Tribune of Rome

Vespasian #1

by Robert Fabbri

One man, born in rural obscurity, destined to become one of Rome's greatest Emperors

26 AD: 16-year-old Vespasian leaves his family farm for Rome, his sights set on finding a patron and following his brother into the army, but he discovers a city in turmoil and an Empire on the brink. The aging emperor Tiberius is in seclusion on Capri, leaving Rome in the iron grip of Sejanus, commander of the Praetorian Guard. Sejanus is ruler of the Empire in all but name, but many fear that isn't enough for him. Sejanus' spies are everywhere—careless words at a dinner party can be as dangerous as a barbarian arrow. Vespasian is totally out of his depth, making dangerous enemies (and even more dangerous friends—like the young Caligula) and soon finds himself ensnared in a conspiracy against Tiberius. With the situation in Rome deteriorating, Vespasian flees the city to take up a position as tribune in an unfashionable legion on the Balkan frontier. Even here, rebellion is in the air and unblooded and inexperienced, Vespasian must lead his men in savage battle with hostile mountain tribes. Vespasian will soon realize that he can't escape Roman politics any more than he can escape his destiny.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Roman, Military Fiction, Fantasy, Audiobook

496 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Robert Fabbri read Drama and Theatre at London University and has worked in film and TV for 25 years. He is an assistant director and has worked on productions such as Hornblower, Hellraiser, Patriot Games and Billy Elliot. Now, his life-long passion for ancient history, especially for that of the Roman Empire, has drawn him to write his first novel. He lives in London and Berlin.

Reviews

[Jeffrey Keeten · Rating 4 out of 5]

”When a man sees Rome for the first time and feels her power and his own insignificance in the face of it, he realises that he has but two choices: serve her or perish under her, for there is no ignoring her.”

Vespasian is not Vespasian, as of yet. He is sixteen years old and helping to manage his father’s estate in Aquate Cutillae. His brother has recently returned from service in the legions, and their old rivalry and jealous animosity towards each other has not cooled with a four year absence from one another. They are under orders to teach each other what they have learned. For Vespasian, that is teaching Sabinus how to run an estate. For Sabinus, it is to teach Vespasian how to be a legionnaire. I really enjoy the detail that Robert Fabbri gives the reader about how a Roman estate in 26 AD was managed. To add some spice, he also has a scene where the brothers have to work together to hunt down some thieves.

When the family visits Rome to secure Vespasian his own place in the military, they become somewhat unwilling allies of Antonia, the mother of Germanicus and the grandmother of Caligula. She is trying to stifle the growing power of Sejanus, the leader of the Praetorian Guard, who is taking full advantage of Emperor Tiberius’s self imposed exile in Capri to position himself for a bold political move. For all intents and purposes, with Tiberius gone, he is emperor of Rome. Why not make it official? To further annoy Antonia, Sejanus is carrying on a dalliance with her estranged daughter Livilla. If he can convince Tiberius to let him marry her, he will have at least a tenuous leg to stand on for taking permanent control of Rome.

The stealthy sound of sandals in the corridors adds layers of intrigue, and the cloying smell of deceit comes wafting off the pages of this book like a sputtering wick in an olive oil lamp.

Germanicus was the great hope of the family. He was everything they could want a future emperor to be. He was brave; he was kind, and he was empathetic to the trials and tribulations of the common man. The rumors say he was poisoned. He was one of those what-if moments in history. If he had become emperor, would the course of Roman history have veered away from the collision course with its own destruction? Would his son Caligula have grown up to be someone more like his father and less like the psychopath he became? One of my favorite what-ifs surrounds Rudolf Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary. He “committed suicide” in 1889, though there are speculations that the Germans had him murdered and made it look like suicide. If he had lived, Franz Ferdinand would have never been the heir apparent of the Austrian-Hungarian throne. Would World War One have never happened? Or been postponed? Or would Rudolf have been the one assassinated?

How about one more? What if Arthur, Prince of Wales, had lived? The son of Henry VII who was actually trained to be king. Would we have been spared the odious Henry VIII? Would the religious turmoil of Henry’s quest for a male heir have been avoided? A King Arthur on the throne of England? It is but a name, but does the name infuse the man with the desire to be magnificent?

There are holes left in history by the untimely death of certain individuals, and Germanicus is one of those losses that make amateur historians, like myself, wonder...what if?

Antonia feels strongly a sense of responsibility to the empire and her family to keep Sejanus from marrying her daughter and from achieving the power he craves. She sees the young brothers of Vespasian and Sabinus as useful allies in her battle with Sejanus. Soon Vespasian is fleeing the city, after a rather nerve wracking tangle with Sejanus’s men, to join his legion on the Balkan frontier. As dangerous as Rome is for him, the Thracians might prove to be even more detrimental to his health.

Fabbri writes this amazingly well drawn battle scene where we find the Romans trapped on the wrong side of a river. They are desperately trying to cross this swiftly flowing river while holding off the Thracians. Battle scenes are very difficult to write, and there aren’t many who can write them better than Bernard Cornwell, but Fabbri delivers a Cornwellian scene that had me on the edge of my seat.

”A hundred paces away, just visible as darker shadows against the lighter fire-flecked background, the Thracians let out a soul-shivering howl and stampeded towards the Romans. A new series of lightning flashes revealed them brandishing rhomphaiai, spears and javelins wildly above their heads, splashing through the pools of water and mud that caused many of their number to lose their footing and disappear beneath the tide of trampling boots surging after them. “

Can you imagine, with your back against a raging river, seeing this horde coming at you, screaming and yelling? Think about the thundering of their feet that would be vibrating the earth beneath you. It loosens my bowels, and I’m not even there.

The intrigue from Rome follows Vespasian out to the frontier as he tries to ascertain who is behind the chests of money that are buying the unrest against the Romans. He is a mere lad of 16, but he will have to do the job of a man if he is going to survive to become the first Emperor of Rome to come from the equestrian ranks. You will be wondering how he will ever live long enough to make the prophecies at his birth come true.

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[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The start of a Rome series to run alongside my Macro/Cato (Simon Scarrow) adventures as I’m looking for something a little more serious in it’s nature/storytelling plus Macro/Cato is almost caught up.

Having tried a few series, which all ended as non-starters for me for a multitude of reasons – wrong humour, not enough about the legions or the main focus was that of a historical mystery........ it was after much weighing up that I finally plumped for Robert Fabbri over Anthony Riches wanting a tale mainly revolving around the Legions & the politics of Rome.

And this first book in the series works for me....... The politics & machinations of Rome are covered as are the rural/equestrian life in the countryside & you feel immersed in both the squalor & splendour of Rome itself during the early part of the tale. Our story revolves around an equestrian family & there seeking advancement for their two sons as any good Roman family of the day would do. With advancement though comes the predicament of painting a target on your back as the politics of the day was very cutthroat to say the least & by advancing yerself you only became a rival for many seeking similar status. This is how our story unfolds & enjoyable it is.

The younger brother Vespasian has the touch of Cato (Simon Scarrow fame) about him so far, naive & morally incorruptible whilst his older brother Sabinus smacks of Macro, a bit rough around the edges but it’s all good & the support characters/back-stories are fleshed out as we go, all believable in the context given even if one or two villains/rogues seem a little stereotypical..... go with the flow I say it’s all good.

There was one horrible moment in the story where the phrase “Jolly Caper” reared it’s head which dismayed me as I thought I had another Marius Mules series on my hands with its 1950’s Ealing comedy....... It was but a passing ship & fitted well with the trait of the character who uttered it! Although at first it appears a very (maybe too) family friendly read in tone & language the anti is ramped up when the politics/scheming comes to the fore as well as the work of the legions & the story telling transforms accordingly with some well told battle scenes & skulduggery, making the equilibrium of the story spot-on for me. I think (I hope) i’ve finally found a series to follow which has been much harder than I would have thought!

As it’s the first in the series & a debut I’d give it 4.5 stars rounded upto 5 stars.

One small heads-up wrt spoilers, don’t read the author’s notes at the back as he gives the actual historical details of those involved, which is fine but he takes them past the ending date in the book.....

[Mr. Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

All power in the Empire derives from the Legions. (The man with 10,000 legionaries at his back has a pretty strong argument that he should be Emperor!) To check the power of successful generals, the Praetorian Guard was organized to serve directly underneath the Emperor, serving in Rome. But what happens when there is a plot against the aging Emperor Tiberius by an ambitious prefect? And what if a rebellion in Thrace keeps the legions busy? And what if stolen silver from the Imperial treasury fuels that rebellion?

I can't believe that I left this book on my to-read list for so long. Tribune of Rome is a perfect example of why I love historical fiction set in the time of Rome. And it is within this cauldron of boiling ambitions and rivalries, that a young, earnest and ambitious young man, Titus Flavius Vespasianus (Vespasian) arrives in Rome. Under Rome's elaborate system of patronage, his family quickly becomes involved in the intrigue between the most powerful woman in Rome and Sejanus, the prefect of the Praetorian Guard.

The last few sentences say so much but leave out so much of the good stuff as well. There is a flight through the worst of the city. There is a cloak and dagger rescue attempt that involves breaking into a dungeon in Sejanus' estates. There is a manhunt by the Urban Cohort and the Praetorian Guard and a desperate flight from the city. There is an ambush by a Thracian army. There is an epic battle against rebels in distant Thrace. And all of this derives from a subtle plot to steal the Imperial purple.

Throughout all of this, Vespasian emerges and grows. He quickly morphs from a young man who simply wanted to stay in the provinces managing his family estates, to a young Tribune who learns hard lessons on what it means to live and excel within the take-no-prisoners contest he is locked. And yet, unlike many books where the main character seems almost super-human, Vespasian is human. He falls in love with a slave girl. And it is not corny or overdone. It feels "right." It works.

All of this doesn't even touch on the supporting characters. His brother, Titus Flavius Sabinus, morphs from a childhood bully to a confidant and ally of Vespasian reflects, I think, the natural evolution of two brother's relationship with one another. Marcus Salvius Magnus, Patron of the Crossroads Brotherhood, is a former legionnaire turned neighborhood strongman in service of Vespasian's patron. He makes the escape with the young Tribune, keeping him out of harm's way and joining Vespasian in Thrace. He is a humorous, and strong addition to the story.

And all of the above doesn't even touch the best part of Roman historical fiction - epic battles between the outnumbered, but steady and disciplined Romans and hordes of savage barbarians. Invariably, the steady resolve and hard drilled tactics win the day, but it is still great fun to read. Fabbri does a good job of describing the tactics and making the reader feel like they are standing just to the right or left of young Vespasian.

Finally, throughout the entire story, I was kept on my toes by surprising twists and turns. Strings that were introduced early come back later to have great significance. And none of these twists or surprises felt forced. At no time (well, maybe kinda-sorta once) did I feel like the author had to intervene to save the main characters.

IV stars out of V. Ramped back down to IV stars from IV and I/II after some additional thought. Regardless, very enjoyable historical fiction set in the Early Empire period. Great stuff.

[Iset · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say straight off the bat that this book surprised me. Halfway through the book I was convinced this was a rollicking Roman adventure novel – secret agents, schemes, the odd fight and escape – all good fun but nothing I hadn’t seen before. And I was enjoying it, although Vespasian’s youthful naivety was just a touch grating. Then the book surprised me by turning around and pulling out a serious military novel instead. Vespasian grows up, and becomes a lot more likable and decisive in the process, and I took it seriously despite the fact that he was still by age a youth. The scope of the book feels like it widens, and the situations Vespasian finds himself in suddenly seem completely serious; fighting in battles, negotiating a way out of very difficult strategic positions, deep in hostile territory. The tension was really ratcheted up a notch and, I must say, so was the final rating I decided to give the book.

The battles were really well described and realised, I have to say. Battles can be difficult things to write. Often chaotic, bloody messes, it can be tough to know what to write to make them in any way intelligible or follow a coherent sequence of events, and to avoid simply getting bogged down in hack and slash action scenes without any idea of how to resolve the battle. Some authors will avoiding writing battle scenes entirely, and who can blame them when it’s such a tricky task? Thankfully Robert Fabbri does know how to write battles, meaning not only are we treated to these scenes in their entirety, but also they’re totally coherent and intelligible. I never once got lost or confused reading those scenes, and enjoyed following their twists and turns. It’s quite obvious that Fabbri understands military strategy and tactics, and this I’m grateful for. Even when there are no battles going on, there’s always something happening. Every chapter progresses the plot and has something interesting going on to keep me reading. I stand by my assessment of the book as “moreish”.

A mention of Fabbri’s author’s note; he does include one, and it’s comprehensive about factual changes, which I appreciate. The biggest changes are Vespasian’s date of arrival in Thrace (it would seem he actually arrived in the aftermath of the action), and Poppaeus’ integrity of character. Whilst the historian part of me can’t help wishing for closer accuracy, I have to take the author’s point; without these two changes it’s difficult to see a compelling story. Vespasian’s early years would seem to be less eventful and story-worthy than with the changes in place. They’re done well, and feel seamless in the text, so credit to the author for that.

The character stuff is, for the most part, done well also. There are some big characters here, from all sorts of backgrounds; Antonia, Gaius, Asinius, Tertulla, Corbulo – even bit parts like Tryphaena, and Sejanus who looms large over the entire tale even though he’s never seen. They were all unique and very much their own forceful, distinct personalities. I say mostly well done – I did laugh at Vespasian and Caenis professing some sort of deep love and expecting it to last over the next four years, after an acquaintance of a few weeks during which they never really had time to talk to each other or get to know each other, and both being just 16 thereabouts. But then, that’s not so much poor writing – it isn’t implausible, after all, how many of us as teenagers thought we were in love with someone? – it’s just that with the benefit of experience I found it difficult to empathise with or root for their relationship. Of course, history proves me wrong, but where and when they met is unknown.

So why not a higher rating? Two reasons. First, the language lacks that certain flair and style that really sweeps me off into a story so that I get lost in it and hours pass without notice. Fabbri’s writing style is skilled, judicious, and lucid – all of which drive a very good, compelling, and coherent plot. But it lacks a certain inventiveness, a certain evocativeness, which I look for in books that go above and beyond. To be fair, that may simply be a consequence of the genre; the Roman adventure/military novel is a genre that lends itself to a more direct, punchy, functional writing style. Second, the book failed to move me or to get me thinking; I didn’t get emotionally drawn in, nor did my brain reel from any revelations. This, along with creative flair, is something I would more expect to see in the epic historical fiction genre, which is why I’m more of a fan of that sub-genre than I am of the adventure/military sub-genre in historical fiction. But I still believe that those two qualities aren’t exclusive to the epic, and am looking for any book that stands out and can really draw me in; those are the stories that make it into my cream of the crop circle. Returning to the book at hand however, Fabbri’s got a darn good book here, and I must admit I am intrigued to see where the rest of the series would take and develop Vespasian. Definitely a book I would recommend.

8 out of 10

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never really considered myself a historical fiction fan but I have read a great number of historical FANTASY novels. I may be prejudiced in favor of magic, it's true, but can you blame me?

One positive benefit of reading a regular historical fiction novel, however, is the focus. Events and character establishment are of a much higher priority and it shows.

The Roman world.

Vespasian, set several decades into anno Domini, establishes himself in proper YA style. It includes a bit of political intrigue, travel, and a great deal of Roman Legionary action. All told, the tale is crisp and I have to admit I got into the action sequences a lot more than the more emotional, personal sequences. Indeed, it took about a third of the book before I truly got invested in the tale, and not fully invested until near the end.

I'm not saying it was a bad book by any stretch, however. It is, in my limited historical fiction experience, a properly good example of how it should be carried off. (I'm not completely ignorant of the field.)

However, if I were to compare it to the fields I'm much more conversant with, such as Epic Fantasy, et al., it shares a lot of similarities. An I mean, a LOT of similarities. It's almost as if there's really not much difference at all aside from holding oneself to historical accuracy versus adding a little magic-spice.

In other words, it's a matter of VERY specific taste. An objective reader of styles would be very hard-pressed to see the difference if they either A: had no knowledge of the history or B: believed that reality wasn't all as we're meant to believe it is.

Just some food for thought. :)

[S.J.A. Turney · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be honest, despite having a list of books to read that's a mile long, I bought this largely on the strength of the title, Vespasian being one of my favourite historical figures. I'd not even read the blurb before I bought it and started reading.

I was therefore surprised and a little disappointed to discover as I read that this is a tale of the early days of the great man, long before the great events for which he's remembered.

Any negativity I felt was banished in short order. The book is simply marvellous and the tale gripping and wholly realistic, being solidly rooted in historical events regardless of its fictional nature.

The book is split into several parts and has something for everyone, from early farm-based childhood rivalries, through adolescence and intrigue in Rome, danger, flight and mystery, right to a full-scale military campaign with all the great detail an excitement to match any of the other great Roman fiction writers out there.

The great strength of Fabbri to me, though, is his characterisations. Vespasian is exactly how I would imagine a young version of the great man. The interplay between his family, particularly his grandmother and her chief slave, is charming to read. The highlight in characters for me, though, is Magnus.

I really look forward to the next Vespasian book and cannot recommend this highly enough to a fan of Roman fiction. Buy it. Read it. Love it.

[Mark Porton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vespasian just so happens to be one of my favourite Emperors. He was the final ruler and ultimate victor during the year of the 4 Emperors. This followed the terrible reign of Nero.

Vespasian, Tribune of Rome by Robert Fabbri is the first of a series of Vespasian books and covers his upbringing in the countryside, his relationship with his brother and parents, his trip to Rome and his military escapades in Thracia (think Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria - around the Balkans).

I was SUPER EXCITED to read this.

For me this book is in two parts. His upbringing and visit to Rome as a young man was fascinating. The smells, noise and poverty of the Suburra of this great city was written so vividly. This is my favourite aspect of Historical Fiction, filling in the blanks and creating atmosphere, transporting the reader to places and the lives of people long gone - Loved it.

But.....

I found the majority of the book was taken up by battle scenes. The fights against the Thracians mainly. Too much action. A bit like watching a Rambo or one of those Superhero Movies.

A lot of bravado like this..

'The flank attack is set, sir!' Vespasian yelled to his commanding officer. 'About fucking time too' Pomponius looked relieved. 'These bastards aren't going to give up until they're all dead, so let's oblige them before etc etc etc'.....and on and on it went.

Too much. The author also didn't describe what was happening in Rome with Tiberius, Sejanus, the Senate and everything else back there.

I didnt mind the violence, didn't mind the language, liked the fact the characters really existed, and even the artistic licence the author took to create a story - which was based on fact (largely). But too many battle scenes. YAWN.

Shame, I'm not sure l'll continue with this series.

3 Stars

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I was heading for 4 stars when I read the author's note at the end and discovered that only the bare bones of the story bear any truth. I found that disappointing as I read historical fiction partly because it's an enjoyable way to learn history. There's a fine line between dramatic licence and dispensing with the truth altogether, eg Vespasian did not arrive in Thrace until months after the rebellion and so did not participate in it which means that the final third of the book is completely fictional in terms of Vespasian's life.

I enjoyed this as a work of fiction and found some of it quite exciting. I've added the rest of the series to my to read list but whether I'll actually read more is debatable at the moment, or at least while I'm still in the huff with the author!

[Deborah Pickstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I suspect Fabbri will become a favourite author. This is an excellent, well-costructed novel. Fast paced and endlessly interesting, Fabbri keeps the reader guessing by giving unexpected twists to the expected outcome of various situations. He thinks ahead (which is a quality I would think he himself admires, from the story), making this a well-plotted story. The characterisation is excellent - though, really, Vespasian is a historical character who is so very perfect as a central character and made it into Simon Scarrow's Cato and Macro series as a well-drawn secondary character. Vespasian was a well-loved Emperor, considered the Soldiers' Emperor not because they put him on the throne but because they loved him.

I see other reviews criticising Fabbri for knowing too much history and telling us he knows; I have no problem with his explanations. I also see criticism for the modern language used by characters. Perhaps he should have written it in Latin? :P

I will most certainly be reading the rest of the series and Fabbri seems to be good for a book a year, thankfully! :)

[Malacima · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the whole series I would give 3.5 -4 stars. Quite a nice read...enjoyed historical side. Some sequels are better and some are not. It's well-written with believable human characters and historical events. The books are includes some engaging moments,but something is missing... Somehow it just doesn't have some adrenaline (regardless of all the battles and various intrigues).... lacking in excitement for me . Sometimes I thought it was written from the perspective of a modern man.They seem to talk in a slang that is more appropriate to our era than ancient Rome. I found the chemistry between Vespasian and Magnus humorous. But Vespasian's relationship with Caenis is completely neglected ( which is unjust- since she was a mistress for over 20 years- Caenis remained memorable in historical documents and was probably a very important person in his life) and unrealistic (literally-after the second meeting she told him 'I love you'and end up in bed). Unfortunately in all of the books continued so...Steamy scenes are poorly developed. The author should work on them a little more. All in all, a decent start. For historical fiction fans, a good read!

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review for the entire series.

Great historical fiction. It doesn't really get better than this. Engaging all throughout, fully fleshed out characters, gives the reader the feeling that you're part of a real world as opposed to a constructed one. The dialogue is especially snappy and gives an entirely believable dimension to the plot. If you're going to invest in a Roman historical fiction series, I'd fully recommend this. Just don't believe everything that's in it and if you think a piece of information is particularly interesting, double check it with Google. I subtracted a star because there is a lot of structural repetition within the series, meaning actions happen within the same order in different episodes and sometimes some of the same jokes/dialogue lines are reused. Apart from that, fantastic.

The covers of these books are absolutely horrific, though. It looks like you're getting Roman erotica. Please stop doing this to historical fiction series. They don't deserve this.

[Gordon Doherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good read this. The author clearly has a genuine love of the historical setting and this shone through in some of the detail. The narrative was smooth and the characters likeable and I found the chemistry between Vespasian and Magnus humorous and memorable.
There were some issues with flat dialogue early on, where a lot of backstory seemed to be conveyed through unrealistic sounding conversations, but overall this was a tiny blip on an enjoyable journey.

Well worth a read for hist fic fans

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, fast-paced, thrilling historical novel with some changes and added details about ancient Rome.
The characters are lively and authentic, the descriptions of the landscapes, battles and the political intrigues are simply great. I enjoyed it very much.
It is to say, also, that I didn't know about this apparently remarkable caesar Vespasianus. Thus, to find out about him truely having been a good man and ruler was a bonus.
I am looking forward to the second book which I shall begin immediately. ;-)

[Darek Zawisko · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Beorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

An invigorating, evocative read speculating on the formative years of the titular character whose ascendancy would see him reach the pinnacle of society to become emperor.

Even the casual reader will find themselves running headlong through the detailed action, endeared to the believable and realistic characters.

The battle scenes aren't quite as absorbing as authors like Douglas Jackson but they are still convincing, and well written enough to be on a par with Ben Kane and Anthony Riches.

Overall this is a good solid opener to what promises to be a cracking series.

[Janneke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Voor de tweede keer begonnen aan deze boeiende historische thrillerreeks. Mooi hoe Robert Fabbri historische info uitwerkt en het tegelijkertijd tot een thriller weet te verwerken die deels fictie is. Weer met veel plezier gelezen!

[Antonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es ist super recherchiert.

Einige Szenen sind sehr brutal.

[MarkoJestem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Świetna opowieść ociekająca niesamowitym klimatem a staranność z jaką autor opisuję wszystko, co się dzieje i gdzie się dzieje pozwala zanurzyć się w pełni w wydarzeniach oraz przeżywać je razem z bohaterami.

[Speesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I must have read most of the current 'big guns' (or should that be 'big ballistae'?) of modern Roman Historical Fiction. I usually try and read one or two of other genres, or at least periods, inbetween, just because I'm afraid of them all blurring into one if I don’t. Until this book, Robert Fabbri was a new, sometimes difficult to spell correctly, name to me. Afterwards, and I’m really glad I made the effort to get hold of 'Vespasian', as I found it a thoroughly enjoyable, well-written and rewarding read.

We’re back in the first Century AD. This time, in the area of countryside around Rome. Vespasian is 16 and is living on the family farm with his mother and father. His ambitious mother and father. They mean well, I suppose, his mum and dad...though they are mainly ambitious that Vespasian and his brother do well, for the sake of the family and the family name. Vespasian’s elder brother Sabinus, has just returned home from his first period away with the army. Vespasian has been running the family estates, and is actually quite good at it. However, Mum and Dad have other plans for Vespasian. He must do his bit for the advancement of the family fortunes and so his next rung on the Roman social ladder, is that he too must join the army. So, the 16-year old Vespasian journeys with his brother to the big city (not many bigger at the time, of course), to the centre of the world, to Rome. Here, Vespasian and his brother are to seek help with their advancement from their uncle. They also get valuable lessons in how to (hopefully) avoid the many pitfalls involved with said advancement in Roman social society. Luckily for me - as endless backstabbing and double-dealing Roman-style talking usually sends me walking…not everything goes according to plan. Vespasian soon finds himself, mostly unknowingly, caught up in someone called Sejanus’ machinations in trying to depose the ageing Emperor Tiberius. Vespasian has to get the hell out of Dodge and past the Praetorian Guards, in something of a hurry. He finds an escape route, by taking up a relatively (hopefully) obscure position as Tribune somewhere out on Rome’s Balkan frontier. But troubles find him even out there. Though they are at least troubles of the sort - attacks from local tribesmen, presumably not too keen on being another Roman frontier province - that can be solved more easily with a sword and a shield. A kind of problem solving Vespasian, (still only 16, I checked) is showing he has both the aptitude - and sometimes surprising for a 16-year old - the strength, for. In the meantime, he has of course, being 16 and a riot of Roman hormones - some things don’t change - has fallen in love. With the ‘wrong’ girl. With a slave girl. Fortunately later on, she might actually be the right girl, when…well, you’ll have to buy the book(s) to find out.

‘Vespasian’ (the book) I found inviting, informative and thrilling. Often all at the same time. Vespasian (the character) I thought was sympathetic, understandable and therefore believable. I also found Robert Fabbris style of writing very accessible, with the relevant nuggets of Roman information needed for full appreciation of the background to Vespasian’s situation, Roman society of the time on the whole, really well handled. Presented in a much more natural, and lighter, way than some writers. Prof H. Sidebottom, is an example that springs naturally to mind. Not as in your face, as H. Sidebottom can often be. Reading his last one, I felt like I hadn’t done my homework properly. Robert Fabbri’s way of writing seems a more flowing, natural style and lets the story work without it stopping and starting and where were we now before I had to try and pronounce/try and understand that/yet another difficult Latin word? I actually found myself enjoying how Robert Fabbri writes about the Roman social scene and the myriad of potential pitfalls they seem to have had waiting for them on their way to the top. I didn’t think I liked that sort of thing, but in Robert Fabbri’s hands, it feels fresh and interesting. As a whole, I thought ‘Vespasian’ was well planned and executed, a nuanced picture of a Roman going places, interestingly informative without ever being over powering and above all, very readable.

‘Vespasian' looks like the start of an engaging, convincing and well worth following all the way, Roman saga.

[John Salter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the debut novel of Robert Fabbri, the first book about the life of Vespasian who was eventually involved in the invasion of Britain in AD43 and who later went onto to become Emperor. The book starts with his birth where sacrifices are made and great things are foreseen about the forthcoming life of the young man. The story then jumps to a fifteen year old youngster who is intent on looking after his parents farm and lands from raiders.

Robert Fabbri manages to create a great atmosphere surrounding Vespasians early days on the farm where he fights to protect his live stock from local thieves. When his elder brother Sabinus returns home from the legions they are instructed by their father to take their local freedmen and slaves and seek out the thieves and make an example of them, which they set off to do in the first action of the story.

As a result of their success their father (an ex soldier himself) takes them to Rome to meet their uncle with promises of serving the Empire, Sabinus in the mint and Vespasian as a young Tribune in the army. From the outset there is deceit and treachery especially for the younger brother who has to virtually fight his way out of Rome with the help of Magnus, a man used by his uncle when skulduggery occurs or is required.

After joining his legion, he is quickly in the midst of the action in Thrace where all isn't as it appears to be. There are set piece battles, torture and executions galore and a sense of humour that's very squaddie like, that adds to the sense of believability. Young Vespasian performs well throughout all these encounters and slowly becomes a respected thin stripe Tribune.

Robert Fabbri has produced a book of high quality with a story that makes you want to know what happens next at every twist and turn. His descriptions are vivid and realistic, the detail superb and the sense of humour great. It is apparent that Mr Fabbri knows his stuff and if you like Simon Scarrow, Ben Kane, Anthony Riches or Douglas Jackson, here's another author to look out for. This is a great start to a promising storyline and more excellent books.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed so many retellings of the story of the end of the Republic and beginnings of the Empire, I was looking to stretch that out a bit and was glad to find this series of historical novels about Vespasian. In this first book Tiberius is emperor, Sejanus is trying to gain power and Vespasian is a young man getting his first military experience in Thrace and simultaneously learning to navigate a political conflict. It’s written in a clear and direct style and incorporates details taken from the classical historians, knowledge of how the Roman army did things, as well as the author’s imagination. There are a few helpful maps. Some graphic descriptions of violence.

[Anya · Rating 3 out of 5]

If not for Peter Kenney's narration, I would've never stumbled across this series. Love it! Roman history neatly packaged together with amazing characters, political intrigue, adventure and fighting.

Content warning for torture, gore, violence and rape.

I'm ecstatic that there are 8 more audiobooks 🎧. 🤩

[Denis Bruins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prachtig boek wat helemaal in mijn straatje ligt.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Setting: 25 A.D.; Roman Empire. This is the first in a historical fiction series, the main character being Vespasian who, at the time of this first book, is 17 years old. Whilst written as fiction, it is based very much on historical fact as reported by historians of the time such as Tacitus.
Starting life on the family farm, Vespasian's father arranges for him to become a tribune in the Roman army in order to 'advance the family's prospects'. But virtually as soon as he arrives in Rome, Vespasian is thrown into the middle of a political power struggle and, despite his youth, must take on responsibility for finding out who, in the Roman legion fighting in Thrace, is betraying Rome by inciting the local tribes to rebellion...
I have always been interested in the Roman Empire so thought this series would be right up my street - and on the strength of this first book, it definitely is! Good job, as I've got the next eight books on kindle already!! There are some excellent battle scenes and much bloody violence perpetrated so, if at all squeamish, the series may not be for you. But, if you want political intrigue coupled with vividly-described scenes of war and battle with ancient weapons, this is definitely for you! - 9/10.

[kranzfafka · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25
I think a lot of people came here after reading "I, Claudius" by Robert Graves and consciously or not, but I will compare these two books in my head.
The first thing I didn't like here was a poor developed psychological portrait of the characters, which in my opinion was done much better by Graves.
It would be nice, if Fabbri spent more time on it and, for example, reduced the descriptions of battle scenes that took up the entire second half of a book. Well, I know that waving a sword and slitting throats was an important part of Roman's lifestyle, but come on, showing violence by means of a description of gouging out of the eyes with a glowing rod shouldn't be the main thread of the book.
At the beginning I was pretty much delighted - descriptions of Vespasian's growing up, his relationship with his family, coming to Rome and being involved in the conspiracies of Roman patricians - that was good. But then romantic thread has come and I said "Oh my God, please, just don't". It's quite typical for fiction that first sentence said to a future lover and first sex are separated by a maximum of two chapters, who would have expected that it had been so fast?
It was nice after all, but at the beginning I've expected that I would rate it higher.

[Emre · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book of a series telling the story of the Roman emperor Vespasian. It was interesting to observe my own thoughts while I was reading this book: In the beginning it annoyed me with its on-the-nose Roman terms. Things like "They met in the Atrium, the gathering hall of Roman houses", but that annoyance quickly passed.

What fascinates me even more though is that the main character does not really feel like a character, more like a stand-in for the "protagonist". The guy that always has the right ideas at the right time, always connects the dots and understands the situation in a way the plot needs him to. That would have been something bothersome if not for the absolute best thing about this book and the writing style of the author: the tension. The plot moves from one "action scene" to the next, some of them more believable and realistic than others, but damn did it make me immerse myself and turn one page after another, fearing for the many side-characters whose fate is not known to me as much as the one of the later caesar.

I already ordered the second part. To summarize, an action-laden page turner which despite claiming to be halfway historically accurate, should not be taken too seriously.

[Stanley Goldyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in AD26, as the far eastern tentacles of the Roman Empire move to subdue the Thracian rebellion, lands that today form portions of Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey.

Fabbri doesn't hold back in his vivid descriptions of death, torture and brutality, and nor should he, as these reflect the norms of the day.

While he sprinkles his text with idiomatic phrases such as "pissing with rain" and "what you get off on" that are more modern-day than representative of language 2000 years ago, it's his prerogative, yet may niggle some readers and detract from a feel of the book's historic authenticity.

His banter is refreshing, especially between grandmother Tertulla and her slave, Attalus. However, Fabbri seems to have shunned away from further developing the romance between Vespasian and Antonia's slave, Caenis, which would have only enhanced his story.

Nevertheless, quite enjoyable and a good read.

[Jose Marquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me ha gustado el estilo de Robert Fabbri, se disfruta la lectura que posee una dulce mezcla de narración y descripción que resulta muy agradable de leer.
Es una pena que solo el primer libro esté traducido al español pero más triste es no poder leer yo una obra de este tipo en idioma inglés. Es la segunda vez que lamento esto más es la primera vez que lo manifiesto: ya con la obra “La Concubina de Roma” me sucedió lo mismo.
Recomiendo esta obra también como literatura juvenil ya que se lee como novela de aventuras histórica; por tal motivo recomiendo esta obra para cualquier edad de lector.
Muy emocionante la lectura de esta obra. Ojalá las otras obras las traduzcan al español.

[Kirsten McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Now I have to read the next book in the series.
This book traces Vespasian's early life on his parent's estate and his first foray into political life. Once again, it makes me grateful that I am not involved in politics, as I don't imagine much has changed over the millennia...

[Kapitelweise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, wow,wow! Was für ein Auftakt! Ich bin super gespannt auf die weiteren Abenteuer von Vespasian. Defnitiv ein Buchtipp! :D