Number 2- Imperatrix - SP Somtow

 

The follow up to Delicatus that I read in June last year.

This continues the story of the now ex-slave boy Sporus, and the Emperor Nero in ancient Rome.

The year is not long after 30 AD (by our reckoning- Pontius Pilate has popped up a couple of times as a character and an annoying new sect of religious fanatics and monotheists called the Chrestianoi are making nuisances of themselves when not being fed to lions or doused in pitch and set alight to illuminate the banquets at the Emperor's palace) and Nero has fixated on the young Sporus, who is an almost exact double of his wife the Empress Poppaea. She's pregnant at the moment and he needs to slake his desires somewhere. He's not picky with his women, but Sporus is his special toy.

This, the second volume of a trilogy, chronicles the fate of the pregnant empress and Sporus's attempts to navigate the politics of Rome as a freeman and to divert Nero's attention away from himself.  It's no spoiler to mention that Nero historically made Sporus his empress, so we know his plans are doomed to failure.

I thought in places that Somtow was going overboard with his depiction of Nero's madness and the extreme behaviour, and I googled some of the more extravagant stories only to find that I was wrong to doubt the author.  Poppaea's fate in the book does indeed match her reported fate in the history books. the incident with the vestal virgin is absolutely accurate.  And the framing device, with empress Sporus telling the story in flashback whilst awaiting his fate in the games matches what is known of his fate too. If anything, the depiction of Nero might not go far enough.

This is an absolutely fascinating glimpse into Roman history that makes no attempt to apply modern day sensibilities to any character's actions. It feels like an almost wholly accurate depiction of life in Roman society. 

There is a lot of (thankfully not explicit considering that Sporus has only just hit puberty in this book) sex going on in this book so, if that's a trigger for you, consider yourself warned. Nero was famously oversexed and perverse, and this book does not shy away from it.  Sporus suffers as much in this book as a free man of Rome as he did as a slave in book one. The ending of this is particularly cruel (but real) and there's only more suffering to come in volume 3 when it's released.

Somtow's prose is as good as ever and Sporus is a great narrator. I love the framing device with the discussion between him and his make up artist preparing him for his public execution. It's so cleverly done and keeps a constant quiet air of tension. There are some funny moments in the book too, i laughed out loud a few times.

This is a worthy second volume, and I suspect I will be most upset by the final part. I know poor Sporus does not have the happiest times to look forward to.