Historical novels arranged by the period of their setting Rome as a Kingdom If you know of works set in the pre-Republican era, please expand this section. Founding Fathers (1959) by Alfred Duggan. Originally titled Children of the Wolf, this novel tells the story of King Romulus and the founding of Rome through the eyes of a variety of characters who come to the new city. Roma (2007) by Steven Saylor. According to the author's website, the book covers part of Rome's early history.http://www.stevensaylor.com/ Saylor, Steven. "Steven Saylor website". Retrieved May 16, 2007
Early Republic (before 264 BC) If you know of works set in the Early Republic, please expand this section. Roma, published March 6, 2007, by Steven Saylor. According to the author's website, the book covers part of Rome's early history. The Etruscan by Mika Waltari. Part of the story is set on the first few years of the Republic. Traitors’ Legion (Ace G-532,1963) by Jay Scotland, a swashbuckler about a disgraced legion, set in Hannibal's time.
Middle Republic (264–133 BC) If you know of works set in the Middle Republic, please expand this section. Roma, published March 6, 2007, by Steven Saylor. According to the author's website, the book covers part of Rome's Republican history. Scipio: A Novel, published March 1998 by Ross Leckie. This is the second book in a loose trilogy about the Second Punic War. Scipio trilogy by Santiago Posteguillo (the Punic Wars general Publius Cornelius Scipio) Africanus, el hijo del cónsul Las legiones malditas La traición de Roma Of Merchants & Heroes, published 2008 by Paul Waters. Set at the end of the 3rd century BC, about the life of a fictional Roman called Marcus. In the novel Marcus becomes involved in the war against Philip V of Macedon, which was led by Titus Quinctius Flamininus, who later became Consul and is a major character in the story. "Salammbô", published 1977 by Gustave Flaubert. 240 BC. The novel is set before and during the Mercenary War, an uprising of mercenaries in the employ of Carthage in the 3rd century BC. "The Shield of Rome", published 2011 by William Kelso. 216 BC. The novel is set during "Rome's finest hour" after the battle of Cannae when Hannibal threatens the very existence of the Republic. "The Fortune of Carthage", published 2012 by William Kelso. 207 BC. The novel is set during the 2nd Punic War and covers Hasdrubal Barca's attempt to link up with the Carthaginian army of his brother Hannibal. "Rome: Destroy Carthage", published 2013 by David Gibbins. 146 BC. The novel was written to promote the strategy game "Rome 2 Total War" and is set during the 3nd Punic War and covers the siege and utter destruction of Carthage.
Late Republic (after 132 BC) Viriato by João Aguiar (late 2nd, early 1st century BC, Viriathus) The Bow of Heaven (2011) by Andrew Levkoff, a novel of events leading up to the battle of Carrhae, and the triumvir responsible for one of the greatest defeats suffered by Republican Rome, Marcus Licinius Crassus Young Caesar (1958) by Rex Warner Imperium and Lustrum (novel) by Robert Harris, the first two volumes of a trilogy of fictionalized biography told by his slave, later freedman, Tiro depicting Cicero's rise to the consulship in 63 BC and subsequent role in the final days of the Republic. A Pillar of Iron (1965) by Taylor Caldwell, a fictionalized biography of Cicero. Imperial Caesar (1960) also by Rex Warner The Ides of March (1948) by Thornton Wilder, culminating in Caesar's assassination. Caesar, Antony by Allan Massie Freedom, farewell! by Phyllis Bentley. The Roma Sub Rosa series by Steven Saylor is set in the later years of the Republic and the beginning of the Augustan period. Roma, published March 6, 2007, by Steven Saylor. According to the author's website, the book covers part of Rome's early history. The Emperor Series (2003–2013), by Conn Iggulden, Julius Caesar's life The Last King: Rome's Greatest Enemy (2005) by Michael Curtis Ford. The career of Mithridates VI (134–63 BC) The Masters of Rome series by Colleen McCullough. Beginning before the birth of Julius Caesar to after his death, it details the self-immolation of the Roman Republic. Spartacus by Howard Fast Spartacus by Lewis Grassic Gibbon Three's Company (1958) by Alfred Duggan. The career of Lepidus, triumvir with Octavian and Marcus Antonius after the death of Julius Caesar. Winter Quarters (1956) by Alfred Duggan. Two Gauls in the time of Julius Caesar, one of whom is under a curse from the Mother Goddess, whose worship he finds throughout the Roman world. The Conquered by Naomi Mitchison (1923). Gaul & the Gallic Wars 1st century BC Beric the Briton: A Story of the Roman Invasion (1893) by G. A. Henty Imperial Caesar (1960) also by Rex Warner
Early/High Empire (27 BC to AD 192) Someday Never Comes by Mk Kayem An Imaginary Life by David Malouf. A fictional account of the poet Ovid's exile from Rome. The Last World by Christoph Ransmayr. Another Ovid-related novel. The Quest For the Lost Roman Legions by Tony Clunn, Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, with his account of his discovery of the battlefield Persona Non Grata, Terra Incognita, Medicus and Caveat Emptor, a series of mysteries featuring the "reluctant sleuth" Gaius Petreius Ruso by Ruth Downie, set around 120 AD. Three Legions series by Rosemary Sutcliff set in Roman Britain c. 130 AD. The three novels consist of The Eagle of the Ninth (1954), The Silver Branch (1957), and The Lantern Bearers (1959). The three were first collected in one volume as Three Legions in 1980. Empire published August 31, 2010, by Steven Saylor. The book follows two families through Rome's Imperial history, from the reign of Augustus to the reign of Hadrian. The sequel to Roma. Vespasian series by Robert Fabbri. The series details the early career and rise to power of Vespasian.
The Julio-Claudian Dynasty The Nero Prediction by Humphry Knipe The Roman (1964) by Mika Waltari The Tribune: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Patrick Larkin Augustus by John Williams Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula and Nero's Heirs by Allan Massie Empire: The Novel of Imperial Rome by Steven Saylor Let the Emperor Speak: A novel of Caesar Augustus by Allan Massie, Doubleday & Company, Inc, New York, 1987 (First published in Great Britain in 1986 by the Bodley Head as Augustus). Also by this author: Caesar, Anthony, Tiberius, Caligula and Nero's Heirs. Pretender by Lion Feuchtwanger
Books about early Christians or Jesus include: Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1880) by Lew Wallace; famously made into a film starring Charlton Heston; set in the reign of Tiberius in Judaea, the Mediterranean, and Rome. Epilogues carry the story into the reign of Nero I Am a Barbarian (1967, written 1941) by Edgar Rice Burroughs; the fictionalized memoirs of Caligula's slave. A Voice in the Wind (1994) by Francine Rivers; the story of Hadassah, a Christian slave taken from Jerusalem and taken to Rome in the time of Titus and his father Mark of the Lion Trilogy book 1 An Echo in the Darkness (1995) by Francine Rivers; the continuing story of Hadassah and Marcus. Mark of the Lion Trilogy book 2 As Sure as the Dawn (1995) by Francine Rivers; the continuing story of Atretes. Mark of the Lion Trilogy book 3 The Robe (1942), by Lloyd C. Douglas, set in the same period as Ben-Hur; like Ben-Hur, more famous as a film.
Books about Claudius or set in his reign include: I, Claudius (1934) and its sequel, Claudius the God (1935), by Robert Graves. The classic and influential dramatised account of the life of the emperor Claudius, made into a popular TV series (see below). The Eagle series by Nigerian-born British novelist Simon Scarrow. The first book Under the Eagle (part of the Eagle series) was published 2000 by Simon Scarrow. Story of Roman invasion of Britain, featuring a young Vespasian. Other books in the series include The Eagle's Conquest (2001 set in 42 AD (introducing Boudicca at the end); When the Eagle Hunts (2002) set in 44 AD. Other books in the series include The Eagle and the Wolves (2003), The Eagle's Prey (2004), The Eagle's Prophecy (2005), The Eagle in the Sand (2006), and the forthcoming Centurion (January – 2008).
Books set in Nero's reign include: Beric the Briton, A Story of the Roman Invasion (1893) by G. A. Henty; the story of a Romanized Briton captured as a rebel and sent to Rome as a gladiator Quo Vadis (1895/1896), by Henryk Sienkiewicz set in the reign of Nero in 64 AD. The Flames of Rome by Paul L. Maier The Gladiator by Thames Williamson A Song for Nero (2003) by Tom Holt, writing as Thomas Holt. Nero, the Bloody Poet by Dezső Kosztolányi Imperial Governor (1968, reprinted 2002), George Shipway, the Icenii revolt under Boudicca. The Roman (1964) by Mika Waltari The Cleft by Doris Lessing is a book supposedly written by an historian during Nero's reign. Venator (2024) by A. M. Swink, the first in the Roman Equestrian series, which is set in Roman Britain just before the onset of the Boudican revolt.
The Flavian Dynasty Josephus Trilogy (1959), by Lion Feuchtwanger about Flavius Josephus, but set in Ancient Rome during Reign of Vespasianus and Titus The Course of Honour (1998), the first novel by Lindsey Davis (later author of the Marcus Didius Falco mysteries, which also take place during the reign on Vespasianus) narrates the history of Vespasian's imperial freedwoman mistress Antonia Caenis. The Light Bearer (1994), by Donna Gillespie tells the story of a Germanic female warrior who becomes a gladiator in Rome in the reign of Domitian. The Last Days of Pompeii by E.G.Bulwer-Lytton Pompeii by Robert Harris, tells the story of Pompeii and the volcano Vesuveus during the reign of Titus. The Jew of Rome by Lion Feuchtwanger
The Nervan-Antonian (Ulpio-Aelia) Dynasty Empress of the Seven Hills by Kate Quinn is set during the reign of Trajan. Lady of the Eternal City by Kate Quinn is set during the reign of Hadrian. Memoirs of Hadrian (1951) by Marguerite Yourcenar The Emperor by Georg Ebers, another fictitious biography of Hadrian A God Strolling in the Cool of the Evening (1994) by Mario de Carvalho, set mainly in Roman Lusitania Marius the Epicurean (1885) by Walter Pater
Middle Empire (AD 193–293) Family Favourites (1960), by Alfred Duggan; a tale of court life under the teenage emperor Elagabalus, as recounted by his personal bodyguard Heliogabalus or, the Crowned Anarchist (1934) by Antonin Artaud, a novelized biography of the teenage emperor Elagabalus, a powerful concoction of sexual excess, self-deification and terminal violence The Unconquered Sun by Ralph Dulin, follows the life of the emperor Aurelian and his wife Warrior Of Rome series by historian Harry Sidebottom, takes place in the years 238 to 264, mostly from 256 to 264, six books so far published Iron And Rust also by historian Harry Sidebottom, takes place before the Warrior Of Rome series
Late Empire: West (AD 293–457) Helena by Evelyn Waugh; follows the quest of the Empress Helena, a Christian and the mother of Emperor Constantine to uncover the remains of the cross upon which Christ was crucified. Julian (1964) by Gore Vidal, fictionalized biography of the emperor Julian the Apostate, who tried to revive Paganism The Last Legion: A Novel by Valerio Massimo Manfredi; fictionalized story of the emperor Romulus Augustulus and what might have happened to his surviving retinue. The Death of the Gods. Julian the Apostate (Russian: Смерть богов. Юлиан Отступник) by Dmitry Merezhkovsky in 1895.The novel tells the story of Roman Emperor Julian who during his reign (361–363) was trying to restore the cult of Olympian gods in Rome, resisting the upcoming Christianity. Eagle in the Snow (1970) by Wallace Breem; set in Britannia and Germania in the late 4th and early 5th century; features a Mithraic Roman general.