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’.
The Republic of Vengeance
Genres:
In the late third century BC, Marcus, a 14-year-old Roman journeying to Greece with his father, is captured by pirates. His father is ...Read Review
Death at Pompeia’s Wedding
Genres:
This is the latest in the series of Libertus detective stories written by Rosemary Rowe. As Rosemary Aitken, she has written a series ...Read Review
Caligula: The Tyranny of Rome
Genres:
The third Roman emperor was the one they called Caligula, infamous in equal part for his cruelty and his insanity. He was ...Read Review
The Forgotten Legion
Genres:
In the dying days of the Roman Republic, anarchy rules in the capital. Three men maintain an uneasy triumvirate: Pompey suspiciously watches ...Read Review
The Gods of War
Genres:
AdventureMilitaryMystery/Crime
The Roman Empire. The action takes place largely in Italy and the Iberian peninsula and builds up to the fall of Numantia, ...Read Review
Caligula: The Tyranny of Rome
Genres:
The third Roman emperor was the one they called Caligula, infamous in equal part for his cruelty and his insanity. He was an ...Read Review
Caligula: The Tyranny of Rome
Genres:
The third Roman emperor was the one they called Caligula, infamous in equal part for his cruelty and his insanity. He was an ...Read Review
The Gods of War
Genres:
The Roman Empire. The action takes place largely in Italy and the Iberian peninsula and builds up to the fall of Numantia, Brennos’...Read Review
Buried Too Deep
Genres:
Aurelia Marcella runs a mansio, or inn, outside of York. She also does some investigating in her spare time (it is a good ...Read Review
Warrior of Rome, Part One: Fire in the East
Genres:
Fire in the East is part one of Dr Harry Sidebottom’s Warrior of Rome series and his first novel. He is ...Read Review