THE IDES OF MARCH

Thornton Wilder's epistolary novel set in Rome in the months leading up to the assassination of Julius Caesar adapts exceptionally well to an ensemble production, its narrative being a chorus of contemporary Roman voices. Wilder was successful both as novelist and playwright, and here, as in his better known BRIDGE OF SAN LUIS REY, the narrative tracks a cast of characters brought together by one significant event--there, the collapse of a bridge; here, the murder of a dictator. Wilder compared this novel to a crossword puzzle, and it benefits from a second listening. But the richness of historical detail and the smooth melding of these talented voices will win new fans for this forgotten classic. D.A.W. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2020]