Check out the latest book review of The Twelve Tables, from BlueInk!

 The Twelve Tables Richard Barager Koehler Books, 282 pages, (paperback) $19.95, 9798897475230 

(Reviewed: September 2026) 

In The Twelve Tables, Richard Barager delves into a chapter of ancient Roman history seldom explored in popular historical fiction. 

This isn’t the Rome of emperors, nor is it Rome at the fall of the Republic and assassination of Julius Caesar. The Twelve Tables is set in 462 BCE, long before Rome secured its dominance over the Western world, when Rome is still largely an unremarkable Mediterranean outpost based on an agricultural, barter and trade economy. 

In this setting, 16-year-old Marcus Atilius is sold into slavery by his father, a farmer looking to pay off debts. Gaius Licinius, a successful salt trader, takes ownership of the teenager, and Marcus moves forward under the yoke of bondage. After his term of service is up, he remains under the Licinius’ employ and ultimately weds his daughter, Gavia. 

This is a time of crucial transformation for the young Roman state, and the former slave ultimately finds himself playing a decisive role in the push toward civil war over the Twelve Tables, a code that would offer protections for plebeians against the whims of elites. 

Barager explores social mobility, forbidden love and the moral obligations of class in a carefully researched, painstakingly detailed historical framework. Indeed, the author is attentive to all the nuances, incorporating Latin words and in-depth context for the era’s religious, political and social conventions. 

Generally, he succeeds in balancing the demands of historical accuracy with compelling storytelling. He has a dynamic writing style, and his eye for details echoes the work of Steven Saylor, Lindsey Davis and other authors specializing in ancient Roman historical fiction. 

For readers unfamiliar with the world of the ancients, the sheer weight of historical distance may be somewhat daunting. Many of the ancient names are similar to each other, and the tale is full of grittiness and violence. 

For those interested in this world, however, this story is a perfect blend of historical accuracy and good old-fashioned storytelling.