St. Martin's Press, 2002, $24.95, ISBN 0-312-27538-2, 378 pages, hardback

This novel follows the life of Flavius Claudius Julianus Augustus in the 4th century A.D. (C.E.). This historical figure, known better among ancient buffs as Julian the Apostate, rises from cloistered Imperial nephew (and far removed from Roman politics) to Caesar, and then, to Emperor. In a time of chaos, he discovers a knack for military strategy and civil administration, and proceeds to clear invading Germans out of Gaul as well as corrupt Roman administrators.

Ford writes a fine novel, filled with historical details of the era and with enough inferred plot to move the story along. Although battles are abstracted out, the political maneuverings are finely wrought as Julian manipulates the various factions of the Imperial palace.

Ford uses the crutch of a physician's journal to chronicle Julian, and it shows the occasional flaw of consistency. In places, it reads like a letter to a third party, not a personal journal. It's a dopey crutch and unnecessary, for Ford has skill with the pen...or electrons.

For ancient buffs, it's a good read. For non-ancient buffs, reading this might turn you into one.

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