Nicanor - Teller of Tales : A Story of Roman Britain

About this book

Taylor’s Nicanor – Teller of Tales is a work of historical fiction set in Roman Britain, threading the lives of slaves, overseers, and the aristocratic household they serve. The opening places the protagonist, Nicanor, in the harsh routine of a slave’s quarters, enduring flogging and relentless labor while his thoughts turn obsessively toward the elusive Lady Varia. Through a series of whispered rumors about a possible journey to Rome, a furtive night‑time intrusion into a secluded garden, and a charged encounter between Nicanor and Varia, the narrative establishes a world of oppression, secret longing, and the fragile hope of storytelling as a means of survival.

The prose is dense and lyrical, echoing the cadence of eighteenth‑century romance with its frequent use of archaic diction and extended interior monologue. Its vivid, almost theatrical descriptions of the villa’s shadows and the emotional turbulence of a slave in love create a mood that is both intimate and oppressive. Readers who appreciate richly detailed period settings, complex character psychology, and a narrative that blends sensuality with the stark realities of Roman‑era Britain will find this novel compelling.