Robert Harris' Cicero trilogy illuminates the human face of history in all its dignity and depravity. One of the titans of ancient Rome, Marcus Tullius Cicero is revealed to be "vain, duplicitous, greedy, wrong-headed" ... and dazzlingly brilliant.
There is a mesmerising procession of memorable characters. Octavian, who as the Emperor Augustus introduced the desperately needed Pax Romana, is shown to be calculating and stunningly ruthless. The often typecast heroic avenger of Caesar's assassination, Mark Antony is exposed as a bestial and dangerous opportunist. Julius Caesar himself, one of the great heroes of the ancient world, appals with his towering arrogance, his all-consuming obsession with personal power and his utter contempt for all, patrician and plebeian alike.
These are not the pared-down, one-dimensional historical figures from the pages of a school textbook. Rather they are multi-faceted, complex and often unpredictable. They vibrate with life and all-consuming ambition. They both engage and repulse the reader. They are debauched, brutal, self-serving, moral, dignified. Love them or hate them, they cannot be taken for granted.
Poetic licence there may be, but Harris' trilogy equates with being transported, breath-takingly, to another time and place. His research is extensive and detailed, but rather than overwhelm the reader, it enables this historical fiction to pulsate with life. The reader walks through the streets of Rome alongside Cicero, gags at the stench of Subura, wallows in the luxury of the Palatine villas, feels the press of the mob in the Forum and recoils at the intimation of consuls-elect at the Field of Mars on election days. The setting, both temporal and physical, is undeniably convincing.
Each book in the trilogy is more electrifying than Game of Thrones, more terrifying and more awe-inspiring because the events and characters were real. From 'Imperium' to 'Lustrum' to 'Dictator', I could not put these books down. They are compelling, absolutely addictive. Beware the withdrawal symptoms that follow the final fix. Do not order one book at a time. Order all three at once, otherwise the hiatus between sequels will prove excruciating.

This is the last of the books in the trilogy about Cicero's life and political career. It is imaginatively and carefully written bringing to life the principal characters and evoking the entangled political life of the Roman Republic. To judge from the lack of copies in local bookshops this final book is somewhat hard to come by. This book begins with Cicero's return from exile at a very dangerous time for the Roman Republic.

Dictator is the third in the Cicero Trilogy by Robert Harris. A brilliant and well written book. I would recommend reading all three books in order. Robert Harris is at his best here.

Was in nearly perfect condition and I am now able to finish this wonderful trilogy. I would recommend to lovers of Roman history. Robert Harris is one of my favourite authors and I have read and enjoyed enormously all his of his books.