The Grass Crown

The grandeur that was Rome is incredibly described in this second fictional novel, based on fact. Ms McCullough's narratives may be long, but I was enthralled by the characters and a study of Roman law. She takes us through a system of government that is similar to our own, weaving in two ruthless power struggles.

Ms McCullough has done a profound historical research in order to write her "Roman Saga" started with "The First Man in Rome" in 1990 and continues with "The Grass Crown" (1991). There are four installments more. She delivers an accurate picture of the late Roman Republic, bringing to life historically characters with amazing detail. The author follows and reveals step by step all the intricacies of that rich and complex era. Does this mean that the book is boring? By no means, Ms McCullough is able to show daily life, dressing, feeding, religious rituals, political and social structures in a magnificent fresco and at the same time construct an engaging story that will trap the reader for hours. The story starts in the year 99 BC, following the careers of Marius and Sulla as they step by step draw away from each other and start a bitter confrontation. The backdrop is the "Social War" (uprising of the Italics against Rome), the invasion of Greece and Rome's Asian province by King Mithridates and the harsh clash of plebeian and patrician. Ms McCullough gives also numerous anecdotes about different great Romans as Marcus Livius and his sister Livia Drusa; Marcus Aemilus Scaurus and his very young wife Dalmatica. Their stories crisscross the entire novel. Almost inadvertently Gaius Julius Caesar is introduced in the story giving his first steps as a boy and a pre-teenager of outstanding intelligence and sensibility. Last but not least the author has drawn beautiful busts of the main characters; detailed maps of different ancient scenarios where action takes place and a very complete glossary. I recommend reading the first volume of the series, but even if you don't do it, you will no be at loss as the author gives some flashbacks in the first pages. I strongly recommend this book to any serious history aficionado! Reviewed by Max Yofre.

It's difficult to categorize "The Grass Crown" as a sequel to Colleen McCullough's first novel of ancient Rome, "The First Man in Rome." It's more of a continuation of an epic, which is the collapse of the Roman Republic, due in no small part by the great weight of the titans striding across Italia in those days.Where "The First Man in Rome" left off with Gaius Marius ascendant, thanks in large part due to the savage cunning and brilliant audacity of Lucius Cornelius Sulla, his right-hand man, "The Grass Crown" starts with these two friends growing apart. Their closest friend, Publius Rutilius Rufus, whose letters offer some of the most entertaining passages in the first two books, notes the growing rift between the two even at a pleasant dinner party. This gap is a sad foreshadowing of the chasm that will soon develop between these two.Neither Marius nor Sulla is equipped to be second best at anything, and even though they share many traits, these two are too different to remain friends for long. Marius, even though he has suffered a stroke, remains convinced that he is the best general in Rome and is just insecure enough to need to prove it. Sulla, chafing at Marius's position as the First Man in Rome, is desperate to prove his place and to restore the patrician class (which Marius has undermined with his New Man successes and radical ideas).Tragedy ensues as Sulla loses his beloved son and Marius suffers an even more debilitating stroke -- although this does bring the young prodigy Julius Caesar to Marius's side as an aide. Marius's insecurity becomes palpable when he grows resentful of the staggering potential demonstrated by Young Caesar.Marcus Drusus, another hold-over from "The First Man in Rome," gets caught up advocating for the Roman citizenship for all Italians . . . this sounds odd to folks who aren't familiar with Roman history, but "Italy" as we now understand it is a modern invention. By advocating the extension of citizenship to all Italians, Drusus creates a firestorm among the Roman political class (the Romans were a remarkably arrogant people, and looked down with disdain even on those Italians who fought side-by-side with them against the dreaded Germans). This conflict drives much of the book, and its fall-out creates the military conflict that drives the book to its conclusion.Both Marius and Sulla get involved in the Roman military campaign against the Italians, and Sulla manages to win the coveted Grass Crown, one of the highest awards in the Roman world. But still, Sulla feels eclipsed by Marius, and soon these two giants are at war. Sulla, violating centuries of precedent, leads his armies against Rome, and the bloody fall-out of Roman fighting Roman is almost too much to bear.Through it all, McCullough writes with her usual straightforward brilliance. Rather than dazzle the reader with literary flourishes, McCullough paints an exhilirating world through precise descriptions and vivid characterizations. Her gr

You'll change that opinion once you're immersed in "The Grass Crown". Better yet, start with "The First Man in Rome" in order to fully appreciate the grandure of Colleen McCullough's series. I've been reading historical novels all my life, and been disappointed by many. But for sheer quantity of details, I've never seen the like. It truly feels like Ms. McCullough was there. It reads like an eye witness account. I especially liked her description of Caesar's mother, and the world she created and inhabited. But the story deals primarily with Sulla. His progress through life reminded me of "The Picture of Dorian Gray". His deeds and misdeeds are etched on his face and body. What a warning we receive from this description of a dictator who gained power due to the apathy of his fellow citizens. They let him have too much power and died regretting it. Think about that the next time you're tempted not to vote. These are long novels, but I couldn't get enough. Some have compared this to "I, Claudius". Not a good comparison. As much as I enjoyed "The Grass Crown", it can't compare to Robert Graveses wit and lyrical style. Still, it has charms aplenty of its own. Read it, you'll be glad you did.

Better than the First Man in Rome, this book relates the power struggle betwween Roman legends Sulla and Marius. Betrayel, Greed, War, Love etc. the Grass Crown has everything. Again McCulough recreates Rome to the finest detail in this fast paced epic. The characters are so real you feel you know them, and they evoke such strong emotions you wish you knew them. Few sequals surpass the origfinal, but the Grass Crown succeeds. If only our own times where this exciting.

"The Grass Crown" is a wonderful novel. It describes the events after Gaius Marius' sixth consulship in 100 BC: his political eclipse and the hunt for the seventh consulship promised to him by the prophetess Martha. Standing in his way are his failing health, disturbed mental state, and, of course, Sulla. "The First Man in Rome" and "Caesar's Women" are slightly better novels that "The Grass Crown", but "The Grass Crown" is better than "Caesar". In order to get a complete picture of what Sulla is like and how he came to be what he is, I think it is vital to read "The First Man in Rome" first. "The Grass Crown" does not have spectacular character development. For example, more needs to be said about Cornelia Scipionis and Mamercus, especially the latter because he becomes important later on. Pompey Starbo and Young Marius require more attention because they are too one-dimensional. The most engaging story involves Marcus Livius Drusus, who had gone through a transformation in "The First Man in Rome". In "The First Man in Rome", I did not sympathize with Drusus but in "The Grass Crown" I grew to like him and care about what happens to him. Livia Drusa's story is also quite compelling, but I wish that the author would provide a better characterization for Cato Salonianus. His presence is not at all memorable and his love for Livia Drusa is hard to believe and appreciate because there seems to be no source for it. I thoroughly enjoyed Servilia and Caepio. While in "The First Man in Rome" Caepio was pitiful; he becomes completely loathsome in "The Grass Crown". Servilia is an interesting character and the book provides a great background for her behavior in later books, especially "Caesar's Women". Other characters that I enjoyed are Aurelia (fascinating as always), Cicero (his military career is described with gritty realism and hilarity), Publius Rutilius Rufus (his letters are one of the best written sections in the novel), and Gaius Marius (he is not perfect and at times deranged but it is hard not to root for him).The best part of the book involves Sulla and his son, Young Sulla. The story of their journey East and Young Sulla subsequent death and its devastating effects on Sulla is the most poignant of the four books of "Masters of Rome" series that I have read: "The First Man in Rome", "The Grass Crown", "Caesar's Women" and "Caesar". My biggest grievance about this novel is that the last hundred pages, which are the most interesting, are not enough to provide adequate attention to the subject of Marius' and Sulla's power struggle. Everything led up to this moment but instead of savoring it, the author quickly blows over the events. Marius' madness has been hinted at in "The First Man in Rome" but in "The Grass Crown" he just goes mad without any elaboration or focus on the process of his going mad. It would only be fair if the last hundred pages can be spread over 200 pages, at leas