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A review by jbleyle63
A Gladiator Dies Only Once: The Further Investigations of Gordianus the Finder by Steven Saylor
5.0
This is my fifth book read in Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series which has quickly become one of my favorites. Saylor demonstrates great historical research and places his main character, Gordianus the Finder, as a contemporary of Julius Caeser which allows for plenty of Roman historical events and characters to encounter along the way. This particular book is a short story collection which includes:
--"The Consul's Wife": Gordianus' investigations include a glimpse into the world of Roman chariot racing.
--"If A Cyclops Could Vanish in the Blink of an Eye": An interesting look into the domestic life of Gordianus, his domestic partner/slave Bethesda, and his adopted son Eco.
--"The White Fawn": Gordianus travels to Hispania [Spain] and infiltrates the rebellion of General Quintus Sertorius.
--"Something Fishy in Pompeii": Gordianus travels to Pompeii on behalf of his primary patron Lucius Claudius to look into the possible theft of a recipe for garum, a fish sauce condiment popular in Rome.
--"Archimedes' Tomb": A search for the lost tomb of the historic mathematician in Syracuse.
--"Death by Eros": Gordianus attempts to solve the murder of a young man in a Roman bath house in Neapolis.
--"A Gladiator Dies Only Once": My favorite story in this particular volume features Gordianus looking for the gladiator brother of a Nubian during the summer preceding Spartacus' rebellion.
--"Poppy and the Poisoned Cake": Another glimpse into everyday Roman life as Gordianus is hired to discover who may be poisoning an aristocrat's cake.
--"The Cherries of Lucullus": A very poignant story featuring general Lucullus, a historic figure that may have suffered from dementia brought on by Alzheimer's. This story also reveals the final fate of Gordianus' friend and patron Lucius Claudius.
A very satisfying and educational read!
--"The Consul's Wife": Gordianus' investigations include a glimpse into the world of Roman chariot racing.
--"If A Cyclops Could Vanish in the Blink of an Eye": An interesting look into the domestic life of Gordianus, his domestic partner/slave Bethesda, and his adopted son Eco.
--"The White Fawn": Gordianus travels to Hispania [Spain] and infiltrates the rebellion of General Quintus Sertorius.
--"Something Fishy in Pompeii": Gordianus travels to Pompeii on behalf of his primary patron Lucius Claudius to look into the possible theft of a recipe for garum, a fish sauce condiment popular in Rome.
--"Archimedes' Tomb": A search for the lost tomb of the historic mathematician in Syracuse.
--"Death by Eros": Gordianus attempts to solve the murder of a young man in a Roman bath house in Neapolis.
--"A Gladiator Dies Only Once": My favorite story in this particular volume features Gordianus looking for the gladiator brother of a Nubian during the summer preceding Spartacus' rebellion.
--"Poppy and the Poisoned Cake": Another glimpse into everyday Roman life as Gordianus is hired to discover who may be poisoning an aristocrat's cake.
--"The Cherries of Lucullus": A very poignant story featuring general Lucullus, a historic figure that may have suffered from dementia brought on by Alzheimer's. This story also reveals the final fate of Gordianus' friend and patron Lucius Claudius.
A very satisfying and educational read!