Claudia is married to a rich wine maker and her life is very good, except for her gambling problem, which she finances by working as a dominatrix. WheClaudia is married to a rich wine maker and her life is very good, except for her gambling problem, which she finances by working as a dominatrix. When some of her clients turn up dead, she's worried she'll be outed. To make matters worse, the man investigating the murders, Marcus Cornelius Orbilio, is very attracted to her, and vice versa. This is the first in an interesting series - it's unusual to have a female protagonist in a Roman mystery....more
The author travels to places in Italy where Spartacus and his army went. Along the way he meets a few other people interested in Spartacus, most notabThe author travels to places in Italy where Spartacus and his army went. Along the way he meets a few other people interested in Spartacus, most notably a South Korean couple. It was pretty interesting, but the maps were not very good, there were no footnotes, although he did provide a list of books he used for research, and the pictures were unlabeled, with titles for them in a list at the end of the book....more
This presents itself as a book written by an ancient Roman who has had long experience with slaves. He tells you how to buy them, how to feed them, hoThis presents itself as a book written by an ancient Roman who has had long experience with slaves. He tells you how to buy them, how to feed them, how to discipline them, etc. After each chapter by Falx is a commentary containing the sources, both ancient and modern. It was quite entertaining....more
6 stories written by 6 authors about what happened to various people living in Pompeii on the day Vesuvius exploded. Some of the characters are real, 6 stories written by 6 authors about what happened to various people living in Pompeii on the day Vesuvius exploded. Some of the characters are real, like Pliny the Younger and some are mentioned in graffiti on Pompeii's walls. The stories are somewhat intertwined by having people featured in one story show up peripherally in others. The book gives you a really good look at what it must have been like to have been there on that day. Sadly, not all of the stories end happily, but some of the characters you get attached to do survive....more
Young Marcellus returns to Rome thinking that his father has died, but the old man is still alive. At least until he hits his head during a tirade at Young Marcellus returns to Rome thinking that his father has died, but the old man is still alive. At least until he hits his head during a tirade at Marcellus. The old man's hangers-on think the son killed him, so he flees to Pompeii with his Egyptian slave Tay. In order to remain hidden, Tay and Marcellus trade places; Tay is a much better actor than Marcellus so he tells everyone they meet that his slave is mute. The only people who can testify that Marcellus didn't kill his father are killed also and Marcellus and Tay are left with the new-born baby of one of the victims. It's a pretty complicated story, but it works out in the end. I was expecting the eruption of Vesuvius to play a part, as it always seems to in any novel set in Pompeii, but the story takes place in 62 CE during a large earthquake. There are a good many typos and misspellings, but they only distract slightly from the story....more
This is a detailed look at the time period surrounding the assassination of Julius Caesar. Strauss starts with biographies of the men involved and CaeThis is a detailed look at the time period surrounding the assassination of Julius Caesar. Strauss starts with biographies of the men involved and Caesar's actions which drove the Liberators to kill him. My favorite part is A Note on Sources, an improvement on the standard Bibliography. Strauss has interesting comments on both ancient and modern sources, which made me want to read some of them more than if it had just been a list of books....more
Set during Domitian's reign in Rome, this is the story of the relationship between Vinius, a Praetorian guard, and Flavia Lucilla, hairdresser to the Set during Domitian's reign in Rome, this is the story of the relationship between Vinius, a Praetorian guard, and Flavia Lucilla, hairdresser to the royal family. It was interesting that it took a long time for them to finally get together, although they were attracted to each other early on. We also learn a lot about Domitian, a rather unpleasant and increasingly crazy character....more
The author and his pregnant girlfriend travel to places the well-to-do ancient Romans would have gone. They encounter problems the ancients would haveThe author and his pregnant girlfriend travel to places the well-to-do ancient Romans would have gone. They encounter problems the ancients would have had to put up with (unpleasant landlords) as well as more modern ones (a car that keeps breaking down). They visit Olympia, the site of the ancient games, the supposed site of Troy, Ephesus, Rhodes, Alexandria and the pyramids and many more. There's an description of ancient Latin-Greek phrasebooks that appear to have been used while on vacation at the bathhouses. An interesting mix of history with contemporary travel. ...more
A very interesting look at a part of Roman military history from the viewpoint of a Gallic nobleman who joins the cavalry of Caesar's army under PubliA very interesting look at a part of Roman military history from the viewpoint of a Gallic nobleman who joins the cavalry of Caesar's army under Publius Crassus, the triumvir's son, and goes with Crassus to fight the Parthians. What I like about Duggan's books is that they don't have a conventionally happy ending, although neither is the ending tragic. The main characters just make the best of a not-great situation....more
I love this whole series. McCullough has wonderful raw material in the events and personalities of this era. When I ordered the first 3 books of the sI love this whole series. McCullough has wonderful raw material in the events and personalities of this era. When I ordered the first 3 books of the series from Amazon, I was floored by their size, but the pages just fly by. I didn't know much about Marius and Sulla before I read the books, but now I feel like I know them better than members of my family. Not that I would want them in my family....more
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