The British title of Robert Harris's new novel about ancient Rome is a word with many meanings. "Lustrum" is the expiatory sacrifice that was offered every five years by the censors. From this it came to denote a period of five years. In the plural it can also mean debauchery-and there is plenty of that in Mr Harris's account of the five turbulent years from 63BC. The author's previous novels about Rome, "Pompeii" and "Imperium", were entertaining and popular and "Lustrum" is another excellent read. It is a sequel to "Imperium" but it is not necessary to have read the one to enjoy the other. The narrator is again Tiro, Cicero's confidential secretary.
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