It is very easy to say that a book brought a character to life, I've certainly heard it used in regards to books on the heroes of antiquity, but none I think has ever approached the level of this novel. Positioned as I am, I felt constantly just a parchment leaf from the emperor. There is a certain majesty and beauty of this text that astounded me from the first page, as well as a tragic sort of grace that squeezed at my heart. From the death of Trajan and his beloved Antinous to his probings of the faded Hellenes, I felt almost intrusive-this novel being in the form of a letter to a young Marcus Aurelius-as it was so personal and honest. This is a novel that needs no further praise, just more hands to pass it along to.