Arrow Cicero Trilogy Robert Harris Collection 3 Book Set Imperium Lustrum Dictator

The Arrow Cicero Trilogy by Robert Harris brings together three novels set in the volatile world of Roman politics, told through the eyes of Tiro, confidential secretary to the senator and lawyer Cicero. Across the collection, Tiro’s position places him close to power and its consequences, as alliances shift and rivalries harden in a city shaped by ambition and corruption.

Beginning with a case that draws Cicero into a landmark courtroom drama, the trilogy follows his rise and reversals as Rome strains under competing claims to authority. The narrative moves through political manoeuvring, public trials and unrest, with Cicero repeatedly forced to rely on wit, skill and courage as the balance of power changes around him.

Included titles

• Imperium
• Lustrum
• Dictator

Key details

• Three-book collection by Robert Harris
• Also known as the Cicero Trilogy
• Narrated by Tiro, Cicero’s confidential secretary
• Set in Rome and its political sphere

Synopses

Imperium

On a cold November morning, Tiro opens the door to a terrified Sicilian stranger, setting off events that draw Cicero into one of history’s most famous courtroom dramas. As Cicero pursues imperium, the story enters the violent and treacherous world of Roman politics, tracing the tactics and vulnerabilities of a man determined to reach the top.

Lustrum

Rome, 63 BC: as the city stands on the brink of acquiring a vast empire, seven men struggle for power, including Cicero, Caesar, Pompey, Crassus, Cato, Catilina and Clodius. Their alliances, betrayals, crimes and ambitions are interleaved, as Tiro observes from a perilous position close to Cicero’s secrets.

The narrative moves from the discovery of a child’s mutilated body through execution and a scandalous trial, to the brutal force of the Roman mob, examining the enticements and horrors of power.

Dictator

After a time when Cicero held Caesar’s life in his hands, Caesar becomes dominant and Cicero’s life collapses. Seeking a comeback, Cicero must draw on wit, skill and courage, briefly returning as a leading senator in Rome, while remaining exposed to the ambition and corruption of others.