The Silver Pigs

infobox Book |
name = The Silver Pigs
orig title =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Lindsey Davis
cover_artist =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series = Marcus Didius Falco
genre = Crime novel
publisher = Century, Mysterious Press
release_date = 1989
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 318 pp (paperback)
isbn = ISBN 0-7126-8454-9 (new edition)
preceded_by =
followed_by = Shadows in Bronze

"The Silver Pigs" is a crime novel by Lindsey Davis. Set in Rome and Britannia during AD 70, just after the year of the four emperors, "The Silver Pigs" stars Marcus Didius Falco, informer and imperial agent.

"Pigs" is a term by which ingots are known, and refer to the lead ingots which feature prominently in the plot.

Plot summary

This is the first novel in the series and introduces the main characters as well as establishing relationships that continue and grow throughout the whole series.

Falco stumbles upon a conspiracy in the trading of silver ingots, but not before it claims the life of a young girl (Sosia Camilla) whom Falco meets and is smitten with. Hired by the young girl's uncle, a senator, to find out who murdered her, and by the Roman Emperor Vespasian, to uncover the conspiracy, Falco finds himself on the next boat to Britain.

Once there he meets a lady way out of his class, Helena Justina, daughter of the Senator who hired him. At first sight it is mutual loathing, he hates her class and she hates his prejudice. Finding himself working down a silver mine, acting as a mine slave, Falco learns the meaning of hate, pain and abuse. After being rescued by Helena and a friendly centurion, Falco heads back to Rome, as the reluctant charge of the even more reluctant Helena.

Naturally, after spending so much time together, lots of arguments, misunderstandings and denial, Falco and Helena fall in love (subsequently consummated in a horse stable in a public garden!). Eventually, Falco sorts out the case, and only has to bring the culprits to justice. However, there is no justice when one of the culprits is Domitian, the Emperor's very own wayward son. As for the other culprits, only one remains alive, and that person is very close to the girl Falco loves and her senator father. After a final, bloody, retribution is carried out in the climax, Falco is offered the chance to be raised to the upper middle class, the equestrian rank. As an equestrian Falco could marry Helena without bringing her or her family shame, which is something he could never manage on his meagre earnings alone. He refuses, seeing the offer as a bribe to keep the whole conspiracy hushed-up. After realising his mistake and how he must have insulted Helena, he returns to Vespasian and asks for the chance again, and while he is told that his name can be added to the equestrian lists, he must first raise the 400,000 sesterces himself in order to purchase the land to that value which is the qualification for equestrian status. Dejected he returns to his dilapidated tenement in the Aventine Hill and there finds Helena waiting for him. She promises to wait for him for as long as it takes.

Characters in "The Silver Pigs"

In Regio XIII (The Aventine Sector)

* "Lenia" - A Laundress.
* "Lucius Petronius Longus" - Member of the Vigiles and friend of Falco.
* "Marcia" - Daughter of Falco's deceased brother, Festus.
* "Marcus Didius Falco" - Informer and Imperial Agent from the Aventine.
* "Smaractus" - Falco's Landlord.

In Regio I (The Capena Gate Sector)

* "Decimus Camillus Verus" - Senator, father of Helena Justina.
* "Gnaeus Atius Pertinax" - Aedile
* "Helena Justina" - Daughter of the Senator Decimus Camillus Verus, aged 23 years.
* "Julia Justa" - Mother of Helena Justina.
* "Naissa" - Maid of Helena Justina
* "Publius Camillus Meto" - Younger brother of Camillus Verus, engaged in import/export trade.
* "Sosia Camillina" - Daughter of Meto, aged 16 years.

At the Imperial Palace

* "Domitian Caesar" - Younger son of the Emperor.
* "Titus Caesar" - Elder son of the Emperor.
* "Vespasian Augustus" - Emperor of Rome.

In other parts of Rome

* "Astia" - Drayman's floosie
* "Glaucus" - Gymnasium proprietor
* "Julius Frontinus" - Captain in the Praetorian Guard

In Britain

* "Aelia Camilla" - Procurator's wife, younger sister of Camillus Verus and Publius.
* "Cornix" - Mine foreman.
* "Gaius Flavius Hilaris" - Imperial procurator
* "Rufrius Vitalis" - Ex-Centurion of the Second Augustan Legion, living in retirement at Isca Dumnoniorum.
* "Simplex" - Medical officer to the Second Augustan Legion at Glevum.
* "T. Claudius Triferus" - Holder of the contract to manage the Imperial silver mine at Vebiodunum.

Major themes

* Investigation into possible treason involving imperial silver mines.
* Developing relationship of Marcus Didius Falco and Helena Justina.
* The influence of family relationships in political affairs.

Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science

* Set in Rome and Britain in AD 70, during the reign of Emperor Vespasian.

Awards and nominations

* Winner of the Author's Club Prize for "Best First Novel" in 1989.

Film, TV, Radio or theatrical adaptations

* Recorded Books Inc: Audio cassette narrated by Donal Donnelly ISBN 0788773534
* BBC World: Radio 4 starring Anton Lesser and Fritha Goodey ISBN 0-563-52569-X

Release details

* 2000, UK, Century, Hardback ISBN 0-7126-8454-9 (new edition)
* 2000, UK, Arrow, Paperback ISBN 0-09-941473-2 (new edition)
* 2006, US, St Martins Press, Paperback, ISBN 0-312-35777-X (new edition)

ources, references, external links, quotations

[http://www.lindseydavis.co.uk/ Author's Official Website]