By jezzaT1

As the editor for the book I'm slightly astonished by this review which misrepresents large sections of the book. Particularly the comment about 'chapters and chapters' about merchants. I suspect Tom Tivnan read the title and skimmed the book. There is no inkling on page 10 of anything to to with the main character's sexuality. I'll leave it to others, who have actually read the book, to redress the balance. Manda Scott wrote to me about Paul's book to say: '‘I had despaired of ever again reading a historical novel that truly fired me – I thought the days of such writing were long gone – but clearly not. This is a delight to read, a finely woven, beautifully plotted masterpiece, and deserves to become one of the classics of historical fiction". She went on to say "Marcus is a deserving hero, neither too good nor too troubled by his past, but driven by forces that drive us all – love and the need for honour and the greater wrath of an oath made in haste without knowing its full import...This is one to read and treasure and read again often, for the flow of the language, for the clarity of the concepts, for the reminders of the failings of humanity, and our potential to rise above it". Paul Cartledge, Professor of Greek History at Cambridge also wrote to me and compared Paul Waters to Naomi Mitchison, Mary Renault, Rosemary Sutclif and William Golding, though he too had problems with title - but he decided to review the book not the title. I have other reactions, but I think these will suffice. Jeremy Trevathan

05 Dec 07 14:32

Unsuitable?

By Tom Tivnan

I did indeed read the entirety of the book. Manfully struggled through it, though at times I was irritated by the objections I have pointed to above, and admit to considering chucking it aside.

So there are not chapters and chapters about farming and the import/export business? Let’s run some of the “action” down:

Chapter 1: Caecilius and Marcus discuss farming and shipping.

Chapter 2: Marcus on the farm, discussions about farm staff (Milo the swineherd comes with the news that old Postumus is to be sent away by Caecilius!), Caecilius doesn’t know his plums from apples.

Chapter 3: Marcus in Tarentum, we learn of Caecilius's business; Tarentum is a great port we are told where "there are ships to meet, cargoes to inspect and manifests to check."

Chapter 4: Insight into Marcus's "simple, dull, repetitive work" of overseeing the arrival and departure of vessels.

I would go on, (and I could indeed go on and on – and as the editor I trust you know I could) but I suspect the Bookseller blog readers might become bored. I do apologise if I intimated that there are chapters that are solely about shipping and farming. But the main point remains there is just too damn much of this stuff.

And I firmly disagree that there is no hint of the character’s sexuality early on. There are lines that are, quite frankly, as camp as Christmas. By saying “on, oh, page 10” I meant by page 10. Apologies for misleading you. But page ten does have pirates (always rather camp) and the rather flamboyant Greek slave whining like “a keening woman, or a bitch’s pup.”

Fair enough if you object to that. Frankly, I had an inkling with the opening sentence. At the very least, the imagery of Marcus maturing physically (pages 31-2), with his waxing of javelin shafts and playing around with swords, tips the reader off.

My central point is that the reader knows Marcus is gay well before Marcus does. And is bored to tears by the whole thing by then. I was practically screaming, as I am sure everyone who reads this book will say, “Will you just shag each other, already?” It reminded me of that irksome season of Dawson’s Creek where Jack was struggling with his coming out.

It is interesting that Paul Cartledge, Professor of Greek History at Cambridge compares Waters to Mary Renault. Renault was writing far more forthrightly, and interestingly, about homosexuality and the ancients fifty and sixty years ago.

Oh, and I was suitably chastened by your trotting out of Cartledge and Manda Scott--pre-publication blurbs being the very acme of hard-edged, rigorous criticism.

I should point out that in my review I wasn’t wholly critical. There are some pulse-pounding, cracking passages. The book just needed some paring down and a tighter structure. Now I wonder who would be responsible for that?

06 Dec 07 12:10

Unsuitable?

By JEvans

I'm certainly intrigued. When it is out?

07 Dec 07 11:52

Unsuitable?

By Sue P

I am half way through this book and can't put it down. The flow of language and beautiful description are one thing but the information I am gleaning from the period is great. Paul Waters is an excellent writer.

15 Nov 08 23:21

Unsuitable?