I have followed Robert Fabbri’s series about Vespasian with interest, as I’ve always found him to be one of the more appealing of Emperors. The series itself has had a few ups and downs for me; some episodes have been significantly better than others, and one of the linked works – Arminius – was awful.
However, we have now come to the end, and this last volume relates Vespasian’s rise to the purple. So it had to be read! At the beginning, he is in Judaea, attempting to suppress the revolt. His position is unenviable; if he succeeds, Nero may feel threatened by his success. If he fails, punishment will also follow, so he has to tread carefully.
However, unknown to Vespasian, the situation in Rome has changed, and the year of the four emperors has begun. His brother Sabinus, Prefect of Rome, is in the thick of things, desperately attempting to survive, and to protect the future of his family. Vespasian has an army at his disposal, but communication is slow, so he must decide what to do, and when, with only limited and out of date information. There are many others who would bid for the purple, and he needs to either bring them on side, or outmanoeuvre them.
Our knowledge of the life of Vespasian is surprisingly sparse. This has enabled the author to be very creative, especially in the earlier volumes. As we reach the climax, he obviously has less wriggle room. Nevertheless, he has been able to create a good narrative of the events leading up to Vespasian coming to power.
But there are one or two areas which, for me, let this book down. First, the prologue. Although many readers will know of the events portrayed in the book, the prologue contains a major event which wouldn’t actually have occurred until towards the end of the story. Putting it at the beginning, as the author does, seems unnecessary. It doesn’t add anything to the drama, just spoils it for those unaware of what is to come.
Secondly, the story ends rather abruptly after Vespasian returns to Rome. Yes, there is an epilogue which completes Vespasian’s life. But for me, his reign could have been made just as interesting as his rise. I guess the author had a clear view that it didn’t interest him, which is, I think, rather disappointing.
Overall, this is a worthwhile conclusion to an entertaining series. Vespasian is an appealing subject, and Fabbri has made him very real. In addition, he has created an interesting range of secondary characters; some real, some invented. All have been well drawn. Occasionally, I found that one or two of his creative decisions have jarred badly with the overall mood of the piece, but generally, it has been readable and intelligent.
This is a review of the Corvus 2019 Kindle edition.
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