Engaging, informed fiction of early Imperial Rome
924308
The hardest part of reading "I, Claudius" and its sequel "Claudius the God" is remembering that it is, after all, fiction. Robert Graves, known for his quirky interpretations of other myths ("The White Goddess" and "King Jesus") turns his attention to the family history of the Julio-Claudian emperors and paints an immediately engaging picture of the fourth Emperor, Claudius, and his complex, lusty and frequently murderous family.
Claudius himself was historically regarded as a buffoon and a fool, ruled by his wives and his freedmen. Graves stands that characterization on its head, making his narrator a bookish, intelligent, but physically inept bit-player in the history of early Empire. His survival and accession to the throne, indeed, are based on the low opinion held of him by others, who don't see him as worth eliminating, and Claudius plays this up (in this, Graves may have been making a nod to later biographers who saw more calculation than accident in Claudius' eventual pre-eminence.)
This benignly deceptive Claudius is one of the more ambiguous characters in the novel; most of the other major players are more simply drawn. The honorable, industrious but not terribly bright Augustus, his ambitious and thoroughly amoral wife Livia, the mad Caligula and ill-fated and entirely good Germanicus are clearly depicted. The intrigues that swirl around the Imperial family are myriad and complex; many minor characters die untimely and others are framed and exiled, while at times it seems only the mad and bad have any hope of prevailing.
This is where the grain of salt must come in in the reading; Graves sympathizes powerfully with Claudius, and ultimately the story shows him up well. But even as the reader shakes his head over Caligula's excesses, or is infuriated by Livia's careless disposal of problematic relatives, he would do well to remember that this is a story of events almost two thousand years in the past. As such, it's nothing more than interpretation of history- but one that's well worth the read.
121012
Interesting and informative.  Provides the reader with a valuable perspective of life and governance in Ancient Rome.
554932
I had been meaning to read this book for many years, and having just completed it, I wish I had never put it off.  This is a superb work of historical fiction.  Robert Graves manages to recreate the personalities, customs, and idioms of ancient Rome in a way that makes it perfectly understandable.  Reading the history of Rome in a textbook, one has a hard time sorting out the differences and the family relationships of the Julians and the Claudians; reading "I, Claudius" you have no trouble keeping them all straight -- the stern but virtuous Augustus, the cruel and paranoid Tiberius, and the deranged, amoral Caligula veritably leap off the page.
One sympathizes with Claudius, who, alone of the family, is left to live his life without fear of being poisoned or assassinated by his family rivals because of his physical disabilities.  Claudius, who wants nothing more than to be left to his books and who secretly pines for a return to the Republic, ends up becoming the emperor who rebuilds the empire after Caligula's disastrous rule.
Graves has a remarkable gift in the book for imagery and anecdote -- the book is a compendium of small tales about Rome that add up to a large and marvelous mosaic.
Don't hesitate to buy the book and read it.  It is a remarkable work.
3406824
Randy Singer, attorney and legal fiction author, goes back to the first century in "The Advocate."  The protagonist is Theophilus, a Roman who is nearly crucified to death by a young rival while he is studying under Seneca. The great fun of The Advocate is not in the obvious biblical tie-in to Jesus and apostles who continued his ministry. Rather, Singer does well weaving in research into the story. He brings back the excitement of a time when gladiators fought to the death, oratory was an art, teaching not hampered by state standards.

Theophilus goes off to study under one of the great Greek tutors of his day. He comes back physically, mentally, and spiritually fortified. Following this, he receives a lucky assignment as assessore (adviser) to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of a small, province of the Roman empire inhabited by the curious Hebrews.

As ethnography, Randy Singer does commendable work looking at the Jews as very foreign people with peculiar beliefs (one God, adherence to a rigid law). As prose, it is obvious that the writing comes from a modern person with experience in the law. At times, Singer repeats words too close together when a substitute would be more pleasing.

"The smell of blood and incense filled the air for an entire week, mixed in with the peculiar smell of serious money being made." The second "smell" ruins the sentence, distracting from an otherwise interesting paragraph. A skilled editor would have put in odor, stench, putrid aroma, anything but another "smell."

Most historical fiction centers around periods long after the first century. The author chose wisely. It is a fascinating time and a memorable twist on an old tale, the witness who defied an emperor and inspired a faith. 4/5 stars.
1619584
This was a fine historical fiction. I liked it more than, perhaps, the average reader because I dabble in painting and have spent a little time studying Michelangelo and DaVinci. Particularly enjoyed the evident research Ms. Storey undertook to imbue the narrative with a bit of believability. Also, however much of the tale was dramatized for the sake of entertaining story telling, I felt she conveyed something of the real toil it likely required of the old masters to create enduring art. Storey's writing style is fluid and expresses her deeper understanding of the material.
3074480
My reading of "The Gladiator" was begun with a mote of lowered expectations. However, after reading the preface where the author clearly outlines that this is not meant to be a flawless historical tome, one can sit back, read , and enjoy this entertaining, lurid, and oft informative piece.

The world of the gladiators is often glorified; its virtues extolled where little attention has been paid to the societal motivations, public melieu of the time that fostered the growth of these "munus". The public's view of gladitorial events is rife with dichotomy. On the one hand, adoration is showered upon the contestants/slaves/prisoners, yet on the other, they are scorned, and sentenced to the most horrific of ends. It is this clearly outlined duplicity that personified the Roman Republic's transformation to Empire. Cities were stripped of their freedom; the last being Rome once the famed Rubicon was crossed by Gaius Julius Caesar, individuals subjugated themselves to the will of the state, and a people's bloodlust was satisfied. Rome's supremacy over nature and foe was best exemplified within the confines of the ring. To die under such circumstances was met with fickle resolve, even honor.

Yes, this book is often perfunctory, and written with the novice in mind. But it is at the task of introducing a casual reader to the period that it excels. Precious few books that aim for loftier goals achieve them in such fashion.
3837488
Interested in what the Roman military looked like?  Kind of an obscure issue, I thought, when I took a look at a review by an Amazon Friend.  However, I got hooked on the concept and ordered the book.  I'm glad that I did, although it's certainly not something I would have thought of picking up.

The purpose of the book is straightforward (Page 4): "This small book is the first attempt to make a fairly comprehensive examination of the development of the Roman legionary solely through the employment of actual full scale reconstructions." The first thing we find is a basic chronology of the Roman Republic and the Empire, giving the reader a sense of what happened when.

The first substantive section is entitled "Legionaries," and provides us a sense of what the Roman military was like--and how it evolved early on, in terms of the "foot soldiers" themselves. The early forces featured  several classes, with the better born, the first class, armed in the style of the Greek hoplites and the fifth class equipped with slings (very lightly armed and without armor, as far as I can tell). There is a photo of one of the "re-enactors" in the first class garb on page 7.  The use of these re-enactors makes this a most interesting volume, as the reader can get a visual sense of exactly what Roman forces looked like and how they were armed.

Thereafter, brief sections examine Imperial Legionaries (under Augustus), swords (the famous gladius) and daggers, helmets, centurions, and so on. One of my favorite sections is "Legionary Cavalry" (pages 78-83). As the book notes (page 78): ". . .service in the cavalry was the prerogative of the Roman upper class. . . ." The pages with photographs of cavalry re-enactors is fascinating.

On page 90, we learn that there are a number of re-enactor groups, trying, through trial and error and re-enactment of troop movements, to better establish how the Roman military functioned and what their gear was like.

So, a quirky book--but absolutely intriguing!  If Roman history and its military has any interest for a reader, then this could be a useful resource for you.
2117772
I have probably read only a handful of detective fiction in my entire middle-aged life.  The genre never really appealed to me.  But I've always been crazy about the Roman Empire, being a life-long fan of movie epics like SPARTACUS, QUO VADIS, BEN HUR and CLEOPATRA.  I got a big kick out of ROMAN BLOOD.  It's a detective story set in ancient Rome.  Gordianus the Finder is a wonderful character.  Who knows whether there ever was such a thing as a "finder" back in those days?  It doesn't really matter.  In Gordianus, Steven Saylor has created a brilliant device that allows the reader, through a myriad of interesting details, to feel that he actually IS in ancient Rome.  When we first encounter Gordianus, he lives in a crumbling villa with his slave woman Bethesda (whom he eventually manumits and marries) and has a hangover from too much wine the previous evening.  ROMAN BLOOD is the case that starts Gordianus on an illustrious career as a Roman private eye, because this is the case on which he meets Cicero.  Their association coincides with Cicero's rise from obscurity to celebrity.  Gordianus' exploits are set against actual historical events and over the multi-volume series Gordianus matures physically and emotionally, prospers in his career, marries and has children (who grow up to become Roman citizens).  This all occurs during what may have been Rome's most turbulent period, when the Republic was supplanted by the Empire.  ROMAN BLOOD is highly entertaining historical fiction.  I learned a lot from it, too.
I'm no judge of mysteries.  I have read few other mysteries to compare it to.  Whodunit did surprise me, however.  I really enjoyed ROMAN BLOOD and have read the next three volumes in this series.  I usually save these books for when I have to travel.  They're good paperbacks to read while waiting in an airport or flying long distances.  Time passes very quickly in Gordianus' company.  It's not wasted time, either.  There's a lot to ponder in these books.
202029
Centurion's Daughter is a well written piece of historical fiction set in Gaul (France) when the Roman Empire was in its last gasps.

It is a time period I know little about but was soon more educated in as Aemilia's story was told. Aemilia herself was an interesting character, reminding me more of Saint Monica than of the more common spirited, assertive female usually seen in today's historical fiction. Aemilia was completely dependent, in turn, on her father, a local member of nobility, Soisson's bishop, and various other authorities. She usually had no choice but to do what she was told if she wanted to have clothing, food, and housing. However, as happens in real life, her natural character shone through and impulsive comments or acts of kindness would draw different influential characters' attention to her. They may have used her abilities for their own purposes but Aemilia's own goals were often served in the process. I found Aemilia a most appealing character and the way of telling her story to be refreshingly subtle.

In addition, the story seems carefully researched and the author brought this time period alive. Other characters in the book are equally well sketched with minimal description so that readers see the full gamut of personalities scheming to achieve their own goals while saving the little town of Soissons.

I suppose one could call this a YA book but it held my interest the entire time, as any well written book would regardless of intended age group. Highly recommended and I look forward with interest to seeing what Justin Swanton writes in the future.
4303205
This is a history of the ancient Roman world during the Pax Romana of the second century AD. Using a coin, a sestertius, Alberto Angela takes us on a tour of the Roman Empire and the people who inhabit it. As the coin journeys with and between people we become acquainted with them; what they are doing while possessing the coin, a bit about their situation and life in general and how their lives color the tapestry that is Rome. Weaving the weft of historical fact with the warp of poetic license the author tells a story about life nearly twenty centuries in the past. Reading about a chapter a day keeps the individual stories interesting and fresh without getting too bogged down in the details.
History is so much more than dry facts, dates and names; it is a story. Alberto Angela deals with it as such.
Well worth the time spent  next summer Ill find a copy of his book A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome.
3405903
Phyllis T. Smiths first novel, I am Livia, hooked me completely. I couldn't wait to see what she would write next, so I was thrilled to receive a copy of her new novel, The Daughters of Palatine Hill, for review.

Once again, Smith brings the early Roman Empire to life by portraying strong women struggling to balance the demands of love, honor, and service to Rome, while living within the inner circles of power and intrigue. These were violent times. Women were political pawns, granted little to no autonomy, with strict rules of behavior. The more important one was, the more strictly controlled. Yet they found ways to wield influence.

Smith has a knack for delving into the emotional depths of women who lead lives of turmoil during times of intense historical significance. Using the lives of these women as a framework, she is able to present a great deal of finely researched, complex history, without making it seem like a history lesson. The imperfect women are presented with empathy and understanding that compels the reader to care what happens to them. I highly recommend Smiths work. Those who love novels of Ancient Rome should add these to their to-be-read lists. And for those who are not yet intrigued by Ancient Rome, try these and you will be!
1319820
This is a book I would recommend to anyone with some curiousity about "how Rome worked"...provided the reader has a strong mental filter to separate fact from fiction. It is readable, and the author's English is delightful, in the sense that there is something of the turn of the Century (19th-to-20th - not 20th-to-21st) elegance in it. The focus is perhaps more on the "workings of Rome" than on Caesar's most important years affecting Rome - the author is a bit too shy to appear to "endorse a Dictator". And, this is the weakness of the book. It is somewhat like  historical works published in the Soviet era in the Soviet Union or one of its satellites. (Yevgeniy Tarl's works on Napolean and Talleyrand come to mind [&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Bonaparte/dp/B0006DF394/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Bonaparte,</a>&nbsp;]. Superb history, but Tarl, a Soviet author, must pay homage to dialectic materialism).. In this case the author cannot keep himself from paying homage to all the "important" concepts that make a British academic "politicaly acceptable". Why, oh why, do so many today contaminate their excellent work with the eager additions to show that their thinking, by they way, corresponds to what is required? In this respect, the Introduction is outright painful. Also, to be popular in the early 21st Century, we must write about sex, sex, sex... Of course, we are just speculating, and therefore to avoid any danger of being accused of mixing history with fiction, we put in some weasel-words when we have no sources... The reason why this otherwise excellent work does not get five stars is the author's self-demeaning with his eagerness to prove that he is Politically Correct.
711454
The story is told in the first person by an old Maroboodus prisoner of the Romans at Ravenna in 37 AD, the year that saw the death of Emperor Tiberius. The story begins in 30 BC. It is that of a younger and impulsive Maroboodus, when he was still a late teen-ager, of his father Hulderic, his uncle Bero and first cousin Maino, of their own father and his own brother and of a mysterious and very old Boat lord who rules over the Goths original homeland  an inland of the coast.

The Gothic colonists have established two Gaus on the eastern coast of what seems to be now modern Sweden and pushed the Svea  the local and fierce inhabitants  back inland. Unfortunately, all three generations of warlords are plagued by rivalries which Maroboodus brave but somewhat impulsive actions will exacerbate, ultimately leading him and his father to migrate south into Germany with some of their warriors.

The story is largely fictitious, although perhaps possible since we know very little of the historical character called Maroboodus, apart from the fact that he became and remained the warlord and chief of the Marcomans and built a large confederation of tribes before moving from the Rhine to the Danube, probably under Roman pressure. There is therefore nothing to formally contradict the idea that he and his kin may have come from much further North, especially since tribal groups tended to be quite fluid, with warriors congregating around a successful warlord and farmers swearing allegiance to such warlords in exchange of protection.

One of the storys merits, apart from the collection of vicious fights opposing the various contenders and including a warband of raiding Saxons, is precisely to show the kind of life and endemic warfare that took place during the Late Iron Age in Northern Europe. A related merit is the coming of age of the young, gifted and headstrong Maroboodus. A third merit is the description of the Boat Lord, his island Kingdom and the sources of his wealth and power: the strategic location of this island which made it into a trading centre across what is the Baltic Sea nowadays, and in particular a trading centre in precious furs.

A further interesting point is the contrast that the author draws between the young Maroboodus and the narrator, a much older self, cynical, jaded and trying to hide his fear as best as he can from the Roman scribe who has been instructed to take his story in writing for the benefit of the grudge-bearing and ailing Emperor Tiberius. Finally, and although they are a number of allusions and hints at the earlier series  Hraban Chronicles, with this being the story of Maroboodus half-Marcoman son who hates him  it is perfectly possible to read this book, which chronologically comes first, without having read the others before. This is exactly what I did.

Four strong stars and I am looking forward to reading the sequel in a few months time.
354873
Year of Wonders is a well-crafted work of historical fiction that will definitely appeal to lovers of the genre.  Set in the village of Eyam, Derbyshire, during the English plague of 1666, the novel explores the consequences of the policy of isolation pursued by the villagers at the instigation of their charismatic pastor.  Although there are all the usual gory details of births, deaths and exploding plague sores that one might expect from a novel set in this period, they are not especially gratuitous and don't detract from the wider story, which is well-paced and sympathetically written.  The story is told from the perspective of Anna Frith, an engaging heroine whose struggles with temptation and defeat in various forms provide the impetus for her development thoughout the course of the novel.
If the novel has a flaw it is perhaps that it occasionally tests the readers credulity.  Anna gets involved in everything from medicine to mining (and flirts with feminism and recreational drugs for good measure) and, as a result, can seem an implausibly modern heroine at times.  However, by and large the characters and their relationships with each other are well drawn, and the period itself is so interesting that even a less accomplished writer could probably have produced a decent novel.  Geraldine Brooks has written a moving and thoughtful account of a devastating period in human history.
3118607
Plutarch remains one of the most popular Roman-era historians, and it is easy to see why.  The leaders whose lives he details in this volume were men in whom circumstance and ambition combined to create larger-than-life heroes who continue to instruct and inspire curious students of the past even today.  The epoch spanned by their lives (c. 500 BCE - 30 BCE) saw the transformation of Rome from beleaguered village republic to imperial mistress of the Mediterranean--a period filled with the clash of battle, political intrigue, and the full gamut of human nature, from hatred and betrayal to the noblest acts of bravery and sacrifice.  Plutarch's flair for dramatic license doesn't so much undermine the factual underpinnings of his accounts so much as it breathes life into them.
 Plutarch's Lives were originally published in pairs comparing and contrasting the parallels between a leading figure from Greek history and a Roman counterpart.  These pairings are of little value to modern readers and the editor of this volume has chosen a selection of Roman lives that make more sense, thematically.  My only complaint is that the selection is not a comprehensive one; Plutarch wrote several other lives that fit into both the time period and the historical theme of this volume but which are not included.  They form a companion volume, "The Fall of the Roman Republic," which is also highly recommended.
 For anyone interested in Roman history and ready to move beyond modern renditions, Plutarch is perhaps the single best introduction there is to the ancient historians.  Even casual readers are sure to be surprised and delighted at Plutarch's readability and the vivid, dramatic events he describes.
1355014
Simon Scarrow is really on to something here with his story of a pair of Legionaries engaged in the second Roman invasion of Britain. Technically, this is a work of historical fiction, but there really is more fiction contained than history. However there is enough history to lend the story great credibility.
For the most part, this book has a quick pace. There is not that much fat in this book. Each scene neatly segues to the next, the end result being an engaging book with great characters.
 This book sets the stage for some intrigue in the Roman Court, but there is more action and battle sequences to to balance the intrigue. Also Scarrow's Romans seem to act more British than the Britons they are fighting. I think it's good that he did this, it does a great job in bringing the characters to life. I will eagerly look forward to reading the next book in this series.
4808371
I really enjoyed this book and recommend it highly.  How refreshing to get an insightful portrayal of the fascinating and demonized woman who was at the center of Roman history in the time of Julius, Caesar, Marc Antony, Cleopatra, and the first Roman emperor at the outset of Rome's "Golden Age."  It's a book that needed to be written, for starters because it strips away centuries of gossip and innuendo that got written into history, and secondly because it is such a great story.  After a lifetime of exposure to the movie and tv versions of this period, I have to ask why this more accurate tale hasn't been told.  It's every bit as interesting and colorful, plus there's a whole new story line that never bogs down.  This a page-turner that doesn't disappoint.,