Roman History Books and More

more on 'the scribes from alexandria', june 6 chat

Author Caroline Lawrence posted more on our Facebook page with regard to our upcoming chat on her novel, The Scribes from Alexandria.

For those not subscribing to Facebook and/or our page, here are the details:

Salvete, omnes! I'm looking forward to answering your questions about The Scribes from Alexandria, now available in the US on Kindle for your iPad or iPhone or Kindle!

I had a lot of fun researching this book! A trip to Cairo & another up the Nile! http://flavias.blogspot.co.uk/2007/05/week-on-sskarim.html

→   Anyone who is not already a member of the chat may join here and do a test chat with Irene as described.

online book chats

This blog is an adjunct to The Roman History Reading Group which meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month except August in our chat room from 9:30 to 11:00 p.m. US DST (UTC/GMT -04).  This means that in Asia and Australia/Pacific, it's daytime. Here is a world time clock as a general assistance for non-USAns.

Chat room location (with instructions)
at Google Talk.

2012 Reading Schedule

June 6
The Scribes from Alexandria
by Caroline Lawrence
(author chat)

June 20 & July 11
Caesars' Wives: Sex, Power, and Politics in the Roman Empire
(UK: The First Ladies of Rome)
by Anneliese Freisenbruch

Join us! 
Find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Proceeds from any sales benefit our local historical society, a non-profit corporation. Change of links from Amazon.com
to B&N are in the process of being made.

june 6 author chat: 'the scribes from alexandria' by caroline lawrence

On June 6 we will hook up with Caroline Lawrence to discuss her historical children's novel The Scribes from Alexandria.

The Roman Mysteries is a collection of 17+ historical novels about four children who solve mysteries in Rome's port of Ostia during the reign of Titus.

Caroline writes:

Welcome to the world of Flavia Gemina. The year is AD 79. The place is Ostia, port of Rome. From here, Flavia Gemina, daughter of a Roman sea captain, embarks on thrilling adventures with her three friends, Jonathan, Nubia and Lupus. As she and her friends attempt to solve their first crime, the clues lead them around Ostia, to the harbour, the forum, the lighthouse and the tombs of the death. Later mysteries take them to Pompeii, Rome, Greece, North Africa, Egypt, Turkey and finally back to Ostia and Rome.

"The Scribes from Alexandria," Roman Mystery 15, is set in early summer AD 81. After a shipwreck, the children are separated. Flavia, Jonathan and Lupus go around Alexandria and up the Nile following a trail of clues laid by a mysterious eunuch to find Nubia, who believes they are all dead.

The Facebook Page
The blog

Please welcome Caroline. This chat is one of many author chats this season.

For newcomers, our chats take place at 9:30 EDT (UTC/GMT -04).  This means that in Asia and Australia/Pacific, it's daytime. We are on Google Talk. Please check with Irene to set up a trial chat.

a little background to the "republic of vengeance," our book chat on wednesday

Titus Quintius Flamininus and Philip V of Macedon are major players in the latter part of
The Republic of Vengeance by Paul Waters.

Here is some online background:

• Plutarch • Life of Flamininus
• Philip V at livius.org
• The Fetters of Greece and Philip V of Macedon - Ancient Life

reminder of upcoming book chat, may 16: 'the republic of vengeance' (uk title: 'of merchants and heroes')

Join us on Wednesday, May 16 to discuss
The Republic of Vengeance by Paul Waters.
(UK: Of Merchants and Heroes)
Also as eBook at other vendors.

I do enjoy not only the story but also the excellent prose!

Review by Mary Harrsch

upcoming book chat, may 16: 'the republic of vengeance' Uk title: 'of merchants and heroes'

Join us on Wednesday, May 16 to discuss
The Republic of Vengeance by Paul Waters.
(UK: Of Merchants and Heroes)
Also as eBook at other vendors.

Library Journal writes:

This engrossing and beautifully written first novel will catapult Waters into the ranks of such well-known writers of the classical world as Mary Renault, Steven Pressfield, and Michael Curtis Ford. Fourteen-year-old Roman boy Marcus's first sea voyage with his father ends violently when their vessel is overtaken by pirates, leaving Marcus the only survivor. This single event sets the course of his life. Overshadowing his youth spent as a merchant and, later, his time as a soldier in the war against Philip of Macedonia is an unquenchable thirst for revenge, which even his love for Menexenos, a beautiful, young Greek athlete, cannot ease. Waters brings the world of third-century B.C.E. Greece to vivid life. Skillfully interwoven into the fictional story of Marcus and Menexenos are actual events and people of the times-e.g., the struggle between Rome and Macedonia for the freedom of Greece, the early years of Roman influence and conquest, and the grace, dignity, and culture of the center of civilization, Greece. This first book in a planned series is highly recommended for public and university libraries.
—Jane Henriksen Baird

book chat on wednesday: author chat with judith geary, 'getorix, games of the underworld

Be ready to chat with author Judith Geary about her book Getorix: Games of the Underworld.

Some of you may have read the first novel, Getorix: The Eagle and the Bull. Irene's review: Getorix: The Eagle and The Bull: A Celtic Adventure in Ancient Rome.

Enjoy!

upcoming book chat: plutarch's 'moralia'

First my apologies: I never got around to posting selections, so the last chat was poorly attended and we called it a night soon. Between sciatic pain, physical therapy, and home renovation, some things simply fell through the cracks. :(

Our next chat will be next Wednesday, March 21.

First, a note to Plutarch's Moralia online at the Liberty Fund: If you click on the individual volumes, you find various download options, including book format. There is a special download for Kindle, and people using iBooks or Nook can use the e-pub downloads. I downloaded them on iBooks, and Beverly tested them on the Nook.

My first recommendations are

• Ralph Waldo Emerson's introduction to the above "Moralia" in Volume 1.
• OF ISIS AND OSIRIS, OR OF THE ANCIENT RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY OF EGYPT (Volume 4). This can also be read at LacusCurtius.

This will take up quite a bit of the chat time, I suppose. Between today and Saturday, I will do some extensive reading and post suggestions of some of the smaller pieces.

Recommendations are appreciated!

And let's put another session on next year's calendar.

Stay tuned!

wednesday's book chat: "render unto caesar" by gillian bradshaw

Hope to see you all at Wednesday's chat!

Render Unto Caesar by Gillian Bradshaw (available as eBook too)

I'm especially interested in people's reaction to the treatment of slavery with by our protagonist.

Enjoy!

upcoming book chat: 'caesar: a novel' by colleen mccullough

Our next read on January 4 & 18, and February 1 is
Caesar: A Novel by Colleen McCullough.

I've been trying to make a fairly even split:

January 4: through Page 206
January 18: through Page 420
February 1: through the end

I suspect that some of the participants may not be too interested in the battle scenes, so we will play it by ear. However, it was suggested to read De Bello Gallico as background, and here is an eText link: Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic and Civil Wars.

See you all on the 4th!

reading calendar for 2012 now complete (corrected update)

Reading List for 2012

January 4 & 18, February 1	Caesar: A Novel by Colleen McCullough Background (online): Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic and Civil Wars
February 15	Render Unto Caesar by Gillian Bradshaw (also as eBook)
March 7 & 21	Plutarch: Moralia / incomplete at LacusCurtius Selections to be decided.
April 4	Getorix: Games of the Underworld by Judith Geary (author chat)
April 18, May 2	Antony and Cleopatra by Adrian Goldsworthy
May 16	The Republic of Vengeance (UK: Of Merchants and Heroes) by Paul Waters (also as eBook at other vendors)
June 6	The Scribes from Alexandria by Caroline Lawrence (author chat*)
June 20 & July 11 (note date)	Caesars' Wives: Sex, Power, and Politics in the Roman Empire (UK: The First Ladies of Rome) by Anneliese Freisenbruch (also as eBook)
July 18	The Blood of Caesar by Albert A. Bell Jr. (author chat)
August Recess
September 5 & 19	Eager for Glory: The Untold Story of Drusus the Elder, Conqueror of Germania by Lindsay Powell (author chat*)
October 3 & 17	The Naked Olympics: The True Story of the Ancient Games by Tony Perrottet (also as eBook)
November 7	The Ionia Sanction by Gary Corby (author chat)
November 14 (note date)	Cleopatra's Moon by Vicky Alvear Shecter (author chat) (also as eBook)
December 5	Terra Incognita by Ruth Downie (also as eBook)
December 12	The Temple of the Muses (SPQR IV) by John Maddox Roberts (also as eBook)

* date may change

december is mystery month! 'time to depart' & 'arms of nemesis'

Well, not quite. This year, it was also the second half of November: we had an enjoyable chat with Gary Corby, author of The Pericles Commission, an Athenian mystery.

Due to the holidays, the December chats are bunched, sorta:

December 7: Time to Depart by Lindsey Davis
December 14: Arms of Nemesis b y Steven Saylor

Enjoy these old favorites, see you all at the chats.

upcoming book chat: 'the pericles commission' with author gary corby, november 16

We all are looking forward to the chat on November 16 with Gary Corby, on his The Pericles Commission, an Athenian mystery.

I reviewed the book last year and subtitled it, or: The Education of Nicolaos, Son of Sophroniscus …. Nicolaos is also plagued with his pesky and irritating little brother Socrates.

The book is also available as eBook.  Enjoy!

... and another book chat baby

Carson Skelly, age 7 weeks (typo corrected!)

first november book chat: 'cleopatra's heir' by gillian bradshaw, november 2

On November 2 will discuss Cleopatra's Heir by Gillian Bradshaw, an alternative history novel.

My 2003 review:

"How should one label this new book by Gillian Bradshaw? Alternative history? Yes. Historical romance? Definitely. A psychological study? Certainly …" I conclude with this sentence:

Aficionados of historical novels might not want to touch this book of alternative history, but to them I'd say “Give it a try, you might like it”!

 

next book chat: 'pharaoh: volume II of kleopatra' by karen essex

On October 19 we meet to discuss Pharaoh: Volume II of Kleopatra by Karen Essex. We read Volume I last year.

Irene's review / N.S. Gill's review.

Chat room location (with instructions) at Google Talk.
2011 Reading Schedule

Next Book Chat: 'How to Mellify a Corpse' by Vicki Léon, October 5

Our next book chat on Wednesday, October 5, will be the entertaining
How to Mellify a Corpse by Vicki Léon.

The stories take you from Athens & Attica to Greece & the Greek Islands to Asia Minor & the Middle East to Rome & Environs, and thereafter to Italy & Sicily and Egypt, Carthage & North Africa – from about 700 BC to 300 AD. They cover the range of physical science, then considered a “philosophy,” medicine, architecture, time keeping, astronomy, astrology & superstition, divination, religion … you name it.

A random opening of a page gets you to the chapter “Philosophical Fava Phobia” and, surprisingly to the unaware reader, to Pythagoras. The accompanying drawing is titled Decoding the Great Bean Taboo (and much else) of Pythagoras.

Hopefully, the author will join us for the chat. Chat members will remember last year's chat about Working IX to V: Orgy Planners, Funeral Clowns and Other Prized Professions of the Ancient World, which is now also available as Nook Book.

Enjoy!

Update: Vicki Léon will definitely join us!

modern companion readings to 'tiberius caesar'

As Lindsay Powell pointed out on our Facebook group page, there are excellent and more modern biographies of Tiberius out there after G.P. Baker, our current read:

Tiberius by Robin Seager and Tiberius the Politician by Barbara Levick. The latter is also a good source for Augustus.

As to novels, aside from Graves' I, Claudius there is Tiberius by Allan Massie.

           

g.p. baker

A number of people in the reading group are fans of G.P. Baker, including myself. Not much can be found of him when googling his name except links to his books and occasional reviews.

I posted a summary of his life in 2006, G.P. Baker's life & a book review, when we read his "Justinian, the Last Roman Emperor."

Even though he wrote his biographies from the aspect of the 1920s and early 1930s, I get a lot out of his books, especially the psychological observations about his subject. And in Tiberius Caesar, he devotes quite a few pages to what he calls the "Roman word-state," which are well worth reading. One has to overlook (probably contemporary) idiosyncrasies such as singular names for peoples: "The Roman," "the German," "the Parthian," and so on. He seems to have been an autodidact, but I may well stand to be corrected.

dates for 'tiberius' chat changed

Due to circumstances beyond my control, the second "Tiberius" chat had to be changed from July 20 to July 13.   See you all at the first chat on July 6.

looking ahead to 'tiberius caesar' by g.p. baker