This is an auction for THE FIRST MAN IN ROME by Colleen McCullough.

"This big, complex novel detailing the beginnings of the downfall of the Roman Republic is a startling change of pace for McCullough. Gaius Marius, an upstart New Man from the Italian provinces, and Lucius Cornelius Sulla, a patrician Roman brought up in the slums of the Subura, are both ambitious enough to want to become First Man in Rome, despite their social handicaps. The author deftly weaves politics, family rivalries, and battle scenes into a riveting story replete with fascinating details of everyday Roman life. The research is obviously painstaking; the author includes a large glossary of more than 100 pages as well as a pronunciation key for the Roman names. Highly recommended."

• Library Journal (US)

Amazon.com reviews:

"FIVE STARS!!! This is a great book. It presents the reader with a dazzling image of ancient Rome, in fact I literally felt transported back to the Rome of the time of Marius. After reading all of McCullough's "Masters of Rome" books this one is still my favourite. I've read a fair amount about Rome, but no book that I have read has ever explained Rome's politics and social structure half as well as this one."

"FIVE STARS!!! This is a grand book, with characters that seem more alive and more real, than many flesh and blood people we deal with in our daily lives. The character development McCullough achieves is nothing short of mind-bending and indeed may make you a pickier reader in the future."

More very favourable reviews on Amazon.com.

Hardback 1990.

811 pages.

Very good condition.

The cost of shipping is $4.95.

There is of course no charge for shipping if you collect this book from my shop in Palmerston North following the auction.

Payment within seven days, please.