The Third Daughter
By Fiona Forsyth
Publication Date: 3rd February 2022
Publisher: Sharpe Books
Page Length: 295 Pages
Genre: Ancient World Historical Fiction
Rome, 68 BCE.
Julius Caesar begins his controversial career in government.
At the same time, a third daughter, Tertulla, is born to the Junius family on the Palatine Hill.
Tertulla grows up under the guidance of her brother, Marcus Brutus, and her mother Servilia.
When Tertulla discovers that her mother is Caesar's mistress, she begins to wonder who her father might be. Frustratingly, she has more questions than answers.
As Rome descends into a civil war, the young woman realises how compromised and conflicted her mother is - torn between Caesar and the old Roman nobility.
After the civil war, Caesar stands victorious. Rome - and Tertulla - look to find some peace.
But her brother is at the heart of a dangerous conspiracy to assassinate Caesar.
The fate of Rome, and Brutus, stand at the crossroads at the Battle of Phillipi.
From the ashes of the Republic an Empire is born.
Tertulla, enduring grief and tragedy, still asks the question - was Caesar her father?
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The Third Daughter
Fiona Forsyth
I will never fully understand the Romans, and that is the challenge.
I have loved the ancient world since I read my first Greek myth, Theseus and the Minotaur. After reading Classics at Oxford, I taught at a boys’ public school for twenty-five years, but then my family moved to Qatar. There wasn’t much call for Latin teachers, so I wrote, and now I am back in the UK, all the questions I have asked myself about the Romans over the years are turning into novels.
I was once accused by a slightly indignant teenager of being in love with Cicero. This is not strictly true…
Connect with Fiona:
Oh Wow! I am definitely adding The Third Daughter to my to read list. I love this era of history, especially when it is the untold stories of those who were closest to those in power. I shall look forward to reading your book, Fiona.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I do love my characters in this book. It is dedicated to my sisters and I used my memories of childhood with them to build the strong ties Tertulla has with her sisters. I also felt that even in their lives of wealth and privilege they were not safe from grief. The real Tertulla outlived her generation by many years and I hope that her great nieces and nephews looked after her and kept her from loneliness. She was a remarkable woman and I hope you enjoy my version of her!
ReplyDeleteI love this era of history. If I may ask, what inspired you to write about this period of history?
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