Stefano Viviani Books

Conspirata is “a portrait of ancient politics as a blood sport,” raves The New York Times. As he did with Imperium, Robert Harris again turns Roman history into a gripping thriller as Cicero faces a new power struggle in a world filled with treachery, violence, and vengeance. On the eve of Cicero’s inauguration as consul of Rome, a grisly discovery sends fear rippling through a city already racked by unrest. A young slave boy has been felled by a hammer, his throat slit and his organs removed, apparently as a human sacrifice. For Cicero, the ill omens of this hideous murder only increase his dangerous situation: elected leader by the people but despised by the heads of the two rival political camps. Caught in a shell game that leaves him forever putting out fires only to have them ignite elsewhere, Cicero plays for the future of the republic…and his life. There is a plot to assassinate him, abetted by a rising young star of the Roman senate named Gaius Julius Caesar—and it will take all the embattled consul’s wit, strength, and force of will to stop the plot and keep Rome from becoming a dictatorship.

Edward Rutherfurd narrates the vibrant history of a great city, from its origins as a small Indian fishing village to the towering skyscrapers of the modern era. The tale begins with Dutch traders who ventured into the wilderness, followed by British settlers whose governance sparked rebellion and ultimately the birth of a nation. The narrative captures the turmoil of a country divided over slavery, with the Civil War igniting deadly riots within the city. Themes of hope, greed, and corruption intertwine as waves of immigrants—Germans, Irish, Italians, and Jews—arrive at Ellis Island, enriching the city's cultural tapestry. Amidst political corruption and financial speculation on Wall Street, fortunes rise and fall, epitomized by the Roaring Twenties and the Great Crash. Iconic structures like the Empire State Building and the Twin Towers symbolize the city’s ambitions. Rutherfurd weaves this compelling saga through a blend of fictional and historical characters, illustrating the city's evolution over four centuries. Through the lens of this city, he vividly brings to life the broader narrative of America, creating an unforgettable epic.

The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban’s backyard Anyone who despairs of the individual’s power to change lives has to read the story of Greg Mortenson, a homeless mountaineer who, following a 1993 climb of Pakistan’s treacherous K2, was inspired by a chance encounter with impoverished mountain villagers and promised to build them a school. Over the next decade he built fifty-five schools—especially for girls—that offer a balanced education in one of the most isolated and dangerous regions on earth. As it chronicles Mortenson’s quest, which has brought him into conflict with both enraged Islamists and uncomprehending Americans, Three Cups of Tea combines adventure with a celebration of the humanitarian spirit.

A chilling contemporary thriller from Robert Harris set in the competitive world of high finance. Dr Max Hoffman is a legend. A physicist once employed on the Large Hadron Collider, he now uses a revolutionary and highly secret system of computer algorithms to trade on the world's financial markets. None of his rivals is sure how he does it, but somehow Hoffman's hedge fund -- built around the standard measure of market volatility: the VIX or "Fear Index" -- generates astonishing returns for his investors. Late one night, in his house beside Lake Geneva, an intruder disturbs Hoffman and his wife while they are asleep. This terrifying moment is the start of Robert Harris's new novel -- a story just as compelling and timely as his most recent contemporary thriller, The Ghost. Over the next 48 hours, as the markets edge towards another great crash, Hoffman's world disintegrates. But who is trying to destroy him?

According to her own moral calculations, Katie Carr has earned her affair. She's a doctor, and doctors are decent people, and her husband David is the Angriest Man in Holloway. When David suddenly becomes good, Katie's sums no longer add up, and she is forced to ask herself some questions