Marcus Didius Falco, born AD41. An interesting time to be in Rome, for our private informer would have lived through the times of Cladius, Nero, and then the fateful Year of the Four Emperors which ended precisely to the very day with Vespasian proclaimed by the Senate as Emperor.

So the period AD41 until, let us say, the death of Vespasian in AD79, was a time of stabilisation by Vespasian, who was trying to restore the finances and the stability of Rome. It is said that no one was unfairly punished by Vespasian, and there was only one execution, and that took place before the letter of stay of execution could reach the staging place. Vespasian is largely remembered as a fair emperor, who ruled justly.

Rome. What was it like, how large was the empire, what were the life and times? We will answer these questions and more as we progress through the Falco novels.

Rome. The one point that the novelist Lindsey Davis is frequently lauded for is the recreation of Ancient Rome in these novels.