Rome's greatest orator takes on its most corrupt governor — armed only with words and a secretary's shorthand.
Who drives the story
Brilliant orator and political outsider with no noble blood, hungry for the consulship. He wins every battle by out-thinking his rivals — and pays for each victory with a compromise.
Cicero's secretary and the book's narrator, inventor of a shorthand system that can record speech verbatim. His hidden notes destroy a conspiracy and make him the most dangerous man in the room.
Corrupt governor of Sicily who runs the province like a protection racket. His drunken boast about crucifying a Roman citizen destroys him in court.
Verres's defense lawyer and Cicero's great rival, master of procedural delay. Defeated in court, he ends up among the patricians backing Cicero for consul.
Rome's dominant general, who snubs Cicero publicly yet becomes his indispensable ally. Every favor he grants comes with a string attached.
The richest man in Rome, plotting to hijack the consular election through Catilina under the guise of populism. His secret meeting, recorded by Tiro, becomes his undoing.
Disgraced former governor of Africa who accepts Cicero's defense offer, then loses it when Cicero's son is born. His undying hatred drives the election conspiracy.
Young patrician who backs Pompey's pirate command — and, per Tiro's notes, sits among Crassus's conspirators.
Also in the story
Cicero's sharp-tongued wife, whose advice to cut his opening speech wins the Verres trial before it begins.
How they are connected
Cicero's secretary and the book's narrator, inventor of a shorthand system that can record speech verbatim.
Quintus Hortensius HortalusMarcus Tullius Cicero
Verres's defense lawyer and Cicero's great rival, master of procedural delay.
Quintus Hortensius HortalusGaius Verres
Verres's defense lawyer and Cicero's great rival, master of procedural delay.
Quintus Hortensius HortalusPompey the Great
Verres's defense lawyer and Cicero's great rival, master of procedural delay.
Pompey the GreatMarcus Tullius Cicero
Rome's dominant general, who snubs Cicero publicly yet becomes his indispensable ally.
CrassusLucius Sergius Catilina
The richest man in Rome, plotting to hijack the consular election through Catilina under the guise of populism.
His secret meeting, recorded by Tiro, becomes his undoing.
Lucius Sergius CatilinaMarcus Tullius Cicero
Disgraced former governor of Africa who accepts Cicero's defense offer, then loses it when Cicero's son is born.
Cicero's sharp-tongued wife, whose advice to cut his opening speech wins the Verres trial before it begins.
Cicero's sharp-tongued wife, whose advice to cut his opening speech wins the Verres trial before it begins.
Young patrician who backs Pompey's pirate command — and, per Tiro's notes, sits among Crassus's conspirators.
Young patrician who backs Pompey's pirate command — and, per Tiro's notes, sits among Crassus's conspirators.
Go deeper
Words as weapons · The price of every favor · New man versus old blood · Republic rotting from within
Themes explainedThe full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.
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