Voices of Rome: Four Stories of Ancient Rome

Lindsey Davis has received the Crime Writer's Association Lifetime Achievement Award for her two immortal series of detective novels featuring Marcus Didius Falco and his adopted daughter, Flavia Albia. Here, for the first time in book form, are four novella-length stories written to illuminate her unparalleled output of the last 30 years. The Bride from Bithynia, The Spook Who Spoke Again, Vesuvius by Night, and Invitation to Die are four stories that allow Davis's characters to take personal roles in tense situations, with moving results. They face villainy, tragedy, accident, confusion, and fear, but each story is told with the wry humor and underpinned by human wisdom, courage, and love.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 12 October 2023
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Lindsey Davis has been awarded the Crime Writer's Association Lifetime Achievement Award for her two immortal series of detective novels featuring Marcus Didius Falco and his adopted daughter, Flavia Albia. She is widely regarded as the finest living novelist of Ancient Rome. Here, for the first time in book form, are four novella-length stories written to illuminate her unparalleled output of the last 30 years.

The Bride from Bithynia tells the story of Aelia Camilla, who travels 1000 miles to Britain to marry Gaius Flavius, a Roman officer. However, their relationship faces challenges, and the province erupts in the Boudican Revolt. Now, it is up to Aelia to save herself from the conflagration.

The Spook Who Spoke Again follows Marcus Didius Alexander Postumus, an odd boy who has known two families. He decides to emulate his adopted father and investigate a death in Thalia's troupe of exotic performers, leading to a complex web of deceit and danger.

Vesuvius by Night is a tale of two men sharing a room but seldom meeting. Nonius is a pimp and part-time thief who operates at night, while Larius is a fresco painter who dreams of artistic greatness by day. When the volcano erupts, one man will begin looting hastily abandoned villas, while the other will do anything to save himself and his family.

Invitation to Die is a suspenseful story set during the reign of Emperor Domitian. When the Emperor invites the entire senatorial class to a banquet to honour the recent war dead, many fear he intends to take revenge on his enemies. The Camillus brothers, who have been engraved on monumental stones, fear they will not survive the night.

These four pivotal events, fact and fiction, are intertwined in these captivating stories by Lindsey Davis. Each story offers a unique perspective on Ancient Rome and its inhabitants, showcasing Davis's exceptional talent for storytelling and her deep understanding of the historical period. Whether you are a fan of detective novels or historical fiction, these stories will captivate and intrigue you.

Weight: 612g
Dimension: 163 x 242 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399721332