Perfect for fans of Robert Harris, Conn Iggulden and Simon Scarrow, a riveting thriller set in Ancient Rome from bestselling author Douglas Jackson.

"...gripping Roman thriller. It's certainly well placed to take on the Simon Scarrow/Conn Iggulden audience." -- Scotland on Sunday

"Fantastic read..." - ***** Reader review.

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CAN A SLAVE DECIDE THE FATE OF AN EMPEROR?

Ancient Rome. Caligula is Emperor, his reign marked by excess, ambition, decadence, cruelty, madness, sexual scandal and death.

Rufus is a young slave living a world away from the Imperial court - apprentice to an animal trainer for the gladiatorial arena and friend to Cupido, one of Rome's greatest gladiators.

When Rufus's skills come to the attention of Caligula, he is summoned to court to serve as keeper for the Imperial elephant - and unwittingly finds himself at the centre of a conspiracy to assassinate the Emperor...

Rufus's story continues in Claudius.

A major new historical epic - in the tradition of Conn Iggulden.

About the Author
A journalist by profession, Douglas Jackson transformed a lifelong fascination for Rome and the Romans in to his first two highly-praised novels, Caligula and Claudius. His third, Hero of Rome, introduced readers to a new series hero, Gaius Valerius Verrens. Eight further acclaimed 'Rome' novels followed, confirming Doug as one of the UK's foremost historical novelists. His latest novel, The Wall, was published to coincide with the 1900th anniversary of the construction of Hadrian's Wall. A member of the Historical Writers Association and the Historical Novel Society, Douglas Jackson lives near Stirling in Scotland.

Reviews
Jackson brings a visceral realism to Rome in the days of the mad Caligula * Daily Mail *
A young animal trainer for the gladiatorial games is plunged into the paranoid world of Emperor Caligula's court in this gripping Roman thriller * Scotland on Sunday *
Light and dark in equal measure, colourful, thoughtful and bracing -- Manda Scott
Jackson brought Rome alive for me, chilling, deadly and magnetic. A wonder filled novel from a master of his trade -- Anne Berry, author of The Hungry Ghosts



Book Information
ISBN 9780552156943
Author Douglas Jackson
Format Paperback
Page Count 496
Imprint Corgi Books
Publisher Transworld Publishers Ltd
Weight(grams) 252g
Dimensions(mm) 178mm * 106mm * 29mm