Book details

  • Genre:history
  • Sub-genre:Ancient / Rome
  • Language:English
  • Series Title:A Novel of Ancient Rome
  • Series Number:2
  • Pages:340
  • eBook ISBN:9798317822811
  • Paperback ISBN:9798317822804

Juno Moneta

By Frederick Rovner

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Overview

"Juno Moneta" is a richly detailed narrative that blends historical accuracy with emotional depth and philosophical reflection. Set during the turbulent era of second century BCE Rome the narrative follows the career of Marcus Latinius, a provincial knight, from a boy mourning the death of his father to the disillusioned soldier and man grappling with the moral compromises of war and the collapse of societal values. Against the dramatic backdrop of such pivotal events as the Numantine Wars, the Third Punic War and the final destruction of Carthage, and the political violence in Rome that leads to the assassinations of the Gracchi brothers, Marcus confronts questions of fate, justice, and the human cost of Rome's imperial ambitions.
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Description

"It is not a matter of right and wrong. That is not the axle on which the wheel of fate turns." This sentiment, expressed by Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus, is the philosophical heart of this novel, "Juno Moneta." Set in the tumultuous world of ancient Rome during the second century BCE, the story explores the destructive power of greed and ambition through the eyes of Marcus Latinius—soldier, philosopher, and witness to the unraveling of the Roman Republic. This is the second of three historical novels that bring to life this crucial and formative era in the history of Western Civilization. "Juno Moneta" is a richly detailed narrative that blends historical accuracy with emotional depth and philosophical reflection. The novel follows Marcus' journey from a boy mourning his father's death to the disillusioned man grappling with the moral compromises of war and the collapse of societal values. Against the backdrop of pivotal events such as the Numantine Wars, the final destruction of Carthage, and the assassination of Tiberius Gracchus, Marcus confronts questions of fate, justice, and the human cost of Rome's imperial ambitions. The title, "Juno Moneta," refers to the Roman goddess of wealth and wise counsel, symbolizing the insatiable greed that drives the narrative. Through Marcus' relationships, personal losses, and philosophical growth, the novel examines timeless themes of power, morality, and redemption. Readers who enjoy character-driven stories, Roman history, and thought-provoking narratives will find "Juno Moneta" both engaging and resonant.
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About The Author

Frederick (Fred) Rovner is an American/Australian writer. He was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1947 to an Australian mother and an American father. He is the son of World War II veterans and grew up in the southwestern United States. After high school in 1966, he joined the U.S. Army, where he served as an infantry officer for many years. During his Army service, he was deployed to the Vietnam War. Fred's first academic degree is in classical history and philosophy from Humboldt State University in Northern California. He went on to graduate studies in Australia and later in Georgia in the U.S. While in Australia, Fred lectured in history and political economics. In the late 1980s, he returned to America to take up medicine. Semi-retired now, Fred has practiced Emergency medicine in Georgia for more than 25 years. Fred's extensive background as a soldier, an educator, and a medical practitioner, along with his lifelong interest in the worlds of classical Greece and Rome, provides him with a wealth of experience that he brings to his writing and storytelling. Currently, Fred lives with his college sweetheart, Thyra, near Atlanta, Georgia. They enjoy travel, family, and lengthy philosophical discussions. They have a daughter, two grandchildren, and two rescue cats. Apart from the occasional canoeing and fishing trip, Fred enjoys catching up on all those books he has had to set aside over the years. "Juno Moneta" is the second historical novel in Fred's series of Novels tracing the final decades of the Roman republic.
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