Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a frequent subject of Victorian historical fiction and also popular throughout the 20th century. It was similarly popular in movies, though it fell out of fashion for a couple of decades until the game-changing success of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator, released in 2000. Since then the floodgates of fictional Rome have been torn open.
But Rome means different things to different people. For some it is a military story of imperialism and war in foreign lands. For others it is the victim-tale of the conquered (especially if the conquered happen to be British or Judaic). For others it is broadly cultural: how could people be so similar to us and so different? There is a broad strand of historicals that touch on the New Testament stories, including many new ‘gospels’ and a wealth of faith stories, as well as some militantly anti-Christian novels. There are Roman detective novels, military historicals, sea stories, epics, and literary novels.
Biographical novels are perhaps the richest vein – for literature and ‘box office’.
Brigantia (Vindolanda)
Genres:
Britannia, AD 100. Flavius Ferox is a centurion charged with keeping the peace on Britannia’s frontier with the barbarian tribes of the North. ...Read Review
The Lost Ten
Genres:
An exciting standalone historical thriller, The Lost Ten is set in 3rd-century Rome and has all the attributes of a top war movie. ...Read Review
In the Shadow of Heroes
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1st-century AD, Rome. The power-crazed Emperor Nero is determined to get his hands on the fabled Golden Fleece, and his armed guards will ...Read Review
The Scorpion’s Strike (Empire series)
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AD 186. The Scorpion’s Strike continues the story of Marcus Aquila’s fight for justice for himself and his family. Fresh from their ...Read Review
Commodus (The Damned Emperors)
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My all-time favourite kind of historical novel is the kind where I learn about a real person I know very little about, and ...Read Review
Triumph in Dust (Twilight of Empire)
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Triumph in Dust is the sixth and final instalment of Ian Ross’ popular Twilight of Empire series. While not exactly set in the ...Read Review
Simon’s Wife
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70 AD. Shelamzion is only 19 years old as she awaits death in a Roman prison. When Fabius Cornelius Grammaticus enters her cell, the last ...Read Review
Arrius: Volume III, Enemy of Rome
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This third novel in the Arrius trilogy finds the Romans expanding northwards into Scotland from Hadrian’s Wall. Arrius, once a career Roman ...Read Review
A Capitol Death (Flavia Albia 7)
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Lindsey Davis is putting ancient Rome to rights again with the help of Flavia Albia. The Emperor Domitian is on the throne and ...Read Review
Fire and Sacrifice
Genres:
Rome, 114 BC. On the verge of being publicly executed by her cruel master, Secunda is saved by a Vestal virgin claiming she’s ...Read Review