This three part historical novel, set in Provence at the end of the Roman Empire, during the Black Death and during WW II, debates the theme of honor through the actions of the 3 characters in each era who were confronted with catastrophic threat to their civilizations. Each was forced to compromise one or more of his cherished values in an attempt to save something he held dear. Sometimes doing the honorable thing may lead to disaster. Can one act bodly, sacrifice himself, knowing the consequences?

My favorite quote: "The evil done by men of good will is the worst of all." Interesting reading lead me to further read about Platonism, neoplatonism, gnosticism, Cathars and Avignon.

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First of all, I am an avid reader with eclectic tastes. I read whatever I can get my hands on.

However, this book was so boring and tedious that I couldn't get much past the first chapter. I skimmed through, hoping the story got more interesting, but no such luck. The writer's style isn't bad, but there are just too many detailed descriptions, too many extra bits of information, none of which really moved the story along.

If you're bored already, this is absolutely not the book to read!

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If you like historical mysteries, this is for you. Kind of convoluted and difficult to follow.

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The Dream of Scipio is set in Provence at three different critical moments of Western civilization. It asks the question, Can you save something you value while at the same time compromising your values? "Power without wisdom is tyranny; wisdom without power is pointless," says one of the characters. This book is a thought-provoking meditation on philosophy, conducted through the ages.

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Much more serious and much slower going than Pears art history mysteries; unlike those, this book definitely has literary aspirations. The Dream of Scipio actually tells three different stories, (slightly) intertwined by the device of a philosophical manuscript influenced by Cicero, and by the themes of love, political maneuvering, friendship, betrayal and Europes persistent anti-Semitism.
As Pears describes the titular document, the book is partly a discourse on love and friendship and the connection between those and the life of the soul and the exercise of virtue.
It repeatedly, from different angles, examines the questions of whether evil done by those with good intentions is a greater evil than others, or whether evil committed for a greater good can be justified.
The reader explores these themes through the stories of: Manlius, a powerful Roman at the age of the decline of the Empire, and his love/muse, the philosopher Sophia. Olivier, a medieval seeker after knowledge and the girl from the Jewish ghetto that he falls in love with Rebecca. Julien, a European at the outbreak of WWII and his love, Julia, also Jewish.
Not an easy or lighthearted book, but many may find it worth the time.

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