SPQR XII: Oracle of the Dead vs The Talleyrand Maxim: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Mystery
SPQR XII: Oracle of the Dead
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Decius Caecilius Metellus, this year's magistrate for cases involving foreigners, is living the good life in southern Italy, happy to be away from Rome, a city suffering war jitters over Caesar's impending actions. He…
The Talleyrand Maxim
“Linford Pratt, senior clerk to Eldrick & Pascoe, solicitors, of Barford, a young man who earnestly desired to get on in life, by hook or by crook, with no objection whatever to crookedness, so long as it could be performed in safety and secrecy, had once during one of his periodical visit to the town Reference Library, lighted on a maxim of that other unscrupulous person, Prince Talleyrand, which”
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The “Talleyrand Maxim” holds that “With time and patience, the mulberry leaf is turned into satin.” The adage has the character of guidance for life for an ambitious legal clerk, Linford Pratt. Unlike most people, he…
Side by side
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- The Talleyrand Maxim has the widest readership — 180 ratings behind its score.
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How to choose
Scores by source
| SPQR XII: Oracle of the Dead | The Talleyrand Maxim | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | — | 3.9 (180) |
| Hardcover | 4.0 (2) | — |
| Apple Books | — | 4.5 (13) |
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Reception
| SPQR XII: Oracle of the Dead | The Talleyrand Maxim | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 2 | 180 |
| Editions | 1 | 115 |
| Want to read | — | 102 |
| Reading it now | — | 28 |
| Written reviews | — | 30 |
| Pages | — | 195 |
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Questions readers ask
Which is rated higher: SPQR XII: Oracle of the Dead or The Talleyrand Maxim?
The Talleyrand Maxim has the higher combined reader rating across sources (The Talleyrand Maxim 3.9/5, SPQR XII: Oracle of the Dead 3.8/5).
Which is harder to read: SPQR XII: Oracle of the Dead or The Talleyrand Maxim?
Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — SPQR XII: Oracle of the Dead: Moderate; The Talleyrand Maxim: Challenging.