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’.
Gradarius: Roman Equestrian II
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Swink’s Romano-British historical romance, set in AD 59, centres on the dilemma facing the Briton princess Luciana, also called Luigsech. Where should her ...Read Review
Shadow of the Unconquered
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Shadow of the Unconquered starts during the 1st century AD and is told from the viewpoint of Arthan. The story begins in northern ...Read Review
The Dream of Magnus Maximus
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In 386 AD, the imperial border in Roman Britain is fraying. Magnus Maximus, commander of the Roman army, is ambitious and ruthless. Married to ...Read Review
The Cleansing: A Novel of Ancient Rome
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Fifty thousand Romans have died in a single day of carnage at the Battle of Cannae. In a bid to distract the Roman ...Read Review
Carausius & Allectus
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The 3rd century AD saw the once mighty Roman Empire fracture into crisis and chaos. In the year 286, with widespread military support, Carausius, ...Read Review
The Lost Voices of Pompeii: Life and Death on Pompeii’s Final Day – An Immersive Ancient History of Roman Culture
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Dr. Venner, social media sensation and content creator, brings us The Lost Voices of Pompeii, a ‘critical fabulation’ (a term created in 2021 by ...Read Review
Daughter of the Rebellion
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In April of 402 AD, Rome captures young female Visigoth fighter Adelgard (called Adel) and sells her to one of several schools for gladiators. ...Read Review
My Agrippa: Love, Loyalty, and the Fall of the Republic
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27 BCE. My Agrippa creates a fictional love story between Octavia, sister of Octavian, who later became Caesar Augustus, and Marcus Agrippa, a brilliant ...Read Review
Tyrant of Rome (Eagles of the Empire 24)
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62 CE. Centurion Macro and his wife, Petronella, are caught up in some trouble at the Forum. Four hundred slaves are being executed for ...Read Review
Fulvia (Book 1 of 2)
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In her debut novel, Kaarina Parker spotlights ancient Rome in the dying days of the Republic, through the eyes of a lesser-known figure. ...Read Review
