From the bestselling author of Fatherland and Pompeii comes the most provocative and brilliant novel of antiquity since I, Claudius - Imperium a cautionary tale of Cicero, the greatest orator of all time, and his extraordinary struggle for power in Rome. When Tiro, the confidential secretary (and slave) of a Roman senator, opens the door to a terrified stranger on a cold November morning, he sets in motion a chain of events that will eventually propel...

"There was a time when Cicero held Caesar's life in the palm of his hand. But now Caesar is the dominant figure and Cicero's life is in ruins. Exiled, separated from his wife and children, his possessions confiscated, his life constantly in danger, Cicero is tormented by the knowledge that he has sacrificed power for the sake of his principles. His comeback requires wit, skill and courage - and for a brief and glorious period, the legendary orator...