honour", the careful laid out and regulated system of promotions and elected offices that led to high political office in Rome. He proved a capable general and a good and intelligent leader of men, and these qualities finally brought him to the throne where, in a sense, his real work began.
This book is a fictionalised biography but it is also a romance, a tale of the enduring love between Vespasian and Antonia Caenis, who became his mistress but whom he could never marry because of the social gulf between them.
An enjoyable, readable, and informative tale that generates real affection for the main characters in the heart of the reader and throws light on a period of Roman history not always given much attention.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not a Falco novel., May 13, 2009

By	K. D. Costley, Jr. (Belton, Texas, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Course of Honour, The (Falco) (Paperback)

THE COURSE OF HONOUR, while set in generally the same time period as her Marcus Didius Falco series, is not a Falco novel. The description for this is misleading. Although an enjoyable book in its own right covering Vespasian and his slave-mistress, it is not part of the Falco series.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good history, bad romance, June 7, 2009

By	P. Whitlock - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Course of Honour, The (Falco) (Paperback)

341 pages to cover 70 years of a very interesting man and his times isnt nearly enough, and it shows. The book is narrated by and focusses on the ex-slave Caenis rather than Vespasian directly and as a result much of the history is given in brief doses of lecture rather than portrayed. Interesting stuff though!

What is not interesting is Caenis. A moody, angry, stubborn, unlikable girl who's defining characteristic seems to be avoiding living any type of life whatsoever, and lashing out constantly at Vespasian anytime he makes an appearance. I cant imagine why he is interested in her, or why the entire City of Rome seems to have the impression to be rude to her is unforgivable when she is nothing but rude to him, and avoids everyone else but her lively friend Veronica, like the plague.

This is most definately not a Falco novel, nor is she Helena Justina, more the pity. I love the Falco books and here the author does a good job again with Vespasian in his younger days but thats about it.