Rome's Executioner

The second instalment of Fabbri's interpretation of the life of the emperor Vespasian. This novel deals largely with Sejanus and his fall. Our still young hero has returned from four years of military service on the frontier of the Empire, and is immediately catapulted into the centre of imperial politicking.

The lady Antonia, daughter of Mark Antony, leads the anti-Sejanus faction. She uses Vespasian, his brother, and his family to combat Sejanus's ambitions. With these willing tools she uncovers his plot to become emperor by promoting insurrection on the borders, gathering political power to himself, and one by one leading to their deaths his rivals to the throne.

This information is smuggled to the debauched and semi-addled Tiberius show more by a party that includes, amongst others, Vespasian, and his 'friend' the young Gaius Caligula. As Vespasian learns more about Caligula, the more he dreads his assumption of power.

The culmination of the novel is the downfall of Sejanus. The praetorian prefect is confronted in the Senate with his treason, and is then condemned to death, along with this son and children.

At the end of the novel Vespasian is disenchanted with life in the capital, and what it takes to serve Rome. He is still with his slave ladylove, and the future still awaits. show less

I really enjoyed the first in the series but thought this book a poor sequel. Well written but lacking in excitement for me. I'll still probably read more though and it was an okay read, just not a patch on book 1.