Tacitus

While not a character in the novel, Tacitus, the author, is the primary source of information for the book, and the entire story is told through his eyes. As such, his personality and viewpoint become a vital part of the plot line, and become intertwined with the factual information presented within the stories. As the son in law of Agricola, Tacitus' insights into the man are much more personal, and it is because of his loving presentation of the story that the reader is able to grasp the greatness that lie within Agricola. On the other hand, it is also because of this emotional connection that Tacitus sometimes states his own opinion as fact, thereby misleading the reader. His discussion of the price paid to show allegiance with a bad emperor, his hints that the Emperor had Agricola killed, his certainty that Agricola was denied the right to...