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Fig Tree
This is the brilliant short story that featured in the back of the special edition ebook of CONN IGGULDEN’S bestselling novel EMPEROR: BLOOD OF GODS.
As the effects of age creep up on Augustus Caesar, he is left with the whispers of his wife Livia in one ear and the echoes of his youthful dreams in the other, as he tries to come to the rescue of his beloved grandson, Marcus.
31 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2013
11 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
Conn Iggulden
144 books6,030 followersAlso publishes under author name C.F. Iggulden.
I was born in the normal way in 1971, and vaguely remember half-pennies and sixpences. I have written for as long as I can remember: poetry, short stories and novels. It’s what I always wanted to do and read English at London University with writing in mind. I taught English for seven years and was Head of English at St. Gregory’s RC High School in London by the end of that period. I have enormous respect for those who still labour at the chalk-face. In truth, I can’t find it in me to miss the grind of paperwork and initiatives. I do miss the camaraderie of the smokers’ room, as well as the lessons where their faces lit up as they understood what I was wittering on about.
My mother is Irish and from an early age she told me history as an exciting series of stories – with dates. My great-grandfather was a Seannachie, so I suppose story-telling is in the genes somewhere. My father flew in Bomber Command in WWII, then taught maths and science. Perhaps crucially, he also loved poetry and cracking good tales. Though it seems a dated idea now, I began teaching when boys were told only girls were good at English, despite the great names that must spring to mind after that statement. My father loved working with wood and equations, but he also recited ‘Vitai Lampada’ with a gleam in his eye and that matters, frankly.
I’ve always loved historical fiction as a genre and cut my teeth on Hornblower and Tai-Pan, Flashman, Sharpe and Jack Aubrey. I still remember the sheer joy of reading my first Patrick O’Brian book and discovering there were nineteen more in the series. I love just about anything by David Gemmell, or Peter F. Hamilton or Wilbur Smith. I suppose the one thing that links all those is the love of a good tale.
That’s about it for the moment. If you’d like to get in touch with me leave a comment in the forum or you can tweet me @Conn_Iggulden. I’ll leave it there for the moment. If you’ve read my books, you know an awful lot about the way I think already. There’s no point overdoing it.
Conn Iggulden
I was born in the normal way in 1971, and vaguely remember half-pennies and sixpences. I have written for as long as I can remember: poetry, short stories and novels. It’s what I always wanted to do and read English at London University with writing in mind. I taught English for seven years and was Head of English at St. Gregory’s RC High School in London by the end of that period. I have enormous respect for those who still labour at the chalk-face. In truth, I can’t find it in me to miss the grind of paperwork and initiatives. I do miss the camaraderie of the smokers’ room, as well as the lessons where their faces lit up as they understood what I was wittering on about.
My mother is Irish and from an early age she told me history as an exciting series of stories – with dates. My great-grandfather was a Seannachie, so I suppose story-telling is in the genes somewhere. My father flew in Bomber Command in WWII, then taught maths and science. Perhaps crucially, he also loved poetry and cracking good tales. Though it seems a dated idea now, I began teaching when boys were told only girls were good at English, despite the great names that must spring to mind after that statement. My father loved working with wood and equations, but he also recited ‘Vitai Lampada’ with a gleam in his eye and that matters, frankly.
I’ve always loved historical fiction as a genre and cut my teeth on Hornblower and Tai-Pan, Flashman, Sharpe and Jack Aubrey. I still remember the sheer joy of reading my first Patrick O’Brian book and discovering there were nineteen more in the series. I love just about anything by David Gemmell, or Peter F. Hamilton or Wilbur Smith. I suppose the one thing that links all those is the love of a good tale.
That’s about it for the moment. If you’d like to get in touch with me leave a comment in the forum or you can tweet me @Conn_Iggulden. I’ll leave it there for the moment. If you’ve read my books, you know an awful lot about the way I think already. There’s no point overdoing it.
Conn Iggulden
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 2, 2016
Longer than a short story, shorter than a novella – this novelette (?) describes the end of the long reign of Emperor Augustus and Empress Livia, both of whom have one last act each to perform in order to ensure a smooth transition of power to the next administration.
Despite knowing the historical outcome, the story still managed to surprise me, and I enjoyed seeing how Iggulden depicted what might have been happening in various historical figures’ heads.
March 3, 2019
Short story
February 5, 2019
A short story to finish off the Emperor series featuring the last days of Octavian (Emperor Augustus) and dealing with his relationship with his wife, grandson and coming on of old age and succession. Short and sweet and a very nice way to end the series.
July 5, 2021
A fitting epilogue to the Emperor series. The 2000 odd pages of violence, deception and ambition ended with a short story about Augustus' attempt to set up Rome's future in a way that would avoid those things from reoccuring. I am really glad Conn ended his tale this way.
June 12, 2019
A nice little short story, with much more deception and death than you might think. Though maybe not with Mr. Igguldenn involved...
May 17, 2020
An interesting little story with a wonderful twist at the end.
January 1, 2021
A short by Conn
That's all you need to know really
That's all you need to know really
June 27, 2022
Epilogo del último libro de la saga. No suma mucho, menciona la sucesión con el hijastro de Octavio y el nieto, y el final es polémico con el envenenamiento por parte de la mujer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2023
The story itself was great although I felt perhaps I needed to have read more longer fiction from the series this links to to fully appreciate it, hence only three stars from me.
July 20, 2024
Caesar to Octavian. Conflict to Peace. Clay to Marble.
April 8, 2024
Beautiful and sad at the same time
A beautiful short story of love, power, loyalty, intrigue, betrayal and ultimately, murder. A perfectly written piece that has you living through the characters.
A beautiful short story of love, power, loyalty, intrigue, betrayal and ultimately, murder. A perfectly written piece that has you living through the characters.
May 26, 2020
For a short little book, very good.
A couple of twists I was not expecting. I like it.
A couple of twists I was not expecting. I like it.
July 16, 2025
A brief and bittersweet, yet insightful, short story that narrates the end of Augustus' very long reign as Rome's first emperor. It perfectly wraps up the entire book series on a high note.
November 12, 2020
Short, snappy and beautifully crafted. In three chapters he crafts a whole tale.
January 26, 2021
Good 👍
Was well written, i look forward to reading more from this author. Only downside was this is a short story but worth it all the same.
Was well written, i look forward to reading more from this author. Only downside was this is a short story but worth it all the same.
March 25, 2017
A great short story. Given that I had no previous knowledge of Octavian's eventual demise, this story was a surprise. And thus the only portion of Iggulden's Emperor series that was unchartered historical waters for me. Side note - I also commend any author that writes short stories that can be read as extensions of a popular series. A great way to feed his/her fan base. Thanks Conn.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews