The Scapegoat by Michael V.Solomon

 The Scapegoat by Michael V. Solomon

The Scapegoat by Michael V.Solomon is published on 24th February 2023 by Univers/Unicorn Publishing

My thanks to the author and publishers for sending me a copy to review and

 Random Book Tours for inviting me on the Book Tour.

Synopsis

Publius Ovidius Naso (43BC – 17/18AD), known as Ovid, was notable as much for his disgrace as for his poetry. By pleasing his contemporaries, befriending patricians and subtly mocking the Emperor Augustus, he was transformed from a provincial outsider to Rome’s darling – and, for some, its corrupter. Banished without trial to a remote port on the Black Sea, he continued to write. It is fortunate that most of his work has not been lost.

The transformation stories of his masterpiece –the Metamorphoses– inspired not just Shakespeare, Chaucer and Milton, but have been a major influence on European culture. They brought him instant literary glory and notable adversaries. His works were banned by the Emperor Augustus, by Savonarola, by the Bishops’ Ban, by the Vatican, and eventually by the US Customs Office – the latter only lifted in 1930.

The Scapegoat follows the ancient Roman poet Ovid on his fictitious journey out of exile.

In the year 14AD, Ovid is in his sixth year of banishment in Tomis, he resists joining a conspiracy against the Emperor and hopes that his friend in Rome will obtain his pardon. However, when Augustus dies later that year, the conspirators, terrified that their treasonous plan will come to light, move Ovid to a garrison along the Danube where they intend to kill him. He manages to escape, is caught, but instead of being killed, he is sent to Rome and is turned into an outlaw – and a scapegoat.

My Review

The Scapegoat is the fictitious story of Ovid in exile in Tomis and the journey that he goes non to get out of exile.

For me this is one of those books that I needed to persevere with as , at the start, it didn't draw me in for quite a while. In fact I was almost a quarter of the way through the book before I realised that at last I was enjoying the story. This may sound strange, but to me the beginning of the book felt more like a narrative, whereas once I got into it  it felt that I was actually reading Ovid's story and the characters started to develop more clearly as the journey out of exile began.

The insight into the worshipping of Gods and the use of sacrifice is told at varying degrees throughout. As the narrative is expertly developed you are left wondering , along with Ovid, who he can or cannot trust and how many times will he be the scapegoat and yet still escape with his life.

The ending has a twist to it that leaves you with a smile on your face........ knowing that Ovid has , emerged the victor and we still read his works centuries later.

Ovid's story is an interesting one for the author to take and I like the fact that he chose to travel in the footsteps that Ovid is purported to have taken two centuries ago as he is able to paint an accurate picture for the reader.

By the time I finished the book I was in no doubt that this was a 5 star read, however due to having had to persevere at the beginning , which I feel some readers would not do, I would give it a 4 star rating. On another plus side, it has encouraged me to find out more about Ovid and read some of the works he was still allowed to write, even in exile.

About the Author

Michael V. Solomon was born in Romania.

His grandfather, an important political figure between the two World Wars, was detained by the Communist regime for almost two decades.

Like Ovid, his punishment had come without even the semblance of a trial.

After university, Solomon started his career in Constanta –Tomis, the city where Ovid had been exiled.

Years later he could leave Romania, and after work as a civil engineer, travelling throughout Europe, America and the Middle East, he moved to London at the start of the millennium.

With new insights, he composed a first version of The Scapegoat.

During the pandemic he re-thought and revised it, and this version has emerged into liberty.