Spanning a thousand years, and following the shifting fortunes of two families though the ages, this is the epic saga of Rome, the city and its people.

Weaving history, legend, and new archaeological discoveries into a spellbinding narrative, critically acclaimed novelist Steven Saylor gives new life to the drama of the city's first thousand years — from the founding of the city by the ill-fated twins Romulus and Remus, through Rome's astonishing ascent to become the capitol of the most powerful empire in history. Roma recounts the tragedy of the hero-traitor Coriolanus, the capture of the city by the Gauls, the invasion of Hannibal, the bitter political struggles of the patricians and plebeians, and the ultimate death of Rome's republic with the triumph, and assassination, of Julius Caesar.

Witnessing this history, and sometimes playing key roles, are the descendents of two of Rome's first families, the Potitius and Pinarius clans: One is the confidant of Romulus. One is born a slave and tempts a Vestal virgin to break her vows. One becomes a mass murderer. And one becomes the heir of Julius Caesar. Linking the generations is a mysterious talisman as ancient as the city itself.

Epic in every sense of the word, Roma is a panoramic historical saga and Saylor's finest achievement to date.

"Author of the critically acclaimed Roma Sub Rosa series of historical mysteries, Saylor (The Judgment of Caesar) breaks out on an epic scale in this sprawling novel tracing Rome's extraordinary development over five centuries, as seen through the eyes of succeeding generations of one of its founding families. Skipping over several generations at a time, Saylor puts the Potitii family descendants at the side of Romulus and Remus at the official founding of the city; of Scipio Africanus during the Punic Wars; of the legendary reformers Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus during the turbulent second-century B.C.; and of Julius and Augustus Caesar as the Republic ebbs into Empire. Solidly anchored in fact and vividly imagined, this long book moves at a sprightly clip and features some vibrant personages. One of the most memorable is Pinaria, a Vestal Virgin who loses her innocence to a enigmatic slave, and secondaries such as the deformed giant Cacus who terrorizes the early Roman settlement. Linked by blood and by a gold amulet (in the shape of a winged phallus) that is passed from generation to generation, the Potitii family gets to see some fascinating things." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"Livy meets Michener in this sprawling, episodic 1000-year novel of the rise of ancient Rome....Saylor's gift for dramatic narrative brings alive familiar tales from Roman history...touching and compelling." Kirkus Reviews

"May Steven Saylor's Roman empire never fall....In content and scope, Roma calls to mind James Michener's best-selling string of mammoth popular histories....Writing in a spare, elegant style shorn of excess description, Saylor convincingly transports us into the ancient world." USA Today

"This work will attract a different fan base from Saylor's other work (e.g., Arms of Nemesis) but should prove appealing to history and political buffs who enjoy comparing our current events with ancient Rome." Library Journal

"Fans of Steven Saylor will savor this novel; fans of ancient Rome will thrill to Saylor's in-depth understanding of Roman lifeways and be dazzled by the speed and sureness of the story....The shades of nobles, plebes, tribunes, and emperors past surely are united in giving him a thumbs up." Edge/Boston

Spanning a thousand years, and following the shifting fortunes of two families though the ages, this is the epic saga of Rome, the city, and its people.

Seven Saylor is the author of the critically acclaimed historical mystery novels set in ancient Rome, the Roma Sub Rosa, featuring Gordianus the Finder. He has appeared repeatedly on the History Channel as an expert on Roman politics and life. He divides his time between Berkeley, California, and Austin, Texas.