I have written six novels set in the first and second centuries of the Roman Empire, for which I have done extensive research. My picks are all books that I have found most useful and accessible for the writer who wants to ground her fiction in accurate detail and for the reader who just wants to know the little stuff, which is always more interesting than the big stuff.
By Amanda Cockrell
Correus and Flavius are half-brothers, sons of a famous general. One, son of a slave, is a born soldier and commander. The other, a nobleman by birth, struggles to live up to his father’s expectations. When they both join the Centuriate, a position Flavius has always known he will inherit, and one that Correus has long coveted, together they face the brutal reality of war and the realities of their own relationship.
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By Tony Perrottet
Did you know the ancient Romans had a thriving tourist industry? They did. They made world tours, bought souvenirs and dubious relics (cyclops skulls) and appropriated other cultures’ antiques and took them home to Rome. Full of fascinating information, and funny to boot.
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By J. C. McKeown
The author is a scholar, a professor of Classics, so he knows his stuff. He is also a wonderful writer. This is a collection of small and fascinating facts about Rome and the ancient world. A sampling of entries includes notes on Hannibal’s reputed use of jars of poisonous snakes as catapult ammunition, Roman fly fishing, window glass, and the mechanics of Nero’s revolving dining room.
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By Stephen Dando-Collins
It is exactly what the subtitle says, and a must for any serious Roman military nut. It includes general information on the Roman legions and a detailed account of the origins, postings, battles, commanders when known, and details down to emblems and astrological signs.
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By Ralph Jackson
A wonderful account of the sometimes counterintuitive world of Roman medicine. They could treat cataracts, for instance, but couldn’t recognize appendicitis because they weren’t allowed to conduct autopsies. The chapters on Roman army medicine are excellent. There is also an excellent chapter on women’s diseases, birth and contraception.
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By Lindsay Allason-Jones
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