Fiction Recommendations

ARCHAEOLOGY ASSOCIATES OF GREENWICH
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Ancient History

GILLIAN BRADSHAW: Excellent author who specializes in the late Roman and Byzantine world in these novels: The Sand Reckoner; The Beacon at Alexandria; The Bearkeeper's Daughter; Island of Ghosts: A Novel of Roman Britain. The last one is an excellent read about the Sarmatians who are sent to Britain during the time of Marcus Aurelius (c. AD 170) as mercenaries after being defeated somewhere East of the Danube. Their problems adjusting to Britain make a great story, based loosely on historical events. Takes place in the towns on Hadrian's Wall and York.

LINDSEY DAVIS : Marcus Didius Falco Novels. Silver Pigs; Venus in Copper; Shadows in Bronze; The Iron Hand of Mars; Last Act in Palmyra. Marcus is a delightful character who free-lances for Emperor Vespasian and sometimes his son Titus to solve difficult mysteries. The novels take place in different parts of the Roman Empire around AD 70.

MORGAN LLWELYN: This author's Druids is a fascinating look at the Roman vs the Gauls war but instead of Caesar's point of view as in McCullough's book, Caesar, (see below) it is the story of Vercingetorix and his dear friend the Chief Druid and the Roman battles in what is now France. Her Lion of Ireland is a wonderful fictional account of Brian Boru, 11th century King who was warrior, lover and hero of mythical proportions.

COLLEEN MCCULLOUGH: Master of Rome Series. The First Man in Rome; The Grass Crown; Fortune's Favorites; Caesar's Women; and Caesar. The last title is a wonderful telling of Caesar's battles in Gaul and his decision to "cross the Rubicon," a common phrase of which not everyone knows the importance. Caesar also tells the murder story about Publius Clodius that Saylor (see below) tells in A Murder on the Appian Way with a different twist. The early ones about Marius and Sulla, especially The First Man in Rome, give an excellent view of the major and minor characters in the last days of the Roman Republic. Whenever Caesar comes on the scene in any of these books (even as a young boy reading to Marius), the pages light up. McCullough makes Roman history come alive.

STEVEN SAYLOR: Gordianus the Finder series in the Roman Republic. Last Seen in Massilia; Rubicon; Catalina's Riddle, The Venus Throw, Arms of Nemesis; Roman Blood; A Murder on the Appian Way; The House of the Vestals. Many of these excellent novels and stories are based on ancient tales from Cicero and other Roman writers.

ROBERT VAN GULIK : A whole series about Judge Dee and his lieutenant Chiang Tai based on an interesting historical figure who lived during the T'ang dynasty (630-700 AD) with lots of colorful information about ancient China. Try The Lacquer Screen; Poets and Murder; The Monkey and the Tiger; The Willow Pattern; or The Emperor's Pearl.

	Related Websites Contact Prehistoric People Membership			About the AAG Lecture Schedule Book Reviews Bruce Museum
ARCHAEOLOGY ASSOCIATES OF GREENWICH