The following are the books that I have read and enjoyed. All of the stories take place in the ancient world, and some were even written during that era.
I hope that you find a few you would like to try, or perhaps you have already read some of these - if so, I would love to hear your comments! If you need the publishers information on any of these books, just send me an e-mail.
Probably the most vivid and accurate book set in Ancient Rome that I have ever discovered is Confessors of the Name, written by Gladys Schmitt and published in 1952. It is rather long and some people feel the style is a bit wordy, but it is full of complex, utterly believable characters and a great sense of place. It is set in the reign of Emperor Decius (250 AD). The Goths, extreme wealth and poverty, philosophy (Stoicism), Early Christianity, politics, and government are all dealt with in a complete manner. I highly recommend it!
No King But Caesar, by Anne Powers. Subjects: Early Christianity, the Reign of Tiberius Caesar, the story of a marriage of convenience that ends happily.
Last Days of Pompeii, by Edward Bulwer Lytton. Very flowery style of writing, but excellent story of the lives of people affected by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
The Flames of Rome, by Paul L. Maier. The story of Flavius Sabinus, the brother of Vespasian.
Three Greek Romances, by Longus (Daphnis and Chloe), Xenophon (An Ephesian Tale), and Dio Chrysostom (The Hunters of Euboea). These Romances were actually written between the first and third centuries AD, and provide us with an idea of what the earliest novels were like. They are interesting reading, although most of the plots contain events which we would consider unbelievable. To me, they are fascinating pieces of ancient life.
The Satyricon, by Petronius. Another novel actually written in ancient times, this one in the first century AD. Concerns the wrath of the god Priapus - a comic motif based on the wrath of Poseidon against Odysseus in the Odyssey.
The Course of Honor, by Lindsey Davis. Published in 1997. The story of the Emperor Vespasian and the freedwoman he chose as his mistress, Caenis.
Lindsey Davis also has a series of mysteries set in Ancient Rome. These books are written from the point of view of Marcus Didius Falco, a private informer with a cynical, sarcastic yet very endearing character. I can not say too much about these books - they are excellent, with countless period details and interesting, true-to-life characters. You learn much about the history of ancient Rome without even realizing it! The following are the books that I have read, although there are a couple of new ones I have not yet seen:
| Silver Pigs |
| Shadows in Bronze |
| Venus in Copper |
| The Iron Hand of Mars |
| Poseidon's Gold |
| Last Act in Palmyra |
| Time to Depart |
The House of the Vestals, by Steven Saylor. This is a book of short stories centering around Gordianus the Finder, detective of Ancient Rome. Takes place in the first century BC, and Cicero appears often.
The Beacon at Alexandria, by Gillian Bradshaw. This story takes place in the fourth century. A wealthy girl runs away from her upcoming arranged marriage, and goes to Alexandria to become a doctor. Another of my favorites; very intelligent fiction.
Also by Gillian Brandshaw and highly recommended:
| The Bearkeeper's Daughter (Byzantine Empire, 6th century) |
| Imperial Purple (Byzantine Empire, reign of Theodosius II) |
The Last of the Wine, by Mary Renault. Excellent. Takes place in Athens, during the last part of the Peloponnesian War. Socrates also appears.
Also by Mary Renault:
| The Mask of Apollo (Greece, 4th Century BC, concerning the story of an actor) |
| The Praise Singer (6th Century BC, the Persian Wars, much about the lyric poets) |
Would you like to join me back in the main part of the library?
Or perhaps you would rather go back to the Portico.
