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The Flames of Rome
A madman who murders his way into power lusts for ever-greater glory and domination. A capital city awash with corruption, sensuality, and political intrigue is at the flash point. And caught between the crushing currents of history are a new but growing religious group known as the followers of The Way.
Award-winning historian and best-selling author Paul L. Maier has created a compelling style of documentary fiction, using only known historical events and persons to bring to life first-century Rome in all its excess, treachery, and insanity. This is the Rome that the apostle Paul visits, where he’s placed on trial, and which is forever changed by his testimony and witness. Maier takes readers into the courtroom of imperial justice and into the homes of the people struggling with the new faith they’ve encountered to answers questions such as:
-How did Christianity first reach Rome?
-Why did Paul have to wait two years for trial and was he condemned or set free?
-Why does the New Testament account in Acts end so abruptly?
-Who set fire to Rome and why did Nero persecute Christians so horribly?
Following the family of Flavius Sabinus, mayor of Rome under Nero Maier captures all the drama and tension of the political conflicts that precede and follow the Great Fire of Rome, and the epic political and religious clashes of the world’s capital. This is the sensational story of pagans at their worst—and Christians at their best. Readers won’t want to put it down.
Award-winning historian and best-selling author Paul L. Maier has created a compelling style of documentary fiction, using only known historical events and persons to bring to life first-century Rome in all its excess, treachery, and insanity. This is the Rome that the apostle Paul visits, where he’s placed on trial, and which is forever changed by his testimony and witness. Maier takes readers into the courtroom of imperial justice and into the homes of the people struggling with the new faith they’ve encountered to answers questions such as:
-How did Christianity first reach Rome?
-Why did Paul have to wait two years for trial and was he condemned or set free?
-Why does the New Testament account in Acts end so abruptly?
-Who set fire to Rome and why did Nero persecute Christians so horribly?
Following the family of Flavius Sabinus, mayor of Rome under Nero Maier captures all the drama and tension of the political conflicts that precede and follow the Great Fire of Rome, and the epic political and religious clashes of the world’s capital. This is the sensational story of pagans at their worst—and Christians at their best. Readers won’t want to put it down.
456 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
85 people are currently reading
1590 people want to read
About the author
Paul L. Maier
61 books134 followersPaul L. Maier was an American historian and novelist. He wrote several works of scholarly and popular non-fiction about Christianity and novels about Christian historians. He was the Russell H. Seibert Professor of Ancient History at Western Michigan University, from which he retired in 2011, retaining the title of professor emeritus in the Department of History. He previously served as Third Vice President of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
September 30, 2023
A meticulously researched historical fiction novel, The Flames of Rome is the story of the early Church under the reign of emperors Claudius and Nero. The story centers around a few families high up in Nero’s counsel/Senate who eventually converted to Christianity. Some surprise characters include Peter, Paul, and Luke.
The author painstakingly explains his research process, calling this a documentary novel. He provides ample notes on each chapter and indicates that all characters in the book are historically verifiable. He does add in some conversations, personalities, and descriptions of course, but he attempted to pull all his events from Tacitus, Suetonius, and other Roman scholars from the same era.
I think this book was extremely well done! I love historical fiction set in Rome, and it reminds me of some of my other favorites: Quo Vadis, The Mark of the Lion series, and I, Claudius.
Content: 5/5 I would recommend this for teens and mature readers. While evil is not commended or taken lightly, the author does not shy away from mentioning the (factual) depravity of Nero and Claudius including burning and torturing Christians in the amphitheater, marrying male prostitutes, various affairs, orgies, animal sacrifices, murder, etc. He does so in the best way it could be handled without being explicit or glorifying it. I’d say it’s similar to what Suetonius describes of Nero in “The Twelve Caesars,” but it is unpleasant nonetheless!
The author painstakingly explains his research process, calling this a documentary novel. He provides ample notes on each chapter and indicates that all characters in the book are historically verifiable. He does add in some conversations, personalities, and descriptions of course, but he attempted to pull all his events from Tacitus, Suetonius, and other Roman scholars from the same era.
I think this book was extremely well done! I love historical fiction set in Rome, and it reminds me of some of my other favorites: Quo Vadis, The Mark of the Lion series, and I, Claudius.
Content: 5/5 I would recommend this for teens and mature readers. While evil is not commended or taken lightly, the author does not shy away from mentioning the (factual) depravity of Nero and Claudius including burning and torturing Christians in the amphitheater, marrying male prostitutes, various affairs, orgies, animal sacrifices, murder, etc. He does so in the best way it could be handled without being explicit or glorifying it. I’d say it’s similar to what Suetonius describes of Nero in “The Twelve Caesars,” but it is unpleasant nonetheless!
September 20, 2014
If you read the preface, the author suggests this book is more "Documentary Fiction" than a pure historical novel, and if you read with that mindset you will not be disappointed. It is certainly more well-researched history than creative fiction, but Maier does fill in some historical gaps with plausible details and conversations that transfer well into the "story" mindset.
On a more specific note, I appreciated how Maier wove together the story of Rome with appearances from the apostolic fathers (Peter, Paul, Luke). As a Christian, it helped me understand the general timeline of secular and early church history, and catch of glimpse of how things "might have happened" in that first century. I also appreciated his lengthy section of notes at the end of the book. It added more detail, and clarified the inclusion (or exclusion) of certain stories and characters.
On a more specific note, I appreciated how Maier wove together the story of Rome with appearances from the apostolic fathers (Peter, Paul, Luke). As a Christian, it helped me understand the general timeline of secular and early church history, and catch of glimpse of how things "might have happened" in that first century. I also appreciated his lengthy section of notes at the end of the book. It added more detail, and clarified the inclusion (or exclusion) of certain stories and characters.
May 2, 2016
Some kind of spark was missing but I did keep reading to find out about Sabinus [the protagonist and brother of Vespasian, who overshadowed him in life]. I wanted to like this novel more than I did. The novel followed very closely the historical record [mostly primary but some secondary sources]. Much of the novel was devoted to the expansion of Christianity to and in Rome, even after the Great Fire, which the author painted as not set deliberately. The author posits it starting in an oil merchant cum builder's shop. Many historians of today agree with the assessment that the Fire was an accident. The retaliations against Christians as described were horrendous, but mentioned in ancient sources.
The story takes Sabinus from his return to Rome from the military in Britannia; service as a senator; marriage into the Plautius gens; and terms of office as census taker in Gaul and Roman City Prefect [equivalent of mayor]. The novel brings out his role in the plot against Nero. The author did make him sympathetic towards and helpful to Christians; the real-life Sabinus was a decent and peace-loving man, probably a Stoic. I liked the descriptions of the several outlandish assassination attempts on Agrippina; she was certainly 'a cat with nine lives' who finally used them all. I liked the coverage of Pomponia Graecina's religious trial by her family. I liked in the last part Lucas [Luke] telling Sabinus that he is using a coded form of his complete name, the first three sounds of 'Titus Flavius Sabinus' meaning 'Theophilus' for Luke's dedication to him of the "Acts." This is fiction, but I'd like to think it might be true.
I admire the author as a historian and his use of the sources, but he lacked something as a novelist. Each character was actually historical, but all of them came across as wooden except for Sabinus himself. Claudius and Nero were the usual cartoonish stereotypes. Dialogue was nothing remarkable and was stilted. As much as or more than the novel itself, the end notes were most interesting: from where the author got his information and how he used it. Those are worth reading. The orgy scenes were probably risqué for when the book was written [1981], but they are very tame today. It is worthwhile for the history of that period and explanation of the Latin terms, e.g., the voting system at a trial: A [Absolvo], C [Condemno] or NL [Non Licet=not proven=in today's parlance, Abstention].
The story takes Sabinus from his return to Rome from the military in Britannia; service as a senator; marriage into the Plautius gens; and terms of office as census taker in Gaul and Roman City Prefect [equivalent of mayor]. The novel brings out his role in the plot against Nero. The author did make him sympathetic towards and helpful to Christians; the real-life Sabinus was a decent and peace-loving man, probably a Stoic. I liked the descriptions of the several outlandish assassination attempts on Agrippina; she was certainly 'a cat with nine lives' who finally used them all. I liked the coverage of Pomponia Graecina's religious trial by her family. I liked in the last part Lucas [Luke] telling Sabinus that he is using a coded form of his complete name, the first three sounds of 'Titus Flavius Sabinus' meaning 'Theophilus' for Luke's dedication to him of the "Acts." This is fiction, but I'd like to think it might be true.
I admire the author as a historian and his use of the sources, but he lacked something as a novelist. Each character was actually historical, but all of them came across as wooden except for Sabinus himself. Claudius and Nero were the usual cartoonish stereotypes. Dialogue was nothing remarkable and was stilted. As much as or more than the novel itself, the end notes were most interesting: from where the author got his information and how he used it. Those are worth reading. The orgy scenes were probably risqué for when the book was written [1981], but they are very tame today. It is worthwhile for the history of that period and explanation of the Latin terms, e.g., the voting system at a trial: A [Absolvo], C [Condemno] or NL [Non Licet=not proven=in today's parlance, Abstention].
October 2, 2020
Imagine if Dan Brown were orthodox and capable of writing a coherent paragraph. This is what Paul Maier gives us. It is a perfectly paced novel that puts the reader in the midst of the caldron that is Neronic Rome. Maier’s credentials are unquestionable. He is a professional historian, having translated Eusebius and Josephus from the Greek.
This is what he calls a documentary novel. What separates it from standard “historical fiction” is the historical reconstruction provided in the notes at the end. If I were teaching a class on 1st Century Christianity, I would make this a required text. The novel itself is quite good, but the reconstruction at the end is simply breathtaking.
Despite the title, the book isn’t mostly about Nero. Claudius plays just as important a role. The reader gets some idea about the machinations in the palace.
The Christianity angle is interesting. We see Priscilla and Aquila in Rome, which matches the timeline and Claudius’s edict banning the Jews from Rome (and to what extent, as in the notes, that could have been carried out).
Maier takes the line that Peter did in fact make it to Rome (Schaff had argued, quite forcefully, that Peter couldn’t have made it to Rome given his bishopric in Antioch). The evidence that Peter made it to Rome is too strong to ignore. Pace Roman Catholicism, though, Peter could not have had a 25 year ministry there as head of the church.
If you know a little about Nero, you probably have a general idea of what happens in the novel. It’s still worth reading, though. It is perfectly paced and the characters are quite developed.
This is what he calls a documentary novel. What separates it from standard “historical fiction” is the historical reconstruction provided in the notes at the end. If I were teaching a class on 1st Century Christianity, I would make this a required text. The novel itself is quite good, but the reconstruction at the end is simply breathtaking.
Despite the title, the book isn’t mostly about Nero. Claudius plays just as important a role. The reader gets some idea about the machinations in the palace.
The Christianity angle is interesting. We see Priscilla and Aquila in Rome, which matches the timeline and Claudius’s edict banning the Jews from Rome (and to what extent, as in the notes, that could have been carried out).
Maier takes the line that Peter did in fact make it to Rome (Schaff had argued, quite forcefully, that Peter couldn’t have made it to Rome given his bishopric in Antioch). The evidence that Peter made it to Rome is too strong to ignore. Pace Roman Catholicism, though, Peter could not have had a 25 year ministry there as head of the church.
If you know a little about Nero, you probably have a general idea of what happens in the novel. It’s still worth reading, though. It is perfectly paced and the characters are quite developed.
October 8, 2011
Who woulda thunk I'd like this? Let me run it down for you, I hated it. I dispised it. It was the worst book I've ever read--until around pp 300. The first 300 pages seemed to be imformation after imformation. It was boring. It was disgusting with all the sin that was depicted (incest, infidelity, murder, suicide, the works). But when the Christians were brought into the scene, I could tell it got much more heartfelt. I appreciated that. This was a full book. A multi-dimensioned and one of the most characterized books I've ever read. It just had so much. I felt like I was reading a book that had a real purpose and a book that had a soul. It was fantastic. It was very rough trying to get through the first 300 pages. I was assigned this for school and the first half or so was so much information and facts and boring scenes (for me personally)but I understood why it was a good book and why I had been assigned to read it after Paul entered in and the story really took full bloom. A very good read!
July 23, 2009
This book occupies the somewhat specialized genre of religious historical fiction. It takes place in ancient Rome, during the reign of Nero, and follows his persecution of the early Christian church and the events leading up to it.
I can't comment on the historical accuracy of this book, although the detailed historical notes at the end cite many sources, both secular and religious, suggesting that the author was meticulous about his research. As a novel, though, it falls a bit flat. The events are interesting enough, but I rarely felt like I was given any reason to care about the characters they were happening to. Maybe the author relied a bit too heavily on the reader identifying with characters because of their faith, since his target audience is presumably other Christians.
While I'm not entirely impressed with this book, it did pique my interest in ancient Rome and make me want to seek out other books about that historical period.
I can't comment on the historical accuracy of this book, although the detailed historical notes at the end cite many sources, both secular and religious, suggesting that the author was meticulous about his research. As a novel, though, it falls a bit flat. The events are interesting enough, but I rarely felt like I was given any reason to care about the characters they were happening to. Maybe the author relied a bit too heavily on the reader identifying with characters because of their faith, since his target audience is presumably other Christians.
While I'm not entirely impressed with this book, it did pique my interest in ancient Rome and make me want to seek out other books about that historical period.
June 10, 2011
What Maier lacks as a writer and a storyteller he makes up for as a historian. The characters were flat, the writing was usually clumsy and displeasing to the ear, the romance was unbearable, and generally the novel qua novel was mediocre. However, there were a few points when the writing was gripping, usually during suspense, intrigue, conflict, and the brutality and madness of Nero. But the sheer depth of historical knowledge in the text (and in the endnotes for each chapter) made the book worth reading. For anyone who wonders what happened to Peter, Paul, and the Christian Church after the events recorded in Acts, and how it was first received in Rome and fits into Roman history, this book is for you.
June 3, 2023
Very similar to Francine Rivers’ Mark of the Lion series. It’s hard to put down, & well-written.
December 27, 2017
This was excellent. I didn't get bored a bit. Parts of it were quite difficult to read due to the subject matter (details of the persecution of Christians and of Roman sexuality), but it was true to history, so I forged ahead. The book was so good that when I finished it, I started reading Pontius Pilate by the same author.
March 31, 2024
Ongelooflijk! Wat een verhaal
June 20, 2022
4,25 sterren - Nederlandse hardcover
Een historische roman van formaat. Van de auteur van 'Het Rama-document'
In de zomer van 64 wordt Rome, het centrum van de toenmalige wereld, opgeschrikt door een enorme brand. Een groot deel van de stad gaat in vlammen op. In de chaotische tijd na deze brand schuift keizer Nero de schuld in de schoenen van de christenen in Rome. Een bizarre periode van vervolging en religieuze zuivering is het gevolg.
In deze historische roman beschrijft Paul Maier op boeiende en historisch betrouwbare wijze het leven in Rome voor en na de brand. Temidden van het decadente en hedonistische leven van veel Romeinen en de corrupte politiek van de keizers en hun adellijke vrienden, proberen de christenen vorm te geven aan hun godsdienst. Voor de familie van Flavius Sabinus, stadsprefect van Rome onder Nero, is dit op bepaalde momenten bijzonder moeilijk. Als na de brand de problemen voor de christenen alleen maar toenemen, rest Sabinus en zijn vrienden maar één oplossing.
Een meeslepende roman die de lezer binnenvoert in het turbulente Romeinse leven in de eerste eeuw.
Een geweldig boek over de historie van Rome in de periode van Claudius en Nero. Het geeft een goed beeld van het leven van toen en de machtstrijd rond de keizer. En ook wat voor iemand Nero ongeveer was.
We zien ook hoe de eerste christenvervolginen een feit werden onder deze wrede keizer, met al zijn gruwelijkheden. Knap geschreven met alle historische feiten. Een aanrader om meer te weten te komen over deze historie!
Een historische roman van formaat. Van de auteur van 'Het Rama-document'
In de zomer van 64 wordt Rome, het centrum van de toenmalige wereld, opgeschrikt door een enorme brand. Een groot deel van de stad gaat in vlammen op. In de chaotische tijd na deze brand schuift keizer Nero de schuld in de schoenen van de christenen in Rome. Een bizarre periode van vervolging en religieuze zuivering is het gevolg.
In deze historische roman beschrijft Paul Maier op boeiende en historisch betrouwbare wijze het leven in Rome voor en na de brand. Temidden van het decadente en hedonistische leven van veel Romeinen en de corrupte politiek van de keizers en hun adellijke vrienden, proberen de christenen vorm te geven aan hun godsdienst. Voor de familie van Flavius Sabinus, stadsprefect van Rome onder Nero, is dit op bepaalde momenten bijzonder moeilijk. Als na de brand de problemen voor de christenen alleen maar toenemen, rest Sabinus en zijn vrienden maar één oplossing.
Een meeslepende roman die de lezer binnenvoert in het turbulente Romeinse leven in de eerste eeuw.
Een geweldig boek over de historie van Rome in de periode van Claudius en Nero. Het geeft een goed beeld van het leven van toen en de machtstrijd rond de keizer. En ook wat voor iemand Nero ongeveer was.
We zien ook hoe de eerste christenvervolginen een feit werden onder deze wrede keizer, met al zijn gruwelijkheden. Knap geschreven met alle historische feiten. Een aanrader om meer te weten te komen over deze historie!
July 12, 2010
This was a great historical novel, based on actual people who lived during the riegn of Nero. Dr. Maier's historical accuracy is fascinating, as is the fill ins for the real characters as to converstations, etc. Also great insight into the evil of nero and his minions.
Recommended.
Recommended.
January 31, 2015
An example of a good Christian novel, written by someone with excellent sacred and secular credentials. I enjoyed this book very much and highly recommend it!
April 3, 2015
I really loved it, it was fresh and really good written. Also that it's all based on facts is amazing!
March 29, 2019
This book blurb is going to be really difficult not to overdo, but "The Flames of Rome," by Paul Maier is an incredible book! By far the best storytelling I have read. Paul Maier writes about Rome the way, I think, every kid thought about Rome when they first fell in love with its history. Maier recreates the events that unfolded between the decline of Emperor Claudius and Nero's rise to power and demise while also weaving in the spread of Christianity throughout Rome. None of it feels forced and Maier is quick to support any historical events that seem unlikely in his story with a footnote supporting its strong probability. Whenever I think of the spread of Christianity and the feeling of Roman culture, I will probably choose to remember it the way Maier wrote about it in this book. "The Flames of Rome" is a phenomenal read and Maier accomplishes more than I'm willing to give away mainly because I cannot fully describe how incredible Maier executes all the different kinds of tension in this story. And also, even giving you a sentence worth of information in this book would spoil it.Definitely, a must-read. His translation of Josephus is pretty great, too! Thanks, Kevin Stilley for another enjoyable recommendation! Time to study for those finals.
March 12, 2019
This is a hard one to assign a star rating to. I'm giving it four, because the story itself was utterly fascinating, and the book was so meticulously researched the author deserves it. As far as novels go, it wasn't beautifully written, with rich characters--it read more like a piece of well-written journalism. I'm almost categorizing it as "non-fiction" in my mind (and when you read the preface and the epilogues, you'll understand why). If you have an interest in early-church history, it's a must read. Seeing Paul, Peter, Luke, Priscilla, and Aquila as book characters (and knowing with the meticulous research what you're reading has a strong ring of truth) is pretty mind-blowing. (I just so happened to be reading Romans in my personal Scripture-reading time, which was an interesting dovetail with this story. Highly recommended, and plan to read every bit of it--even the footnotes!
January 6, 2024
The last time I read this book was back in my sophomore year in college when I finished it all in one day!! Absolutely riveting read and more like a documentary than historical fiction; 5 stars then and 5 stars now!
August 3, 2017
Knappe mix van veel historische feiten en fictieve opvulling. Maier zet een mooi lopend en spannend verhaal neer. Minpuntje is de persoonsbeschrijving van Nero; die is, gezien de historische gegevens over zijn persoon, te positief. De wreedheid en bizarre acties van Nero worden teveel genuanceerd. Jammer. Nero is één van de meest gewelddadige keizers geweest, dat komt er in dit boek niet helemaal uit.
Desondanks 4*. Heeft mij geboeid tot de laatste pagina. Tijdens het lezen ontdekte ik veel historische feiten en wetenswaardigheden over de respectievelijke periode. Het opvullen van de historische hiaten neem ik voor lief: dat is nu eenmaal niet anders te doen dan door middel van fictie.
Als je meer over deze periode, van keizer Nero, de brand van Rome en de eerste christenvervolgingen, wilt weten dan is dit boek echt een aanrader!
Desondanks 4*. Heeft mij geboeid tot de laatste pagina. Tijdens het lezen ontdekte ik veel historische feiten en wetenswaardigheden over de respectievelijke periode. Het opvullen van de historische hiaten neem ik voor lief: dat is nu eenmaal niet anders te doen dan door middel van fictie.
Als je meer over deze periode, van keizer Nero, de brand van Rome en de eerste christenvervolgingen, wilt weten dan is dit boek echt een aanrader!
November 6, 2018
I enjoyed this book alot! Gave me a new understanding of ancient Roman history and was well-researched. Note: while the author is pretty discreet overall, due to the depraved nature of ancient Rome, there is some graphic stuff. Read at your own caution.
April 7, 2020
Enjoyable, not as preachy as I thought it could have been, given that it's by a historian who specializes in early Christianity and Biblical scholarship.
July 9, 2023
The author describes the genre of this book as a “documentary novel”. Another way to think of it is as historical fiction. Either way, kept my attention and was quite enjoyable.
September 19, 2014
Paul Maier made promises at the beginning of this book on what he was going to deliver and he did not let me, as the reader down. He promised that the real story was better than the fiction and it was! I wish there was more authors like Paul Maier out there. That take as many historical facts of the time they were writing about and crammed them into a book instead of just choosing a time period and loosely (very loosely) basing their books on characters in history without much research. I think we see more of research based books today than we did in the past but Mr. Maier's book was excellent. I'm a not a big fan of Roman history but he really cleared up some areas of cross culture history that I wasn't even aware was puzzling to me until he cleared them up. I wish he would go on to write more books and I definitely intent to read the other one that I know he has out there. He is an excellent writer and I recommend him to everyone.
April 20, 2010
I'm generally a big fan of historical fiction, but this one was missing something. It had romance, intrigue - both psychological and political, way more graphic detail than I needed, both of the animal & human killing of the Christians in the Colliseum, as well as sexual eccentricities of the Caesars.
Maier includes end notes, and sticks fairly close to historical accuracy, but still, this book just somehow didn't seem as important or well-written as others of the same time and genre have. It was highly predictable and didn't come to the most satisfying of conclusions.
Maier includes end notes, and sticks fairly close to historical accuracy, but still, this book just somehow didn't seem as important or well-written as others of the same time and genre have. It was highly predictable and didn't come to the most satisfying of conclusions.
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July 14, 2013This book was amazing! If it were only fiction, it would be compelling enough; but the fact that is it based on multitudes of primary sources makes it particularly rich (Tacitus, Josephus, Suetonius, Acts, Pauline epistles..etc). The notes section is as interesting as the rest of the book! It brought ancient Rome to life in a way no other book has since I read Augustine's Confessions years ago. In addition, the character development and dialogue, while admittedly is artistic license, is so good, I can't help but think the author had divine assistance in creating them!
May 8, 2016
This claims to be a reconstruction of the historic events surrounding Nero Caesar, which from a story telling perspective sounds like a terrible idea. Yet, somehow it works. It is a compelling story about the rise and fall of a monster. I'm not in the position to know how accurate this is to what really happened, so I presume it is. The assumption that it probably is all true makes it sometimes disturbing and revolting to read on. But never boring.
July 2, 2025
One of my all time favorite books about the time of the early church being established in Rome. However, it doesn't dwell much on the inner works of that establishment or give us much detail. The book focuses more on what was going on in Rome and the rise and fall of Nero. The book comes out of the view of a young Roman official. It's superbly written and is a wonderful historical novel(quite accurate to the times, the author boasts). It is not 'Christianese'!
December 24, 2019
A documentary novel, according to the author; one might worry it would be too dry or too contrived. But it really did read like a novel and made the past come alive, while at the same time being quite true to history. It told equally the story of the development of the early church and the life of Nero. Nobody would hate history if it were all presented in this form.
October 12, 2024
I’ve read this book 8 times
September 21, 2024
***MINOR SPOILERS ***
This book is a standalone. It is the first book I have read by the author.
It took a minute for me to get into this book. There is an overarching story about Nero, Christians, and a particular family in Rome (Flavian), but the author includes a lot of historical detail and specifics. Because of this, the book is on the longer side (about 480 pages). For me, it took a bit to sink into the story and to really enjoy all the historical information. I found myself stopping at times and looking things up to give myself even more perspective and understanding.
Nero was jaw droppingly corrupt and debauched. From his introduction as a peeping Tom at the baths at a young age to the end, he just kept getting worse. And he was only encouraged by his mother and some of his entourage. Sabinus (one of the Roman family featured and the mayor of Rome), says this good line “No man is a complete failure. He can always serve as a horrible example.” He really was.
The book was very thoroughly researched, and the end notes show where various information was found. In some cases, the author indicated conflicting information or speculation about what happened and why he chose the portrayal he did for the book. The author was a professor, and it shows in how he approached the material.
I found the death of Peter to be very moving. It was interesting that when the Christians were killed after the fire that destroyed a good part of Rome, that it was done on the current site of the Vatican. The altar at the Vatican is believed to be over Peter’s grave.
It was interesting to see Paul of Tarsus portrayed in the novel. I liked the way he lived his Christian life. In a nitpick, I am not sure I agreed with this line though. “They all laughed, relieved to find Paul a very human sort, not the larger-than-life saint of God who seemed to command a prestige in the church second only to that of Jesus himself.” He was human and a saint but the part about his prestige was debatable and not necessary.
I was near the end of the book when I realized that there is a map included at the end. It was very helpful. My suggestion to the publishers: place the map at the beginning. It is a useful reference throughout the book.
At times, some of the word choices were a little awkward.
I finally enjoyed this book but would only recommend it to people who are interested in history. That part of the book overshadowed the story in my opinion.
This book is a standalone. It is the first book I have read by the author.
It took a minute for me to get into this book. There is an overarching story about Nero, Christians, and a particular family in Rome (Flavian), but the author includes a lot of historical detail and specifics. Because of this, the book is on the longer side (about 480 pages). For me, it took a bit to sink into the story and to really enjoy all the historical information. I found myself stopping at times and looking things up to give myself even more perspective and understanding.
Nero was jaw droppingly corrupt and debauched. From his introduction as a peeping Tom at the baths at a young age to the end, he just kept getting worse. And he was only encouraged by his mother and some of his entourage. Sabinus (one of the Roman family featured and the mayor of Rome), says this good line “No man is a complete failure. He can always serve as a horrible example.” He really was.
The book was very thoroughly researched, and the end notes show where various information was found. In some cases, the author indicated conflicting information or speculation about what happened and why he chose the portrayal he did for the book. The author was a professor, and it shows in how he approached the material.
I found the death of Peter to be very moving. It was interesting that when the Christians were killed after the fire that destroyed a good part of Rome, that it was done on the current site of the Vatican. The altar at the Vatican is believed to be over Peter’s grave.
It was interesting to see Paul of Tarsus portrayed in the novel. I liked the way he lived his Christian life. In a nitpick, I am not sure I agreed with this line though. “They all laughed, relieved to find Paul a very human sort, not the larger-than-life saint of God who seemed to command a prestige in the church second only to that of Jesus himself.” He was human and a saint but the part about his prestige was debatable and not necessary.
I was near the end of the book when I realized that there is a map included at the end. It was very helpful. My suggestion to the publishers: place the map at the beginning. It is a useful reference throughout the book.
At times, some of the word choices were a little awkward.
I finally enjoyed this book but would only recommend it to people who are interested in history. That part of the book overshadowed the story in my opinion.
July 17, 2019
Een historische roman van formaat. Van de auteur van 'Het Rama-document'
In de zomer van 64 wordt Rome, het centrum van de toenmalige wereld, opgeschrikt door een enorme brand. Een groot deel van de stad gaat in vlammen op. In de chaotische tijd na deze brand schuift keizer Nero de schuld in de schoenen van de christenen in Rome. Een bizarre periode van vervolging en religieuze zuivering is het gevolg.
In deze historische roman beschrijft Paul Maier op boeiende en historisch betrouwbare wijze het leven in Rome voor en na de brand. Temidden van het decadente en hedonistische leven van veel Romeinen en de corrupte politiek van de keizers en hun adellijke vrienden, proberen de christenen vorm te geven aan hun godsdienst. Voor de familie van Flavius Sabinus, stadsprefect van Rome onder Nero, is dit op bepaalde momenten bijzonder moeilijk. Als na de brand de problemen voor de christenen alleen maar toenemen, rest Sabinus en zijn vrienden maar een oplossing.
Een meeslepende roman die de lezer binnenvoert in het turbulente Romeinse leven in de eerste eeuw.
Paul L. Maier is hoogleraar geschiedens aan de Western Michigan University (VS).
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Beschrijving van het leven in Rome met al zijn excessen onder keizer Claudius (10 v.Chr.-54 n.Chr.) en Nero (37-68). Conscientieus worden de politieke successen van Claudius en de vele samenzweringen waaraan hij het hoofd moest bieden getekend alsmede de despotische monarchie onder Nero met diens losbandigheden en wreedheden die na de grote brand van Rome (64) culmineerden in meedogenloze christenvervolgingen. Een uitzonderlijk goed gedocumenteerde historische roman - getuige het uitvoerige notenapparaat - waarin de Amerikaanse hoogleraar oude geschiedenis een fascinerend beeld van de oudheid geeft. Mede door de levendige verteltrant is dit indrukwekkende lectuur die ook niet klassiek geschoolden zal interesseren. Achter in een kaart van het oude Rome. Paperback, kleine druk.
In de zomer van 64 wordt Rome, het centrum van de toenmalige wereld, opgeschrikt door een enorme brand. Een groot deel van de stad gaat in vlammen op. In de chaotische tijd na deze brand schuift keizer Nero de schuld in de schoenen van de christenen in Rome. Een bizarre periode van vervolging en religieuze zuivering is het gevolg.
In deze historische roman beschrijft Paul Maier op boeiende en historisch betrouwbare wijze het leven in Rome voor en na de brand. Temidden van het decadente en hedonistische leven van veel Romeinen en de corrupte politiek van de keizers en hun adellijke vrienden, proberen de christenen vorm te geven aan hun godsdienst. Voor de familie van Flavius Sabinus, stadsprefect van Rome onder Nero, is dit op bepaalde momenten bijzonder moeilijk. Als na de brand de problemen voor de christenen alleen maar toenemen, rest Sabinus en zijn vrienden maar een oplossing.
Een meeslepende roman die de lezer binnenvoert in het turbulente Romeinse leven in de eerste eeuw.
Paul L. Maier is hoogleraar geschiedens aan de Western Michigan University (VS).
-----
Beschrijving van het leven in Rome met al zijn excessen onder keizer Claudius (10 v.Chr.-54 n.Chr.) en Nero (37-68). Conscientieus worden de politieke successen van Claudius en de vele samenzweringen waaraan hij het hoofd moest bieden getekend alsmede de despotische monarchie onder Nero met diens losbandigheden en wreedheden die na de grote brand van Rome (64) culmineerden in meedogenloze christenvervolgingen. Een uitzonderlijk goed gedocumenteerde historische roman - getuige het uitvoerige notenapparaat - waarin de Amerikaanse hoogleraar oude geschiedenis een fascinerend beeld van de oudheid geeft. Mede door de levendige verteltrant is dit indrukwekkende lectuur die ook niet klassiek geschoolden zal interesseren. Achter in een kaart van het oude Rome. Paperback, kleine druk.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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