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Of Merchants and Heroes

Reviews

'...an engrossing tale in which graphic scenes of battle are interwoven with moments of reflection and passion.' -- Daily Express

'I've waited ages for something this good to come along, and this debut brings to mind one name - Mary Renault.' -- Sue Baker, Publishing News

'Naomi Mitchison, Mary Renault, Rosemary Sutcliff, William Golding - and classicist Paul Waters deserves to be mentioned in the same breath' -- Paul Cartledge, Professor of Greek History, Cambridge University

'This is a delight to read, beautifully plotted masterpiece, and deserves to become one of the classics of historical fiction.'
-- Manda Scott

'Waters tells a fast-moving tale with conviction.' -- Mail on Sunday

'an absolutely engrossing tale in which the graphically described battle scenes are leavened by moments of passion and tenderness.'
-- one80reviews

`A thrilling tale of revenge which grips from the start and doesn't let go'. -- James Delingpole author of Thinly Disguised Autobiography

`A wonderful debut novel.'
-- New Books Magazine

`With its restrained, elegant and poetic tone, Of Merchants & Heroes brings to mind Mary Renault.'
-- Margaret George, author of Helen of Troy



Book Description
A consuming story of love, loss and redemption set in the classical world of Rome and Greece, Of Merchants & Heroes is the story of a young man's pursuit of his father's murderer and of the values and qualities he develops that will make him a man. At the end of the third century BC, as Republican Rome's long war with Carthage was at last drawing to a close, Rome was already threatened by a new enemy, Philip, the tyrant king of Macedon in the east. Thus begins Rome's long involvement with Greek civilization, from which it is to learn so much. Into this turbulent world emerges our Roman hero, Marcus, whose father is brutally murdered by pirates on a journey from Italy to Corfu on a visit to his uncle. Fate takes him to some of the great cities of the Greco-Roman world at a time of major turbulence, where he learns much and finds love unexpectedly. This is a remarkable, beautifully written debut that explores political and philosophical questions that are timeless – democracy and tyranny, war and self-defence, right and duty – as well as questions of love, loyalty and betrayal.

NOTE: The print version of Of Merchants & Heroes is published in the USA as The Republic of Vengeance.

Important places

Athens (366)
Palestrina (3)

Regions

Roma (1,363)
Attiki (392)

Countries

Italy (5,202)
Greece (1,635)

Other geographical areas

Lazio (1,399)
Balkans (2,385)
Southern Europe (7,123)