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’.
Rebel Empress: A Novel of Imperial Rome (Theodosian Women)
Genres:
This novel tells the dramatic story of Athenais, wife of Theodosius, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire in Constantinople in the 5th century ...Read Review
Mother of Rome
Genres:
After her uncle takes the throne from her father, Princess Rhea is decreed to spend the rest of her life as a Vestal ...Read Review
Roman Boy
Genres:
Rome, 125 AD. Lucius, age 15, desperately needs his stepfather, Gaius, to help him make his way in the world. Gaius is a rich and ...Read Review
As Sure as the Sea
Genres:
In 310 CE, life is exceedingly difficult for the few but growing number of Christians in the Roman empire under its ruler, Diocletian. Demetria ...Read Review
Revenge of Rome (Eagles of the Empire 23)
Genres:
Britannia, AD 61. It is over twenty years since Simon Scarrow introduced us to tough centurion Macro and his callow second-in-command, the idealistic Cato. ...Read Review
The Longest Exile (The Exile Duology)
Genres:
Being the granddaughter of the great Augustus should come with benefits, right? Not so for the protagonist of Ms. Rebellis’s novel. Instead, ...Read Review
Terra Incognita
Genres:
Egypt is a considerable asset to the Roman empire. It produces lots of food, and supplies gold from deeper in the African interior. ...Read Review
Circus Maximus: Return of the Champion
Genres:
This, the last in Annelise Gray’s Circus Maximus Quartet, follows our heroine Dido, who is intent on returning to professional chariot racing, ...Read Review
Gemini
Genres:
Late 3rd century AD, Roman-occupied Britannia. Licinianus and Severiana are twins, born into the once-powerful Vindex family. Twins in their family have always ...Read Review
Nero
Genres:
AdventureBiographical FictionMilitary
Rome, AD 37, and Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, in a furious temper, tacks horses for his chariot and argues with his pregnant wife. He storms ...Read Review
