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A Pillar of Iron
- A Novel of Ancient Rome
- Narrated by: Simon Mattacks, Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 33 hrs and 9 mins
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Historical Fiction
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Publisher's Summary
New York Times Bestseller: A magnificent novel of ancient Rome and the tragic life of Cicero, who tried in vain to save the republic he loved from tyranny.
In this riveting tale, the Roman Empire in its final glory is seen through the eyes of philosopher, orator, and political theorist Marcus Tullius Cicero.
From his birth in 106 BC in the hill town of Arpinum, Cicero, the educated son of a wealthy member of the equestrian order, is destined for greatness. At a young age, he discovers the legend of the Unknown God, the coming Messiah, and it propels the rising lawyer on a journey of spiritual conflict and self-discovery. From his tumultuous family life to his tenuous alliance with Julius Caesar to a fateful love affair with the Roman empress Livia and, finally, to the political role that will make him a target of powerful enemies, A Pillar of Iron is the story of Cicero's legacy as one the greatest influences on Western civilization.
Based on hundreds of speeches, voluminous private correspondence, and ancient texts and manuscripts, this bestselling epic brings into focus Cicero's complicated relationships with his contemporaries, including Caesar, Mark Antony, and Crassus, and brilliantly captures the pageantry, turmoil, and intrigue of life in ancient Rome. According to legendary editor Maxwell Perkins, author "Taylor Caldwell is a storyteller first, last and foremost, and once you begin reading one of her books, you can't help finishing it."
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What listeners say about A Pillar of Iron
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- Theresa
- 2020-02-01
great story
Loved it. Enjoyed the history with feelings and relationships. Interesting hearing the dreams and wornings. Narration was easy to listen to and added to the story.
5 people found this helpful
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- SFBookLover
- 2020-08-19
Definitely worth the investment of 33 hours!
This is grand, sweeping, old-fashioned storytelling at its best, and it's refreshing to experience the slower and more deliberate pace of this story, which allows the reader to get to know each of the personalities involved. I learned a lot, and the examination of the effects of tyranny is very relevant right now.
1 person found this helpful