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Historical Novels: Ancient HistoryGreece, Rome, the British Isles, Egypt and the Middle EastNovels are listed alphabetically by author within the following categories, with mystery novels listed separately at the end of each section: Ancient Greece Ancient GreeceThe history of Ancient Greece stretches into prehistory, as myths and legends hint at what may have happened before the time of written history. After Hermann Schliemann unearthed magnificent gold artifacts in the 1870s at the Turkish site that he believed to be the location of ancient Troy, based on evidence in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, scholars gained new respect for the value of Homer's grasp of history. Modern archaeologists, excavating deeper, have found a series of cities built on top of each other, including a walled city which appears to have been destroyed by war, whose date corresponds to that of ancient Troy. Ancient Crete, destroyed around 1400 B.C., is another civilization we have come to know from both legend and archaeology. The strange tale of the Minotaur, half-man, half-bull, seemed mere fantasy until the the bull-dancers painted on the walls of the Palace at Knossos suggested the vein of truth behind the legend. History came into being with accounts like those of the Greek historians Herodotus, Thucydides and Xenophon, who wrote about the war with Persia and Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens in the fifth century B.C.. Their accounts, laced with vivid anecdotes about Persian and Greek leaders, have inspired many historical novels. Alexander the Great, the fourth century Macedonian warrior-king who conquered most of the world known to the Greeks of his day, is still recalled in the Middle East and beyond with tales praising him as an ancestor or reviling him as a devil. Historians from the first century B.C. to the second century A.D., who had access to sources now lost, provide the historical basis for a variety of superb novels. Jump to Mystery Novels
Margaret Atwood, The Penelopiad, a literary novel about the experiences of Odysseus' wife, Penelope, while he was away fighting the Trojan War and voyaging home. Alessandro Barrico, An Iliad, a retelling of the Iliad which stays close to the original but leaves out the appearances of the gods and goddesses Henry Bauchau, Oedipus on the Road, about Oedipus during his years of wandering, the period Sophocles left out of his plays Marion Zimmer Bradley, The Firebrand, a feminist perspective of the Trojan War seen through the eyes of a Kassandra raised by Amazons; similar in tone to the author's Arthurian novel, The Mists of Avalon Gillian Bradshaw, The Sun's Bride, about the helmsman of a ship who stumbles across information that is about to touch off a war in the third century B.C.; forthcoming in August 2008 Bryher, Gate to the Sea, about a priestess who flees slavery in a community of enslaved Greeks in Poseidonia; Bryher was the pen name of the feminist author Annie Winnifred Ellerman Moyra Caldecott, The Lily and the Bull, about life in ancient Crete Taylor Caldwell, Glory and the Lightning, about the courtesan Aspasia and Pericles of Athens Peter Carnahan, Pharnabazus Sits on the Ground With the Spartan Captains, a novel about the Persian ruler Pharnabazus and the Athenian general Alkibiades, narrated by a Spartan captain Mike Chapman, Achilles, about Achilles; based on ancient Greek legends; self-published Lindsay Clarke, The War at Troy, a novel of ancient history, about the Trojan War Lindsay Clarke, The Return from Troy, about the homecoming of Greek leaders who fought in the Trojan War Les Cole, The Sea Kings: The Prophecy, about Cretan traders in the Bronze Age; #1 in the Sea King trilogy Les Cole, Lion at Sea: The Prophecy Continues, about Cretan traders in the Bronze Age; #2 in the Sea King trilogy Les Cole, The Sea Peoples: The Prophecy Resolved, about Cretan traders in the Bronze Ag; self-published through Xlibris Elizabeth Cook, Achilles, a literary novel about Achilles, the heroic Greek warrior who fought in the Trojan War. Review J.B. Dath, Olympia 420, about efforts to revive the Olympic Games during the war between Athens and Sparta William Stearns Davis, A Victor of Salamis: A Tale of the Days of Xerxes, Leonidas and Themistocles (1907), about the Greeks who defended their homeland from the Persian invasion L. Sprague de Camp, An Elephant for Aristotle, about a man who undertakes a mission for Alexander the Great that involves a journey across the known world L. Sprague de Camp, The Golden Wind (1969), about a second century B.C. Greek navigator who attempts a sea voyage from Egypt to India by sailing around the coast of Africa Alfred Duggan, Besieger of Cities, about Demetrius I of Macedon, one of Alexander the Great's successors; also titled Elephants and Castles John Erskine, The Private Life of Helen of Troy (1925), about the legendary Helen of Troy Michael Curtis Ford, The Ten Thousand, a novel of warfare about the Athenian soldier Xenophon Sarah B. Franklin, Daughter of Troy, about Briseis, the captive who becomes Achilles' mistress during the Trojan War David Gemmell, Lord of the Silver Bow, historical fantasy set in the Trojan War period; #1 in the Troy series David Gemmell, Shield of Thunder, historical fantasy set in the Trojan War period; #2 in the Troy series David Gemmell, Fall of Kings, historical fantasy set in the Trojan War period; #3 in the Troy series Margaret George, Helen of Troy, about the woman at the center of the Trojan War Ellen Gilchrist, Anabasis: A Journey to the Interior, about a slave girl seeking freedom during the Peloponnesian War Robert Graves, Homer's Daughter, about who the author of the Odyssey may have been if, as some scholars have speculated, she was a woman Robert Graves, The Golden Fleece (also titled Hercules, My Shipmate) (1944), a retelling of the legend of Jason and the Argonauts by the author of I, Claudius Peter Green, The Laughter of Aphrodite, about the ancient Greek poet Sappho of Lesbos Judith Hand, Voice of the Goddess, about life in ancient Crete T.L. Higley, Shadow of Colossus, historical romance about a woman on the Greek island of Rhodes in 227 B.C.; Christian message; #1 in the planned Seven Wonders series; forthcoming in August 2008 Tom Holt, The Walled Orchard, a darkly comic novel set in Athens during the Peloponnesian War; originally published as two novels, Goatsong and The Walled Orchard Tom Holt, Alexander at the World's End, a darkly comic novel about a minor philosopher and Alexander the Great Tom Holt, Olympiad, a comic novel about the first Olympic Games Homer, The Iliad, the classic epic poem written in ancient history (800 B.C.) about the Trojan War Homer, The Odyssey, an epic poem based on legends about the wanderings of Odysseus, a Greek survivor of the Trojan War, and his return home to Ithaca; written around the eighth century B.C. Peter Huby, Pasiphae, based on the Greek myth about Pasiphae, the wife of the Cretan King Minos, and her passion for a white bull Erica Jong, Sappho's Leap, about the poetess from the Greek Isle of Lesbos Nikos Kazantzakis, Alexander the Great, a literary novel about Alexander Lyndall Baker Landauer, The Man Who Saved Athens, about Themistokles, who successfully defended Athens from the Persians during the fifth century B.C.; self-published through Xlibris Morgan Llywelyn, The Elementals, a four-part novel that links stories based on the destruction of the legendary Atlantis and the earthquake that destroyed Knossos with stories set in contemporary New England and in the future Valerio Massimo Manfredi, The Spartan, about two brothers, one raised in the Spartan warrior tradition, the other in a family of Helot slaves Valerio Massimo Manfredi, Child of a Dream, about Alexander the Great; #1 in the Alexander trilogy Valerio Massimo Manfredi, Sands of Ammon, about Alexander the Great; #2 in the Alexander trilogy Valerio Massimo Manfredi, Ends of the Earth, about Alexander the Great; #3 in the Alexander trilogy Valerio Massimo Manfredi, The Talisman of Troy, about a survivor of the Trojan War who journeys to Italy with a mother-goddess figure; based on legends about the Trojan War Edison Marshall, Earth Giant, based on the legends about Hercules Jon Edward Martin, The Headlong God of War, about the Greek defense against the Persian invading force in 480 B.C.; from the POD publisher PublishAmerica Jon Edward Martin, In Kithairon's Shadow, about the Greek defense against the Persians after the Battle of Thermopylae in 490 B.C.; from the POD publisher iUniverse Jon Edward Martin, Shades of Artemis, about the Spartan commander Brasidas and the Peloponnesian War; from the POD publisher PublishAmerica Colleen McCullough, The Song of Troy, about the Trojan War John McLeod, The Lion of Macedonia, about the childhood and adolescence of Alexander the Great; self-published through Xlibris Nicholas Nicastro, Antigone's Wake, a novel of warfare about the Athenian general Pericles Nicholas Nicastro, Empire of Ashes: A Novel of Alexander the Great, a novel of warfare about Alexander Nicholas Nicastro, The Isle of Stone, a novel of warfare about the Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens Scott Oden, Men of Bronze, about a Phoenician warrior in 526 B.C. during the wars between Egypt and Persia Scott Oden, Memnon, about Memnon of Rhodes, who fought on the Persian side against Alexander the Great Richard Powell, Whom the Gods Would Destroy (1970), about a boy who grows up during the Trojan War Steven Pressfield, Last of the Amazons, a novel of warfare based on the legend of Theseus and the Amazons from Greek mythology Steven Pressfield, Tides of War, a novel of warfare about the Athenian general Alcibiades Steven Pressfield, Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae, a novel of warfare about the Spartan defense at Thermopylae Steven Pressfield, The Virtues of War, a novel of warfare about Alexander the Great; #1 in a series Steven Pressfield, The Afghan Campaign, a novel of warfare about Alexander the Great; #2 in a series Mary Renault, The King Must Die (1958), a realistic historical novel based on the legend of Theseus from Greek mythology. Review Mary Renault, The Bull from the Sea (1962), a realistic historical novel based on the legend of Theseus from Greek mythology; sequel to The King Must Die Mary Renault, Fire from Heaven (1969), about Alexander the Great; #1 in the Alexander trilogy Mary Renault, The Persian Boy (1972), about Alexander the Great; #2 in the Alexander trilogy Mary Renault, Funeral Games (1981), about the friends of Alexander the Great after his death; #3 in the Alexander trilogy Mary Renault, The Last of the Wine (1956), about a student of Socrates and his experiences during the Peloponnesian War Mary Renault, The Mask of Apollo (1966), about the fourth century B.C. philosopher Plato in Syracuse, as narrated by a Greek actor Mary Renault, The Praise Singer (1978), about the Greek lyric poet Simonides Shan Sa, Alexander and Alestria, about Alexander the Great and his love affair with an Amazon queen from the eastern steppe country Miranda Seymour, The Goddess, about Helen of Troy Miranda Seymour, Medea, based on an ancient Greek legend about a sorceress who told Jason how fo find the Golden Fleece Eric Shanower, Age of Bronze: A Thousand Ships, a graphic novel retelling the Trojan War story by incorporating archaeology and legend; #1 in the Age of Bronze graphic novel series Eric Shanower, Age of Bronze: A Thousand Ships, a graphic novel incorporating archaeological findings with ancient legends to retell the Trojan War story; #1 in the Age of Bronze graphic novel series Eric Shanower, Age of Bronze: Sacrifice, a graphic novel incorporating archaeological findings with ancient legends to retell the Trojan War story; #2 in the Age of Bronze graphic novel series Eric Shanower, Age of Bronze: Betrayal, a graphic novel incorporating archaeological findings with ancient legends to retell the Trojan War story; #3 in the Age of Bronze graphic novel series George Shipway, Warrior in Bronze, about Agamemnon's rise to the throne of Mycenae George Shipway, King in Splendour, about Agamemnon and the Trojan War Rex Stout, The Great Legend, a story about a soldier in the Trojan War; an early work by the author of the Nero Wolfe mystery series; originally appeared in serial form in 1916 Thomas Sundell, A Bloodline of Kings, about Philip of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great Rosemary Sutcliff, The Flowers of Adonis, about the brilliant but erratic Athenian general Alkibiades and the Peloponnesian War Greg Tobin, The Siege of Troy, about the Trojan War H.N. Turteltaub, Over the Wine-Dark Sea, straight historical fiction about ancient Greek seamen by an author who also writes alternative history novels under his real name, Harry Turtledove; #1 in a series H.N. Turteltaub, The Gryphon's Skull, about ancient Greek seamen; #2 in a series H.N. Turteltaub, The Sacred Land, about ancient Greek seamen; #3 in a series H.N. Turteltaub, Owls to Athens, about ancient Greek seamen; #4 in a series Barry Unsworth, The Songs of the Kings, about the Trojan War Gore Vidal, Creation, a literary novel about a Persian ambassador to Athens and his travels through the ancient world, echoing those of Herodotus Jill Paton Walsh, Farewell, Great King (1972), about Themistocles, who successfully defended Athens from the Persians during the fifth century B.C. Rex Warner, Pericles the Athenian (1963), about the great fifth century B.C. Athenian leader Christa Wolf, Cassandra, a literary, feminist perspective on the Trojan War by an East German author Christa Wolf, Medea, a literary, feminist retelling of the Medea story that looks behind the misogynistic fantasy of the ancient legend to portray a realistic woman Gene Wolfe, Soldier of the Mist, about a Spartan mercenary who, after a head injury, loses his short-term memory and gains the ability to speak with gods and goddesses; #1 in the Soldier series Gene Wolfe, Soldier of Arete, about a Spartan mercenary who, after a head injury, loses his short-term memory and gains the ability to speak with gods and goddesses; #2 in the Soldier series Gene Wolfe, Soldier of Sidon, about a Spartan mercenary who, after a head injury, loses his short-term memory and gains the ability to speak with gods and goddesses; #3 in the Soldier series Frank Yerby, Goat Song, about a boy prostitute during the time of the Peloponnesian Wars
Ancient Greece: Mystery NovelsAnna Apostolou, A Murder in Macedon, a fictional attempt to solve the mystery of who murdered Philip of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great; Anna Apostolou is a pen name of Paul Doherty; #1 in a mystery series Anna Apostolou, A Murder in Thebes, a mystery novel set during the time of Alexander the Great; Anna Apostolou is a pen name of Paul Doherty; #2 in a mystery series Daniel Chavarria, The Eye of Cybele, an erotic literary mystery novel set in Athens during the Peloponnesian War Paul Doherty, The House of Death, a murder mystery set in the time of Alexander the Great; #1 in a mystery series Paul Doherty, The Godless Man, a murder mystery set in the time of Alexander the Great; #2 in a mystery series Paul Doherty, The Gates of Hell, a murder mystery set in the time of Alexander the Great; #3 in a mystery series Margaret Doody, Aristotle Detective, set in ancient Athens; #1 in a mystery series Margaret Doody, Aristotle and Poetic Justice, #2 in a mystery series Margaret Doody, Aristotle and the Secrets of Life (also published under the title Aristotle and the Mystery of Life), #3 in a mystery series Margaret Doody, Poison in Athens, #4 in a mystery series Margaret Doody, Mysteries of Eleusis, #5 in a mystery series Margaret Doody, Aristotle and the Fatal Javelin, published in Italy as #2 in the author's mystery series Margaret Doody, Aristotle and the Ring of Bronze, a novella in the author's mystery series, published in Italy Michael B. Edwards, Murder at the Panionic Games, about a minor priest who has a murdered man die in his arms as the Panionic Games begin in 650 B.C. Patrick Hatten, Champion of the Dead, about the student of an Athenian boxer and his quest to find out who killed the boxer after he dies suddenly of poison during the Olympic games Jose Carlos Somoza, The Athenian Murders, a story within a story as the translator of an account of a murder investigation in Plato's Athens becomes convinced that he, too, is in danger Marilyn Todd, Blind Eye, a Spartan high priestess investigates murders attributed to the legendary Cyclops
Ancient RomeRome and its empire have been a popular subject of historical novels from the nineteenth century into the present. Suggesting the city's origins, legends tell of the Trojan War hero Aeneas fleeing to Italy after the fall of Troy and, more mysteriously, of the twins Romulus and Remus being suckled by a she-wolf. Archaeological evidence shows Rome was founded around the eighth century B.C. as a city influenced by its Etruscan neighbors. According to legend, Rome was first ruled by a series of kings, most of whose names were Etruscan. Around the fifth century B.C., the people of Rome overthrew their last king and established a republic which endured for almost five centuries. During the turmoil of the first century B.C., a series of dictators took control of the city, culminating in the extraordinary rise of Julius Caesar and the end of the Republic. Rome began its development into an empire while it was still a republic, absorbing its Italian neighbors. Caesar's conquests in Gaul and elsewhere began an expansion by which the Empire grew to encompass most of Europe, Northern Africa, and the Middle East bordering the Mediterranean. The Empire's influence extended far beyond its official borders. Barbarian incursions, mutinies in its army, and the corruption and insanity of various emperors weakened the Empire and provide dramatic material for historical fiction. Its armies abandoned Britain in 410 A.D., the same year the city was sacked by the Visigoths. In the fifth century, Rome's territories were divided into an Eastern and a Western Empire, and the medieval era began. Jump to Mystery Novels
William Altimari, Legion, about a Roman centurion of the first century B.C. posted on the western frontier of Gaul as Germanic tribes attack from across the Rhine Michael E. Anderson, The Parthian Interpreter, about the journey of a Roman senator and his Parthian slave to China during the reign of Marcus Aurelius John Beatty, The Fourth Part of Gaul, about the revolt of the Veneti tribe of Gaul against Roman rule and the author's theory that the Veneti survivors sailed to America; self-published by a retired judge who served in France during World War II Emery Bekessy, Barabbas (1947), about the criminal released in place of Jesus before the crucifixion Albert A. Bell Jr., Daughter of Lazarus, about a Roman senator's slave woman and her interest in Christianity during the reign of Domitian; published through iUniverse D.G. Bellenger, 68 A.D., about Servius Sulpicius Galba, who became Emperor of Rome after Nero's suicide in 68 A.D.; from POD publisher PublishAmerica Gillian Bradshaw, The Sand-Reckoner, about Archimedes of Syracuse Gillian Bradshaw, The Beacon at Alexandria, about a fourth century woman who disguises herself as a eunuch in order to become a doctor Gillian Bradshaw, Cleopatra's Heir, a novel imagining what might have happened if Caesarion, Cleopatra's son by Julius Caesar, had survived the plot to assassinate him Gillian Bradshaw, Render Unto Caesar, a young Greek man who is a Roman citizen encounters prejudice when he goes to Rome to collect debts owed to his family Wallace Breem, Eagle in the Snow, about the fall of Rome Wallace Breem, The Legate's Daughter, about the Roman Empire during the time of Augustus Hermann Broch, The Death of Virgil, about Virgil, the Roman poet who wrote The Aeneid about the fall of Troy Jesse Browner, The Uncertain Hour, about the last banquet of a Roman aristocrat who, having offended Emperor Nero, is planning his suicide and takes the opportunity to enjoy his friends and reflect on his career Bryher, The Coin of Carthage, set during the Second Punic War between Rome and Carthage; Bryher was the pen name of the feminist author Annie Winnifred Ellerman Bryher, Roman Wall, set during the Roman period in what is now Switzerland; Bryher was the pen name of the feminist author Annie Winnifred Ellerman Edward Bulwer-Lytton, The Last Days of Pompeii (1834), a romantic story about life in Pompeii that begins in the days just before Vesuvius erupted; Bulwer-Lytton is justly famous for his purple prose Edgar Rice Burroughs, I Am a Barbarian, about a slave owned by the mad Emperor Caligula; written in 1941 but first published in 1967 after the author's death Taylor Caldwell, A Pillar of Iron, about the Roman orator Cicero Frank Castle, Nero (1961), cover copy: "The throbbing story of the mad Caesar whose lust for flesh and blood wrought a reign of violence unequaled in history" David Chacko, The Severan Prophecies, about the Severan dynasty emperors after the assassination of the Emperor Caracalla in 217 Barry Clifton, Ben Hur: The Odyssey, a sequel to Lew Wallace's novel Ben Hur, which brings Ben Hur to Rome to defend the Apostle Paul after his arrest for missionary activities; Christian message Wilkie Collins, Antonina; Or, The Fall of Rome (1850), a romantic novel about a woman living through the sack of Rome by the Goths. More info David Corson, Domitia and Domitian, about the Emperor Domitian who ruled Rome from A.D. 81-96 and his wife Domitia; published through iUniverse David Corson, Trajan and Plotina, about the Emperor Trajan who ruled Rome from A.D. 98-117 and his wife Plotina; published through iUniverse Thomas B. Costain, The Darkness and the Dawn (1959), about Attila the Hun Stephen Dando-Collins, The Inquest, about a Roman magistrate during the reign of Vespasian investigating the fledgling Christian movement and the rumors that a Jewish man has risen from the dead Lindsey Davis, The Course of Honour, a stand-alone novel about Emperor Vespasian's mistress, by the author of the Falco Roman mystery series William Stearns Davis, A Friend of Caesar: A Tale of the Fall of the Roman Republic (1900) Mario de Carvalho, A God Strolling in the Cool of the Evening, set during the late Roman empire and the rise of Christianity in the province that became modern Portugal William Dietrich, Scourge of God, about Attila the Hun L. Sprague de Camp, The Arrows of Hercules (1965), about an Italian engineer of the fourth century B.C. who invented an improved catapult and became involved in the war between Syracuse and Carthage L. Sprague de Camp, Lest Darkness Fall, about a history professor who goes back in time and tries to prevent the fall of Rome Paul Doherty, Domina, a sympathetic novel about Agrippina the Younger, the wife of Emperor Claudius and mother of Nero Theodora DuBois, Captive of Rome, about an Irish princess sold into slavery in Rome and captured by Goths during the sack of the city; published in 1962. James Duffy, Sand of the Arena, about a wealthy Roman who becomes a gladiator after a slave steals his identity following a deadly shipwreck; #1 in the Gladiators of the Empire series James Duffy, Fight for Rome, about a gladiator who wields power behind the scenes during the civil war following Nero's suicide; #2 in the Gladiators of the Empire series James Duffy, Rain of Fire, about a man who trains gladiators during the time of the eruption of Vesuvius; #3 in the Gladiators of the Empire series Alfred Duggan, Children of the Wolf, about the founding of Rome by Romulus and Remus; also titled Founding Fathers Alfred Duggan, Winter Quarters, set in Gaul during the time of Julius Caesar Alfred Duggan, Three's Company, about the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, the assassination of Caesar, and the government of the triumvirs from the persepctive of Lepidus, who served as triumvir with Antony and Octavian Alfred Duggan, Family Favourites, about the Roman Emperor Elagabalus Helen Dunmore, Counting the Stars, about the poet Catullus and his lover Clodia during a turbulent period in ancient Rome David Anthony Durham, Pride of Carthage, about Hannibal's military campaign against Rome. Rebecca East, A. D. 62: Pompeii, about a modern woman stranded in the past who becomes a slave in the household of Marcus Tullius in Pompeii. More info Michael Curtis Ford, The Fall of Rome, a novel of warfare in the last days of the Roman Empire. More info Michael Curtis Ford, Gods and Legions, a novel of ancient warfare about the Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate. More info Michael Curtis Ford, The Last King, a novel of ancient warfare about Rome's enemy Mithridates. More info Michael Curtis Ford, The Sword of Attila, a novel of ancient warfare about Attila the Hun. More info Hella S. Haasse, Threshold of Fire: A Novel of Fifth Century Rome, about the Christian persecutions of pagans in Rome during the time of Emperor Hadrian Géza Gárdonyi, Slave of the Huns (1901), about a Byzantine slave of the Huns; based on the historical account of the Byzantine diplomat Priscus about his visit to the court of Attila the Hun David Gibbins, The Last Gospel (titled The Lost Tomb in the U.S.), about a modern archaeologist who discovers a secret about the origin of Christianity while researching the ruins of a library in Pompeii Donna Gillespie, The Light Bearer, about a Germanic woman warrior during the time of Nero who struggles to prevent Rome from conquering the German tribes Donna Gillespie, Lady of the Light, sequel to The Light Bearer Sherrie Seibert Goff, The Arms of Quirinus, about King Romulus Silvius Quirinus, the legendary first king of Rome in the eighth century B.C.; #1 in the planned Seven Kings of Rome series; from POD publisher iUniverse Sherrie Seibert Goff, The Scent of Hyacinth, about King Numa Pompilius, the legendary second king of Rome; #2 in the planned Seven Kings of Rome series; from POD publisher iUniverse Sherrie Seibert Goff, The Warrior's Dance, about King Tullus Hostilius, the legendary third king of Rome; #3 in the planned Seven Kings of Rome series; from POD publisher iUniverse Jose Gomez-Rivera, Flavius Aetius: The Last Conqueror, a love story about the Empress Galla Placida and General Flavius Aetius and their struggle to preserve Rome during the last days of the Western Roman Empire Jo Graham, Black Ships, historical fantasy about an oracle who guides Aeneas on his journey to a new land after the fall of Troy Dewey Gram, Gladiator, a novelization of the film about a Roman general who becomes a gladiator in order to get revenge for the murder of his family. Ralph A. Graves, The Lost Eagles, about a young Roman's attempt to recover the legionary eagle standards lost in the disastrous Battle of the Teutoburg Forest; published in 1955. Robert Graves, I, Claudius, a novel of ancient Rome about Emperor Claudius; the television mini-series of the same name was based on this novel Robert Graves, Claudius the God, the sequel to I, Claudius Robert Graves, Count Belisarius, a novel of ancient history, about a Byzantine general George Green, Hawk, an story of adventure and warfare about a hunter of animals for Roman gladiatorial contests who undertakes a dangerous mission north of the Alps in A.D. 34 Peter Green, The Sword of Pleasure, a novel of ancient history, about the Roman dictator Sulla Barbara Hambly, Search the Seven Hills, a thriller set in ancient Rome that revolves around a strange new religious cult, the Christians; titled The Quirinal Affair in the UK Robert Harris, Pompeii, a novel of ancient history, about the eruption of Vesuvius and the destruction of Pompeii Robert Harris, Imperium, set in ancient Rome, about Cicero Robert Harris, Conspiracy, about Cicero's year as consul in 63 B.C., as Julius Caesar plots to gain power and Cicero wonders whether he can justify using illegal methods in order to save the Roman Republic; forthcoming in October 2009 John Hersey, The Conspiracy, set in ancient Rome in the time of Nero Cecelia Holland, The Death of Attila, a novel of ancient history, about a Hun warrior in the time of Attila Thomas Holt, A Song for Nero, a thriller exploring the possibility that Nero survived beyond the date he was believed to have died Peter Huby, Carthage, about Rome's destruction of Carthage in 146 B.C. Damion Hunter, The Centurions, about the rivalry of two half-brothers in the Roman legions posted in Germania during the reign of Vespasian; Damion Hunter is a pen name of Amanda Cockrell; #1 in the Centurions series Damion Hunter, Barbarian Princess, about the rivalry of two half-brothers in the Roman legions as one is assigned to escort a barbarian princess; Damion Hunter is a pen name of Amanda Cockrell; #2 in the Centurions series Damion Hunter, The Emperor's Games, the careers of two half-brothers in the Roman legions diverge as one fights pirates in Gaul and the eruption of Vesuvius looms; Damion Hunter is a pen name of Amanda Cockrell; #3 in the Centurions series Conn Iggulden, The Gates of Rome, about Julius Caesar as a youth, when he chooses the losing side in the struggle between Marius and Sulla to control Rome; #1 in the Emperor series Conn Iggulden, The Death of Kings, about the dangers Caesar faced during his rise to power, including capture by Mediterranean pirates and the slave rebellion of Spartacus; #2 in the Emperor series Conn Iggulden, The Field of Swords, about the friendship and rivalry between Caesar and Brutus as Caesar moves toward the fateful decision to cross the Rubicon and make war in Rome; #3 in the Emperor series Conn Iggulden, The Gods of War, about Caesar and the civil war he pursued in order to unseat Pompey as dictator of Rome; #4 and last in the Emperor series Gary Jennings, Raptor, about a hermaphrodite Goth, his travels through the crumbling fifth century Roman empire, and his friendship with the Ostrogoth King Theodoric the Great Benita Kane Jaro, The Key, about the poet Catullus and his love affair with Clodia; #1 in the Key trilogy Benita Kane Jaro, The Lock, about Cicero and the events that led to the downfall of the Roman Republic; #2 in the Key trilogy Benita Kane Jaro, The Door in the Wall, about a young politician who must choose whether to support Julius Caesar or Pompey the Great in their struggle for power in Rome; #3 in the Key trilogy Ben Kane, The Forgotten Legion, Roman survivors of the disastrous Battle of Carrae in 55 B.C. fight for their survival at the edge of the known world Arthur Koestler, The Gladiators, about the slave revolt led by Spartacus Par Lagerkvist, Barabbas (1950), about the criminal released in place of Jesus before the crucifixion; by a Nobel Prize-winning author Ross Laidlaw, Attila: The Scourge of God, a novel of warfare about Attila the Hun and the Roman general Aetius Ross Laidlaw, Theoderic, about the leader of the Goths who ravaged Rome and subsequently became Emperor of the Western Roman Empire Patrick Larkin, The Tribune, a thriller with a Christian message set in Roman Galilee during the time of Jesus Ross Leckie, Hannibal, a novel of ancient history, about the life of the Carthaginian general who invaded Rome; #1 in the author's Carthage trilogy Ross Leckie, Scipio Africanus, a novel of ancient history, about the life of the Roman general who defeated Hannibal; #2 in the author's Carthage trilogy; also titled Scipio Ross Leckie, Carthage, a novel of ancient history, about the destruction of Carthage in the Third Punic War; #3 in the author's Carthage trilogy Ursula K. Le Guin, Lavinia, about the Italian woman who, according to legend, married Aeneas after the Trojan War and helped him found the city of Rome Morgan Llywelyn, Etruscans, a fantasy novel based on legends about the ancient Etruscans, the forerunners of Roman civilization Morgan Llywelyn, Druids, about Vercingetorix, the leader of the Gallic resistance against Caesar, and the druids of Gaul Morgan Llywelyn, The Greener Shore, about Gallic druids who fled to Ireland after the Roman conquest of Gaul; sequel to Druids Jack Ludlow, The Pillars of Rome, set in the Roman Republic, #1 in a series Jack Ludlow, The Sword of Revenge, set in the Roman Republic, #2 in a series James Mace, Soldier of Rome: The Legionary, about a young Roman legionary in the force sent to Germania to avenge the destruction of three legions in the Teutoburg Forest; #1 in the Soldier of Rome series James Mace, Soldier of Rome: The Sacrovir Revolt, about a Roman legionary during the reign of Emperor Tiberius, as the threat of a rebellion in Gaul looms; #2 in the Soldier of Rome series Paul L. Maier, The Flames of Rome, about the spread of Christianity in Rome during the reign of Nero. Valerio Massimo Manfredi, Empire of the Dragons, about the Roman Empire in the third century A.D. Valerio Massimo Manfredi, The Tower, about the Roman Empire in the first century A.D. Valerio Massimo Manfredi, Tyrant, about Dionysius, the Tyrant of Syracuse, and his military challenge to Carthage in the fifth century B.C. More info Valerio Massimo Manfredi, The Last Legion, about a band of Romano-British soldiers who journey to Rome in 470 A.D. as the Empire is beginning to collapse Valerio Massimo Manfredi, The Talisman of Troy, about a survivor of the Trojan War who journeys to the Italian peninsula with a magical talisman Allan Massie, Augustus, a novel of ancient history, about the first emperor of Rome; #1 in the author's Imperial series Allan Massie, Tiberius: The Memoirs of the Emperor, a novel of ancient history, about Augustus' successor; #2 in the author's Imperial series Allan Massie, Caesar, a novel of ancient history, about the rise of Julius Caesar; #3 in the author's Imperial series Allan Massie, The Evening of the World, a novel of ancient history, about a Roman soldier's wanderings after the fall of Rome; #1 in the Dark Ages trilogy (#2, Arthur the King, is set in Arthurian Britain; #3, Charlemagne and Roland, is set in early medieval Europe) Allan Massie, Antony, a novel of ancient history, about Mark Antony after the assassination of Julius Caesar Allan Massie, Caligula, a novel of ancient history, about a depraved Roman Emperor Allan Massie, Nero's Heirs, a novel of ancient history, about the "year of the three emperors" after the death of Nero Terry McCarthy, The Sword of Hannibal, about a mercenary who becomes involved in Hannibal's march across the Alps to invade Rome Colleen McCullough, First Man in Rome, a novel of ancient history, about the Roman consul Gaius Marius; #1 in the Masters of Rome series Colleen McCullough, The Grass Crown, a novel of ancient history, about the Roman dictator Sulla; #2 in the Masters of Rome series Colleen McCullough, Fortune's Favorites, a novel of ancient history, about the later years of Sulla; #3 in the Masters of Rome series Colleen McCullough, Caesar's Women, a novel of ancient history, about the rise of Julius Caesar; #4 in the Masters of Rome series Colleen McCullough, Caesar, a novel of ancient history, about the mature Julius Caesar; #5 in the Masters of Rome series Colleen McCullough, The October Horse, a novel of ancient history, about Caesar and Cleopatra; #6 in the Masters of Rome series Colleen McCullough, Antony and Cleopatra, a novel of ancient history, about the title characters; #7 in the Masters of Rome series Kathleen Morgan, Enchant the Dream, historical romance about a Germanic priestess and a Celtic chieftain forced into slavery in ancient Rome. Talbot Mundy, Caesar Dies, about the plot to kill the Roman Emperor Commodus after he goes insane; originally published in 1934 H. Warner Munn, The Lost Legion, an adventure story about a legion sent to Asia by the mad Emperor Caligula William Napier, The Scourge of God (also titled Attila), about the early life of Attila the Hun; #1 in the Attila the Hun trilogy William Napier, The Gathering of the Storm, about the early life of Attila, as he returns from exile to claim his kingdom and strives to unite the Huns and Scythians; #2 in the Attila the Hun trilogy William Napier, Attila: The Judgment (2008), about Attila's campaign against Rome; #3 in the Attila the Hun trilogy John Henry Newman, Callista: A Tale of the Third Century (1855), about a young woman in Roman Africa and the process by which she converts to Christianity; written by an Anglican convert to Catholicism who became a cardinal Kyle Onstott and Lance Horner, Child of the Sun (1966), about the "effeminate" and “perverted" Varius Avitus Bassianus, or Elagabalus, who became Emperor of Rome in A.D. 218 Vincent Panella, Cutter's Island, about Julius Caesar's experience of being kidnapped by pirates as a young man (an actual historical event). Chet Raymo, Valentine, a novel based on the tradition that the original St. Valentine was a physician who fell in love with a blind woman in ancient Rome Boris Raymond, The Phoenix Circle, about a group of Roman aristocrats struggling to prevent the destruction of the Empire as barbarians close in on it and a new religion gains power Robert Raymond, Fire and Bronze, about a princess of Tyre who became Queen Dido; based on legends about the founding of Carthage Angela Render, Forged by Lightning: A Novel of Hannibal and Scipio, about the generals who led the Roman and Carthaginian armies during the Second Punic War; self-published through Lulu.com Patrick Rivette, The Chief Centurion: A Soldier for Rome, about a Roman soldier who rescues the early Christian leader Paul from an angry mob; self-published through Xlibris Francine Rivers, A Voice in the Wind, #1 in the Mark of the Lion series about the rise of Christianity in ancient Rome; Christian message Francine Rivers, An Echo in the Darkness, #2 in the Mark of the Lion series about the rise of Christianity in ancient Rome; Christian message Francine Rivers, As Sure as the Dawn, #3 in the Mark of the Lion series about the rise of Christianity in ancient Rome; Christian message Keith Roberts, The Boat of Fate, about a young Roman during the disintegration of the Roman Empire Kathleen Robinson, Dominic, about an orphaned dwarf from Gaul who travels through the collapsing Roman empire. More info Kathleen Robinson, Heaven's Only Daughter, historical romance about a Roman princess and a Gothic king during the fifth century fall of Rome David M. Ross, In the Army of Marcus Batallius, about the commander of a newly formed legion charged with the responsibilty of establishing a Roman fort in Germanic territory on the east side of the Rhine
Barry Sadler, Casca 5: The Barbarian, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ; set in Germany during the time of the Roman Empire; #5 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#2 chronologically of the first 22 books) Barry Sadler, God of Death, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who travels to Mexico with a group of Viking warriors; #2 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#3 chronologically of the first 22 books) Barry Sadler, Casca 3: The Warlord, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ; set in the Mediterranean and in China; #3 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#4 chronologically of the first 22 books) Barry Sadler, Casca 6: The Persian, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who becomes a commander of the Persian army; #6 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#5 chronologically of the first 22 books) Barry Sadler, Casca 7: The Damned, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who takes part in Rome's struggle to defend itself against the Huns and Visigoths; #7 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#6 chronologically of the first 22 books) Barry Sadler, Casca 9: The Sentinel , about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ; set in Constantinople and North Africa; #9 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#7 chronologically of the first 22 books) Barry Sadler, Casca 13: The Assassin, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who joins the Hashishi assassins during the time of the Seljuk Turks; #13 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#8 chronologically of the first 22 books) Barry Sadler, Casca 19: The Samurai, about a soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who becomes a samurai in medieval Japan; #19 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#9 chronologically of the first 22 books) Barry Sadler, Casca 22: The Mongol, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who fights alongside the Mongol warrior who will become Genghis Khan; #22 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#10 chronologically of the first 22 books of the first 22 books) Barry Sadler, Casca 10: The Conquistador, about Roman a soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who goes to Mexico with Cortez; #10 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#11 chronologically of the first 22 books) Barry Sadler, Casca 15: The Pirate, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who joins Blackbeard's pirate crew; #15 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#12 chronologically of the first 22 books) Barry Sadler, Casca 17: The Warrior, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ; set in the South Sea Islands; #17 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#13 chronologically of the first 22 books) Barry Sadler, Casca 18: The Cursed, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who fights in China during the Boxer Rebellion; #18 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#14 chronologically of the first 22 books) Barry Sadler, Casca 21: The Trench Soldier, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who fights on the British side in World War I; #21 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#15 chronologically of the first 22 books) Barry Sadler, Casca 4: The Panzer Soldier, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who fights on the German side in World War II; #4 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#16 chronologically of the first 22 books) Barry Sadler, Casca 11: The Legionnaire, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who fights for the French Foreign Legion in Vietnam; #11 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#17 chronologically of the first 22 books) Barry Sadler, Casca 16: Desert Mercenary, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who fights against the Tuareg in North Africa; #16 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#18 chronologically of the first 22 books) Barry Sadler, Casca 14: The Phoenix, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who serves in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War; #14 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#19 chronologically of the first 22 books) Barry Sadler, Casca 20: Soldier of Gideon, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who fights for Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War; #20 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#20 chronologically of the first 22 books) Barry Sadler, Casca 8: Soldier of Fortune, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ; set in Cambodia during the time of the Khmer Rouge; #8 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#21 chronologically of the first 22 books) Barry Sadler, Casca 12: The African Mercenary, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who joins a team sent to depose a twentieth century African dictator; #12 in the Eternal Mercenary series (#22 chronologically of the first 22 books) (Sadler series) Paul Dengelegi, Barry Sadler's Casca: The Liberator, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ; #23 in the Eternal Mercenary series (Sadler series) Paul Dengelegi, Barry Sadler's Casca: The Defiant, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ; set in medieval Venice; #24 in the Eternal Mercenary series (Sadler series) Tony Roberts, Barry Sadler's Casca: Halls of Montezuma, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who fights during the Mexican-American War; #25 in the Eternal Mercenary series (Sadler series) Tony Roberts, Barry Sadler's Casca: Johnny Reb, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who fights in the Civil War; #26 in the Eternal Mercenary series (Sadler series) Tony Roberts, Barry Sadler's Casca: The Confederate, about a Roman soldier doomed to remain alive until the second coming of Christ, who fights in the Civil War; #27 in the Eternal Mercenary series
Steven Saylor, Roma: The Novel of Ancient Rome, a stand-alone sweep-of-history novel by the author of the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series, about the history of ancient Rome from the time of its founding Simon Scarrow, Under the Eagle, about a new recruit to Rome's Second Legion, posted in Germany in 42 A.D.; #1 in the author's Cato series Simon Scarrow, The Eagle's Conquest, about a Roman centurion fighting in the campaign to conquer Britian in 43 A.D.; #2 in the author's Cato series Simon Scarrow, When the Eagle Hunts, about a Roman centurion in Britain in the winter of 44 A.D.; #3 in the author's Cato series Simon Scarrow, The Eagle and the Wolves, about a Roman centurion in Britain in the summer of 44 A.D.; #4 in the author's Cato series Simon Scarrow, The Eagle's Prey, about a Roman centurion in Britain fighting against the army organized by Caratacus; #5 in the author's Cato series Simon Scarrow, The Eagle's Prophecy, about a Roman soldier assigned to defeat a gang of pirates who have stolen some scrolls vital to the Empire's future; #6 in the author's Cato series Simon Scarrow, The Eagle in the Sand, about a Roman soldier struggling to avert trouble in Syria; #7 in the author's Cato series Simon Scarrow, Centurion, about a Roman centurion in Parthia, #8 in the author's Cato series Rafael Scott, The Lion's Brood, about the Carthaginian general Hannibal, from his childhood to his war upon Rome; from POD publisher PublishAmerica George Shipway, Imperial Governor, about the first century rebellion of Queen Boudica, from the perspective of the Roman Governor of Britain Henryk K. Sienkiewicz, Quo Vadis, about Rome in the time of Nero; the 1896 novel by a Polish author who subsequently won the Nobel prize in literature Norman Spinrad, The Druid King, a novel of ancient history, about Caesar's war in Gaul and Vercingetorix, the Celtic chieftain who opposed him John Stewart, The Centurion, about an imperial legate to Judea and a centurion drawn to the teachings of Jesus during the period before and after the crucifixion; Christian message Judith Tarr and Harry Turtledove, Household Gods, about a modern woman who travels in time to ancient Rome Edward Thomson, Atilus the Slave, #1 in the Gladiators series Edward Thomson, Atilus the Gladiator, #2 in the Gladiators series Edward Thomson, Gladiator, #3 in the Gladiators series Gore Vidal, Julian, a novel of ancient history, about the Roman Emperor Julian Virgil, The Aeneid, an epic poem which incorporates ancient legends about the fall of Troy and the founding of Rome; written in the first century B.C. Lew Wallace, Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ, about Roman Judea in the time of Jesus; Christian message Rex Warner, The Young Caesar, a biographical novel about Julius Caesar's early years in the form of an autobiography Rex Warner, Imperial Caesar, a biographical novel about Julius Caesar in the form of an autobiography; sequel to The Young Caesar Paul Waters, Of Merchants and Heroes (2008), about a young man in Rome at the close of the wars with Carthage in the late third century B.C. who sets out to avenge his father's murder by pirates Russell Whitfield, Gladiatrix, about a first century Spartan woman forced into slavery in the Eastern Roman Empire who becomes a gladiatrix Leonard Wibberley, The Testament of Theophilus, about a skeptical Roman converted to Christianity during the time of the Gospels; published in 1973. Thornton Wilder, The Ides of March, about Julius Caesar; published in 1948. John Edward Williams, Augustus: A Novel, a literary novel about the Roman Emperor Augustus and his rise to power David Wishart, I, Virgil, a novel of ancient history, about the Roman poet who wrote the Aeneid David Wishart, Nero, a novel of ancient history, about the Roman Emperor Nero David Wishart, The Horse Coin, about the first century Boudican rebellion in Roman Britain, from the Roman perspective Marguerite Yourcenar, The Memoirs of Hadrian, a literary novel of ancient history, about the Roman Emperor Hadrian
Ancient Rome: Mystery NovelsScroll down or jump to: "Falco" series by Lindsey Davis "SPQR" series by John Maddox Roberts "Roma Sub Rosa" series by Steven Saylor "Claudia Seferius" series by Marilyn Todd "Marcus Corvinus" series by David Wishart Albert A. Bell Jr., All Roads Lead to Murder: A Case From the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger, a mystery in which Luke the Apostle and the Roman scholars Tacitus and Pliny, traveling through Smyrna on their way to Rome, investigate the murder of a fellow traveler Philip Boast, The Third Princess, about the seventh son of a Roman aristocrat assigned to guard a Christian princess after his family is murdered; #1 in the Septimus Quistus mystery series Philip Boast, The Son of Heaven, about the seventh son of a Roman aristocrat assigned to guard a Chinese Emperor's heir from the Huns along the Spice Road; #2 in the Septimus Quistus mystery series Ron Burns, Roman Nights, about a Roman lawyer investigating a series of murders of Stoic philosophers; #1 in the Livinius Severus mystery series Ron Burns, Roman Shadows, about a Roman lawyer in the days after the murder of Julius Caesar; #2 in the Livinius Severus mystery series
Lindsey Davis, Shadows in Bronze, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#2 in the Falco mystery series) Lindsey Davis, Venus in Copper, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#3 in the Falco mystery series) Lindsey Davis, The Iron Hand of Mars, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#4 in the Falco mystery series) Lindsey Davis, Poseidon's Gold, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#5 in the Falco mystery series) Lindsey Davis, Last Act in Palmyra, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#6 in the Falco mystery series) Lindsey Davis, Time to Depart, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#7 in the Falco mystery series) Lindsey Davis, Dying Light in Corduba, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#8 in the Falco mystery series) Lindsey Davis, Three Hands in the Fountain, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#9 in the Falco mystery series) Lindsey Davis, Two for the Lions, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#10 in the Falco mystery series) Lindsey Davis, One Virgin Too Many, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#11 in the Falco mystery series) Lindsey Davis, Ode to a Banker, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#12 in the Falco mystery series) Lindsey Davis, A Body in the Bath House, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#13 in the Falco mystery series) Lindsey Davis, The Jupiter Myth, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#14 in the Falco mystery series) Lindsey Davis, The Accusers, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#15 in the Falco mystery series) Lindsey Davis, Scandal Takes a Holiday, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#16 in the Falco mystery series) Lindsey Davis, See Delphi and Die, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#17 in the Falco mystery series) Lindsey Davis, Saturnalia, a mystery novel set in the first century Roman Empire (#18 in the Falco mystery series)
Paul Doherty, Murder Imperial, about a crisis faced by the new Emperor Constantine when a series of courtesans he had visited are murdered; #2 in the Ancient Rome series. More info Paul Doherty, The Song of the Gladiator, about a theological debate sponsored by Constantine during the summer of 313 A.D.; #3 in the Ancient Rome series. More info Paul Doherty, The Queen of the Night, about a mysterious series of murders of veteran soldiers in the summer of 314 in Rome which resemble barbaric practices of the Picts; #4 in the Ancient Rome series. More info Paul Doherty, Murder's Immortal Mask, about a serial killer who, having suspended his crimes since Constantine became emperor, suddenly begins killing again; #5 in the Ancient Rome series. More info
Albert Noyer, The Secundus Papyrus, a mystery set in the fifth century Roman Empire, #2 in the mystery series Albert Noyer, The Saint's Day Deaths, a mystery set in the fifth century Roman Empire, #3 in the mystery series Ben Pastor, The Water Thief, Emperor Diocletian's historian investigates the death of a man drowned in the Nile; #1 in the Aelius Spartianus mystery series Ben Pastor, The Fire Waker, Emperor Diocletian's historian investigates the case of a man seemingly resurrected from the dead - and then murdered; #2 in the Aelius Spartianus mystery series
John Maddox Roberts, The Catiline Conspiracy, #2 in the SPQR mystery series John Maddox Roberts, The Sacrilege, #3 in the SPQR mystery series John Maddox Roberts, The Temple of the Muses, #4 in the SPQR mystery series John Maddox Roberts, Saturnalia, #5 in the SPQR mystery series John Maddox Roberts, Nobody Loves a Centurion, #6 in the SPQR mystery series John Maddox Roberts, The Tribune's Curse, #7 in the SPQR mystery series John Maddox Roberts, The River God's Vengeance, #8 in the SPQR mystery series John Maddox Roberts, The Princess and the Pirates, #9 in the SPQR mystery series John Maddox Roberts, A Point of Law, #10 in the SPQR mystery series John Maddox Roberts, Under Vesuvius, #11 in the SPQR mystery series
Steven Saylor, Arms of Nemesis, with the Spartacan slave revolt stirring tension between Roman slaves and their masters, Gordianus the Finder investigates a case of murder on the estate of the richest man in Rome, who has vowed to put all of his 99 slaves to death as punishment; #2 in the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. More info Steven Saylor, Catilina's Riddle, as Gordianus relaxes on his farm, he is reluctantly drawn back into the city's intrigues when Cicero asks him to keep an eye on what his rival Catilina is up to; #3 in the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. More info Steven Saylor, The Venus Throw, after one of Gordianus's clients is murdered, a beautiful and scandalous woman hires him to find out who did it; #4 in the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. More info Steven Saylor, A Murder on the Appian Way; Pompey the Great asks Gordianus the Finder to find out who murdered Publius Clodius, an investigation that plunges Gordianus into serious danger; #5 in the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. More info Steven Saylor, Rubicon, as Caesar's army crosses the Rubicon into Rome, the beleagered Pompey forces Gordianus to investigate the murder of his cousin; #6 in the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. More info Steven Saylor, Last Seen in Massilia, after Gordianus sees a young woman fall to her death from Sacrifice Rock, he tries to find out if she was pushed; #7 in the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. More info Steven Saylor, A Mist of Prophecies; when a beautiful seeress dies in Gordianus's arms, he becomes obsessed with finding out who murdered her and why; #8 in the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. More info Steven Saylor, The Judgment of Caesar, when Gordianus brings his ailing wife to Egypt for a cure, he becomes enmeshed in the struggle between Caesar, Cleopatra and King Ptolemy for control of Egypt; #9 in the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. More info Steven Saylor, The Triumph of Caesar, officially retired and no fan of Julius Caesar, Gordianus reluctantly agrees to investigate the rumored assassination plots against him for his wife, Calpurnia; #10 in the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. Review Steven Saylor, The House of the Vestals, mystery short stories about the characters in the Roma Sub Rosa series. More info Steven Saylor, A Gladiator Dies Only Once, mystery short stories about the characters in the Roma Sub Rosa series. More info
Marilyn Todd, Virgin Territory, about a former prostitute, now widowed, who accepts the job of escorting a vestal virgin back to her family, only to find out the woman is not all she seems; #2 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series Marilyn Todd, Man Eater, about a beautiful widow who finds herself accused of murder; #3 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series Marilyn Todd, Wolf Whistle, about a beautiful widow who investigates the murder of five slave girls; #4 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series Marilyn Todd, Jail Bait, about a beautiful widow who begins a flirtation that ends in murder; #5 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series Marilyn Todd, Black Salamander, about a beautiful widow who accepts the job of carrying a pouch to Gaul and finds herself entangled in a treasonous plot; #6 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series Marilyn Todd, Dream Boat, about a former prostitute, now widowed, who must find her kidnapped teenage stepdaughter; #7 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series Marilyn Todd, Dark Horse, about a beautiful widow who flees trouble in Rome only to have it catch up with her at an Arcadian villa; #8 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series Marilyn Todd, Second Act, about a beautiful widow who helps an investigator try to stop a serial rapist during the holiday season of Saturnalia; #9 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series Marilyn Todd, Widow's Pique, about a beautiful widow who witnesses a murder; #10 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series Marilyn Todd, Stone Cold, about a beautiful widow who goes to Gaul to find the truth behind her father's disappearance there when she was a child; #11 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series Marilyn Todd, Sour Grapes, about a beautiful widow who investigates a series of murders when she visits her stepmother's estate; #12 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series Marilyn Todd, Scorpion Rising, about a beautiful widow who goes to Gaul to investigate the murder of a child; #13 in the Claudia Seferius mystery series
David Wishart, Germanicus, #2 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series David Wishart, The Lydian Baker, #3 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series David Wishart, Sejanus, #4 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series David Wishart, Old Bones, #5 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series David Wishart, Last Rites, #6 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series David Wishart, White Murder, #7 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series David Wishart, A Vote for Murder, #8 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series David Wishart, Parthian Shot, #9 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series David Wishart, Food for the Fishes, #10 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series David Wishart, In at the Death, #11 in the Marcus Corvinus mystery series
Roman BritainIn 43 A.D. under Emperor Claudius, Rome finally added the southeastern part of Britain to its conquests, although the British resistance led by Caratacus slowed the process of westward expansion considerably. The Iceni warrior queen Boudica shocked Rome in 61 A.D. by leading a bloody rebellion. This woman warrior has long fascinated writers and readers of historical novels. The Romans were never able to conquer the Picts in what is now Scotland. They built Hadrian's Wall to discourage tribes to the north from encouraging or assisting rebellions by tribes within Roman territory. During the 400 years of Roman rule, life in most of Britain became thoroughly Romanized. Retired soldiers settled down with British wives, and British chieftains and their families adopted Roman names and served as government officials. The departure of the Roman army in 410 A.D. was no welcome event for most Britons. Orderly government collapsed, and Saxon and Irish raiders attacked the coast and inland settlements along navigable rivers. Historical novelists have written vividly about many periods of Roman Britain, but have especially focused on the conquest period, Boudica's rebellion, and the collapse of Roman rule. Jump to Mystery Novels
Stephen Baxter, Emperor, alternative history about Roman Britain; #1 in the Time's Tapestry series Stephen Baxter, Conqueror, alternative history about Anglo-Saxon Britain and an attempt to manipulate what will happen in 1066; #2 in the Time's Tapestry series (placed in this category to keep the series together) Stephen Baxter, Navigator, alternative history about the year 1492, when Europe's only Muslim state fell and Columbus sailed westward; #3 in the Time's Tapestry series (placed in this category to keep the series together) Stephen Baxter, Weaver, alternative history set in a Nazi-occupied Britain during the 1940s; #4 in the Time's Tapestry series (placed in this category to keep the series together) Gillian Bradshaw, Dark North, about an African scout in a Roman cavalry unit sent to Britain to conquer the north in A.D. 208. More info Gillian Bradshaw, Island of Ghosts, about Roman Britain during the time of Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the latter part of the second century. More info Amanda Cockrell, The Legions of the Mist, about the disappearance of Rome's Ninth Legion in Scotland during the first century (scholars now believe the legion probably was not lost in Scotland but was redeployed to the Rhineland); published in 1979. William Dietrich, Hadrian's Wall, about a Roman soldier posted on the northern border of Roman Britain during the late fourth century. More info Jack Dixon, The Pict, about the Pictish resistance to first century Roman attempts to conquer their territory in northern Britain; self-published through iUniverse. More info Alfred Duggan, The Little Emperors, about a treasury official in fifth century Roman Britain during the crisis that leads to Rome's withdrawal. More info Barbara Erskine, Kingdom of Shadows, about a modern woman haunted by the ghosts of a Roman soldier, his faithless wife and her druid lover after an archaeological dig disturbs their bones Barbara Erskine, On the Edge of Darkness, time-slip romance about a sixth century Celtic girl with magical abilities who travels in time, falls in love with a boy in the 1930s, and becomes trapped in the modern world. More info Barbara Erskine, The Warrior's Princess, about a modern woman who slips back in time when she goes to stay in a valley that was the site of a battle between the British chieftain Caratacus and the invading Romans; forthcoming in August 2008 Bernardine Evaristo, The Emperor's Babe: A Verse Novel of Londinium, 211 A.D., a novel in verse form about a daughter of Sudanese immigrants to Roman Britain who has an affair with Emperor Septimius Severus. Alan Fisk, Lord of Silver, about a young fourth century Briton who lives north of Hadrian's Wall in the fourth century who travels into Roman Britain and beyond. Review by Carla Nayland Pauline Gedge, The Eagle and the Raven, about Caradoc and Boudicca, leaders of the British resistance to Roman rule. More info Alan Gold, Warrior Queen: The Story of Boudica, Celtic Queen, about Boudica and her rebellion against Rome in 61 B.C. More info Sarah Harrison, The Dreaming Stones, about women who live near Hadrian's Wall, two of them in modern times and one in Roman Britain. More info Valerio Massimo Manfredi, The Last Legion, about a small band of soldiers from Britain who travel to the City of Rome in the year 470, as the empire is crumbling, in order to rescue the son of the last emperor and raise him to power. More info Elizabeth May, Roman Sunset, about the struggle of the Britons to survive when the Romans abandon Britain in the fifth century; self-published through Lulu. More info Minnette Meador, The Centurion and the Queen, historical romance about a Roman centurion and a Celtic queen who fall in love at the time of Boudican revolt. More info William Napier, Julia, about a woman from Spain, a Roman soldier and their travels in Britain and the Middle East in the fourth century. Review by Carla Nayland Joseph E. Roesch, Boudica, Queen of the Iceni, about Boudica and her rebellion against Rome in 61 B.C. More info Manda Scott, Dreaming the Eagle, about the childhood of Boudica, who would become queen of the Iceni tribe (or Eceni as Scott spells it) and lead a rebellion against Rome (#1 in Scott's Boudica series). More info Manda Scott, Dreaming the Bull, about Boudica as a young woman during the early years of the Roman conquest of Britain (#2 in Scott's Boudica series). More info Manda Scott, Dreaming the Hound, about Boudica during the years after the Romans defeat Caradoc, who led the British armies fighting to remain free of Roman rule (#3 in Scott's Boudica series). More info Manda Scott, Dreaming the Serpent Spear, about Boudica, the queen of the Iceni (or Eceni as Scott spells it) and the rebellion she leads against Rome (#4 in Scott's Boudica series). More info Anya Seton, The Mistletoe and the Sword: A Story of Roman Britain, historical romance/adventure about a young standard-bearer for Rome's Ninth Legion and a foster daughter of Boudica; published in 1955. Joann Smith, Boudicca, about Boudicca (also spelled Boudica) and her rebellion against Rome. Jules Watson, The White Mare, is a historical fantasy novel set in ancient Scotland (then known as Alba) during the period when Rome was attempting to expand its conquest of Britain northward; the main character is a priestess (#1 in the Dalriada Trilogy). More info Jules Watson, The Dawn Stag, is a historical fantasy novel set in ancient Scotland (then known as Alba) during the period when Rome was attempting to expand its conquest of Britain northward; the main character is a priestess (#2 in the Dalriada Trilogy). More info Jules Watson, The Boar Stone (titled Song of the North in the U.S.), is a historical fantasy novel set in ancient Scotland (then known as Alba) during the period when Rome was attempting to expand its conquest of Britain northward; the main character is a priestess (#3 in the Dalriada Trilogy). Boar Stone Song of the North Simon Young, Farewell Britannia: A Family Saga of Roman Britain, about four centuries of a family in Roman Britain, from the conquest to the departure of the legions. More info
Roman Britain: Mystery NovelsRuth Downie, Medicus (also titled Ruso and the Disappearing Dancing Girls), a physician for a Roman army legion in Britain investigates a series of deaths in a house of prostitution; #1 in the Roman Empire mystery series Ruth Downie, Terra Incognita (also titled Ruso and the Demented Doctor), a physician for a Roman army legion in Britain investigates a soldier's death by beheading; #2 in the Roman Empire mystery series Jane Finnis, Get Out or Die, about a young Italian woman who keeps an inn in Roman Britain in 91 A.D. who helps a traveler hunt down a band of rebels intent on expelling all Roman from Britain; #1 in the Aurelia Marcella mystery series Jane Finnis, A Bitter Chill, about an innkeeper in first century Roman Britain whose Saturnalia celebration is disrupted by murder; #2 in the Aurelia Marcella mystery series Jane Finnis, Buried too Deep, about an innkeeper in first century Roman Britain whose brother's assignment of salvaging a shipwrecked cargo is complicated by murder; #3 in the Aurelia Marcella mystery series Mike Ripley, Boudica and the Lost Roman, about a Roman spy who arrives in the camp of the Iceni Queen Boudica just as she mobilizes for warfare; #1 in a new mystery series
Rosemary Rowe, Murder in the Forum, about a mosaic-maker in second century Roman Britain who solves mysteries (#2 in the Libertus mystery series) Rosemary Rowe, A Pattern of Blood, about a mosaic-maker in second century Roman Britain who solves mysteries (#3 in the Libertus mystery series) Rosemary Rowe, The Chariots of Calyx, about a mosaic-maker in second century Roman Britain who solves mysteries (#4 in the Libertus mystery series) Rosemary Rowe, The Legatus Mystery, about a mosaic-maker in second century Roman Britain who solves mysteries (#5 in the Libertus mystery series) Rosemary Rowe, The Ghosts of Glevum, about a mosaic-maker in second century Roman Britain who solves mysteries (#6 in the Libertus mystery series) Rosemary Rowe, Enemies of the Empire, about a mosaic-maker in second century Roman Britain who solves mysteries (#7 in the Libertus mystery series) Rosemary Rowe, A Roman Ransom, about a mosaic-maker in second century Roman Britain who solves mysteries (#8 in the Libertus mystery series) Rosemary Rowe, A Coin for the Ferryman, about a mosaic-maker in second century Roman Britain who solves mysteries (#9 in the Libertus mystery series)
Ancient Ireland
Ancient Ireland belongs more to the realm of legend than history, but Ireland is exceptionally rich in legends of its past. Who is to say these legends have less truth mingled within them than the legends of Troy so dramatically vindicated by Schliemann's discoveries? Though Cuchullain and Queen Maeve may or may not have been real people, Saint Patrick certainly was. Novels have been written about all of them and more. |
