Roman Fiction For All Ages

Roman Fiction Makes Romans Live Again

Roman fiction brings events and people from our history to life. A well told story, by a writer who understands the facts and theories, can help us to get to know our ancestors. When we understand how the events of their time shaped their lives, we begin to see how alike we are. The Romans' lifestyle was more like ours than any other people in history.

Because everyone who reads a book is different from every other reader, these Roman stories are divided into those aimed at younger readers and those for more advanced readers. Age has little to do with enjoying a story but experience of life can help the reader get more out of the tale. Living and growing, we find new things in the same good story every time we read it.

Roman Stories for Young (at heart) Readers

The scribe and I enjoyed these stories and hope you will too. These writers know a lot about us. My scribe will list others as we find where we have left them. (The scribe, never having served in the army, is an untidy creature.)

The Roman Mysteries a series by Caroline Lawrence (Orion/Dolphin)

If you missed the TV series, read the books. The books always have more story than the dramas.

The Thieves of Ostia~~~~~~~~The Secrets of Vesuvius

The Pirates of Pompeii~~~~~~The Assassins of Rome

The Dolphins of Laurentum~~~The 12 Tasks of Flavia Gemina

The Enemies of Jupiter~~~~~~The Gladiators from Capua

Spring Tide by Mary Ray (Faber'69)

A great storyteller: Rosemary Sutcliff OBE (Puffin)She appeared to know about our fortress at Isca before your scholars found it.

Outcast~~~~~~The Mark of the Horse Lord

The Eagle of the Ninth~~~~~~The Silver Branch

The Lantern Bearers~~~~~~Frontier Wolf

Dawn Wind

WarDog by Henry Treece (Hamlyn/Beaver)

Roman Fiction for More Experienced Readers

Marcus Didius Falco Series by Lindsey Davis (Random House/Century) From The Silver Pigs (if you can find it) to See Delphi and Die(laughing), Roman detective Didius Falco will keep you and his clients on the edge of your seats.

The Silver Pigs (1989)~~~~~~Shadows in Bronze

Venus in Copper ~~~~~~~The Iron Hand of Mars

Poseidon's Gold ~~~~~~~~~ Last Act in Palmyra

Time to Depart ~~~~~~~~ A Dying Light in Corduba

Three Hands in the Fountain ~~Two for the Lions

One Virgin Too Many ~~~~~~Ode to a Banker

A Body in the Bath House ~~~The Jupiter Myth

The Accusers ~~~ Scandal Takes a Holiday

See Delphi and Die ~~~Saturnalia

Alexandria (2009)

Falco on His Metal (omnibus)~~Falco on the Loose(omnibus)