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’.

Vita & the Gladiator

By Ally Sherrick - Published 2023

Genres:

AdventureChildren/Young AdultMystery/Crime

It is not that long ago that young girls who loved history were hard-pressed to find a thrilling historical adventure story with an ...Read Review

A History of the Roman Empire in 21 Women

By Emma Southon - Published 2023

Genres:

Nonfiction

Histories of the Roman Empire usually focus on its men and their struggles against their neighbours and each other. While men wield weapons ...Read Review

Para Bellum

By Simon Turney - Published 2023

Genres:

AdventureMilitary

Most Roman ‘militaries’ are set in the 1st century, when the Empire was expanding, and the Romans usually won.  Para Bellum is set ...Read Review

The Hollow Throne (The Sarmatian Trilogy)

By Tim Leach - Published 2023

Genres:

AdventureMilitary

Set around Hadrian’s Wall in 175 CE, The Hollow Throne picks up the story of a Sarmatian formation in the Roman army, and ...Read Review

The Deadliest Deceptions (A Miriam Bat Isaac Mystery)

By June Trop - Published 2023

Genres:

Mystery/Crime

The Deadliest Deceptions is a collection of nine short stories in Trop’s Miriam bat Isaac mystery series set in Roman Alexandria, during ...Read Review

Caesar’s Soldier (The Mark Antony Series, 1)

By Alex Gough - Published 2023

Genres:

AdventureBiographical FictionMilitary

We all recall the name Mark Antony, largely from Shakespeare. We know he was a trusted supporter of Julius Caesar. But what do ...Read Review

Fatal Legacy (Flavia Albia)

By Lindsey Davis - Published 2023

Genres:

Mystery/Crime

Fatal Legacy is the latest offering in the extremely popular Flavia Alba series set in 1st-century Rome. The book opens with rabbits and ...Read Review

Ithaca Bound (The Ithaca Trilogy Book 1)

By Kirsten McKenzie - Published 2022

Genres:

Time-slip

Present day.  When an altar and human skulls are discovered on Lillian’s farm in Northumberland, she is unprepared for the repercussions.  Archaeologists, ...Read Review

Legionary (Quintus Roman Thrillers)

By Neil Denby - Published 2023

Genres:

MilitaryThriller

Legionary, first in a series, follows the coming of age of Julius Quintus Quirinius, a young legionary assigned to the Ninth Hispania. It ...Read Review

Empire (The Golden Age, 2)

By Conn Iggulden - Published 2023

Genres:

AdventureMilitary

Athens, 5th century BC. Empire is the second book in Iggulden’s Golden Age series which follows the fortunes of the Greek hero ...Read Review

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