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Lately found three good books set in fairly ancient Rome (well, two of the three are Roman Britain, actually). I think I've gotten addicted to that setting, not clear why--maybe all that time I spent wandering around the Palatine last summer. But for any who share the feeling:
Roma by Steven Saylor. A novelized history of early Rome, from neolithic to Augustus--in the style of Sarum, etc., taking the descendents of two early families through ups and downs over the ages. More painless than a straight history book, but not quite as satisfying as his detective series with Cicero and the PIMarcus Didius Falco Gordianus the finder (sorry about that--Falco actually belongs to Lindsey Davis, who writes yet another very pleasing Roman detective series, starting with Silver Pigs). The later episodes had more developed character and plot, however. Especially nice to see a focus on the Republican years, rather than the later decadence of the empire.
Medicus by Ruth Downie. A physician in the Roman army in Britain--Deva(Chester, in these days)--around the Hadrian-Trajan years, trying to pay off debts from his divorce and cope with military bureaucracy while discovering who's been attacking young women, including one he's very attracted to. Good characters and plotting, maybe a little too modernized, but very believable.
A Roman Ransom by Rosemary Rowe. Also a Roman in Britain, this time in Glevum (Glouscester, I think)--much more a standard detective series, with less historical/archeological detail, but still very readable.
ETA: I think I mentioned this one earlier, definitely the best of all--Imperium, by Robert Harris. It's a novelization of the early years of Cicero, making you see how much ancient Rome is a mirror of some modern countries that seem to be sliding unfortunately toward imperialism. I guess that's what I find intriguing about all of them.
Roma by Steven Saylor. A novelized history of early Rome, from neolithic to Augustus--in the style of Sarum, etc., taking the descendents of two early families through ups and downs over the ages. More painless than a straight history book, but not quite as satisfying as his detective series with Cicero and the PI
Medicus by Ruth Downie. A physician in the Roman army in Britain--Deva(Chester, in these days)--around the Hadrian-Trajan years, trying to pay off debts from his divorce and cope with military bureaucracy while discovering who's been attacking young women, including one he's very attracted to. Good characters and plotting, maybe a little too modernized, but very believable.
A Roman Ransom by Rosemary Rowe. Also a Roman in Britain, this time in Glevum (Glouscester, I think)--much more a standard detective series, with less historical/archeological detail, but still very readable.
ETA: I think I mentioned this one earlier, definitely the best of all--Imperium, by Robert Harris. It's a novelization of the early years of Cicero, making you see how much ancient Rome is a mirror of some modern countries that seem to be sliding unfortunately toward imperialism. I guess that's what I find intriguing about all of them.
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