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Regarding Tiberius: An Epic Tragedy of Mass Murder, Sworn Vengeance, Forbidden Love, Greek Ambition, Persian Honor, & Roman Might in the Ancient Near East
Description:
As true today as it has been for all of human history, one fundamental question plagues mankind:
In the midst of ancient hostilities and recent atrocities, which choice is the most honorable, the most moral one: justice or mercy?
This novel offers an answer.
*Regarding Tiberius* is the novelization of a series of ancient scrolls recently discovered in the ruins of famed Roman commander Scipio Africanus' seaside villa (near Naples, Italy). Written in the First Century by a young woman of Persian and Ethiopian ancestry, Helena Mithridates Kleopatra, they comprise an account of how her life and destiny were forever altered by her chance meeting with Tiberius, the son of a prominent Roman senator. The pair embark on an odyssey that takes them from Asia Minor to Syria and Palestine. His goal is to rise to the upper echelon of Roman military leadership at any cost, hers to find and assassinate Cato, the commander who gave the order to slaughter the entire population of Eupatoria, her ancestral home. Their aspirations lead them to Jerusalem where both of their quests meet bloody, final resolutions.
"..richly atmospheric...sumptuous detail...brings the world of ancient Rome to life and succeeds in giving readers a very memorable character in the person of Helena Kleopatra herself...an absorbing reading experience..." -- Anne McNulty, Historical Novel Society
"Regarding Tiberius is [an] exceptional novel...The authenticity of the setting, the excellence of the portrait of Helena, the narrator of the book, and an intriguing plot make Regarding Tiberius an absorbing read." -- Dr. Carol Mason, Professor Emerita of Anthropology, Lawrence University
AMAZON.COM REVIEWS:
***** (5 stars)
"Regarding Tiberius accomplishes what few historical novels are able to do, combining painstaking historical accuracy with riveting and moving storytelling. The result is an instant classic.
Boge’s historical epic gives an eye-opening window into the politics, warfare, and daily life of the ancient world that will fascinate lovers of historical fiction such as Steven Pressfield’s Gates of Fire. Regarding Tiberius brings that world to life through attention to historical detail and a story elegantly woven into the first century world.
Though the characters of Helena and Tiberius are immersed in the great events of their day, their struggles are with the timeless themes of power, vengeance, justice, mercy, and redemption. It is our moral universe. Reminiscent of Ben-Hur, the message of Regarding Tiberius is that, though the arc of that universe is long and bends toward justice, it bends toward mercy and forgiveness, too.
Fascinating, challenging, and highly recommended."
Kris Ritter
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***** (5 stars)
"My favorite books are the ones that can catch me up completely and sweep me away with them. 'Regarding Tiberius' does just that. Brilliantly weaving an epic tale of love, honor, vengeance, mercy, through and unexpected shipment from a simple scribe to a Roman Senator. The author relates an extraordinary and dedicated accounting of the death and funerary arrangements of the Tribune, who has at times been the scribe Helena's enemy, master, and lover. This book is set during the time of Christ, but the lessons to be learned from it are timeless. The soldier, the Senator, and the slave all must decided for themselves whether honor comes from justice or mercy. This excellently researched story will enthrall fans of historical fiction with it's vivid descriptions of daily life, as well as the comfort, ease, and respect with which the author introduces the reader to the social, political and religious unrest of the 1st Century AD to today's readers. Informative and intriguing, this title has earned a spot on my shelf."
Kassie Robertson
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***** (5 stars)
"Thoroughly engaging. Thought-provoking. A fantastic read. It is only so often that a book comes along truly deserving of the term "epic". Without question, it's not just the self-aggrandizing description of its author, Regarding Tiberius truly qualifies -- not just "epic" in its size (a meaty 572 pages), but in its confrontation of moral dilemma.
Captured from the beginning by vivid descriptions of life in ancient Rome, sympathetic and complex (but not stereotypical) characters, and the heavy scent of intrigue, the reader is quickly immersed in a fast-paced and well-researched storyline. Nothing is predictable however, as the book's narrator, Helena, painfully recounts her quest for vengeance after the brutal death of her parents and the horrific destruction of her kingdom, Eupatoria. Enter Tiberius, a Roman centurion engrossed in his own search for identity and recognition. Fiercely determined to pursue their independent destinies, Helena and Tiberius' lives collide as they each find themselves confronted by the evil of ambitious unrestrained pride, the dictomy of justice versus mercy, and the rare but potent power of unconditional love. Universal and timeless in application, this tale is sure to stick with the reader long after the last page is read, the cover closed, and the book returned to its shelf."
Anonymous
Book Takeaway:
From great pain and conflict can come stronger moral awareness and tremendous growth. I hope this book encourages readers to reflect upon the role of faith in times of challenge and conflict, to consider the definitions of justice, mercy, and honor, and to examine the role and application of forgiveness in their own lives.
Why the author wrote this book:
Originally conceived as a progressive rock opera, then developed into this 570+ page epic novel, Regarding Tiberius represents my attempt to understand man's inhumanity to man and the inherent conflict in the responsive question "what is just versus what is merciful?" Writing this novel challenged me to consider the darkness that sometimes lies within and reflect upon the critical importance of forgiveness on the moral character of a person grievously wronged by another. It is often through our greatest losses that we find our true selves and the strength to forgive others and move forward.
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