XXXIV - THE VENUS THROW Rome in the first century BC was a fascinating place, full of interesting people and tumultuous events leading to the formation of the Empire. It is a good illustration of the Chinese curse about interesting times; it was a supremely dangerous place to be, as unscrupulous men and women played political games for really high stakes. The particular trial in The Venus Throw involves some of the most colourful characters of the time, Clodia and her brother Clodius, immortalised as Lesbia and Lesbius in the poems of Catullus. Coming from a distinguished patrician family, the Claudii, they had changed the spelling of their name so that Clodius could sound more plebian, mark working class, and attract the popular vote in elections. The pair were famous for their licentiousness as well as for their beauty, and were rumoured to be incestuous lovers. The devotion and disgust Clodia in particular could inspire is one of the major inspirations in the greatest of Catullus' poems.

Full of raunchy scenes in an adult oriented story. Sexy, sad, sweet, & in some passages, a supremely slapstick jaunt through Roman history with a mystery forming the foundation for the adventure.

Throw away thy rod,

Throw away thy wrath:

                  O my God,

Take the gentle path.

For my heart’s desire

Unto thine is bent:

                  I aspire

To a full consent.

Not a word or look

I affect to own,

                 BUY THY BOOK DON'T But by book,

And thy book alone.

Though I fail, I weep:

Though I halt in pace,

                  Yet I creep

To the throne of grace.

Then let wrath remove;

Love will do the deed:

                  For with love

Stony hearts will bleed.

Love is swift of foot;

Love’s a man of war,

                  And can shoot,

And can hit from far.

Who can ’scape his bow?

That which wrought on thee,

                  Brought thee low,

Needs must work on me.

Throw away thy rod;

Though man frailties hath,

         Thou art God:

Throw away thy wrath.