Written by Stephen Scott — The Stoic King of New York is his literary reimagining of Marcus Aurelius as a Brooklyn mob boss: the emperor's gifts, none of his wisdom.
Born with the emperor's gifts — and none of his wisdom.
Marcus Aurelius — the philosopher king — reimagined as a boy growing up in 1970s Brooklyn. His father tends bar at a mob-frequented social club and hands him two things at once: a copy of the Meditations, and how to read the families.
Marcus inherits the emperor's gifts — the intellect, the command, the stillness. But not his wisdom. He mistakes control for virtue, and the Stoic detachment meant to be his shield becomes the instrument of his corruption.
A literary Stoic tragedy in mob-saga skin: the rise and fall of a man who could have done nearly anything, and learned to read it exactly wrong.
The people he rose for — and the ones he lost proving he was right. New character unveiled every day.
"Not your typical mob saga. Brilliantly written with a soul. And the Marcus Aurelius twist is pitch perfect."
"A captivating, thought-provoking, and beautifully written novel. The characters are vivid and engaging, and the story kept me turning the pages."
"Marcus is a compelling character on a mission, with the philosophy of the ancients guiding — misguiding? — his way through mob life. A deep book, with real insight into the human mind."
Available now on Amazon — paperback and Kindle.
Written by Stephen Scott — The Stoic King of New York is his literary reimagining of Marcus Aurelius as a Brooklyn mob boss: the emperor's gifts, none of his wisdom.