- See Delphi and Die
infobox Book |
name = See Delphi and Die
orig title =
translator =
author =Lindsey Davis
cover_artist =
country =United Kingdom
language = English
series =Marcus Didius Falco
genre = Crime
publisher = Century,Mysterious Press
release_date =2005
media_type = Print (Hardback &Paperback )
pages = 354 pp (Paperback edition)
isbn = ISBN 0-7126-8044-6
preceded_by =Scandal Takes a Holiday
followed_by =Saturnalia (book) "See Delphi and Die" is a crime novel by
Lindsey Davis .Plot introduction
Set in
Rome andGreece between September and October AD 76, "See Delphi and Die" starsMarcus Didius Falco , Informer and Imperial Agent. It is the seventeenth in her Falco series. As with many of the other Falco novels, "See Delphi and Die" uses a "modern" idea - in this case, the holiday package tour - as a device around which to build the story.Explanation of the novel's title
The title is a reference to the deaths which take place at tourist attractions in Ancient Greece, including the sanctuary at
Delphi , while riffing offGoethe 's "SeeNaples and die", which refers to the grandeur of the capital of theTwo Sicilies under theHouse of Bourbon .Plot summary
Falco hears details of two young Roman women who have gone missing after going to Greece to see the sights of the ancient world. Falco and his wife, Helena, travel to the area and meet up with the tour party which included one of the women, seeking clues to her murder.
Characters in "See Delphi and Die"
Romans
* "Caesius Secundus" - Father whose daughter has died
* "Claudius Laeta" - Imperial Official
* "Decimus Camillus Verus" -Senator , married to Julia Justa
* "Julia Justa" - Wife of Decimus Camillus Verus
* "Polystratus" - Travel salesmanOn the 'Tracks and Temples Tour'
* "The Sertorius Family"
* "Cleonymus and Cleonyma"
* "Amaranthus and Minucia"
* "Indus"
* "Volcasius"
* "Marinus"
* "Helvia"
* "Turcius Opimus"Travelling independently
* "Albia" - Young street girl adopted by Helena
* "Gaius and Cornelius" - Falco's nephews
* "Glaucus the Younger" - Son of Marcus' personal trainer and aspiring athlete
* "Helena Justina" - Wife of Falco, and daughter of theSenator Decimus Camillus Verus
* "Marcus Didius Falco" - Informer and Imperial Agent.
* "Marcella Naevia" - Aunt and travelling companion of deceased girl, Caesia.In Olympia
* "Barzanes" - Tour guide
* "Milo of Dordona"
* "Lacheses" - Priest
* "Megiste"
* "Myron"In Corinth
* "Aquillus Macer" - Quaestor
* "Phineus" - Tour guideIn Delphi
* "Aulus Camillus Aelianus" - Son of Decimus Camillus Verus
* "Minas of Karystos" - Aulus' tutorMajor themes
* Investigation into murders taking place amongst Roman holidaymakers touring Greece.
Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science
* Set in
Rome andGreece , in AD76 , during the reign of EmperorVespasian . Sites visited include Olympia,Corinth ,Delphi and the oracle ofTrophonius .Release details
* 2005, UK, Century Hardback ISBN 0-7126-2590-9
* 2006, UK, Arrow, Paperback ISBN 0-09-944528-X
* 2006, US, St Martins Press, Hardback ISBN 0-312-35765-6
* 2007, US, St Martins Press, Paperbackources, references, external links, quotations
[http://www.lindseydavis.co.uk/ Author's Official Website]
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