The Republic of Vengeance

By Paul Waters

Book Overview

A consuming story of love, loss, and redemption set in the classical world of Rome and Greece, The Republic of Vengeance is the story of a young man's pursuit of his father's murderer and of the values and qualities he develops that will make him a man-a man capable of a deep, noble, and enduring love. At the end of the third century B.C., as Republican Rome's long war with Carthage was at last drawing to a close, it was already threatened by a new enemy, Philip, the tyrant king of Macedon in the east. Into this turbulent world emerges our Roman hero, Marcus, whose father is brutally murdered by pirates on a journey from Italy to Corfu on a visit to his uncle. Fate takes him to some of the great cities of the Greco-Roman world at a time of major turbulence, where he learns much and finds love unexpectedly. This debut novel explores political and philosophical questions that are as timeless as democracy and tyranny, war and self-defense, right and duty, as well as questions of love, loyalty, and betrayal. In the tradition of Mary Renault, Steven Pressfield, and Robert Graves, The Republic of Vengeance is a remarkable, beautifully written work of love, loss, and redemption.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590201426
• ISBN13: 9781590201428
• Release Date: February 2009
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
• Length: 407 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.5" x 9.5"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Beautiful writing, Beautiful story, Beautiful charactors

I am a foreigner and not good at writing in English but I read this book and it touched me deeply. It is not the typical type of Roman historical fiction which tells Caesar and Antonio things. It is new and morden. It started from the Roman age but the story goes to the things we face in our life and society. I immensely enjoyed the book and strongly recommend it. It is just too bad I can not describe my feeling about this great novel. I'd like to say great thank to the writer.

One of the best "first" novels I have read

The young Roman protagonist of classicst Paul Waters' first novel, "Of Merchants and Heroes", seeks to find his own identity in a society in the midst of redefining itself, as the traditionally conservative Roman culture begins to embrace, albeit uncertainly, Greek Hellenism at the end of the second Punic War. Born of a landed but impoverished family on a farm in the centuries old city of Praeneste, young Marcus' life takes a dramatic turn when he and his father, along with other travelers, are captured by pirates, led by a ruthless but charismatic rogue named Dicaearchus (Dicearchus, or Diceärch - d.196 BC), an Aetolain rogue (and real historical figure) employed by Philip V of Macedon to raid the Cyclades and Rhodian ships after the second Punic War. Marcus, alone, escapes and flees to the house of his uncle, a prosperous merchant who has capitalized on the war with Hannibal. Forced to become his uncle's adopted son, Marcus accompanies his uncle to Tarentum where his uncle has obtained a contract to oversee properties seized from Tarentines who supported Hannibal in the recent war. There, he saves the life of the father of Titus Quinctius Flamininus, a man who would play a prominant role in the future of Greco-Roman relationships and command the allied forces of Rome and Greece in the defining battle of Cynoscephalae in 197 BCE. Titus, like many young elite Romans of the period, had selectively embraced a number of Greek customs while living in Tarentum, a city originally founded by a group of exiled Spartans in the 8th century BCE. Since its founding, Tarentum had become a thriving trading center and bustling seaport where many nations of the ancient Mediterranean co-mingled, sharing ideas and lifestyles. At one of Titus' dinner parties, Marcus encounters his first hetaira, a lady he grows to respect as they encounter each other a number of times throughout the story. Pacifae personifies the skilled courtesan described by Lucian in his Dialogues of the Courtesans: "In the first place, she dresses attractively and looks neat; she's gay with all the men, without being so ready to cackle as you are, but smiles in a sweet bewitching way; later on, she's very clever when they're together, never cheats a visitor or an escort, and never throws herself at the men. If ever she takes a fee for going out to dinner, she doesn't drink too much--that's ridiculous, and men hate women who do--she doesn't gorge herself--that's ill-bred, my dear--but picks up the food with her finger-tips, eating quietly and not stuffing both cheeks full, and, when she drinks, she doesn't gulp, but sips slowly from time to time....Also, she doesn't talk too much or make fun of any of the company, and has eyes only for her customer. These are the things that make her popular with the men." But love does not bloom for the young man until he visits the gymnasium and meets Menexanos, a young Athenian athlete. Bisexuality was accepted openly in the ancient world although in Roma

Is this Of Merchants and Heroes?

This appears to be Of Merchants and Heroes with a new title and I am writing this review as if I knew that as a fact. At least one reviewer ridiculed the title Of Merchants and Heroes stating that it is "part snooze-fest, part swashbuckler ring, like calling a new espionage novel Of Spreadsheets and Spies." That reviewer also criticized the book as concentrating too much on the merchant side of the equation. This opinion approaches the idiotic in that this is a fast paced adventure novel in which the hero works to live rather than lives to work (as does his despicable stepfather) and at one point uses his business to provide a cover for what is essentially a foreign intelligence gathering operating (although he is not much of a spy given his cover-blowing proclivity to throw down his pencil and reach for his sword at the slightest provocation). One suspects the political correctness of the reviewer in question is so offended by the linkage of merchants and heroes that he is perhaps incapable of seeing past that. And his numbers may be legion thus requiring this new title. And, indeed the book does deal with both republics and vengeance. But it is this book's very offense to our contemporary (let's not only think inside the box but let's make the box smaller) political correctness about which I wish to write. This book offends liberal political correctness not only by associating merchants with heroes but also in myriad other ways. At one point, for example, after the hero's friend has won a grueling wrestling match, a representative of the demos (think Obama voter) attempts to spoil his victory by telling him that he would not have won but for his status as an aristocrat. Our hero, who has for years watched his friend train for this very day and knows the attack to be unfair and, indeed, idiotic responds that the whiner would not have won even if he had been an aristocrat. There are also polemics against demagogues who easily sway masses with dishonest, corrupt, and incompetent promises while neglecting defense. And yet it is also likely to offend the conservative in that the plot is largely the coming of age story of our hero who discovers his homosexuality and finds his true love. In short, the shrinking box world of political correctness is blown open by this book which refuses to be pigeonholed. And that, in addition to good writing, good characters, a good plot, and other attributes, is what makes this book worthwhile. It challenges our prejudices. I have some knowledge of ancient Greece and Rome and I am aware of no major historical inaccuracies (although I do question the apparent neglect of the phalanx in favor of the sword when, for example, Phillip V attacks Athens). I believe that homosexuality was generally accepted by the Greeks of this period so I do not see this as an offense to history. Overall, a good adventure story set in a time and at a place far removed from our own but with hints that the essence of humanity

A mult dimensional tale set in 200BC Rome/Greece

Being the authors first work (I love to check out new talent) and set around 200 BC in Rome and Greece which is not a timeframe I see many authors depict in this genre in Ancient Rome I thought I would give it a go as the paperback was only $11.00. As it turns out it was $11.00 well spent for what I got was a well-written and intelligent tale and a new author to keep an eye on for future instalments. The main character Marcus, aged just fourteen, witnesses the murder of his father by pirates and makes a vow with Mars to exact vengeance on the leader of the group. Despite his relative youth, this inner determination and direction spurs Marcus to forge a career as a military leader and diplomat. He plays a prominent and heroic role in Rome's struggle against Philip of Macedon (the V, not the more famous II which is probably just as well for his longevity in the story), who indirectly threatened Rome through his occupation of various Greek city-states. But this book is much more than a narrative of political-military events. Marcus's love for the beautiful Greek athlete and soldier, Menexenos (against the grain of Roman taboos) - together with loyalty, bravery and conviction to do that which is right, and the myopia, jealousies and brutal violence of the human experience - helps forge him into a decent but still vulnerable human being. My previous understanding of this era was limited to the excellent Cambridge Ancient History series. However excellent that series is, I found myself enjoying and learning about the era far more through Paul Waters telling. Its to be remembered that its a novel, so anything contradicting what a scholarly text might have discussed is not reason to blow the trumpets. That said, I didnt find any glaring innaccuracies. Certainly Mr Waters has created a feeling of authenticity in that Marcus and his fellow characters are not just 21st century figures transported back in time, but talk, live and behave as characters in a culture, that is genuine and fundamentally different from ours. All up an excellent debut. And there is the promise of more for which I am looking forward to.

Cannot Wait for the Next Book

Paul Waters is a well-travelled classicist, and though educated in Britain, he has lived much of his life abroad - in Africa, America, Greece among other places. He now writes full time. This is a first rate novel in its own right but for anyone interested the classical world of Greece and Rome is an absolute must. Set in a period when Republican Rome's long and arduous war with Carthage is at long last drawing to a close, it was almost inevitable that another power would have it's eyes on the gates of Rome. The new enemy would be Philip of Macedon. Woven into this backdrop is the story of Marcus, a young Roman who father has been brutally murdered by pirates while on a sea voyage to the island of Corfu. Marcus vows to avenge his father's death by finding his killer. While doing this he visits some of the great cities of the 3rd century BC and makes many decisions that help to make him the man that he becomes. The book reflects the beauty of the period and on the other side of the coin the barbarity that existed, at a time when human life was cheap and sometimes the toss of a coin decided whether a man lived or died. Undoubtedly the author has a love and passion for the period of history in which the book takes place. Well worth a read. Personally I hope that the author writes another one quickly.