100 Best Ancient Rome Books of All Time

We've ranked the best ancient rome books using expert recommendations, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. At Shortform, we know books. Our book guides are the best in the world. Learn why.

Meditations book cover1

Meditations

Marcus Aurelius

5.0
Preview Summary
One measure, perhaps, of a book's worth, is its intergenerational pliancy: do new readers acquire it and interpret it afresh down through the ages? The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, translated and introduced by Gregory Hays, by that standard, is very worthwhile, indeed. Hays suggests that its most recent incarnation--as a self-help book--is not only valid, but may be close to the author's intent
Arianna Huffington portraitNaval Ravikant portraitChip Conley portrait Recommended by Arianna Huffington, Naval Ravikant, Chip Conley, and 12 others.
Arianna Huffington portrait
Arianna Huffington

Founder/The Huffington Post

I find this book so inspirational and instructive, it lives on my nightstand. [source]

Chip Conley portrait
Chip Conley

I have given this book away to a number of people. [source]

Marvin Liao portrait
Marvin Liao

Partner/500 Startups

My list would be (besides the ones I mentioned in answer to the previous question) both business & Fiction/Sci-Fi and ones I personally found helpful to myself. The business books explain just exactly how business, work & investing are in reality & how to think properly & differentiate yourself. On the non-business side, a mix of History & classic fiction to understand people, philosophy to make sense of life and Science fiction to picture what the future could be like (not always utopian). [source]

SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome book cover2

SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome

Mary Beard

4.8
In SPQR, an instant classic, Mary Beard narrates the history of Rome "with passion and without technical jargon" and demonstrates how "a slightly shabby Iron Age village" rose to become the "undisputed hegemon of the Mediterranean" (Wall Street Journal). Hailed by critics as animating "the grand sweep and the intimate details that bring the distant past vividly to life" (Economist) in a way that m
Olly Murphy (Wycombe Abbey) portrait Recommended by Olly Murphy (Wycombe Abbey).
3

I, Claudius (Claudius, #1)

Robert Graves

4.5
Into the 'autobiography' of Clau-Clau-Claudius, the pitiful stammerer who was destined to become Emperor in spite of himself, Graves packs the everlasting intrigues, the depravity, the bloody purges and mounting cruelty of the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius, soon to culminate in the deified insanity of Caligula.

I, Claudius and its sequel, Claudius the God, are among the most celebrated, as well t
4

Imperium (Cicero, #1)

Robert Harris

4.5
From the bestselling author of Fatherland and Pompeii, comes the first novel of a trilogy about the struggle for power in ancient Rome.

In his “most accomplished work to date” (Los Angeles Times), master of historical fiction Robert Harris lures readers back in time to the compelling life of Roman Senator Marcus Cicero. The re-creation of a vanished biography written by his household slave and righ
Olly Murphy (Wycombe Abbey) portrait Recommended by Olly Murphy (Wycombe Abbey).
Letters from a Stoic book cover5

Letters from a Stoic

Seneca

4.5
I feel, my dear Lucilius, that I am being not only reformed, but transformed. I do not yet, however, assure myself, or indulge the hope, that there are no elements left in me which need to be changed. Of course there are many that should be made more compact, or made thinner, or be brought into greater prominence. And indeed this very fact is proof that my spirit is altered into something better,
Timothy Ferriss portraitRyan Holiday portraitDavid Kadavy portrait Recommended by Timothy Ferriss, Ryan Holiday, David Kadavy, and 5 others.
Timothy Ferriss portrait
Timothy Ferriss

Author & Entrepreneur

This is a letter from Stoic heavyweight Seneca the Younger — who lived a mere 2,000 years or so ago — to his friend Lucilius. It’s from a collection of letters that comprise, effectively, my favorite book of all time. I’ve read it dozens of times, and I loved it so much that I turned it into The Tao of Seneca, a three-volume set of audiobooks. [source]

Ryan Holiday portrait
Ryan Holiday

Author

After Marcus Aurelius, this is one of my favorite books. While Marcus wrote mainly for himself, Seneca had no trouble advising and aiding others. In fact, that was his job—he was Nero’s tutor, tasked with reducing the terrible impulses of a terrible man. His advice on grief, on wealth, on power, on religion, and on life are always there when you need them. [source]

Jerzy Gregorek portrait
Jerzy Gregorek

From this book, I learned self-mastery: to constantly improve myself so I would be ready for any possible disaster. I also learned that when disaster happens, it means that something is being asked of me. I need to improve. [source]

The Twelve Caesars book cover6

The Twelve Caesars

Suetonius, Michael Grant, Robert Graves

4.5
As private secretary to the Emperor Hadrian, Suetonius gained access to the imperial archives and used them (along with eye-witness accounts) to produce one of the most colorful biographical works in history. The Twelve Caesars chronicles the public careers and private lives of the men who wielded absolute power over Rome, from the foundation of the empire under Julius Caesar and Augustus, to the
Tom Holland portrait Recommended by Tom Holland.
7

Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic

Tom Holland

4.5
In 49 B.C., the seven hundred fifth year since the founding of Rome, Julius Caesar crossed a small border river called the Rubicon and plunged Rome into cataclysmic civil war. Tom Holland’s enthralling account tells the story of Caesar’s generation, witness to the twilight of the Republic and its bloody transformation into an empire. From Cicero, Spartacus, and Brutus, to Cleopatra, Virgil, and Au
8

The Aeneid

Virgil, Robert Fitzgerald

4.5
The Aeneid is an epic poem written by Virgil in the 1st century BC. It's hero is Aeneas, a Trojan who travels from Troy to Italy to eventually found Rome. Some argue that The Aeneid is Virgil's answer to Homer's Odyssey and Iliad, combining two genres of the day - travel and war - into one poem. Take that, Homer!

No civilization is without a bit of revisionist history: so it was that Virgil picked
Mark Zuckerberg portraitRyan Holiday portraitTed Turner portrait Recommended by Mark Zuckerberg, Ryan Holiday, Ted Turner, and 2 others.
Mark Zuckerberg portrait
Mark Zuckerberg

Founder/Facebook

Oh, it’s not a favorite book or anything like that, I just added it because I liked it. I don’t think there’s any real significance to the fact that it’s listed there and other books aren’t. But there are definitely books—like the Aeneid—that I enjoyed reading a lot more. [source]

Ryan Holiday portrait
Ryan Holiday

Author

I made an effort to read some classical poets and playwrights this year. The Aneiad was far and away the most quotable, readable and memorable of all of them. There’s no other way to put: the story is AMAZING. Better than the Odyssey, better than Juvenal’s Satires. Inspiring, beautiful, exciting, and eminently readable, I loved this. I took more notes on it that I have on anything I’ve read in a long time. [source]

Ted Turner portrait
Ted Turner

Founder/CNN

When I got to college, I was a classics major, and that was mainly the study of Greek - and to a lesser extent Roman - history and culture, and that fascinated me: the Iliad, the Odyssey, the Aeneid by Virgil. [source]

The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic book cover9

The Storm Before the Storm: The Beginning of the End of the Roman Republic

Mike Duncan

4.5
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
The creator of the award-winning podcast series The History of Rome and Revolutions brings to life the bloody battles, political machinations, and human drama that set the stage for the fall of the Roman Republic.
The Roman Republic was one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of civilization. Beginning as a small city-state in central Italy, Rome gradually
Marvin Liao portrait Recommended by Marvin Liao.
10

The First Man in Rome (Masters of Rome, #1)

Colleen McCullough

4.5
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 debau
Caesar: Life of a Colossus book cover11

Caesar: Life of a Colossus

Adrian Goldsworthy

4.4
Tracing the extraordinary trajectory of the great Roman emperor’s life, Goldsworthy covers not only the great Roman emperor’s accomplishments as charismatic orator, conquering general, and powerful dictator but also lesser-known chapters during which he was high priest of an exotic cult, captive of pirates, seducer not only of Cleopatra but also of the wives of his two main political rivals, and r
12

Pompeii

Robert Harris

4.4
With his trademark elegance and intelligence Robert Harris recreates a world on the brink of disaster.

All along the Mediterranean coast, the Roman empire's richest citizens are relaxing in their luxurious villas, enjoying the last days of summer. The world's largest navy lies peacefully at anchor in Misenum. The tourists are spending their money in the seaside resorts of Baiae, Herculaneum, and Po
The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire book cover13

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Edward Gibbon

4.3
Length: 126 hrs and 31 mins

The History of the Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire was written by English historian Edward Gibbon & originally published in six quarto volumes. Volume 1 was published in 1776, going thru six printings; 2-3 in 1781; 4-6 in 1788-89. It was a major literary achievement of the 18th century, adopted as a model for the methodologies of historians.

The books cover the Roman E

Metamorphoses book cover14

Metamorphoses

Ovid, David Raeburn, Denis Feeney

4.3
Prized through the ages for its splendor and its savage, sophisticated wit, The Metamorphoses is a masterpiece of Western culture--the first attempt to link all the Greek myths, before and after Homer, in a cohesive whole, to the Roman myths of Ovid's day. Horace Gregory, in this modern translation, turns his poetic gifts toward a deft reconstruction of Ovid's ancient themes, using contemporary id
15

Mistress of Rome (The Empress of Rome, #1)

Kate Quinn

4.3
The first in an unforgettable historical saga from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Alice Network.


First-century Rome: A ruthless emperor watches over all--and fixes his gaze on one young woman...

Thea is a slave girl from Judaea, purchased as a toy for the spiteful heiress Lepida Pollia. Now she has infuriated her mistress by capturing the attention of Rome's newest and
Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the House of Caesar book cover16

Dynasty: The Rise and Fall of the House of Caesar

Tom Holland

4.3
Author and historian Tom Holland returns to his roots in Roman history and the audience he cultivated with Rubicon—his masterful, witty, brilliantly researched popular history of the fall of the Roman republic—with Dynasty, a luridly fascinating history of the reign of the first five Roman emperors.

Dynasty continues Rubicon's story, opening where that book ended: with the murder of Julius Caesar.
Olly Murphy (Wycombe Abbey) portrait Recommended by Olly Murphy (Wycombe Abbey).
Conspirata (Cicero, #2) book cover17

Conspirata (Cicero, #2)

Robert Harris

4.3
Cicero returns to continue his struggle to grasp supreme power in the state of Rome. Amidst treachery, vengeance, violence, and treason, this brilliant lawyer, orator, and philosopher finally reaches the summit of all his ambitions. Cicero becomes known as the world's first professional politician, using his compassion, and deviousness, to overcome all obstacles.

- Compelling historical fiction at
18

Memoirs of Hadrian

Marguerite Yourcenar, Grace Frick

4.3
Both an exploration of character and a reflection on the meaning of history, Memoirs of Hadrian has received international acclaim since its first publication in France in 1951. In it, Marguerite Yourcenar reimagines the Emperor Hadrian's arduous boyhood, his triumphs and reversals, and finally, as emperor, his gradual reordering of a war-torn world, writing with the imaginative insight of a great
19

Claudius the God and His Wife Messalina (Claudius, #2)

Robert Graves

4.3
Robert Graves begins anew the tumultuous life of the Roman who became emperor in spite of himself. Captures the vitality, splendor, and decadence of the Roman world at the point of its decline.
20

The Silver Pigs (Marcus Didius Falco, #1)

Lindsey Davis

4.3
When Marcus Didius Falco, a Roman "informer" who has a nose for trouble that's sharper than most, encounters Sosia Camillina in the Forum, he senses immediately all is not right with the pretty girl. She confesses to him that she is fleeing for her life, and Falco makes the rash decision to rescue her—a decision he will come to regret. For Sosia bears a heavy burden: as heavy as a pile of stolen I
21

The Grass Crown (Masters of Rome, #2)

Colleen McCullough

4.3
In this great drama, Marius, the general who saved Rome from barbarian invasion and became consul an unprecedented six times, has fallen into decline. Sulla, his closest associate, has withdrawn himself from his commander's circle in preparation for his own bid for power. As a deadly enmity develops between the two men, Rome must fight its own battle for survival - first against her neighbouring I
The Conquest of Gaul book cover22

The Conquest of Gaul

Gaius Julius Caesar

4.3
The Gallic War, published on the eve of the civil war which led to the end of the Republic, is an autobiographical account written by one of the most famous figures of European history. This new translation reflects the purity of Caesar's Latin while preserving the pace & flow of his momentous narrative of the conquest of Gaul & the first Roman invasions of Britain and Germany. Detailed notes, map
23

Julián Is a Mermaid

Jessica Love

4.3
In an exuberant picture book, a glimpse of costumed mermaids leaves one boy flooded with wonder and ready to dazzle the world.

While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic
Joseph Coelho portrait Recommended by Joseph Coelho.
24

Cleopatra's Daughter

Michelle Mora

4.3
At the dawn of the Roman Empire, when tyranny ruled, a daughter of Egypt and a son of Rome found each other...

Selene's legendary parents are gone. Her country taken, she has been brought to the city of Rome in chains, with only her twin brother, Alexander, to remind her of home and all she once had.

Living under the watchful eyes of the ruling family, Selene and her brother must quickly learn how
The October Horse: A Novel of Caesar and Cleopatra (Masters of Rome, #6) book cover25

The October Horse: A Novel of Caesar and Cleopatra (Masters of Rome, #6)

Colleen McCullough

4.3
A SWEEPING EPIC OF ANCIENT ROME FROM THE #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE THORN BIRDSWith her renowned storytelling gifts in full force, Colleen McCullough delivers a breathtaking novel that is both grand in scope and vivid in detail -- and proves once again why she is the top historical novelist of our time.

In the last days of the Roman Republic, Gaius Julius Caesar is both adored and despised -- but
26

Roman Blood (Roma Sub Rosa, #1)

Steven Saylor

4.3
Elena asks that you come to the House of Swans at once... Compelled by this message, the wealthy, sybaritic Sextus Roscius goes not to his harlot, but to his doom—savagely murdered by unknown assassins. In the unseasonable heat of a spring morning in 80 B.C., Gordianus the Finder is summoned to the house of Cicero, a young advocate staking his reputation on this case. The charge is patricide; the
Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician book cover27

Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician

Anthony Everitt

4.3
“All ages of the world have not produced a greater statesman and philosopher combined.”
—John Adams

He squared off against Caesar and was friends with young Brutus. He advised the legendary Pompey on his somewhat botched transition from military hero to politician. He lambasted Mark Antony and was master of the smear campaign, as feared for his wit as he was for exposing his opponents’ sexual peccad
28

Augustus: First Emperor of Rome

Adrian Goldsworthy

4.3
The dramatic story of Rome’s first emperor, who plunged into Rome’s violent power struggles at the age of nineteen, proceeded to destroy all rivals, and more than anyone else created the Roman Empire

Caesar Augustus’ story, one of the most riveting in Western history, is filled with drama and contradiction, risky gambles and unexpected success. Thrusting himself into Rome’s extremely violent polit
29

Caesar (Masters of Rome, #5)

Colleen McCullough

4.2
It's 54 BCE. Gaius Julius Caesar is sweeping thru Gaul, crushing the fierce, long-haired warrior-kings who stand in his way. His victories in the name of Rome are epic, but the leaders of the Republic are not pleased. They're terrified. Where will the boundless ambition of Rome's most brilliant soldier stop? He must be destroyed before he can overthrow the government & install himself as Dictator.
The Annals: The Reigns of Tiberius, Claudius and Nero book cover30

The Annals: The Reigns of Tiberius, Claudius and Nero

P. Cornelius Tacitus

4.2
Here is a lively new translation of Cornelius Tacitus' timeless history of three of Rome's most memorable emperors. Tacitus, who condemns the depravity of these rulers, which he saw as proof of the corrupting force of absolute power, writes caustically of the brutal and lecherous Tiberius, the weak and cuckolded Claudius, and "the artist" Nero. In particular, his gripping account of the bloody rei
Mary Beard portrait Recommended by Mary Beard.
31

Fortune's Favorites (Masters of Rome, #3)

Colleen McCullough

4.2
They were blessed by the gods at birth with wealth and privilege. In a time of cataclysmic upheaval, a bold new generation of Romans vied for greatness amid the disintegrating remnants of their beloved Republic. But there was one who towered above them all -- a brilliant and beautiful boy whose ambition was unequaled, whose love was legend and whose glory was Rome's. A boy they would one day call
32

Augustus

John Edward Williams

4.2
A brilliant and beautifully written novel in the tradition of Robert Graves, Augustus is a sweeping narrative that brings vividly to life a compelling cast of historical figures through their letters, dispatches, and memoirs.

A mere eighteen years of age when his uncle, Julius Caesar, is murdered, Octavius Caesar prematurely inherits rule of the Roman Republic. Surrounded by men who are jockeying f
33

Augustus: The Life of Rome's First Emperor

Anthony Everitt

4.2
He found Rome made of clay and left it made of marble. As Rome’s first emperor, Augustus transformed the unruly Republic into the greatest empire the world had ever seen. His consolidation and expansion of Roman power two thousand years ago laid the foundations, for all of Western history to follow. Yet, despite Augustus’s accomplishments, very few biographers have concentrated on the man himself,
Robert Greene portrait Recommended by Robert Greene.
34

Roma (Roma, #1)

Steven Saylor

4.2
Spanning a thousand years, and following the shifting fortunes of two families though the ages, this is the epic saga of Rome, the city and its people.
Weaving history, legend, and new archaeological discoveries into a spellbinding narrative, critically acclaimed novelist Steven Saylor gives new life to the drama of the city's first thousand years -- from the founding of the city by the ill-fated
35

Caesar's Women (Masters of Rome, #4)

Colleen McCullough

4.2
Caesar's Women (Masters of Rome Series)
The History of Rome, Books 1-5: The Early History of Rome book cover36

The History of Rome, Books 1-5: The Early History of Rome

Titus Livy

4.2
Livy (c. 59 BC-AD 17) dedicated most of his life to writing some 142 volumes of history, the first five of which comprise The Early History of Rome. With stylistic brilliance, he chronicles nearly 400 years of history, from the founding of Rome (traditionally dated to 757 BC) to the Gallic invasion in 386 BC - an era which witnessed the reign of seven kings, the establishment of the Republic, civi
The Eagle of the Ninth book cover37

The Eagle of the Ninth

Rosemary Sutcliff

4.2
Set in Roman Britain this story is of a young Roman officer who sets out to discover the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of the Ninth Legion, who marched into the mists of Northern Britain and never returned.
38

Empress of the Seven Hills (The Empress of Rome, #3)

Kate Quinn

4.2
From the national bestselling author of Daughters of Rome and Mistress of Rome comes a tale of love, power, and intrigue spanning the wilds of the Empire to the seven hills of Rome. Powerful, prosperous, and expanding ever farther into the untamed world, the Roman Empire has reached its zenith under the rule of the beloved Emperor Trajan. But neither Trajan nor his reign can last forever...

Brash a
39

Dictator (Cicero, #3)

Robert Harris

4.2
Imperium...Conspirata...and now, the long-awaited final volume of the author's best-selling Cicero trilogy.

With Dictator, Robert Harris brings the saga of Cicero's life to a time when some of the most epic events in human history occurred: the collapse of the Roman republic, the subsequent civil war, the murder of Pompey and the assassination of Julius Caesar. Yet the question it asks is a timeles
40

Medicus (Gaius Petreius Ruso, #1)

Ruth Downie

4.2

Gaius Petrius Ruso is a divorced and down-on his luck army doctor who has made the rash decision to seek his fortune in an inclement outpost of the Roman Empire, namely Britannia. His arrival in Deva (more commonly known as Chester, England) does little to improve his mood, and after a straight thirty six hour shift at the army hospital, he succumbs to a moment of weakness and rescues an injured

41

Quo Vadis

Henryk Sienkiewicz, W.S. Kuniczak

4.2
This glorious saga unfolds against the backdrop of ancient Rome--from the Forum to the Coliseum, from banquet halls to summer retreats in Naples, from the luxurious houses of the nobility to the hovels of the poor, Quo Vadis richly depicts a place and time still captivating to the modern imagination. This radiant translation by W.S. Kuniczak restores the original glory and richness of master story
The Roman Revolution book cover42

The Roman Revolution

Ronald Syme

4.2
The Roman Revolution is a profound and unconventional treatment of a great theme - the fall of the Republic and the decline of freedom in Rome between 60 BC and AD 14, and the rise to power of the greatest of the Roman Emperors, Augustus. The transformation of state and society, the violent transference of power and property, and the establishment of Augustus' rule are presented in an unconvention
Tom Holland portrait Recommended by Tom Holland.
43

A Voice in the Wind (Mark of the Lion, #1)

Francine Rivers

4.2
“The city was silently bloating in the hot sun, rotting like the thousands of bodies that lay where they had fallen in street battles.” With this opening sentence, A Voice in the Wind transports readers back to Jerusalem during the first Jewish-Roman War, some seventy years after the death of Christ. Following the prides and passions of a group of Jews, Romans and Barbarians living at the time of
The Fall of Carthage: The Punic Wars 265-146BC book cover44

The Fall of Carthage: The Punic Wars 265-146BC

Adrian Goldsworthy

4.2
An impressive new historian of Roman warfare--highly praised by John Keegan--has written a thoroughly engrossing account of the greatest conflict of antiquity. It will grab the attention of military buffs and general readers alike. The struggle for supremacy between Rome and Carthage encompassed the First (264-241 B.C.) and Second (149-146 B.C.) Punic Wars; both sides suffered casualties exceeding
45

The Fires of Vesuvius: Pompeii Lost and Found

Mary Beard

4.2
Pompeii is the most famous archaeological site in the world, visited by more than two million people each year. Yet it is also one of the most puzzling, with an intriguing and sometimes violent history, from the sixth century BCE to the present day. Destroyed by Vesuvius in 79 CE, the ruins of Pompeii offer the best evidence we have of life in the Roman Empire. But the eruptions are only part of t
The Rise of the Roman Empire book cover46

The Rise of the Roman Empire

Polybius, Ian Scott-Kilvert, F. W. Walbank

4.2
Polybius, himself a Greek and an active contemporary participant in political relations with Rome, wrote the forty books of his Universal History primarily to chronicle and account for the Roman conquest of Greece between 200 and 167 B.C. He saw that Mediterranean history, under Rome's influence, was becoming an organic whole, so he starts his work in 264 B.C. with the beginning of Rome's clash wi
John David Lewis portrait Recommended by John David Lewis.
The Agricola and the Germania book cover47

The Agricola and the Germania

Tacitus, James Rives, Harold Mattingly

4.2
The Agricola is both a portrait of Julius Agricola - the most famous governor of Roman Britain and Tacitus' well-loved and respected father-in-law - and the first detailed account of Britain that has come down to us. It offers fascinating descriptions of the geography, climate and peoples of the country, and a succinct account of the early stages of the Roman occupation, nearly fatally undermined
Jeffrey Beneker portrait Recommended by Jeffrey Beneker.
48

Antony and Cleopatra (Masters of Rome, #7)

Colleen McCullough

4.2
A sweeping epic of ancient Rome from the #1 bestselling author of "The Thorn Birds"In this breathtaking follow-up to "The October Horse," Colleen McCullough turns her attention to the legendary romance of Antony and Cleopatra, and in this timeless tale of love, politics, and power, proves once again that she is the best historical novelist of our time.

Caesar is dead, and Rome is, again, divided. L
49

The Gates of Rome (Emperor, #1)

Conn Iggulden

4.2
From the author of the bestselling The Dangerous Book for Boys

Sweeping us into a realm of tyrants and slaves, of dark intrigues and seething passions, Conn Iggulden brings us a magnificent novel of ancient Rome—and of the early years of a man who would become the most powerful ruler on earth.

In a city of grandeur and decadence, beauty and bloodshed, two boys, best friends, dream of glory in ser
David Sisk portraitXi-Wei Yeo portrait Recommended by David Sisk and Xi-Wei Yeo.
David Sisk portrait
David Sisk

Conn Iggulden's Emperor series. I always admired the Roman army's organisation, advances in strategy, technology of their war machines, etc. Also this series shows how great leaders can lead smaller units to victory through strategy, ability to adapt in situations, and better systems and communications, and training. Of course, the series also shows how material wealth and ego can make people soft mentally (and physically!) and cause the downfall of what was achieved. [source]

Xi-Wei Yeo portrait
Xi-Wei Yeo

To be honest, I’ve always been a fiction and fantasy reader, probably ever since I realised those weird little shapes called alphabets actually made sense in a string. I credit books like Gates of Fire, the Conqueror and Emperor series by Conn Iggulden as shaping my thoughts as a leader. [source]

50

Daughters of Rome (The Empress of Rome, #2)

Kate Quinn

4.2
A.D. 69. Nero is dead.

The Roman Empire is up for the taking. With bloodshed spilling out of the palace and into the streets of Rome, chaos has become the status quo. The Year of Four Emperors will change everything—especially the lives of two sisters with a very personal stake in the outcome….

Elegant and ambitious, Cornelia embodies the essence of the perfect Roman wife. She lives to one day see h
The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbarians book cover51

The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbarians

Peter Heather

4.2
A leading authority on the late Roman Empire and on the barbarians, Heather relates the extraordinary story of how Europe's barbarians, transformed by centuries of contact with Rome on every possible level, eventually pulled the empire apart. He shows first how the Huns overtuned the existing strategic balance of power on Rome's European frontiers to force the Goths and others to seek refuge insid
52

I Am Livia

Phyllis T. Smit

4.2

Her life would be marked by scandal and suspicion, worship and adoration…

At the tender age of fourteen, Livia Drusilla overhears her father and fellow aristocrats plotting the assassination of Julius Caesar. Proving herself an astute confidante, she becomes her father’s chief political asset—and reluctantly enters into an advantageous marriage to a prominent military officer. Her mother tells he

Julius Caesar book cover53

Julius Caesar

William Shakespeare, Dr. Barbara A. Mowat, Paul Werstine Ph.D.

4.1
Shakespeare may have written Julius Caesar as the first of his plays to be performed at the Globe, in 1599. For it, he turned to a key event in Roman history: Caesar’s death at the hands of friends and fellow politicians. Renaissance writers disagreed over the assassination, seeing Brutus, a leading conspirator, as either hero or villain. Shakespeare’s play keeps this debate alive.
54

Shadows in Bronze (Marcus Didius Falco, #2)

Lindsey Davis

4.1
Can the hero of Silver Pigs satisfy the emperor he works for and the woman he pines for without getting himself killed? With readers and critics hungry for his further adventures, Ancient Roman gumshoe Marcus Didius Falco really has no choice.
55

Under the Eagle (Eagle #1)

Simon Scarrow

4.1
Simon Scarrow's brilliant adventure novels about the Roman army appear with stunning new covers.

It is 42 AD, and Quintus Licinius Cato has just arrived in Germany as a new recruit to the Second Legion, the toughest in the Roman army. If adjusting to the rigours of military life isn’t difficult enough for the bookish young man, he also has to contend with the disgust of his colleagues when, because
56

On the Nature of the Universe

Lucretius, Ronald Melville, Don Fowler, Peta Fowler

4.1
Lucretius’ poem On the Nature of the Universe combines a scientific and philosophical treatise with some of the greatest poetry ever written. With intense moral fervour Lucretius demonstrates to humanity that in death there is nothing to fear since the soul is mortal, and the world is governed by the mechanical laws of nature and not by gods; and that by believing this men can live in peace of min
James Warren portrait Recommended by James Warren.
The Fall of the Roman Republic book cover57

The Fall of the Roman Republic

Plutarch

4.1

Rome's famed historian illuminates the twilight of the old Roman Republic from 157 to 43 BC in succinct accounts of the greatest politicians and statesmen of the classical period.

Includes a new introduction, a new essay on the revised Plutarch editions, notes, a glossary, and updated suggestions for further reading



Marius, Sulla, Crassus, Pompey, Caesar, Cicero
58

A Day in the Life of Ancient Rome

Alberto Angela, Gregory Conti

4.1
The roar of frenzied spectators inside the Coliseum during a battle between gladiators. A crowd of onlookers gathered around a slave driver. The wondrous plenty of banquets where flamingos are roasted whole and wine flows like rivers. The silence of the baths and the boisterous taverns . . . Many books have dealt with the history of ancient Rome, but none has been able to bring its readers so near
59

Venus in Copper (Marcus Didius Falco, #3)

Lindsey Davis

4.1
Marcus Didius Falco, Imperial Rome's answer to Columbo, is hired by relatives of a wealthy real estate developer, Hortensius, to find his murderer. What Falco uncovers is a hotbed of crime in the unscrupulous business dealings of Hortensius. The third book in the series of amusing, romantic detective thrillers set in ancient Rome.
60

Arms of Nemesis (Roma Sub Rosa, #2)

Steven Saylor

4.1
The hideously disfigured body was found in the atrium. The only clues are a blood-soaked cloak, and, carved into the stone at the corpse's feet, the word Sparta . . . The Overseer of Marcus Crassus's estate has been murdered, apparently by two slaves bent on joining Spartacus's revolt. The wealthy, powerful Crassus vows to honor an ancient law and have his ninety-nine remaining slaves slaughtered
61

The Spartacus War

Barry Strauss

4.1
An authoritative account from an expert author: The Spartacus War is the first popular history of the revolt in English.

The Spartacus War is the extraordinary story of the most famous slave rebellion in the ancient world, the fascinating true story behind a legend that has been the inspiration for novelists, filmmakers, and revolutionaries for 2,000 years. Starting with only seventy-four men, a gl
Adrienne Mayor portrait Recommended by Adrienne Mayor.
62

The Iron Hand of Mars (Marcus Didius Falco, #4)

Lindsey Davis

4.1
Imperial Rome's answer to Columbo stars in his fourth adventure in this series of detective thrillers set in ancient Rome. Falco is sent on an undercover mission to Roman Germany to locate a high-ranking Roman officer, who was sent as a "present" to a sinister tribal prophetess. Maps.
63

An Echo in the Darkness (Mark of the Lion, #2)

Francine Rivers

4.1
A prosperous trader, Marcus Lucianus Valerian has made a fortune providing sand and slaves for the Roman games. But Hadassah, a slave in his family's household, has enchanted him with her quiet beauty and her staunch faith in Christ. When Marcus' sister sends Hadassah to almost certain death in the games, Marcus feels that his life has been ripped apart. Now he is on his way to Jerusalem to find o
The Rise of Rome: The Making of the World's Greatest Empire book cover64

The Rise of Rome: The Making of the World's Greatest Empire

Anthony Everitt

4.1
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE KANSAS CITY STAR

From Anthony Everitt, the bestselling author of acclaimed biographies of Cicero, Augustus, and Hadrian, comes a riveting, magisterial account of Rome and its remarkable ascent from an obscure agrarian backwater to the greatest empire the world has ever known.

Emerging as a market town from a cluster of hill villages in the eighth and
65

Catilina's Riddle (Roma Sub Rosa, #3)

Steven Saylor

4.1
Using scholarly, historical insight, and evocative storytelling that brings to life the glories of ancient Rome, Steven Saylor takes the reader from the bloody lines of clashing Roman armies to the backrooms of the Senate floor, where power-hungry politicians wrestle the Fates for control of Rome's destiny.

With the consular election drawing near, Rome is fiercely divided between the conservative
66

The Judgment of Caesar (Roma Sub Rosa, #10)

Steven Saylor

4.1
It is 48 B.C. For years now, the rival Roman generals Caesar and Pompey have engaged in a contest for world domination. Both now turn to Egypt, where Pompey plans a last desperate stand on the banks of the Nile, while Caesar's legendary encounter with queen Cleopatra will spark a romance that reverberates down the centuries. But Egypt is a treacherous land, torn apart by the murderous rivalry betw
67

The Civil War

Gaius Julius Caesar

4.1
A military leader of legendary genius, Caesar was also a great writer, recording the events of his life with incomparable immediacy and power. The Civil War is a tense and gripping depiction of his struggle with Pompey over the leadership of Republican Rome - a conflict that spanned the entire Roman world, from Gaul and Spain to Asia and Africa. Where Caesar's own account leaves off in 48 BC, his
68

The Death of Kings (Emperor, #2)

Conn Iggulden

4.1
The acclaimed author of Emperor: The Gates of Rome returns to the extraordinary life of Julius Caesar in a new novel that takes us further down the path to glory . . . as Caesar comes into his own as a man, warrior, senator, husband, and leader.

In a sparsely settles region of North Africa, a band of disheveled soldiers turn their eyes toward one man among them: their leader, Julius Caesar. The sol
69

In the Name of Rome: The Men Who Won the Roman Empire

Adrian Goldsworthy, Derek Perkins, et al

4.1
The complete and definitive history of how Roman generals carved out the greatest and longest-lasting empire the world has ever seen.

The Roman army was one of the most effective fighting forces in history. The legions and their commanders carved out an empire which eventually included the greater part of the known world. This was thanks largely to the generals who led the Roman army to victory aft
70

A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii

Stephanie Dray, Ben Kane, et al.

4.1
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 da
Cleopatra: A Life book cover71

Cleopatra: A Life

Stacy Schiff

4.1
The Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer brings to life the most intriguing woman in the history of the world: Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt.

Her palace shimmered with onyx, garnets, and gold, but was richer still in political and sexual intrigue. Above all else, Cleopatra was a shrewd strategist and an ingenious negotiator.

Though her life spanned fewer than forty years, it reshaped the contours
Danielle Morrill portraitAnne Thériault portrait Recommended by Danielle Morrill and Anne Thériault.
72

The Histories

Tacitus, Kenneth Wellesley

4.0
In AD 68, Nero's suicide marked the end of the first dynasty of imperial Rome. The following year was one of drama and danger, with four emperors—Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian—emerging in succession. Based on authoritative sources, The Histories vividly recounts the details of the "long but single year" of revolution that brought the Roman empire to the brink of collapse.
73

The Ghosts of Cannae: Hannibal & the Darkest Hour of the Roman Republic

Robert L. O'Connell

4.0
A stirring account of the most influential battle in history: For millennia, Carthage's triumph over Rome at Cannae in 216 BCE has inspired reverent awe. It was the battle that countless armies tried to imitate, most notably in World Wars I & II, the battle that obsessed military minds. Yet no general ever matched Hannibal's unexpected, innovative & brutal military victory--the costliest day of co
74

Lady of the Eternal City (The Empress of Rome, #4)

Kate Quinn

4.0
National bestselling author Kate Quinn returns with the long-awaited fourth volume in the Empress of Rome series, an unforgettable new tale of the politics, power, and passion that defined ancient Rome.

Elegant, secretive Sabina may be Empress of Rome, but she still stands poised on a knife’s edge. She must keep the peace between two deadly enemies: her husband Hadrian, Rome’s brilliant and siniste
Mythology book cover75

Mythology

Edith Hamilton

4.0
The world-renowned classic that has enthralled and delighted millions of readers with its timeless tales of gods and heroes.

Edith Hamilton's mythology succeeds like no other book in bringing to life for the modern reader the Greek, Roman and Norse myths that are the keystone of Western culture-the stories of gods and heroes that have inspired human creativity from antiquity to the present.

We follo
Alan Kay portrait Recommended by Alan Kay.
76

A Murder on the Appian Way (Roma Sub Rosa, #5)

Steven Saylor

4.0
In a Rome torn by riots and pulled apart by rival factions, Gordianus the Finder must uncover the truth about the murder of Publius Clodius, a populist politician whose assassination threatens to destroy the Republic. The fifth in the highly praised "Roma sub Rosa" series set in ancient Rome.
77

The Forgotten Legion (Forgotten Legion Chronicles, #1)

Ben Kane

4.0
78

Rubicon (Roma Sub Rosa, #7)

Steven Saylor

4.0
As Caesar marches on Rome and panic erupts in the city, Gordianus the Finder discovers, in his own home, the body of Pompey's favorite cousin. Before fleeing the city, Pompey exacts a terrible bargain from the finder of secrets-to unearth the killer, or sacrifice his own son-in-law to service in Pompey's legions, and certain death. Amid the city's sordid underbelly, Gordianus learns that the murde
79

A Body in the Bathhouse (Marcus Didius Falco, #13)

Lindsey Davis

4.0
In another classical crime romp, this time in Roman Britain, Falco investigates a spate of killings, only to find himself next on the assassins' list.

Marcus Didius Falco, once a common informer, now middle class, discovers that newly acquired rank brings associated problems, the most gruesome of which is a corpse buried under the tiles of his new bath house. The contractors have fled to Britain wh
80

How Rome Fell: Death of a Superpower

Adrian Goldsworthy

4.0
A major new history of the fall of the Roman Empire, by the prizewinning author of Caesar

In AD 200, the Roman Empire seemed unassailable, its vast territory accounting for most of the known world. By the end of the fifth century, Roman rule had vanished in western Europe and much of northern Africa, and only a shrunken Eastern Empire remained. In his account of the fall of the Roman Empire, prizew
81

The Gods of War (Emperor, #4)

Conn Iggulden

4.0
The year is 53 B.C. Fresh from victory in Gaul, Julius Caesar leads battle-hardened legions across the Rubicon river–threatening Rome herself. Even the master strategist Pompey is caught unprepared by the strike, and forced to abandon his city. The armies of Rome will face each other at last in civil war, led by the two greatest generals ever to walk the seven hills. Thus begins Conn Iggulden’s to
On the Shortness of Life book cover82

On the Shortness of Life

Seneca, C. D. N. Costa

4.0
The Stoic writings of the philosopher Seneca offer powerful insights into the art of living, the importance of reason and morality, and continue to provide profound guidance to many through their eloquence, lucidity and timeless wisdom.

Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves—and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and re
Chip Conley portraitRyan Holiday portraitJohn Craig portrait Recommended by Chip Conley, Ryan Holiday, John Craig, and 3 others.
Chip Conley portrait
Chip Conley

Says something about the fact that it’s not so much the shortness of life, it’s how we waste it. [source]

Ryan Holiday portrait
Ryan Holiday

Author

Seneca’s letters are the best place to start, but the essays in On the Shortness of Life are excellent as well. [source]

John Craig portrait
John Craig

This is the book that I recommend to everybody. It's everything you will need to make it in life & business. It is by far a complete business self-motivational book all-in-one. The best thing is that it’s 2,000-year of time-tested wisdom. [source]

83

Last Act in Palmyra (Marcus Didius Falco, #6)

Lindsey Davis

4.0
It's AD 72 Rome, and Emperor Vesparian refuses to elevate sometime sleuth Marcus Didius Falco to the middle rank. Yet hope springs eternal, so when Vespasian's chief spy offers Falco an assignment in the East, he jumps at the chance. But his new assignment soon becomes a nightmare when he finds the corpse of a Roman playwright in a sacred pool. To ferret out the murderer, Falco joins the traveling
84

Poseidon's Gold (Marcus Didius Falco, #5)

Lindsey Davis

4.0
A.D. 72: To many, Rome is the center of the Empire. To Marcus Didius Falco, Imperial spy and casual informer, it is the home of his mother, the domineering matriarch who has kept the Didius clan together since her husband absconded with a redhead some twenty years before. Trouble is the last thing Falco wants on his return from a six-month mission to the German legions. But trouble is in store: hi
85

As Sure as the Dawn (Mark of the Lion, #3)

Francine Rivers

4.0
The third installment in the Mark of the Lion trilogy.

Following A Voice in the Wind and An Echo in the Darkness, As Sure as the Dawn continues the chronicles of Hadassah, a Christian slave woman living during the height of the Roman Empire. She has saved the life of the scorned child of a disreputable Roman woman and the Germanic gladiator, Atretes. For her faith, Hadassah now languishes in conde
86

Hadrian and the Triumph of Rome

Anthony Everitt

4.0
Acclaimed author Anthony Everitt, whose Augustus was praised by the Philadelphia Inquirer as “a narrative of sustained drama and skillful analysis,” is the rare writer whose work both informs and enthralls. In Hadrian and the Triumph of Rome–the first major account of the emperor in nearly a century–Everitt presents a compelling, richly researched biography of the man whom he calls arguably “the m
87

Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire

Simon Baker

4.0
This is the story of the greatest empire the world has ever known. Simon Baker charts the rise and fall of the world's first superpower, focusing on six momentous turning points that shaped Roman history. Welcome to Rome as you've never seen it before - awesome and splendid, gritty and squalid.

At the heart of this gripping popular history are the dynamic, complex but flawed characters of Rome's mo
88

The Field of Swords (Emperor, #3)

Conn Iggulden

4.0
From the author of the bestselling The Dangerous Book for Boys

With his acclaimed Emperor novels, author Conn Iggulden brings a dazzling world to life–the rich, complex world of ancient Rome as seen through the eyes of one extraordinary man: Julius Caesar. Now Iggulden returns to the story of Julius Caesar and a realm that stretches from the sands of North Africa to the coast of Britain. Against t
89

A Dying Light in Corduba (Marcus Didius Falco, #8)

Lindsey Davis

4.0
Marcus Didius Falco is to make ready new contacts and start a new career, and a dinner for the Society of Olive Oil Producers of Baetica seems like the perfect opportunity. But when two dinner guests are found beaten -- one dead -- Falco knows he cannot rest until he solves at least one more mystery...
90

The Satyricon

Petronius, P. G. Walsh

4.0
91

The Eagle's Conquest (Eagle, #2)

Simon Scarrow

4.0
Simon Scarrow's brilliant adventure novels about the Roman army appear with stunning new covers.

When Centurion Macro arrives on British soil as one of Emperor Claudius's invasion force in 43 AD, he is facing one of the toughest campaigns of his battle-scarred career. In a series of bloody skirmishes, Macro and his young subordinate, Optio Cato, and the desperately outnumbered Roman army must find
The Golden Ass book cover92

The Golden Ass

Lucius Apuleius

4.0
93

Catullus: The Poems

Catullus, Peter Whigham

4.0
One of the most versatile of Roman poets, Catullus wrote verse of an almost unparalleled diversity and stylistic agility, from the brevity of the epigram to the sustained elegance of the elegy. This collection contains all of Catullus' extant work and includes his lyrics to the notorious Clodia Metelli - married, seductive and corrupt - charting the course from rapturous delight in a new affair to
Charlotte Higgins portrait Recommended by Charlotte Higgins.
94

Terra Incognita (Gaius Petreius Ruso, #2)

Ruth Downie

4.0
In this highly anticipated sequel to Ruth Downie's New York Times bestselling debut, beloved army doctor Gaius Petrius Ruso strikes out for the uncivilized borders of Roman Britain, where he runs into murder and the ghosts of his vexingly beautiful slave Tilla's past.

Listen to Terra Incognita on your smartphone, notebook or desktop computer.
95

The Confessions of Young Nero (Nero, #1)

Margaret George

4.0
The New York Times bestselling and legendary author of Helen of Troy and Elizabeth I now turns her gaze on Emperor Nero, one of the most notorious and misunderstood figures in history.

Built on the backs of those who fell before it, Julius Caesar's imperial dynasty is only as strong as the next person who seeks to control it. In the Roman Empire no one is safe from the sting of betrayal: man, woman
96

One Virgin Too Many (Marcus Didius Falco, #11)

Lindsey Davis

4.0
Marcus Didius Falco is a cynical, hard-boiled investigator living in first-century Rome. His latest case finds him drawn into the world of the Roman religious cults and the murder of a member of the Sacred Brotherhoods.
97

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Volume I

Edward Gibbon, David P. Womersley

4.0
Edward Gibbon's six-volume History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1776-88) is among the most magnificent and ambitious narratives in European literature. Its subject is the fate of one of the world's greatest civilizations over thirteen centuries - its rulers, wars, and society, and the events that led to its disastrous collapse. Here, in book one and two, Gibbon charts the vast exte
Diarmaid MacCulloch portraitTom Holland portrait Recommended by Diarmaid MacCulloch and Tom Holland.
Diarmaid MacCulloch portrait
Diarmaid MacCulloch

It’s a formidable task to read it, but it’s very readable, because although Gibbon was humourless about himself, he has a tremendous sense of humour about the rest of the world. [source]

Tom Holland portrait
Tom Holland

It takes Tacitus as its model, who was famous for his waspish style, and a careful balancing and modulating of the sentences so that irony would be generated. This is what Gibbon does as well, and it means that not only is it an incredible work of scholarship but it is also compulsively entertaining. I really think that anyone who is prepared to give it a chance will find themselves smiling at the very least throughout it. [source]

98

A Mist of Prophecies (Roma Sub Rosa, #9)

Steven Saylor

4.0
In the year 48 B.C., Rome is in the midst of civil war. As Pompey the Great and Julius Caesar fight for control of the Republic, Rome itself becomes a hotbed of intrigue, riven by espionage, greedy profiteering, and bitter betrayals...

Against this background a beautiful young seeress staggers across the Roman marketplace and dies in the arms of Gordianus the Finder. Possibly mad and claiming no me
99

The House of the Vestals (Roma Sub Rosa, #6)

Steven Saylor

4.0
It is Ancient Rome, and Gordianus the Finder has a knack for finding trouble. Stalking about the city's twisting trails looking for clues and finding bodies, Gordianus has had his share of misadventure with nobles and slaves alike. Known to many as the one man in the ancient world who can both keep a secret and uncover one, Gordianus has stories to tell.
100

Lavinia

Ursula K. Le Guin

4.0

In a richly imagined, beautiful new novel, an acclaimed writer gives an epic heroine her voice.

The Aeneid, Virgil's hero fights to claim the king’s daughter, Lavinia, with whom he is destined to found an empire. Lavinia herself never speaks a word. Now, Ursula K. Le Guin gives Lavinia a voice in a novel that takes us to the half-wild world of ancient Italy, when Rome was a muddy village near seven