Even if you don't ordinarily gravitate toward historical fiction, consider the new novel by Jesse Browner, The Uncertain Hour.
The time is 66 A.D., the place is southern Italy, the story is of Titus Petronius, who has been fingered by Emperor Nero in an assassination plot. It's not true, but Petronius decides to end his life rather than endure the ignominy of Nero's wrath.
For his last night, Petronius invites friends to a banquet, at which he ruminates on the course of his life. There are discussion of food, friendship, love, ambition, and integrity -- a true banquet of ideas. What's most surprising, perhaps, is how engrossing it all it is, and finally how moving.
written on Thursday Jul 19, 2007
Ancient Rome,
last meal,
book.
