Review: Brilliant
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 5, 2014
As an accountant who has studied the "Law of Trusts" ,  I thoroughly enjoyed the author's clever and accurate  use of "tax farming" , a system of tax administration and "The Twelve Tables" an ancient legal system.This tale begins with Faustus, a commander in Roman infantry, in battle against Germanic tribesmen. While retreating, and then escaping through the forest, he comes to a deep cave where he is able to sleep.  He is then jolted awake by his horse who flees a large silver-haired wolf man dragging Faustus, since the horse's reins are wrapped around his ankle. Faustus bounces free  after being dragged a distance only to discover the giant silver haired wolf man creature beside him biting his arm, since he had lost his protective greaves in battle.From this point, we soon learn that Faustus is an Aristocrat, or Patrician, the term used in ancient Rome to denote high social rank.  We also learn the details of the battle just fought since Faustus manages to get to the palace to see the procurator, an agent in the court of law.The events that happen next can only be told under "spoiler alerts" but involve Faustus having to wear a beggar's robe, a Roman tradition that is traditionally worn when one's career is ruined and one's wish is to save their family's name.Although this book includes a lot of blood and mangled body parts, it is a fascinating account of early Roman times.  Most interesting to me of course is the recounting of the role of tax collector who are in business for themselves (and are also known as a tax farmer,  tax harvester and publican).  They  set a price they are committed to collect for Rome after which, the rest they collect for themselves and are considered an enemy of the people due to the abuses this type are known for.  (Not much change in all the years between then and now)This author is nothing less than a brilliant story teller.