Roman History Books and More

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 EDT (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 Skype IM.
New members are always welcome!

February 6 & 20, March 6

Marius’ Mules I: The Invasison of Gaul by S.J.A. Turney 

https://www.amazon.com/Marius-Mules-I-Invasion-Gaul-ebook/dp/B004EYT3N8

March 20, April 3 & 17

The Romans Who Shaped Britain by Sam Moorhead & David Stuttart

https://www.amazon.com/Romans-Who-Shaped-Britain-ebook/dp/B01IWCIHVG

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october 4, 18 & november 1 online chats - SPQR by mary beard

SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard
also as eBook

9:30 - 11:00 PM U.S. Eastern

10/4: through Chapter Five (A Wider World)
10/18: through Chapter Nine (The Transformations is Augustus)
11/1: through the end

Review by Emily Wilson 

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New members are always welcome!
Chat room location (with instructions) at Skype IM (text, no video).

march/april book chat: the death of caesar: the story of history's most famous assassination by barry strauss, author chat

March 16, April 6 & 20

The Death of Caesar: The Story of History's Most Famous Assassination by Barry Strauss
also as eBook

March 16: Through Chapter 6 (Wanted Assassins)

April 6: Through the end (Chapter 13: Augustus)

April 20: Author chat.

Julius Caesar was stabbed to death in the Roman Senate on March 15, 44 BC—the Ides of March according to the Roman calendar. He was, says author Barry Strauss, the last casualty of one civil war and the first casualty of the next civil war, which would end the Roman Republic and inaugurate the Roman Empire. “The Death of Caesar provides a fresh look at a well-trodden event, with superb storytelling sure to inspire awe” (The Philadelphia Inquirer).

Why was Caesar killed? For political reasons, mainly. The conspirators wanted to return Rome to the days when the Senate ruled, but Caesar hoped to pass along his new powers to his family, especially Octavian. The principal plotters were Brutus, Cassius (both former allies of Pompey), and Decimus. The last was a leading general and close friend of Caesar’s who felt betrayed by the great man: He was the mole in Caesar’s camp. But after the assassination everything went wrong. The killers left the body in the Senate and Caesar’s allies held a public funeral. Mark Antony made a brilliant speech—not “Friends, Romans, Countrymen” as Shakespeare had it, but something inflammatory that caused a riot. The conspirators fled Rome. Brutus and Cassius raised an army in Greece but Antony and Octavian defeated them.

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New members are welcome!

Chat room location (with instructions) at Skype IM.

upcoming book chat, february 17 & march 2: a day of fire. authors chat

February 17, March 2

A Day of Fire
by E Knight, Stephanie Dray, Ben Kane, Sophie Perinot,, Vicky Alvear Shecter, Kate Quinn
also as eBook

Authors chat March 2

Pompeii was a lively resort flourishing in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius at the height of the Roman Empire. When Vesuvius erupted in an explosion of flame and ash, the entire town would be destroyed. Some of its citizens died in the chaos, some escaped the mountain's wrath . . . and these are their stories: A boy loses his innocence in Pompeii's flourishing streets. An heiress dreads her wedding day, not knowing it will be swallowed by fire. An ex-legionary stakes his entire future on a gladiator bout destined never to be finished. A crippled senator welcomes death, until a tomboy on horseback comes to his rescue. A young mother faces an impossible choice for her unborn child as the ash falls. A priestess and a whore seek redemption and resurrection as the town is buried.

Six authors bring to life overlapping stories of patricians and slaves, warriors and politicians, villains and heroes who cross each others' path during Pompeii's fiery end. But who will escape, and who will be buried for eternity?

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New members are welcome!

Chat room location (with instructions) at Skype IM.

first book chat in 2016: 'first man in rome' by colleen maccullough, january 6 & 20, february 3

Update, January 15

Our first chat in the New Year is an oldie but goodie: First Man in Rome by Colleen McCullough.

January 6 & 20, February 3

This novel, the first in the "Masters of Rome" series, has sparked the interest in Roman history for many readers. For myself, this is one of several go-arounds since I started these online chats in 1995.

From the book description:

With extraordinary narrative power, New York Times bestselling author Colleen McCullough sweeps the reader into a whirlpool of pageantry and passion, bringing to vivid life the most glorious epoch in human history.

When the world cowered before the legions of Rome, two extraordinary men dreamed of personal glory: the military genius and wealthy rural "upstart" Marius, and Sulla, penniless and debauched but of aristocratic birth. Men of exceptional vision, courage, cunning, and ruthless ambition, separately they faced the insurmountable opposition of powerful, vindictive foes. Yet allied they could answer the treachery of rivals, lovers, enemy generals, and senatorial vipers with intricate and merciless machinations of their own—to achieve in the end a bloody and splendid foretold destiny . . . and win the most coveted honor the Republic could bestow.

January 6: through page 275  (Chapter "The Third Year")

January 20: through page 544 (First half of Chapter "The Seventh Year / The Eighth Year / The Tenth Year)

February 3: through the end

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New members are welcome!

Chat room location (with instructions) at Skype IM.

2016 Schedule

upcoming book chat: 'last seen in massilia' by steven saylor - december 16

Our final chat for the year, on December 16, is the next in our occasional installments of the Gordianus mysteries:

Last Seen in Massilia  by Steven Saylor, also as eBook.

Overview:

In the city of Massilia (modern-day Marseille), on the coast of Southern Gaul, Gordianus the Finder's beloved son Meto has disappeared--branded as a traitor to Caesar and apparently dead. Consumed with grief, Gordianus arrives in the city in the midst of a raging civil war, hoping to discover what happened to his son. But when he witnesses the fall of a young woman from a precipice called Sacrifice Rock, he becomes entangled in discovering the truth--did she fall or was she pushed? And where, in all of this, could it be connected to his missing son? Drawn into the city's treacherous depths, where nothing and no one are what they seem, Gordianus must summon all of his skills to discover his son's fate--and to safeguard his own life.

Note:

Steven Saylor does not do author chats, but he has told me he'd be happy to answer any questions by e-mail. You can find his address on the above author website.

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 New members are welcome!
Chat room location (with instructions) at Skype IM.

2016 schedule

online book chats september 2, 16 & 30: 'taken at the flood' by robin waterfield

September 2, 16 & 30
Taken at the Flood: The Roman Conquest of Greece
by Robin Waterfield
also as eBook

Breakdown:

• September 2
  Through Chapter 4: King Philip of Macden

• September 16
  Through Chapter 8: Remote Control

• September 20
  Through the end

The book is not without controversy, see BMCR Review.

Peter Green recently reviewed it with three other books in the NYRB, but unfortunately available only to subscribers: When the Roman Empire Didn’t Stop

New members are welcome!
Chat room location (with instructions) at Skype IM.

2015 Reading Schedule

upcoming chats, may 6 & 20: 'cleopatra' by h. rider haggard

Our chats on May 6 & 20 are on an unusual novel by H. Rider Haggard:
Cleopatra, as seen from the Egyptian POV.

The book is available both on Gutenberg and (also free) on Kindle.

• May 6: Let's plan through Book II, Chapter VIII.
• May 20: Through the end.

Haggard: Reputation and legacy.

Chat Room Directions for Newcomers

 

january book chats: 'household gods' by judith tarr & harry turtledove

We are starting the new year off with a well known time travel novel that gets us to 2nd century CE Carnuntum!

January 7 & 21
Household Gods
by Judith Tarr & Harry Turtledove
(eBooks only ouside the U.S.)

This is a great site to explore the ancient town:
Carnuntum, Reborn City of Emperors

Newcomers: Chat room location (with instructions) at Skype IM.

lacuscurtius and livius.org: informative sites about ancient rome

LacusCurtius - A Gateway to Ancient Rome, run by Bill Thayer, is one of the most informative websites on the subject. livius.org is operated by Jona Lendering.

Together, they have a blog with news about their respective websites: New at LacusCurtius & Livius, as well as book reviews and other news.

Enjoy!

Related articles

Roman Ruins HD for iPad is a terrific way to explore ancient Rome

a note to our oversees friends: time change in the u.s.

Please note that on Sunday, March 10, the U.S. is switching to U.S. Daylight Savings Time. For our chats that means:

EDT= UTC/GMT -04

2013 chat list

Here is the complete chat list. (Schedule subject to change depending on Barry Strauss' author chat availability.)

January 9 & 23, February 6 (note January dates a/c New Year's Day)	The October Horse by Colleen McCullough (in our ongoing reading of the "Masters of Rome" series) (also as eBook)
February 20	"Island of Ghosts: A Novel of Roman Britain" by Gillian Bradshaw, availabale as paperback elsewhere. eBook (U.S. only)
March 6 & 20, April 3	Carthage Must be Destroyed: The Rise and Fall of an Ancient Civilization by Richard Miles (also as eBook)
April 17, May 1	"The Young Caesar" and "Imperial Caesar" by Rex Warner, availabale as paperback elsewhere. Jointly Julius Caesar (Young Caesar & Imperial Caesar) as eBook
May 15	P. Terentius Afer (Terence) online: Andria (The Girl from Andros). Also here. May be read with The Cabala and The Woman of Andros by Thornton Wilder
June 5 & 19	Fire in the East (Warrior of Rome, Book 1) by Harry Sidebottom (also as eBook)
July 3 & 17	Cast Not the Day: A Novel of Love and Tyranny by Paul Waters (also as eBook elsewhere)
August Recess
September 4 & 18, October 2	Rome: An Empire's Story by Greg Woolf (also as eBook)
October 16	A Murder on the Appian Way (Roma Sub Rosa Series #5) by Steven Saylor (also as eBook)
November 6 & 20	Masters of Command: Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, and the Genius of Leadership by Barry Strauss (also as eBook) Author chat, may be moved to accommodate Barry.
December 4	Sacred Games by Gary Corby. Author chat. (also as eBook elsewhere)
December 18	A Dying Light in Cordoba (Marcus Didius Falco Series #8) by Lindsey Davis

upcoming book author chat: 'the ionia sanction' by gary corby

Our next chat is Wednesday, November 7, author chat with Gary Corby, The Ionia Sanction.

A rollicking mystery starring Nicolaos, Son of Sophroniscus. Enjoy!

we are getting real now with the next chat: 'the naked olympics' …

On October 3 & 17:

The Naked Olympics: The True Story of the Ancient Games
by Tony Perrottet
(also as eBook)

For October 3 lets try through Chapter VII: "Let the Games Begin."

There is a new book out:

The Victor's Crown: A History of Ancient Sports from Homer to Byzantium by David Potter that might be nice reading.

(also as eBook)

upcoming book chat: 'The naked olympics: the true story of the ancient games' by tony perrottet

Our next chat in this Olympic Year will be
The Naked Olympics: The True Story of the Ancient Games
by Tony Perrottet (also as eBook)

October 3 & 17.

Some of you may have read his "Pagan Holiday."

chat reminder for tomorrow, wednesday the 19th: 'eager for glory,' author chat with lindsay powell

A reminder that we meet Wednesday, September 19, 9:30 p.m. US EDT with Lindsay Powell to discuss his book Eager for Glory: The Untold Story of Drusus the Elder, Conqueror of Germania.

This is the second of two chats. Please join us!

For newcomers, the chat is at Google and a G-Mail address is preferred. Please let Irene know and she will add you to the chat list.

book chat reminder, wednesday, september 5: 'eager for glory" by lindsay powell, first of two chats

9:30 to 11:00 PM US EDT (UTC/GMT -04).
First of two chats, author chat September 19.

Eager for Glory: The Untold Story of Drusus the Elder, Conqueror of Germania
by Lindsay Powell (als0 as eBook).

Friends of Lindsay who have read the book are welcome! Irene will be happy to have a trial chat with any of you.

Update: I should have mentioned that we should get at least through Chapter 3: "Drusus the Builder."

back ...

I'm back from August break and vacation - working on the book list for 2013. Many thanks for all suggestions.

Meanwhile, get ready for our next book:

Eager for Glory: The Untold Story of Drusus the Elder, Conqueror of Germania
by Lindsay Powell
(als0 as eBook)

September 5 & 19.

Note: author chat September 19.

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.

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