It is the first of a series of novels, something new. The series continues with The Grass Crown. The First Man in Rome marked a stylistic departure for McCullough, as well as a new genre to explore. For instance, she pays close attention to the lives of women in a society that frequently dismissed their contributions, and includes several LGBT characters (though a warning, they do not have it easy, Ancient Rome is not what you could possibly call a tolerant society). She also manages to depict the attitudes of the times with calm, unjudging clarity without ever agreeing with them, and in some cases, quietly undermining them. The First Man in Rome is spectacularly skillful, taking on a cast of mostly morally dubious characters and making them all immensely engaging, if not necessarily likeable – and McCullough spins together the social and political background so effectively that she rarely has to stop and explain anything in detail, allowing the plot and characters to take centre stage. This vast historical saga is the first book by Colleen McCullough that I’ve read, but it certainly won’t be the last. With war looming and unrest growing, both men will have the opportunity to test their luck, their courage – and their ruthless will to survive. Lucius Cornelius Sulla’s only reputation is one of disillusion and debauchery, but still he dreams of political glory, and there is nothing he will not sacrifice to make those dreams a reality. Gaius Marius, the New Man with his prestigious military career and thwarted political ambition, is desperate for a chance he’s almost sure will never come. A city which is home to Gaius Marius, prosperous but lowborn, a proud and disciplined soldier emboldened by his shrewdness and self-made wealth. As the new year sees in the latest in a line of uninspiring consuls, two men watch from the crowd. The first book in the epic Masters of Rome series. In the year 110 B.C., power passes from one generation of Roman senators to another with little impetus for change – but change is coming, whether they are ready for it or not. The First Man in Rome (Masters of Rome No.1) – Colleen McCullough

The first man in rome series