A series of books NOT to be missed! They are by Steven Saylor.

[Lex]

.
Now let me start by saying, I normally don't like historical fiction. But these are fantastic. Engrossing. Smart. Easy to read and realistic.

It's a series of books that follows the life of a fellow in Rome just as the Roman Republic starts to fall. For more info, go here: http://www.stevensaylor.com/RomaSubRosa.html

Any other fans here?

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“Saylor puts such great detail and tumultuous life into his scenes that the sensation of rubbing elbows with the ancients is quite uncanny.” (New York Times Book Review)

“Steven Saylor is so at home in ancient Rome that you can almost imagine him sitting in a tree-sheltered atrium writing with a stylus and a clay tablet.” (Tampa Tribune & Times)

“The detail is meticulous.” (Archaeology Magazine)

“...brings alive the last days of the Roman Republic in a manner evocative of Robert Graves’s Claudius novels.” (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine)

“If you want to visit Rome—ancient Rome—this is the way to go!” (Oklahoman)

Compared by critics to the novels of Robert Graves and Mary Renault for their historical authenticity, to the whodunnits of Agatha Christie for their deft plotting, and to the seafaring books of Patrick O’Brian for their high adventure, the novels of the ROMA SUB ROSA provide a panoramic fictional account of Rome in the last years of the dying Republic. Surrounded by towering figures like Cicero, Pompey, Julius Caesar, and Marc Antony, Gordianus the Finder and his family encounter murder, mayhem, and mystery.

[knowbody0]

1. why thank you

[satya]

2. I've been looking for a good fiction read; will check it out. Thanks! nt

[WestHoustonDem]

3. I love that series!

I found them a couple of years ago and have a few I haven't read just because I don't want to get to the end of the series.

[Lex]

4. I know I hated to read the last one in the series,

Looks like he has a new one coming up in June, however.

Also, I think I read somewhere that he's consulting on the new HBO mini-series about Rome. Not sure about that though.

[sharonking21]

5. Me!

I have recommended this series under the thread on historical fiction and also I think under "Best Books." I hope he is going to write more in the series--I've read them all. I understand he was a history student at UT Austin--I zeroed in on that somewhere and remembered it because I was also.

[Lex]

6. Yes!

I know he's from Texas and wrote a book I enjoyed called "A Twist At the End" which is based on several real murders that happened in Austin at the time that O. Henry was living in Austin. Supposedly they were the first serial murders that were documented in the U.S. Saylor did quite a bit of research for the book, I believe.

Here's a link from his site about the book:

http://www.stevensaylor.com/Links.html#anchor2911123

[Lex]

7. Update: Saylor has a new one out in this series.

"Triumph of Caesar." Very good so far--I'm about 50 pages in.




“No contemporary novelist approaches Saylor’s continued ability to bring ancient Rome to life.” —Kirkus

“Stellar...compelling...a triumph!”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

:hi:

[raccoon]

8. I used to like those. One of them really sucked, though, because (SPOILER ALERT)

the narrator turned out to be the one whodunit. :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[Lex]

9. I've read all the Sub-Rosa series. I don't recall the one to which you're referring.

They are all extremely well written and researched.

Tell me which one it was and I'd like to go back and re-read it. I own them all.

[raccoon]

11. I don't recall which one, but it was one of the later books in the series. nt

[pscot]

10. I read that one and had the same response

On the whole though, the books very good. Rome is the central character, and he brings the city to life.