Locadio's Apprentice focuses on two characters—the older physician, Locadio Priscus, and his young assistant, Enecus Cano—and the strong professional and personal bonds which develop between them. Enecus is almost fourteen when the novel begins. In Roman culture, this is the age at which a person was formally recognized as an adult; Enecus is thus—quite significantly—entering manhood just as he commences his apprenticeship with the aged Locadio. By having the two events occur simultaneously, the author is able to introduce an interesting and important variation on the book's theme, that of coming of age. One of the most critical aspects of this theme deals with the difference between physical and emotional maturity. For example, although Enecus is "officially" a man at fourteen, his sometimes frightening and often frustrating experiences at Locadio's infirmary make him realize that there...