Good novels of roman times

The last time i´ve been to a book store i was looking explicitly for historical novels taking place in ancient rome, let it be republic, empire or late antic times. i only found two books that seemed to be promising:

- Robert Harris - Imperium , which surprised me since i didnt like Pompeji.
- Marguerite Yourvenar - Memoirs of Hadrian , really good.

does anybody know any other good novels of that time ?

Conn Iggulden has written the Emperor series.
-Emperor, the Gates of Rome
-Gaius as a boy and the first civil war
-Emperor, the Death of Kings
-Julius Caesar as a teen comes into power
-Emperor, the Field of Swords
-Julius Gaius Caesar kicks Gaul butt
-Emperor, the God of War
-THE CIVIL WAR

The series take liberties with history, not too much. But the Read it great. I read the Series in a week. All but God of War because i cant find it in paperback and its 20$ in hard. But the books are good i highly recommend.

you are sure about Iggulden ? because the describtion at the back of the book sounds horrible. too much like julius caesar superstar with his x-ray laser view vs the superstrong ironfisted gaul.

but if it´s not, it would be great since you presented quite a lot of books.

Not exactly about roman times, but i enjoyed Roma Eterna by Robert Silverberg. It's not really a novel, more a collection of short stories about what would have happened if the roman empire never fell. The premise is that the jewish exodus never succeeded, and Islam got stopped before it started. A lot of the authors fans seem to dislike the book, but that doesn't keep me from having read it a couple of times. Recommendable, but not higly recommendable.

I enjoyed the Emperor series as well by Iggulden. One book which reads like nice story, but is a historical account, is "Hannibal: Enemy of Rome" by Leonard Cottrel.

Wallace Breem - Eagle in the Snow

I'm currently reading the Emperor series by Iggulden and i would recommend it so far. It does take a few historical liberties here and there...but definately entertaining.

I've also been told the books by Simon Scarrow depicting life in the Roman Legions are pretty good. I haven't read these myself..but probably will when i'm done with the Emperor series by Iggulden.

Get the book, Eagle in the Snow, it is about the Roman Empire in the Dark Age time period, I forgot the author's name though.

I heard Imperium was fantastic. I'll read it as soon as I can finish plowing through Shogun.

I'd recommend Gods and Legions. I forget the author, but I very much enjoyed it. Very fun account of Justinian's rise to power in the late empire.

Originally Posted by Evariste

I'd recommend Gods and Legions. I forget the author, but I very much enjoyed it. Very fun account of Justinian's rise to power in the late empire.

Michael Curtis Ford

Originally Posted by Balikedes

Michael Curtis Ford

Aye, 'is first boook was aboot Xenophon's march frum Persia. Fun writer, 'cept fer inclooding carniverous elephants in Gods an Legions!!
@ Simon Scarow
Arrrghhh!! Is ye be thar REAL Simon Scarecrow, or 'is yer jerkin' tha Captain's chain????

Gods and Legions is great, quite accurate too may I add having read a number of academic books on the Julian (not Justinian Evariste ) - By Michael Curtis Ford.

Originally Posted by Stalins Ghost

Gods and Legions is great, quite accurate too may I add having read a number of academic books on the Julian (not Justinian Evariste ) - By Michael Curtis Ford.

Ack, of course, Julian. So many "J" names...


I agree, it did seem very accurate, having read a few Roman history books myself, though not specifically on Julian.

From the top of my mind, the "Masters of Rome" series, highly detailed and historically acurate though a bit graphical sometimes (sex & blood rather often). Actually reminds me alot of the HBO series "Rome" but highly acurate and detailed.

The novels of this series are:

* The First Man in Rome;
* The Grass Crown;
* Fortune's Favourites;
* Caesar's Women;
* Caesar; and
* The October Horse

and it chronicles the lives and careers of Gaius Marius, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Pompey the Great, Julius Caesar, and the early career of Caesar Augustus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masters_of_Rome

I'm currently reading "Rubicon" which is a Roman murder mystery novel set during Ceaser's approach to Rome. Very good sofar. Haven't noticed any huge inaccuracys yet. I'll see how it ranks up once I've finished it.

If you want the viewpoint of the tribes, you might want to try Rigante, although it is a bit fantasy.

Originally Posted by the celt

I'm currently reading "Rubicon" which is a Roman murder mystery novel set during Ceaser's approach to Rome. Very good sofar. Haven't noticed any huge inaccuracys yet. I'll see how it ranks up once I've finished it.

That's part of a the Roma Sub Rosa series. It begins with Roman Blood, which is about the murder of Clodius. Everything about that series is excellent.

Actually Eagle in the snow sounds great. i have just read some opinions about it and it seems to be quite exactly what i have in mind, if he doesn´t exaggerate the empire honor duty stuff. does anybody know if there is german version, or if it is available in germany?

by the way, short description of the books i have listed above, so you don´t have to search around that much.

Robert Harris - Imperium: it´s the story of ciceros rise in roman politics, told by his slave and privat secretary. the main historical facts are as far as i know, quite accurate and characteristics of pompej magnus caesar etc. seem believable. the story really gets you and after 2 day i was through with it. shows the conflict between the old aristocracy and the homo novus, how the intriges are created, alliances made and being broken, and the way how politics in the republic worked.

Marguerite Yourcenar - Memoirs of Hadrian: it´s a "autobiography"- novel of hadrian. from the view of hadrian she lets him tell his life, his deeds his thoughts. i have like everybody else here read some history books, some biographies about hadrian etc. but in this book i learnt the most about his life and he seemed to be real.

From whose point of view are the Master of Rome books written ?

has anybody read that book ? sounds interestinh though i am afraid it might be another unaccurate and exaggerated x-men type book.

Attila the Scourge of god

http://www.amazon.com/Attila-Scourge.../dp/1904598080

Imperium was indeed a fine book, i read it over about three nights as a result.