| This melodramatic reconcilliation scene has some basis in the ancient sources. Both Dio and Tacitus attest to the visit, while Suetonius- no fan of Postumus- is curiously silent on this subject. Tacitus provides the pathos which the novel and Pulman develop. In both Tacitus and Graves, Postumus instantly accepts his father's tearful apology. Pulman presents a more petulant Postumus whose rants reduce an already distressed Augustus to a blubbering idiot. The Livia bashing and Claud-commendation are Pulman touches- added for his own dramatic affect. The most dramatic moment in Graves, the old switcheroo between Postumus and his body double Clement, is oddly missing. Is Jack economizing or maybe he decided one grungy Postumus is one too many. |
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