This the second novel in McCullough's 'Masters of Rome' series, which brings to life in meticulous and imaginative detail the history of the ancient Roman Republic. Although Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sulla take center stage, young Julius Caesar, albeit still a wee boy, makes his first appearance. McCullough somehow makes even the military campaigns interesting, and I'm generally not a fan of military history. ( )

This is the sequel to The First Man in Rome and takes up with the decline of Gaius Marius and the contemporanious rise of Sulla. It touches upon the the early years of Pompey, Cicero, Cato and Julius Caesar. As in the first book of the series, McCullough weaves a very complex and detailed world in what is largely a historically accurate tale. ( )

The second volume in the Masters of Rome series -- this one features the orgins and childhood of some upcoming major players -- Caesar, of course, Cicero, Servilia, Cato, Pompei Magnus -- but is mainly about the rise of the dictator Sulla, who is fabulously portrayed as a ruthless, creepy yet magnetic character and the sad decline into madness and shame of Marius. It takes up where First Man in Rome left off and while entertaining it really just feels like 'more of the same' without a well defined overarching theme or narrative.

I am now officially addicted to Ancient Rome and will read on. However, I continue to have some difficulty with McCullough's dreadful maps in micro-cursive. Also, I feel she is so detailed regarding the political players and familial relationships that more character lists would be helpful. I'd gladly trade a silly map of Aurelia's insulae for a few family trees. I occasionally lost track of the characters interelationships and I really did not have that problem with the first book. Whether that is my own effort or slightly more careless writing with this novel, I am not sure.

I am looking forward to reading about the more legendary figures awating in the next several novels -- bring on Caesar already. ( )

First class research, first class recreation of an alien culture. McCullough has managed to paint the sociopathic Sulla with a sympathetic brush. ( )

Plot: The time between Marius' sixth and seventh consulship, several interlocked focus points and a few ventures offroad that do not matter much to the main plot in this book, but chronologically slot in here and are too important for the future to be ignored.

Characters: There is less character development here than before, which is notable especially with Marius. Side characters are deftly sketched, and again everyone's motives are made clear.

Style: Exhausting at times due to the level of detail, but engaging.

Plus: Accuracy, attention to detail. No character is a direct villain or an absolute angel.

Minus: At times it is simply too long. As with The First Man in Rome, the pictures are unnecessary, as are some of the maps.

Summary: Not quite as good as its predecessor, but still well worth reading. More politics and social issues, and less battle. ( )