I think I have a second hand copy of the Thorn Birds somewhere, but never got around to reading it...
Agreed. For me it pretty much defines my view of that whole period, especially the earlier part which is a bit less often depicted in popular culture - I'm still inclined to view Sulla and Marius the way she depicted them. Caesar, Antony, Augustus - there I guess it's more a mixture of sources.
I didn't actually finish the series, because it became more intolerable as Caesar's role increased. The more even-handed approach McCollough used to portray flawed historical figures such as Marius & Sulla disappeared, as she made Caesar as much of a Mary Sue as you can get with an historical figure. I thought Stephen Pressfield went overboard on Dienekes in "Gates of Fire", until I read "Caesar's Women".
I much preferred the portrayals of Cicero & Caesar in Robert Harris' "Imperium" & "Lustrum".
That's an excellent description. The level of detail as well gives a strong impression of the cultural context, and the familial interrelationships as well. After reading McCullough, I found myself recognizing characters in other fiction on the period, as "so-and-so's grandson, the cousin of whatshisname, etc, etc." This series gave me a level of familiarity with the major players of the late republic akin to the characters of WoT or aSoI&F. For someone interested in that kind of immersion in cultural and social details, I would completely recommend this series.
“Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions.” GK Chesteron
Inde muagdhe Aes Sedai misain ye!
Deus Vult!
*MySmiley*