Roman era novels
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- Master Sergeant - Bf 109E
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Roman era novels
Lets provide some Roman background atmosphere! My favorite Roman era books (in no particular order) are:
Harry Sidebottom's 3rd century series (two different but related sets of books)
Ian James Ross series on early 4th Century (Constantine)
Robert Harris trilogy on the Late Republic (exceptional!)
Wallace Breem's Eagle in the Snow
Colleen McCullough's long but generally interesting series about the Late Republic
As I am looking for something new, a few suggestions? Anyone like Simon Scarrow or Anthony Riches?
Thanks!
Harry Sidebottom's 3rd century series (two different but related sets of books)
Ian James Ross series on early 4th Century (Constantine)
Robert Harris trilogy on the Late Republic (exceptional!)
Wallace Breem's Eagle in the Snow
Colleen McCullough's long but generally interesting series about the Late Republic
As I am looking for something new, a few suggestions? Anyone like Simon Scarrow or Anthony Riches?
Thanks!
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Re: Roman era novels
Alan Massie did some Roman novels . . . Augustus, Tiberius, Caesar, Anthony and Caligula among them.
Re: Roman era novels
Agent of Byzantium by Harry Turtledove is an interesting alternative history of the Roman Empire.
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Re: Roman era novels
Conn Iggulden has done some Roman novels quite recently too. He also does novels about the Mongols. Good writer.
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Re: Roman era novels
Eagle in the Snow +1
I rather like the Alan Massie's novels
... and if you like "detective" type novels I'd highly recommend Steven Saylors 'Roma sub Rosa' series which give a great feel for late Republican politics and the characters involved, or for something lighter then there is the Falco series set in the time of Vespasian
regards
Ben Wilkins
I rather like the Alan Massie's novels
... and if you like "detective" type novels I'd highly recommend Steven Saylors 'Roma sub Rosa' series which give a great feel for late Republican politics and the characters involved, or for something lighter then there is the Falco series set in the time of Vespasian
regards
Ben Wilkins
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Re: Roman era novels
A Finnish writer Mika Waltari - so called "The Roman Trilogy" that is:
1. The Secret of the Kingdom
2. The Roman
3. ? I think it was not translated to English but I have read all those books in Polish and they are great.
1. The Secret of the Kingdom
2. The Roman
3. ? I think it was not translated to English but I have read all those books in Polish and they are great.
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Re: Roman era novels
From the other side of the hill, I would recommend "Pride of Carthage" by David Anthony Durham.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_of_Carthage
http://www.davidanthonydurham.com/novels/pride.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_of_Carthage
http://www.davidanthonydurham.com/novels/pride.html
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Re: Roman era novels
The Etruscan perhaps?Madlok wrote:A Finnish writer Mika Waltari - so called "The Roman Trilogy" that is:
1. The Secret of the Kingdom
2. The Roman
3. ? I think it was not translated to English but I have read all those books in Polish and they are great.
Great author, also has few set in the early 1500's (The Adventurer)
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- Master Sergeant - Bf 109E
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Re: Roman era novels
To take the time frame back a bit, Steven Pressfield's novels on Greece and Alexander's campaigns are worth a read. Christian Cameron has now written about 6 books taking place in the time of the Diadochi. Some have good battle descriptions of some of the major battles of the period.
Thanks for all of the replies.
Mac
Thanks for all of the replies.
Mac
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Re: Roman era novels
I understand "Commentaries on the Gallic War" by Julius Caesar was popular in its day...
John
John
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Re: Roman era novels
Not to mention Polybius.
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Re: Roman era novels
Mike Marchant's Recoil is an excellent alternative history book set in the roman period.
For Byzantium!!
Re: Roman era novels
Robert Graves "I, Claudius" and the second one were probably the first books I read in this setting. Not sure if it's nostalgia, but I reread them several years ago and I still think they are among the best.
I agree about Mika Waltari - great writer, although I like his Roman trilogy the least (The Egyptian, The Adventurer and also The Dark Angel were great, but they are not set in ancient Rome).
I agree about Mika Waltari - great writer, although I like his Roman trilogy the least (The Egyptian, The Adventurer and also The Dark Angel were great, but they are not set in ancient Rome).
Re: Roman era novels
Imperial Governor by George Shipway was pretty good, covers the period of the Iceni revolt.
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Re: Roman era novels
Good shout re Imperial Governor by George Shipway
And got reprinted fairly recently
And got reprinted fairly recently
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Re: Roman era novels
but not perhaps as entertaining as his William Rufus period novels.Benedict151 wrote:Good shout re Imperial Governor by George Shipway
And got reprinted fairly recently
The Paladin (1972), the story of Walter Tirel, killer of William Rufus. ISBN 0-432-14753-5
The Wolf Time (1973), sequel to above ISBN 0-432-14754-3
And his Stephen and Matilda period novel.
Knight in Anarchy (1969), in the time of Stephen & Matilda. ISBN 0-432-14751-9; American title The Knight
Richard Bodley Scott
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Re: Roman era novels
All good as you say Richard (I recently re read all 3)
Also worth considering are Peter Green's 'Sword of Pleasure' (about Sulla) and 'Achilles his Armour' (about Alcibiades so outside our current period)
He is also an Ancient historian - and unlike some very readable
Also worth considering are Peter Green's 'Sword of Pleasure' (about Sulla) and 'Achilles his Armour' (about Alcibiades so outside our current period)
He is also an Ancient historian - and unlike some very readable
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Re: Roman era novels
Also Alfred Duggan:
Novels:
The Little Emperors (1951). A succession of coups in late Roman Britain.
Winter Quarters (1956). Two Gauls in the time of Julius Caesar join the Roman army and are captured at the Battle of Carrhae
Three's Company (1958). The career of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, triumvir with Octavian and Marcus Antonius after the death of Julius Caesar.
Family Favourites (1960). An ordinary Roman soldier witnesses the reign of Emperor Elagabalus.
Elephants and Castles, U.S. title, Besieger of Cities (1963). The life of Demetrius I of Macedon, one of the Successors after the death of Alexander the Great; after being declared a god as a young man, everything else is an anticlimax.
Non-fiction:
He Died Old: Mithridates Eupator, King of Pontus (1958).
Novels:
The Little Emperors (1951). A succession of coups in late Roman Britain.
Winter Quarters (1956). Two Gauls in the time of Julius Caesar join the Roman army and are captured at the Battle of Carrhae
Three's Company (1958). The career of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, triumvir with Octavian and Marcus Antonius after the death of Julius Caesar.
Family Favourites (1960). An ordinary Roman soldier witnesses the reign of Emperor Elagabalus.
Elephants and Castles, U.S. title, Besieger of Cities (1963). The life of Demetrius I of Macedon, one of the Successors after the death of Alexander the Great; after being declared a god as a young man, everything else is an anticlimax.
Non-fiction:
He Died Old: Mithridates Eupator, King of Pontus (1958).
Richard Bodley Scott
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Re: Roman era novels
I'm not sure if he's been mentioned (I didn't see him) but Ben Kane is a rather good Roman fiction writer.
'The Forgotten Legion Chronicles' trilogy is a great read.
'The Forgotten Legion Chronicles' trilogy is a great read.