The Last Roman: Honour
The second in the series, this is part of the fictionalised biography of Flavius Belisarius, hero of the Byzantine Empire under the rule of Justinian I. With no holds barred, this follows the campaigns of a young Flavius, who ignores the febrile politics of the rulers, only to serve with honour and honesty in the seemingly endless struggles against the Persians and then the North African Vandals. What Belisarius can’t understand in a world of dishonesty and intrigue is that it is the honest man that isn’t trusted. As the Emperor dies slowly, Petrus involves him in deeper politics, knowing that out of all Belisarius can be trusted to be honest. Justin is proclaimed Emperor, thanks to the machinations of Petrus, and Belisarius is given a free hand in the fight against the Persian Sassanids. Despite failures – caused by the continuing venal politics of Constantinople – Belisarius continually shows honour and ability. After Justin dies, he appoints Petrus his heir – who becomes Justinian. His strained friendship with (now) Justinian causes jealousy from the new Emperor’s wife, Theodora, who comes from a modest background. And Theodora is like her husband; she has the power of life and death!
This novel is a good read! It’s lively and atmospheric and handles the characters – real personalities from history – with subtlety and sympathy. The most important character, Belisarius, is portrayed as an honest man in a dishonest world.
