Top 5 fiction books on ancient Rome

Roger Michael Kean has been a filmmaker and journalist, and editor of historical reference books for many years. He is the founder and managing director of Thalamus Publishing. Kean is author of The Complete Chronicle of the Emperors of Rome, Forgotten Power: Byzantium, and Exploring Ancient Egypt. He is also co-author of Pirates – Predators of the Sea. He lives in Ludlow, Shropshire, England.

 

"I happen to be a great believer in the power of the well researched, passionate and committed novel to bring history to life in a way that non-fiction texts rarely manage," says Roger. "And since the moment the present has become the past, facts merge with fiction as the complex reality behind events becomes blurred with time. I break historical novels down into two broad types, those that deal primarily with real characters for the story and those that have made up characters, even if occasionally a 'real' one turns up. So, for anyone wanting to get a real feel for the end of the Republic, it really has to be..."

 

 

Masters Of Rome Series by Colleen McCullough (Arrow Books)

Roger Kean says: "I put his into my 'broad type 1' category. Her research and knowledge makes this page-turning fiction series into serious history. There's nothing to fault on the factual backgrounds, and if the real Roman characters portrayed (from Marius/Sulla to Octavian) didn't talk and say things like this, then they should have.

 

Antony and Cleopatra also by Colleen McCullough (Simon & Schuster)
Roger Kean says: "This is excellent, and (unofficially) completes McCullough's set of Rome books."

 

Falco the Informer Series (broad type 2) by Lindsey Davis (Arrow Books)

 

Gordianus the Finder Series or Roma Sub Rosa Series, both by Steven Saylor (Robinson Publishing/Constable Robinson)

Roger Kean says: "These feature another another detective but at the fall of the Republic. A touch more serious than Falco, but every bit as well researched – solid history in fictional form."

 

Roma also by Steven Saylor

Roger Kean says:  "A fictional history of Rome from prehistory to the end of the Republic, following a red thread through several pinpointed periods (like James Mitchener's titles). The second in this series will take the story up to Hadrian."

 

See also Roger Michael Kean's top 5 non-fiction books on ancient Rome.

 

About The Author

Lynette Eyb

Last three pieces by this author:

Did Ryszard Kapuściński Follow Herodotus' Example and Make Things Up? | Top 10 Ancient Sites in Syria | People Power Could Signal the End of Uluru Tourist Climb

Lynette Eyb is the books editor of Heritage-Key.com. She trained in Australia as a journalist before moving to London, where she wrote for and edited various magazines. She has travelled extensively, exploring the ancient wonders of China, Turkey, Greece, Egypt, the UK and Ireland along the way. Lyn lives in Bordeaux with her partner and their young daughter.