Roman History Books and More

march book chats: catullus' bedspread

March 7 & 21
Catullus's Bedspread: The Life of Rome's Most Erotic Poet
by Daisy Dunn
eBook

The "Bedspread" poem (Carmen 64)

Odi et Amo (Carmen 85)
by N.S. Gill

I hate and I love. Why do I do it, perchance you might ask?
I don't know, but I feel it happening to me and I'm burning up.

"Analysis of the structure

"Forget, for a moment, about translating it. The structure of the poem is almost as important as the words themselves. Noting how and where certain words are used lets you see what the poet was emphasizing. In a language where poetry doesn't rhyme and where word order is more flexible than English, these are some of the elements that separate mundane writing from the inspirational."

New members are welcome!
Online Book Chats

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).

september online chats: 'dictator' (cicero III) by robert harris, september 6 & 13

September 6 & 13
(note 1-week interval because of Rosh Hashanah)
Dictator by Robert Harris (Cicero III)
also as eBook

This is the final novel in the trilogy of the life of Cicero as narrated by his secretary Tiro. From exile to death.

The earlier books:

Imperium
Conspirata

  

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

roman britain - charlotte higgins, roger tomlin

More background to our current read, The Edge of the Empire: A Journey to Britannia: From the Heart of Rome to Hadrian's Wall by Bronwen Riley. (May 3 & 17):

 Charlotte Higgins interviewed, in The New Yorker, Roger Tomlin, Chief Researcher, Roman Inscriptions of Britain III,  Fellow, Wolfson College. How to Decode an Ancient Roman’s Handwriting. This is very helpful as Riley cites him many times in the above book.

That led me to Higgins' own book on Roman Britain, which, upon inquiry in our Facebook group, was highly praised. With a little monetary windfall that I have reserved for buying books, I downloaded Under Another Sky: Journeys in Roman Britain.

The two books take a very different approach. Riley sets up an imaginary travelogue in the year 130 CE for the then newly appointed governor. Higgins takes a look at the entire Roman Britain – albeit with selected sites – and explores the sites, the related history and archaeology, and frequently delves into literary connections, ancient and modern. Did you know that Wilfred Owen, a "Shropshire Lad," was an enthusiastic boyhood archaeologist and might have well chosen this as a profession, had he survives the Great War?

I am halfway into Higgins' entertaining book and highly recommend it as a companion to our reading selection!

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Newcomers to the chats are always welcome! The Roman History Reading Group meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month except August at Skype IM (no video) from 9:30 to 11:00 p.m. U.S. EDT (UTC/GMT -04). This means that in Asia and Australia/Pacific it's daytime.  Here is a world time clock to help you.

Chat room directions. Irene will assist you.

 

may 3 & 17 chats - background

Our current read, The Edge of the Empire: A Journey to Britannia: From the Heart of Rome to Hadrian's Wall
by Bronwen Riley, starts its travelogue in Rome and spends some time at Ostia and Portus. Thus you might want to make a virtual tour through Ostia Antica.

Image from above website

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On another note, Caroline Lawrence, whom many of you know, interviewed the author in 2015: The History Girls

*****

Newcomers are always welcome! The Roman History Reading Group meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month except August at Skype IM (no video) from 9:30 to 11:00 p.m. U.S. EDT (UTC/GMT -04). This means that in Asia and Australia/Pacific it's daytime.  Here is a world time clock to help you.

Chat room directions. Irene will assist you.

 

upcoming chat may 3 & 17: the edge of the empire by bronwen riley

May 3 & 17

The Edge of the Empire: A Journey to Britannia: From the Heart of Rome to Hadrian's Wall
by Bronwen Riley
also as eBook
UK title: Journey to Britannia: From the Heart of Rome to Hadrian's Wall, AD 130
also as eBook

An imaginary travelogue.

May 3: through Chapter VI, Westwards to Silchester
May 17: through the end

Newcomers are always welcome! The Roman History Reading Group meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month except August at Skype IM (no video) from 9:30 to 11:00 p.m. U.S. EDT (UTC/GMT -04). This means that in Asia and Australia/Pacific it's daytime.  Here is a world time clock to help you.

Chat room directions. Irene will assist you.

corrected reading list for 2017

edited

Upon further checking, it turns out that we read Robert Harris' second book in the Cicero series under another title already. Thus we will continue with the third and final novel, "Dictator."

Chat List for 2017

January 4 & 18, February 1	The Grass Crown by Colleen McCullough also as eBook
February 15, March 1 & 15	Rubicon by Tom Holland also as eBook
April 5 & 19	Antony by Allan Massie
May 3 & 17	The Edge of the Empire: A Journey to Britannia: From the Heart of Rome to Hadrian's Wall by Bronwen Riley UK title: Journey to Britannia: From the Heart of Rome to Hadrian's Wall, AD 130 also as eBook
June 7 & 21	A Year of Ravens: a novel of Boudica's Rebellion by The H-Team (Ruth Downie, Kate Quinn, Stephanie Dray, Vicky Alvear Shecter), S.J.A. Turney, Russell Whitfield, E. Knight) also as eBook possible authors chat (U.S. based authors)
July 5 & 19	Daughters of Rome (Empress of Rome) by Kate Quinn also as eBook Author chat
August Recess
September 6 & 13 (because of Rosh Hashanah)	Dictator by Robert Harris (Cicero III) also as eBook
October 4 & 18, November 1	SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome by Mary Beard also as eBook
November 15	The War with Jugurtha by Sallust at LacusCurtius
December 6	The Ides of April: A Flavia Albia Mystery Book 1by Lindsey Davis also as eBook
December 13 (Chanukah starts December 13)	Nox Dormienda by Kelly Stanley also as eBook possible author chat

 

current book chat: antony by allen massie

April 5 & 19
Antony by Allan Massie

As dictated to and and annotated by Antony's secretary Critias.

April 5: through Chapter XIV
April 19: through the end

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

book chats, october 7 & 22: the secret history: a novel of empress theodora by stephanie thornton

The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora
by Stephanie Thornton
also as eBook

Author chat: Thursday, October 22

9:30 to 11:00 p.m. US ET (UTC/GMT -04)

Please note change of date, the author chat with Stephanie Thornton will be on Thursday, October 22.

New members are welcome! Chat room instructions

Background: Procopius: The Secret History

june book chats: 'dying every day' by james romm

On June 3 & 17 we discuss Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero
by James Romm.

June 3: as far as we can get
June 17: author chat with James Romm

Background readings:

The Greatest Empire: A Life of Seneca
by Emily Wilson

Review of both books:
Such a Stoic:
How Seneca became Ancient Rome’s philosopher-fixer

Dialogues and Essays by Seneca

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

upcoming book chat: 'letters from a stoic' by seneca, april 1 & 15

Our upcoming chats on April 1 & 15 are letters by Seneca:
Corrected to adjust dates.

Letters from a Stoic (Penguin Classics)
Online

The Penguin book contains the following letters which we will discuss - ideally - as follows:

April 1:

II, III, V, VI through IX,
XI, XII, XV, XVI, XVIII.
XXVI through XXVIII,
XXXIII, XXXVIII,
XL, XLI, XLVI through XLVIII,
LIII through LVI

April 15:

LXIII, LXV, LXXIII, LXXV, LXXVII, LXXVIII,
LXXXIII, LXXXVI, LXXXVIII,
XC, XCI,
CIV, CVII, CVIII,
CXIV, CXXII, CXXIII

Chat Room Directions for Newcomers

Seneca, the fat-cat philosopher

Connected: June 3 & 17 chats
Dying Every Day: Seneca at the Court of Nero
by James Romm / author chat
also as eBook

february/march book chat 'the reach of rome' by alberto angela

We will discuss The Reach of Rome:
A Journey Through the Lands of the Ancient Empire, Following a Coin
by Alberto Angela

on February 4 & 18, March 4

• February 4: through "Milan ~ Women's Liberation"
• February 18: through "Provence ~ Beware of the Brigands"
• March 4: through the end

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

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.

december is mystery month: ruth downie and bruce mcbain

Join us in December for two mysteries:

December 3
Persona Non Grata (Gaius Petreius Ruso Series #3)
aka "The Root of all Evils"
by Ruth Downie
(link includes eBook. Less expensive used copies may be had at ABEbooks.com and elsewhere)

=> December 2 Update

Robert Greaves found these two useful links:

Barbarian let loose in Gaul with camera
Nemausus (Nîmes)

December 10 (because of Hanukkah)
Roman Games
(Plinius Secundus Series #1)
by Bruce MacBain
(link includes eBook)

 

upcoming book chat, november 19: 'the legate's daughter' by wallace breem

Get ready for an engrossing read! Wednesday, November 19

The Legate's Daughter: A Novel
by Wallace Breem

The only recommendation The Legate's Daughter should require is its author's name. Wallace Breem was one of the most gifted writers ever to turn his attention to the historical novel, with a mastery of descriptive writing, characterization, tone and mood rare indeed among those who work in the genre. The Legate's Daughter is as shrouded in rich, suggestive shadows as a Rembrandt masterpiece. Whether the setting is the slums of Rome or an African palace, the most striking scenes tend to take place at night, when those shadows grow darker and an unknown danger seems to lurk just out of sight. Those dangers steadily grow as the plot proceeds and suspense ratchets upwards. The Legate's Daughter

Wallace Breem—some biographical notes

Used copies may be had at ABEbooks.com and elsewhere.
Also as eBook at Amazon.

Newcomers are welcome.
Information

Currently reading 'Rome's Last Citizen: The Life and Legacy of Cato, Mortal Enemy of Caesar' by Rob Goodman & Jimmy Soni

Our seond chat on Rome's Last Citizen: The Life and Legacy of Cato, Mortal Enemy of Caesar by Rob Goodman & Jimmy Soni will be on Wednesday, July 30.

As some members did not have the book yet or needed a refresher read, we will basically discuss the entire book.

New York Times Video Interview

Plutarch's Parallel Lives:

• Cato the Younger
• Cato the Elder
• Pompey
• Julius Caesar

Sallust: The War with Catiline

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

november chat: 'masters of command' by barry strauss

Update 1

On November 6 & 20 we will discuss Masters of Command: Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, and the Genius of Leadership  by Barry Strauss.
(also as eBook)

Through CHAPTER THREE: Resistance

What I like about the book is that it does not give three different biographies but rather compares the three men on various subjects and issues.

Review by N.S. Gill

Lecture by Barry Strauss, November 2012

We are testing a new chat client since the problems with Google Talk are mounting. I will keep you advised.

Update 2: This chat will still be a Google Talk/G-Mail