An iron pillar

From the New York Times bestselling author of Doctor of Men and Souls comes a magnificent book set in ancient Rome about the tragic life of Cicero, who tried in vain to save his beloved republic from tyranny.

In this fascinating story, Taylor Caldwell recounts the final glory days of the Roman Republic as seen through the eyes of philosopher, orator, and political theorist Marcus Tullius Cicero.

From his birth in 106 BC in the mountain town of Arpinum, Cicero, the educated son of a wealthy member of the Equestrian Order, was destined for greatness. At a young age, he discovered the legend of the Unknown God, the coming Messiah, and this propelled the budding lawyer on a journey of spiritual conflict and self-discovery. From his tumultuous family life to his tenuous alliance with Julius Caesar, to a fateful love affair with the Roman Empress Livia, and finally to the political role that would make him a target of powerful enemies, *A Pillar of Iron* is the story of Cicero's legacy as one of the greatest influences on Western civilization.

Drawing on hundreds of speeches, numerous private correspondences, and ancient texts and manuscripts, the epic *A Pillar of Iron* illuminates Cicero's complicated relationships with his contemporaries, including Caesar, Mark Antony, and Crassus, and brilliantly captures the pomp, turmoil, and intrigue of life in ancient Rome. According to legendary editor Maxwell Perkins, "Taylor Caldwell is, first and foremost, a storyteller, and once you start one of her books, you can't help but finish it."