Synopses & Reviews
It is Ancient Rome, and Gordianus the Finder has a knack for finding trouble. Known to many as the one man in the ancient world who can both keep a secret and uncover one, Gordianus lays bare some of his most intriguing and compelling adventures.The House of the Vestals collects nine of the award-winning stories of Gordianus the Finder by critically acclaimed, bestselling author Steven Saylor. Filling in some of the gaps between novels, this delightful collection of unique and unforgetable mysteries is Saylor at his finest - revealing the intrigues in the secret history of Rome.
Steven Saylor is the author of ten novels and two story collections in the Roma Sub Rosa, set in ancient Rome and featuring Gordianus the Finder as well as the New York Times bestseller, Roma. He has appeared as an on-air expert in documentaries on Ancient Rome aired on The History Channel. He divides his time between Berkeley, California and Austin, Texas. It is Ancient Rome, and Gordianus the Finder has a knack for finding trouble. Known to many as the one man in the ancient world who can both keep a secret and uncover one, Gordianus lays bare some of his most intriguing and compelling adventures.
The House of the Vestals collects nine of the award-winning stories of Gordianus the Finder by critically acclaimed, bestselling author Steven Saylor. This historical collection of unique and unforgetable mysteries is Saylor at his finestrevealing the intrigues in the secret history of Rome. The first of Saylor's short story collections featuring Gordianus the Finder
"Ingenious . . . Saylor offers rich history with great imagination."The Seattle Times
"Entertainment of the first order."The Washington Post Book World
"Saylor's scholarship is breathtaking and his writing enthralls."Ruth Rendell, The Sunday Times (London)
"It's no wonder Gordianus the Finder solves so many of these nine cases in a single flash of insight . . . [T]hree groups of readers will find these stories irresistible: history buffs who appreciate Saylor's careful research into Roman politics and Roman mores; fans of his five novels who want to find out how he first became Lucius Claudius' friend, or how he acquired his faithful slave Belbo; and anyone who enjoys leisurely, literate storytelling."Kirkus Reviews
"After five novels in the Roma Sub Rosa series, Saylor fills the time frame between the first two books80 to 72 B.C.with this first collection of short stories featuring series sleuth Gordianus the Finder. In the crowded streets of late-Republic Rome, the rich and the poor, the living and the dead occupy close quarters. In 'The Lemures,' a wealthy couple's home, previously owned by an executed political enemy, is haunted by the dead man's ghost. When the new owner dies unexpectedly, his widow is sure that the ghost will kill her next. Gordianus mines his knowledge of botany, history and human psyches to ferret out the solution. The nobleman Lucius Claudius, summoned into the house of dying young man to witness his signing of his will, days later sees the young man out walking. He asks the Finder to investigate and, as Gordianus follows the trial of deceit in 'A Will Is a Way,' the two men embark upon a lasting friendship. Gordianus adopts a young mute boy, Eco; and his sultry Egyptian servant, Bethesda, gradually evolves from slave to friend to lover, and finally, wife. Her Egyptian-Jewish origins permit the author to incorporate sections of biblical lore in his stories. Saylor's fluid prose and probing characterization work as effectively in the short story as they have in his admirable Gordianus novels."Publishers Weekly
Review
"Ingenious . . . Saylor offers rich history with great imagination."—
Seattle Times "Entertainment of the first order."—The Washington Post Book World
"Saylor's fluid and probing characterization work as effectively in the short story as they have in his admirable Gordianus novels"—Publishers Weekly
"This collection of short stories . . . shows how a fine hand at historical research can enliven the most traditional and well-titled of genres . . . Gordianus himself is a compelling character."—The Herald (SC)
"Three groups of readers will find these stories irresistible: history buffs who appreciate Saylor's careful research into Roman politics and Roman mores; fans of his novels who want to find out how the [Finder] first became Lucius Claudius' friend, or how he acquired his faithful slave Belbo; and anyone who enjoys leisurely, literate storytelling."—Kirkus Reviews
"Saylor serves up a collection of short stories designed to fill in some of the gaps that have piqued the curiosity of devoted fans of his popular Roma Sub Rosa series. Set between the years 80 and 72 B.C., these nine tales document some of the early adventures of Gordianus the Finder. During the course of these cases, Gordianus establishes firm and tender relationships with Eco, his adopted son; Bethesda, his Jewish-Egyptian concubine; Belbo, his loyal manservant and bodyguard; and Lucius Claudius, his generous patron. While each brief mystery presented is a gem in and of itself, readers will delight in the informational overview provided by the collection as a whole. As usual, Saylor does a superb job of seamlessly incorporating the tumultuous history of the Roman Republic into the narrative flow. A welcome addition to the ever fascinating chronicles of Gordianus the Finder."—Booklist
Synopsis
It is Ancient Rome, and Gordianus the Finder has a knack for finding trouble. Known to many as the one man in the ancient world who can both keep a secret and uncover one, Gordianus lays bare some of his most intriguing and compelling adventures.The House of the Vestals collects nine of the award-winning stories of Gordianus the Finder by critically acclaimed, bestselling author Steven Saylor. Filling in some of the gaps between novels, this delightful collection of unique and unforgetable mysteries is Saylor at his finest - revealing the intrigues in the secret history of Rome.
Synopsis
The first of Saylor's short story collections featuring Gordianus the Finder
It is Ancient Rome, and Gordianus the Finder has a knack for finding trouble. Known to many as the one man in the ancient world who can both keep a secret and uncover one, Gordianus lays bare some of his most intriguing and compelling adventures.
The House of the Vestals collects nine of the award-winning stories of Gordianus the Finder by critically acclaimed, bestselling author Steven Saylor. Filling in some of the gaps between novels, this delightful collection of unique and unforgetable mysteries is Saylor at his finest - revealing the intrigues in the secret history of Rome.
Contents:
DEATH WEARS A MASK
THE TALE OF THE TREASURE HOUSE
A WILL IS A WAY
THE LEMURES
LITTLE CAESAR AND THE PIRATES
THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE SATURNALIA SILVER
KING BEE AND HONEY
THE ALEXANDRIAN CAT
THE HOUSE OF THE VESTALS
The Life and Times of Gordianus the Finder: A Partial Chronology
Historical Notes
Synopsis
The first of Saylor's short story collections featuring Gordianus the Finder
About the Author
Steven Saylor is the author of the long running Roma Sub Rosa series featuring Gordianus the Finder, as well as the New York Times bestselling novel, Roma and its follow-up, Empire. He has appeared as an on-air expert on Roman history and life on The History Channel. Saylor was born in Texas and graduated with high honors from The University of Texas at Austin, where he studied history and classics. He divides his time between Berkeley, California, and Austin, Texas.