“Conhaim presents scrupulously rigorous research . . . and powerfully dramatic writing. Spurius is an able narrator whose political judgments are remarkably sensitive and whose devotion to a Rome spiraling into decay is heartbreaking.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“In D. László Conhaim’s Memoirs of Spurius the 'Bacchanalia,' as practiced by devotees of the Roman wine god, devolves into drunken orgies and emerges as a mortal threat to Rome . . . this novel makes ancient history accessible as we learn of a Roman leader’s largely unreported efforts to crush the Bacchic cult and preserve the republic.”
—The Paris Insider
Does Spurius represent Rome’s return to normalcy or is he the last gasp of a dying republic?
While occupying Rome’s highest office, Spurius makes an alarming discovery: the priests devoted to the god of wine and ecstatic transformation really oversee a secret society that “threatens the very heart of the state”—or so he tells the Roman Senate. With the Sacred Fathers’ approval, he rounds up some 7,000 Bacchanalians and executes half of them. Is Spurius drunk on conspiracy theories and power? Or does he indeed "save the state"?
“A powerful exploration . . . The political and social struggles that unfold, and the moral and ethical questions that arise, offer countless discussion topics for book clubs . . . Under Conhaim’s hand, Memoirs of Spurius is lively, timely, and holds so many possibilities for debate that it earns top recommendation for libraries and readers alike.”
—Midwest Book Review
“In Memoirs of Spurius, Conhaim transports us to ancient Rome and crafts a superbly written and researched work that serves as a template for how honorable public servants can conduct themselves in the face of fervent ideological conspiracies infused with the corrupted power structures of a given society. He brings the study of dark networks to life and does so using masterful literary techniques. Highly recommended.”
—Dr. Jeffrey McIllwain
Associate Professor, School of Public Affairs
San Diego State University
Photo: Nicole Nodland
“It will take an open mind to new possibilities in historical writing and the surprising connections between ancient and modern worlds to uncover the delights embedded in Memoirs of Spurius . . . from terrorism and cult beliefs to the actions of Spurius Postumius Albinus, whose choices not only influenced but transformed his world.”
—California Bookwatch
“The author takes the considerable narrative skills he’s developed in his tales of the American West and shines them on the Roman Republic of the 2nd century BCE . . . Spurius uncovers plots to amass wealth through blackmail and usurping of land and property of new cult members. Finally, he’s convinced the existence of the republic itself is at stake. Sound familiar? Spurius’ Rome is in danger from without and within, and from its own apathy. The edge-of-seat drama combines with worthy scholarship and an upright, thoughtful hero, to make this novel an appealing reading experience.”
—Historical Novel Society
“Conhaim’s retelling of how the Roman Senate crushed the cult of Bacchus is sadly resonant in this age of religious terror, dubious countermeasures by nations, and general immoderateness. This is the most intellectually exciting Roman historical novel in decades, a return to the noble literary values of Marguerite Yourcenar’s Memoirs of Hadrian and Thornton Wilder’s The Ides of March.”
—Ian Graham Leask
Author, publisher, and talk show host
“A fast-paced whodunit about a little-known consul of Rome . . . Resplendent with nosy-neighbor-drama-vibes and told in 1st person, this is a fascinating fictionalization of a true historical event . . . reminiscent of British village drama combined with power hungry politicians seizing any and all opportunities to exert their power over people trying to mind their own business and scrape out some happiness . . . Sadly, this story follows the normal pattern of how the state is granted authority to violate human rights in the present age: seize upon the actions of a few to fear monger everyone into turning a blind eye to an entire movement or population’s elimination . . . This is basically a blueprint for how ‘civil’ societies eliminate enemies. Recommended to Roman history enthusiasts and those who enjoy a healthy dose of political science in their stories.”
—MJ Pankey
Save Ancient Studies Alliance
“Conhaim has produced a patient, evocative, and innovative examination of Rome that defies the formulaic conventions of the genre. With great care and consideration Memoirs of Spurius examines Roman governance in a time of crisis and terror, addressing with remarkable scholarship the whys and the hows of Rome’s rapid moral decline from the year 186 BCE. The novel deftly blurs the lines between fiction and nonfiction and between the genres of historical fiction and public affairs. Its trenchant portrait of Rome’s identity crisis in her formative years recalls the saying, ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’”
—Jason Russell
The Prague Revue
“Conhaim has the rare ability to depict with authenticity the figures, mores and mentality of the Roman Republic during the age of Cato, within an extremely vivid narrative focused on the Bacchanalia. I read Memoirs of Spurius with great interest and pleasure. It is a remarkably well written historical novel.”
—Ephraim David, Professor Emeritus of History and Classical Studies at the University of Haifa, former Chair of the History Department, Dean of Student Affairs and Dean of Humanities.