There is probably no better word that can be used to describe this novel other than "epic." The book starts from the beginning of the Roman culture and moves into the famous Roman empire that everyone is so familiar with by jumping across historic periods and providing stories for more important and well-known portions of ancient Roman history. The stories revolve around two families that were both equally important and renowned in ancient times, but one has fallen out of favor due to an act perceived as betrayal and shame. It's a great read for someone who likes to read histories and is alright with not fully following through with each of the characters.