The Tribune: A Novel Of Ancient Rome

[Guest Taoist_Saint]

The Tribune: A Novel of Ancient Rome (by Patrick Larkin)

I actually read this a couple years ago, but this came to mind because we are on a religious website.

The story is basically a murder mystery set in the Ancient Roman Empire, in Palestine, specifically Galilee. The protagonist is a Roman officer who gets involved in the investigation, revealing a complex political situation...with an appearance by Jesus Christ at the end.

No, this is not a book that portrays Christ as a human being with flaws...there is no doubt after reading the book that Christ is the Son of God. The book, if it were not fictional, would be considered a testimony to Christ's divinity.

Though I personally consider that aspect of Jesus to be mythology, I still enjoyed the book as historical/mythological fiction.

I also was surprised by the last page, which could be considered a "twist" ending.

Highlight the white text below to read the spoiler:

The Roman officer, Lucius Aurelius Valens, becomes a follower of Jesus named "Luke".

However, for a REALLY good book on Ancient Rome, read "The Skystone : The Dream of Eagles Vol. 1 (Camulod Chronicles)" by Jack Whyte...and its sequals. These are the stories of the Romans in Britain who found the colony of Camulod...this is the generation before Merlin and Uther are born (Arthur, a half Celtic/half Roman is born in the third book I think).

Next, I recommend The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. This book is huge in scope...I am only about a quarter of the way through it and there are already several plots going on. It centers around the building of a Cathedral in medieval England. The main characters include a "builder" travelling with his family, looking for work, and a monk who is trying to reform the monastaries to rid them of corruption and make them self-sufficient. While mainly fictional, it has some historical events (though I am not sure of their accuracy)...but the real thing I like about this book is how in-depth it describes monastic life. You really get the feeling for what it would have been like to be a monk, in addition to learning interesting details about the politics and economics of a monastary. Since I haven't finished it yet, I can't speak for the whole book...but I recommend you give it a try.

Oh yea, I would rate the last two books "R" for their content, so if you are sensitive about that sort of thing, don't read them.

[Snow]

Originally posted by Taoist_Saint@Oct 7 2005, 01:49 PM

Next, I recommend The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.  This book is huge in scope...I am only about a quarter of the way through it and there are already several plots going on.  It centers around the building of a Cathedral in medieval England.  The main characters include a "builder" travelling with his family, looking for work, and a monk who is trying to reform the monastaries to rid them of corruption and make them self-sufficient.  While mainly fictional, it has some historical events (though I am not sure of their accuracy)...but the real thing I like about this book is how in-depth it describes monastic life.  You really get the feeling for what it would have been like to be a monk, in addition to learning interesting details about the politics and economics of a monastary.  Since I haven't finished it yet, I can't speak for the whole book...but I recommend you give it a try. 

Oh yea, I would rate the last two books "R" for their content, so if you are sensitive about that sort of thing, don't read them.

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Great book - big thumbs up. O love books like that that not only tell a great story but educate you, in this case about medieval architecture, without you even noticing it.