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{{trope}}
Robert Harris's fictionalised biography of [[Cicero]] in three parts, as told by his slave and confidential secretary Tiro. At the time of writing, the first two parts, ''Imperium'' and ''Lustrum'' have been released, covering the period from Cicero's elevation to the Senate until the end of Caesar's first consulship and his departure for Gaul.
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== This series has examples of ==
* [[The Alcoholic]]: Antonius Hybrida
* [[Affably Evil]]: Crassus, most of the time.
{{quote|... trying to fix precisely what it was about him which made him so disconcerting, I think it was this: his indiscriminate and detached friendliness, which you knew would never waver or diminish even if he had just decided to have you killed.}}
* [[Bald of Evil]]: Crassus. Caesar is also noted to be losing his hair.
* [[Big Fancy House]]: Several; one becomes a plot point in the second book.
* [[Black and Gray Morality]]: Sometimes it's difficult to tell who the heroes are meant to be.
** This is particuarly noted in ''[[Lustrum]]'' when Cicero takes rather dubious methods in his consular year: bribing people, rigging ballots and later taking bribes. He's not as above corruption as people think he is.
* [[Blue Blood]]: The aristocrats take themselves and their position ''very'' seriously.
* [[Break the Haughty]]: Lucullus, although he didn't deserve all of it.
* [[The Butcher]]: Mentioned as an old nickname of Pompey's, although we don't see much evidence of it in the books themselves.
* [[The Chessmaster]]: Crassus; Caesar.
* [[Coitus Uninterruptus]]: Tiro walking in on Caesar and Pompey's wife.
* [[Colonel Badass]]: Metellus Celer.
* [[Complete Monster]]: Catilina, or so Tiro would have us believe.
** Cicero accuses Caesar of this, but YMMV, of course.
* [[Conspicuous Consumption]]: Lucullus, although Tiro believes this is more a distraction from depression than anything else.
* [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]]: Crassus.
* [[Courtroom Antics]]: Part of Cicero's success comes from his practically inventing this trope to win popular approval. See also [[Rousing Speech]], [[Simple Country Lawyer]].
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** Cicero's opening speech as consul, derailing [[Magnificent Bastard]] Caesar's plan completely
* [[Driven to Suicide]]: Suggested a couple of times as a "way out" for characters down on their luck. Apparently did happen to Catulus's father.
* [[Every Man Has His Price]]: Much of the first book's plot involves Cicero trying to stop Crassus bribing various members of government to block his legislation, while turning down bribes himself. Things get a bit more complicated in the second book.
* [[Everyone Is Related]]: Most of the major aristocratic characters are related to each other by marriage (or extramarital affairs) at least.
* [[Femme Fatale]]: Clodia.
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* [[Historical Villain Upgrade]]: Half the cast. YMMV on whether they were actually as bad as they appear.
* [[Historical Domain Character]]: Almost(?) the entire cast.
* [[Impoverished Patrician]]: Catilina is bankrupt; Caesar is so far in debt he has to flee the city.
* [[The Ishmael]]: Tiro
* [[Karma Houdini]]: Caesar, most notably.
* [[The Last DJ]]: Cato gains a lot of respect for his uncompromising old Republican ideals, but it doesn't mean anyone agrees with him or does him any favours.
* [[Literary Agent Hypothesis]]
* [[Magnificent Bastard]]: Caesar; Crassus on occasion. Cicero himself manages it once or twice.
* [[Meaningful Name]]: Cicero comes from the Latin word ''cicer'' meaning "chickpea", Cicero keeps a bowl of chickpeas in his atrium.
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* [[Screw the Rules, I Have Money]]: Crassus pretty much defines this trope.
* [[Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness]]: Hortensius is supposedly the king of this trope.
* [[Shown Their Work]]: Harris wants you to know that the books are meticulously researched, although tries to work this in naturally. Occasionally he slips up.
* [[Simple Country Lawyer]]: Crassus tries this in one Senate hearing. It works.
* [[Smug Snake]]: Lucullus and Hortensius, at least at first. Pompey too, although he has yet to suffer for it.
* [[Took a Level
* [[Unaccustomed as I Am to Public Speaking]]: Pompey making his [[Cincinnatus]] speech, which has been written down for him by Cicero. It actually works.
* [[Ungrateful Bastard]]: Pompey.
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[[Category:Historical Fiction Literature]]
[[Category:Sword and Sandal]]
[[Category:
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