A Very Roman Christmas
Feb. 6th, 2012 11:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mtvesselJul 2011
Saturnalia - Lindsey Davis - Arrow, 2008
* * * *
To me, the Falco books are essentially science fiction novels. Just as Charles Stross and others imagine an alien landscape and then populate it with people whose motives and speech patterns we can recognise and understand, so Davis does with the equally alien setting of first century Rome and her characteristically British-speaking and -acting characters. Falco in particular shows that peculiar British combination of frustration with the social stratification of his society and a fatalism about it ever changing that suggests that he is more content than he seems.
Another Britishism, and one of the delights of the series, is the author’s cynical take (through the eyes of her embittered hero) on traditions and mores, and this is particularly evident in this story. Falco has reason to be rebarbative because it is Saturnalia, often described as the Roman equivalent of Christmas. There is certainly much fun to be had in the parallels - the tired civic rituals, the enforced bonhomie, the family tensions - particularly when the latter have been hiked a notch by the disappearance of Falco’s brother-in-law Justinus after Veleda, a Gallic princess with whom he had a fling in an earlier book, is brought as a captive to Rome. As Veleda is on the run, having escaped house arrest and apparently murdered a prominent senator’s son, Justinus’ parents and his aggrieved wife Claudia Rufina fear scandal and drag Falco from his own familial preparations (rather to his relief) to investigate.
This book has an unusual emphasis on the female characters (nicely reflecting the topsy-turvy nature of the festival) - even Julia Justa, Falco's usually stately mother-in-law, has a significant part to play. Though one can't help thinking that Falco would be on the receiving end of some teasing from his male friends for having such a forward other half. Falco's fluctuating concern for his womenfolk continues to be one of the few inconsistent things about him.
As is often the case, the whodunnit is perfunctory, with the villain or villains and their motivations not hard to guess. Instead the plot focuses on the Justinus / Claudia Rufina / Veleda triangle. I would probably have enjoyed this more if I actually liked Justinus as a character. He is presented as a charming young man who occasionally does stupid things, but I find his sheer thoughtlessness and the weaselly way in which he tries to avoid taking responsibility for his actions to be deeply immature. It is telling that Davis does not seem able to demonstrate how pleasant and charismatic he is, but instead has Falco tell us so on numerous occasions. The forgiving nature of his family towards his quite serious transgressions seems out of character for them. Still, it is, as always, a well-written and fun read, and the depiction of Saturnalia is outstanding.
Saturnalia - Lindsey Davis - Arrow, 2008
* * * *
To me, the Falco books are essentially science fiction novels. Just as Charles Stross and others imagine an alien landscape and then populate it with people whose motives and speech patterns we can recognise and understand, so Davis does with the equally alien setting of first century Rome and her characteristically British-speaking and -acting characters. Falco in particular shows that peculiar British combination of frustration with the social stratification of his society and a fatalism about it ever changing that suggests that he is more content than he seems.
Another Britishism, and one of the delights of the series, is the author’s cynical take (through the eyes of her embittered hero) on traditions and mores, and this is particularly evident in this story. Falco has reason to be rebarbative because it is Saturnalia, often described as the Roman equivalent of Christmas. There is certainly much fun to be had in the parallels - the tired civic rituals, the enforced bonhomie, the family tensions - particularly when the latter have been hiked a notch by the disappearance of Falco’s brother-in-law Justinus after Veleda, a Gallic princess with whom he had a fling in an earlier book, is brought as a captive to Rome. As Veleda is on the run, having escaped house arrest and apparently murdered a prominent senator’s son, Justinus’ parents and his aggrieved wife Claudia Rufina fear scandal and drag Falco from his own familial preparations (rather to his relief) to investigate.
This book has an unusual emphasis on the female characters (nicely reflecting the topsy-turvy nature of the festival) - even Julia Justa, Falco's usually stately mother-in-law, has a significant part to play. Though one can't help thinking that Falco would be on the receiving end of some teasing from his male friends for having such a forward other half. Falco's fluctuating concern for his womenfolk continues to be one of the few inconsistent things about him.
As is often the case, the whodunnit is perfunctory, with the villain or villains and their motivations not hard to guess. Instead the plot focuses on the Justinus / Claudia Rufina / Veleda triangle. I would probably have enjoyed this more if I actually liked Justinus as a character. He is presented as a charming young man who occasionally does stupid things, but I find his sheer thoughtlessness and the weaselly way in which he tries to avoid taking responsibility for his actions to be deeply immature. It is telling that Davis does not seem able to demonstrate how pleasant and charismatic he is, but instead has Falco tell us so on numerous occasions. The forgiving nature of his family towards his quite serious transgressions seems out of character for them. Still, it is, as always, a well-written and fun read, and the depiction of Saturnalia is outstanding.