In this dynamic historical offering, Barager (The Atheist and the Parrotfish) presents the coming-of-

age of a young man who rises from a bonded servant to a prosperous merchant during the

early Roman Republic. In 462 BCE, 16-year-old Marcus Atilius’s farmer father sells him into three

years of bondage to pay debts. The teen quickly gains the trust of his savvy master, the salt

trader Gaius Licinius, and, once freed, remains in Gaius’s employ, eventually opening his own

business and marrying Gaius’ daughter, Gavia. Over the span of a decade, Marcus flourishes,

survives the plague, and plays a key role in defending the common man’s political rights as his

beloved city endures turmoil.

In telling Marcus’s story, Barager also recounts the history of early Rome, backed by meticulous

research that demonstrates how upward mobility during this period allowed even a former

servant or laborer like Marcus to become educated and wealthy. In particular, the eponymous

Twelve Tables, engraved bronze tablets listing laws that increased equality among all classes,

gave voice to the Roman commoner. When noblemen threaten those rights, Marcus’s fight to

maintain commoners’ political expression is epic.

Those lucky enough to have visited Italy will thrill at mentions of famous locations like the

Forum as well as depictions of ordinary people’s daily lives, and well-chosen sensory details

immerse readers in the city streets—where Marcus sells salt, the local tavern, his home life, and

more. Barager regularly sprinkles in simple Latin vocabulary—such as domus for home—to add

authenticity without overwhelming readers with antiquities jargon, though characters’ first

names are often similar and will require close attention to track. Multiple points of view, mostly

Marcus’s, enrich the storytelling, and thoughtful aphorisms lend a timeless tone. For those

inspired to continue learning, Barager includes a bibliography of sources at the end, making

this sparkling account of ancient Rome both informative and entertaining.

Takeaway: Meticulous tale of Roman ambition, romance, and political evolution.

Great for fans of: Tiberian Norwood’s One Woman, One Empire, Steven Saylor’s Roma.

Production grades

Cover: A

Design and typography: A

Editing: A

Marketing copy: A