''The Silver Pigs'' is a 1989 historical mystery

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

by Lindsey Davis and the first book in the Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries series. Set in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

and

Britannia Britannia () is the national personification of Britain as a helmeted female warrior holding a trident and shield. An image first used in classical antiquity, the Latin ''Britannia'' was the name variously applied to the British Isles, Great ...

during AD 70, just after the year of the four emperors, 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

ingots An ingot is a piece of relatively pure material, usually metal, that is 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 procedure of sha ...

"pigs" filled with silver ore and stolen from

Roman Britain Roman Britain was the period in classical antiquity when large parts of the island of Great Britain were under occupation by the Roman Empire. The occupation lasted from AD 43 to AD 410. During that time, the territory conquered was ...

, 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, but not before it claims the life of a young girl (Sosia Camillina) Falco meets and is smitten with. Hired by Sosia's uncle, a

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

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

Vespasian Vespasian (; la, Vespasianus ; 17 November AD 9 – 23/24 June 79) was a Roman emperor who reigned from AD 69 to 79. The fourth and last emperor who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors, he founded the Flavian dynasty that ruled the Empi ...

, 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, 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, Falco himself working down a silver mine, acting as a mine

slave Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...

, Falco learns the meaning of hate, pain and abuse. After being rescued by Helena and a friendly

centurion A centurion (; la, centurio , . la, centuriones, label=none; grc-gre, κεντυρίων, kentyríōn, or ) was a position in the Roman army during classical antiquity, nominally the commander of a century (), a military unit of around 80 ...

, 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 (and subsequently consummate 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 (; la, Domitianus; 24 October 51 – 18 September 96) was a Roman emperor who reigned 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 Flavi ...

, 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. After realizing 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 The ''sestertius'' (plural ''sestertii''), or sesterce (plural 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 na ...

himself in order to purchase the land of that value, which is the qualification for equestrian status. Vespasian came from an equestrian family that rose into the senatorial rank under the Julio–Claudian emperors, and although he fulfilled the standard succession of public offices, he had really made his name and earned his power in military service. Dejected, Falco returns to his dilapidated tenement in the

Aventine Hill The Aventine Hill (; la, Collis Aventinus; it, Aventino ) 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 sou ...

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

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

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 81 AD) was Roman emperor from 79 to 81. A member of the Flavian dynasty, Titus succeeded his father Vespasian upon his death. Before becoming emperor, Titus gained renown as a mili ...

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: ''cohortēs praetōriae'') was a unit of the Imperial Roman army that served as personal bodyguards and intelligence agents for the Roman emperors. During the Roman Republic, the Praetorian Guard were an escort fo ...

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. * ''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

Author's Club 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 presented. ...

in 1989.

Adaptations in other media

* Radio drama, starring Anton Lesser 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.') * * * OCLC Number: 317850415.

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