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Master and God Hardcover – June 5, 2012

by Lindsey Davis (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 614 ratings
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From New York Times bestselling novelist Lindsey Davis comes an epic novel of first-century Rome and the Emperor Domitian, known to all of the Roman world as Master and God


Set in the reign of the Emperor Domitian in first-century Rome, Master and God is Lindsey Davis's meticulously researched epic novel of the life and times surrounding the last of the Flavian dynasty of emperors. Gaius Vinius is a reluctant Praetorian Guard―the Emperor's personal guard―and a man with a disastrous marriage history. Flavia Lucilla is also in the imperial court and she is responsible not only for having created the ridiculous hairstyle worn by the imperial ladies but for also making toupees for the balding and increasingly paranoid emperor. The two of them are brought together in an unlikely manner―a devastating fire in Rome―which then leads to a lifelong friendship.Together they watch Domitian's once talented rule unravel into madness and cruelty, until the people closest to him conspire to delete him from history. As an imperial bodyguard, Vinius then faces a tough decision. Master and God is a compelling novel of the Roman Empire―from the height of power to the depths of madness―told from the perspective of two courtiers and unlikely friends who together are the witnesses to history.

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  1. Print length
    464 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    St. Martin's Press
  4. Publication date
    June 5, 2012
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.75 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9780312606640
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0312606640
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Detailed and witty recounting of ancient Roman life, public and private, from the sure-handed Davis.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Davis layers modern dialog and sensibilities on a lavishly described historical setting, creating a novel that is detailed and well paced.” ―Library Journal

“As we've come to expect, Davis's descriptions of Rome are vivid and lively ... a great yarn.” ―The Daily Mail

About the Author

LINDSEY DAVIS is the author of the New York Times bestselling series of historical mysteries featuring Marcus Didius Falco. She lives in London.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0312606648
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Press; First Edition (June 5, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 464 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780312606640
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312606640
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.46 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.75 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 614 ratings

About the author

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Lindsey Davis

Lindsey Davis

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Lindsey Davis' Roman novels begin chronologically with The Course of Honour, the love story of the Emperor Vespasian and Antonia Caenis. Her bestselling mystery series features laid-back First Century detective Marcus Didius Falco and his partner Helena Justina, plus friends, relations, pets and bitter enemy the Chief Spy; there is a reader handboook, 'Falco: the Official Companion'. 'Master and God' set in the time of the Emperor Domitian, was published in 2012. A new series, featuring Flavia Albia, began in 2013 and is rivalling Falco in popularity. Her two Roman series have associated download-only novellas, 'The Spook Who Spoke Again' and 'Vesuvius By Night. She has also written an epic novel of the English Civil War and Commonwealth, 'Rebels and Traitors' and a short book set in that period in the Quickreads series, 'A Cruel Fate.. Her books are translated into many languages and serialised on BBC Radio 4. Past Chair of the Crimewriters' Association and a Vice President of the Classical Association, she was Chair of the UK SOciety of Authors (2012) She has won the CWA Ellis Peters Historical Dagger, the Dagger in the Library, and a Sherlock award for Falco as Best Comic Detective. She has also been awarded the Premio Colosseo for enhancing the image of Rome, and the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement as a mystery writer.

She was born in Birmingham and now lives there.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
614 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Faith milnes
5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting read
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2024
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Just got started on this one but I have read many many books by Lindsay Davis. Thorough archaeological and historical research and thoroughly entertaining
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Galla
4.0 out of 5 stars Another pleasant jaunt to Rome
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2012
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Master and God is another entertaining, and educational, look into classical Rome. The well-known characters Falco and Helena are not present in this novel but Davis has created another interesting pair in Flavia Lucilla, hairdresser to members of the imperial family (including creating the hairpieces of the balding Domitian), and Gaius, ex-soldier, vigile, and praetorian guard. Over a period of more than fifteen years, the pair experience a rather on-again, off-again relationship until they finally admit their love for each other. They engage in the same kind of repartee that Falco and Helena enjoyed, and there is also a dog, but Lucilla and Gaius are more serious. So in one sense, the novel is a romance, but it is also a vivid recreation of life during the reign of the increasingly paranoid Domitian. The story line includes a great deal of historical information which may be a bit dry for readers who prefer to stick to the basic plot, but it is fascinating for those who enjoy an easy learning experience. What is particularly interesting is the description of the life of a soldier who becomes an important bureaucrat in the praetorian guard, after five years as a prisoner of war in Dacia, and ultimately finds himself a member of the committee studying plots against Domitian. The committee consists of those who are conspiring against the Emperor and those who are trying to uncover the plotters. Gaius ultimately makes his decision, due in large part to Lucilla. We also get a glimpse into the lives of the so-called intelligentsia (many of whom seem as daffy as their modern counterparts) as well as the civil servants of the Empire, not to mention the more ordinary citizens. All in all, Master and God is an enjoyable novel.
29 people found this helpful
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Lifelong Learner
5.0 out of 5 stars My New Favorite Ancient Roman
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2012
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I have absolutely no complaints. I enjoyed the history lessons, which made the setting all the more real to me, and I loved the two main characters. I sometimes forgot that they were as young as they were, because of the sheer massive amount of tribulations they overcame to finally come together. Lindsey Davis gives us history, atmosphere, humor, adventure, eroticism and so much more in one book. I can hardly wait for more about these two!
One person found this helpful
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Mrs. Risk
5.0 out of 5 stars Textbook knowledge, with a love story salted in to get you through it
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2013
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Need to know things about Rome from Vespasian through to the Fall of the Empire? I did. I also respect Lindsey Davis's formidable store of knowledge. She's the 'man.' (And a funny one, too, if you ever hear her speak, which I did.) Her Marcus Didius Falco series is fabulous entertainment, highly recommended, and includes quite an education on life in Ancient Rome. Her wry and endless humor seeps through every excellent book.

This book, however, was written to impart knowledge, and does so admirably. The love story is exactly right for the purpose, never intrudes, and sometimes illuminates.
2 people found this helpful
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TRP
4.0 out of 5 stars For some reason, not as entertaining as I thought it would be
Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2020
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This writer's Roman detective novels are full of twists, are fast paced, and feed the information about history and Roman culture in easy-to-digest doses. But "Master and God" was slightly tough going and the characters less engaging that her hard-boiled Roman detective. It was a bit like reading the notes for one of those detective novels while missing the novel itself.

Nevertheless, impressive, immaculate research as always. Enjoyable for that alone.
2 people found this helpful
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Apple
5.0 out of 5 stars Slower read but worth it
Reviewed in the United States on August 7, 2015
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I am a big fan of Linsday Davis, particularly the Didius Falco series. This book was written with a massive amount of detail about ancient Rome. The actual story of the main characters was very simple and only made more complex by the events and culture that was Rome. Their story became important to me as events unfolded and their lives changed as a result. Also being a history buff I thoroughly enjoyed this departure from the Falco series. It is a slower read than Falco but well worth it.
2 people found this helpful
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George Popp
3.0 out of 5 stars good, but...
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2014
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While I must admit to enjoying the familiarity of Falco. This was an interesting read. I did feel that the ending was a bit of a let down, leaving us hanging as to the ultimate fate of Gaius and Lucilla. Too easy to default to history to wrap up would could have been a fascinating look at the succession.
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Dana Jo
5.0 out of 5 stars a charming love story set in a pretty ugly time
Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2013
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Vespasian's younger son Domitian became Emperor when his older brother Titus, seemingly beloved by all and certainly a smart and appealing charmer, died after only two years as Emperor. Domitian, probably genetically but also by experience, was paranoid, depressed and a recluse. This is the story of his reign, told from the perspective of a courageous and clear- headed Praetorian and an imperial hairdresser who carved out a life without the Roman benefits of having a husband. Once again, author Lindsey Davis has combined extensive research, solid guesses/ fiction and writing that just takes you back 2000 years. I love her work, and think you will too.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Ag.Ho.
5.0 out of 5 stars keine Probleme
Reviewed in Germany on December 22, 2022
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gute Qualität, schnelle Lieferung
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Robert Watkin
5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining
Reviewed in Canada on September 29, 2020
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A good read.
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Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars One Star
Reviewed in India on January 15, 2018
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Excellent as always with Lindsey Davis
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Catherine Thorn
5.0 out of 5 stars Another masterful historical romance
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 16, 2014
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Having finished 'The Course of Honour' I was hungry for more in the same vein, so I turned to this and was not disappointed. It is also to some extent based on a character mentioned in a passage from Suetonius, but the two protagonists are essentially entirely fictional. They are a young freedwoman who battles against the odds to build up a career as a hairdresser, and an ex-legionary who had been invalided out of the regular army (having lost an eye) but who has the misfortune to be noticed by the paranoid Emperor Domitian and enlisted into the Praetorian Guard, his personal bodyguard and police force; both are engaging and likeable characters, being decent, competent and brave people who are struggling to survive in an increasingly dangerous Rome. Domitian is of course a real historical character; Lindsey Davis does give him more credit than he usually gets for some of his positive achievements - although it is always clear that he is a fickle tyrant who imposes a reign of terror.
In this book you will encounter the real Rome of Mary Beard's "Meet the Romans"; you will also encounter all the human problems that afflict us to this day, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It is another gripping read from a brilliant writer - I could hardly put it down.
2 people found this helpful
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Gabriel
3.0 out of 5 stars entretenido
Reviewed in Spain on April 27, 2014
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Me ha gustado como el autor maneja los tiempos y el ritmo, la historia es entretenida e interesante. Muy recomendable
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