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’.
Arrius: Volume III, Enemy of Rome
Genres:
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)
Genres:
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
The Time Travel Diaries: Time Travel Diaries 1
Genres:
Billionaire Solomon Daisy has invented a time machine and placed the travel portal in the recently-excavated Roman Mithraeum in London. He is obsessed ...Read Review
The Blood of Rome (Eagles of the Empire 17)
Genres:
It’s scarcely believable that The Blood of Rome is the seventeenth adventure of Cato and Macro, but such is the skill with ...Read Review
The Blood of Rome (Eagles of the Empire 17)
Genres:
AD 55. When King Rhadamistus, ambitious, ruthless, cruel, and an ally of Rome, is ousted from Armenia, General Corbulo is tasked by the Emperor ...Read Review
From the Realm of Time: A Novel of The Fourth Century Roman Empire
Genres:
Late in the 4th century CE, Rome faces many enemies on its northern frontiers and is losing too many battles. General Marcus Augustus ...Read Review
Vitellius’ Feast: The Four Emperors Series: Book IV
Genres:
AD 69 in Rome, and Nero is dead. He had most of the vices, but at least he had style and aspirations. Vitellius is ...Read Review
Hammer of Rome: Gaius Valerius Verrens 9
Genres:
Hammer of Rome is the final novel of the Gaius Valerius Verrens series, legate of the Ninth legion Hispania and a Hero of ...Read Review
The Gods Help Those: A Seventh Case from the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger
Genres:
When Pliny the Younger is called to the scene of a collapsed warehouse, multiple bodies are found. One of them, wearing equestrian clothing, ...Read Review