''The Silver Pigs'' is a 1989

historical mystery The historical mystery or historical whodunit is a subgenre of two literary genres, historical fiction and mystery fiction. These works are set in a time period considered historical from the author's perspective, and the central plot involves th ...

crime novel Crime fiction, detective story, murder mystery, crime novel, mystery novel, and police novel are terms used to describe narratives or fiction that centre on criminal acts and especially on the investigation, either by an amateur or a profession ...

by English author

Lindsey Davis Lindsey Davis (born 1949) is an English historical novelist, best known as the author of the Falco series of historical crime stories set in ancient Rome and its empire. She is a recipient of the Cartier Diamond Dagger award. Life and career ...

and the first book in the ''Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries'' series. Set in

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

and

Britannia The image of Britannia () is the national personification of United Kingdom, Britain as a helmeted female warrior holding a trident and shield. An image first used by the Romans in classical antiquity, the Latin was the name variously appli ...

during AD 70, just after the

year of the four emperors The Year of the Four Emperors, AD 69, was the first civil war of the Roman Empire, during which four emperors ruled in succession, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian. It is considered an important interval, marking the change from the ...

, the novel stars

Marcus Didius Falco Lindsey Davis (born 1949) is an English historical novelist, best known as the author of the Falco series of historical crime stories set in ancient Rome and its empire. She is a recipient of the Cartier Diamond Dagger award. Life and career ...

, informer and imperial agent. The book's title refers to 200-pound lead

ingot An ingot is a piece of relatively pure material, usually metal, that is Casting, cast into a shape suitable for further processing. In steelmaking, it is the first step among semi-finished casting products. Ingots usually require a second procedu ...

"pigs" filled with silver ore and stolen from

Roman Britain Roman Britain was the territory that became the Roman province of ''Britannia'' after the Roman conquest of Britain, consisting of a large part of the island of Great Britain. The occupation lasted from AD 43 to AD 410. Julius Caes ...

, which feature prominently in the plot.

Plot summary

This first novel in the ''Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries'' series introduces the main characters as well as establishes relationships that continue and grow throughout the series. Falco stumbles upon a conspiracy in the trading of silver ingots, which results in the death a young girl, Sosia Camillina. Hired by Sosia's uncle, a

senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

, to find out who murdered her and by the Roman Emperor

Vespasian Vespasian (; ; 17 November AD 9 – 23 June 79) was Roman emperor from 69 to 79. The last emperor to reign in the Year of the Four Emperors, he founded the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Empire for 27 years. His fiscal reforms and consolida ...

, to uncover the conspiracy, Falco finds himself on the next boat to

Britain Britain most often refers to: * Great Britain, a large island comprising the countries of England, Scotland and Wales * The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a sovereign state in Europe comprising Great Britain and the north-eas ...

. Once there he meets a lady way out of his class, Helena Justina, the daughter of the Senator who hired him, and Sosia's cousin. At first sight Falco and Helena loathe each other: He hates her class, and she hates his prejudice. Things are made no easier by Sosia's death, especially for Helena. Working under cover as a slave in a silver mine, Falco learns the meaning of hate, pain and abuse. After being rescued by Helena and a friendly

centurion In the Roman army during classical antiquity, a centurion (; , . ; , or ), was a commander, nominally of a century (), a military unit originally consisting of 100 legionaries. The size of the century changed over time; from the 1st century BC ...

, Falco heads back to

, as the reluctant charge of the even more reluctant Helena. After spending so much time together, and many arguments, misunderstandings and denials, Falco and Helena fall in love, subsequently consummating this 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, as one of the culprits is

Domitian Domitian ( ; ; 24 October 51 – 18 September 96) was Roman emperor from 81 to 96. The son of Vespasian and the younger brother of Titus, his two predecessors on the throne, he was the last member of the Flavian dynasty. Described as "a r ...

, the Emperor's wayward son, and the only other surviving culprit is very close to Helena and her senator father. After a final, bloody, retribution is carried out in the climax, Falco is offered a promotion to the

equestrian The word equestrian is a reference to equestrianism, or horseback riding, derived from Latin ' and ', "horse". Horseback riding (or riding in British English) Examples of this are: *Equestrian sports *Equestrian order, one of the upper classes in ...

rank. As an equestrian Falco would be upper middle class and could marry Helena without bringing her or her family shame, as would with his current meagre earnings. He refuses, seeing the offer as a bribe to keep the conspiracy hushed-up. Realising how he must have insulted Helena, he returns to Vespasian and asks for the chance again. While he is told that his name can be added to the equestrian lists, he is unable to raise the 400,000

sesterces The ''sestertius'' (: ''sestertii'') or sesterce (: sesterces) was an ancient Roman coin. During the Roman Republic it was a small, silver coin issued only on rare occasions. During the Roman Empire it was a large brass coin. The name ''sester ...

necessary to purchase land of that value, which is the qualification for equestrian status. Dejected, Falco returns to his dilapidated tenement in the

Aventine Hill The Aventine Hill (; ; ) is one of the Seven Hills on which ancient Rome was built. It belongs to Ripa, the modern twelfth ''rione'', or ward, of Rome. Location and boundaries The Aventine Hill is the southernmost of Rome's seven hills. I ...

and there finds Helena waiting for him. She promises to wait for him for as long as it takes.

Characters

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 Aedile ( , , from , "temple edifice") was an elected office of the Roman Republic. Based in Rome, the aediles were responsible for maintenance of public buildings () and regulation of public festivals. They also had powers to enforce public orde ...

, ex-husband of Helena Justina. * ''Helena Justina'' – Daughter of the

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or Legislative chamber, chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the Ancient Rome, ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior ...

Decimus Camillus Verus, aged 23 years. Lover of Falco. * ''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

* ''

Caesar'' – Younger son of the Emperor. * ''

Titus Titus Caesar Vespasianus ( ; 30 December 39 – 13 September AD 81) was Roman emperor from 79 to 81. A member of the Flavian dynasty, Titus succeeded his father Vespasian upon his death, becoming the first Roman emperor ever to succeed h ...

Caesar'' – Elder son of the Emperor. * ''

Augustus'' – Emperor of Rome.

In other parts of Rome

* ''Astia'' – Drayman's floosie * ''Glaucus'' – Gymnasium proprietor * ''Julius Frontinus'' – Captain in the

Praetorian Guard The Praetorian Guard (Latin language, Latin: ''cohortes praetoriae'') was the imperial guard of the Imperial Roman army that served various roles for the Roman emperor including being a bodyguard unit, counterintelligence, crowd control and ga ...

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 Isca Dumnoniorum, also known simply as Isca, was originally a Roman legionary fortress for the Second Augustan Legion (established ) in the Roman province of Britannia at the site of present-day Exeter in Devon. The town grew up around this ...

. * ''Simplex'' – Medical officer to the Second Augustan Legion at

Glevum Glevum (or, more formally, Colonia Nervia Glevensium, or occasionally ''Glouvia'') was originally a Roman fort in Roman Britain that became a " colonia" of retired legionaries in AD 97. Today, it is known as Gloucester, in the English county ...

. * ''T. Claudius Triferus'' – Holder of the contract to manage the Imperial silver mine at Vebiodunum.

Major themes

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

Awards and nominations

* Winner of the

Authors' Club Best First Novel Award The Authors' Club Best First Novel Award is awarded by the Authors' Club to the most promising first novel of the year, written by a British author and published in the UK during the calendar year preceding the year in which the award is presente ...

in 1989.

Adaptations in other media

* Radio drama, starring

Anton Lesser Anton Lesser (born 14 February 1952) is a British actor. He is known for his roles as Qyburn in the HBO series ''Game of Thrones'', Harold Macmillan in ''The Crown'', Clement Attlee in '' A United Kingdom'', Chief Superintendent Bright in '' E ...

and

Fritha Goodey Fritha Jane Goodey (23 October 1972 – 7 September 2004) was a British stage, radio and film actress known for her performance in the film '' About a Boy'' (2002), in which she played one of Hugh Grant's character's former girlfriends. Early l ...

Release details

* (In this new introduction by the author, Davis comments that some corrections have been made and mentions recent research suggesting that the 'pigs' may not have been formed in the way previously thought, but 'it's possible that when Falco describes the process to Petronius, he is wrong.') * * *

References

External links

lindseydavis.co.uk
Author's Official Website {{DEFAULTSORT:Silver Pigs 1989 British novels Marcus Didius Falco novels Novels set in Roman Britain 70 Historical mystery novels Sidgwick & Jackson books