If you’re a fan of reading fiction, why not read fiction set in ancient Rome? For example, if you’re into the detective genre, there are some good novels that fall in this category and take place in ancient Rome. The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis is a crime novel that takes place after quite some political instability in Rome. The main character is a plebian by the name of Marcus Didius Falco, who plays the role of a detective trying to find the murderer in a homicide case. While searching for clues, he realizes that he has uncovered a plot that involves the upper echelons of Roman society. I won’t tell you what the plot is, but I can tell you that it’s a good read. The Silver Pigs is one book in a series of books by Lindsey Davis. One of the reasons why I like The Silver Pigs and the other books in Lindsey Davis’s series is because you inadvertently learn about some obscure trivia about daily life in Ancient Rome. For instance, in one of Davis’s books, you get to learn about the theater troupe and how they operated in ancient Rome.

If you want to read a novel through the eyes of a female and non-Roman protagonist, then try The Light Bearer by Donna Gillespie. The main character is a daughter of a Germanic chief by the name of Auriane. Auriane must lead her people to fight against the armies of Rome. The story chronicles her battles and finally her capture at the hands of the Romans. The reason why I like this book is because the tales and customs of Germanic tribes are carefully woven with the stories and mythologies of ancient Rome. It’s like getting a peek into both worlds; that of ancient Rome and Auriane’s tribe.

The novel Ovid by David Wishart is one novel out of a series of novels based on the perspective of a high class citizen named Marcus Corvinus. Instead of opting for a career in the Senate, Marcus Corvinus becomes a mystery detective. Through Marcus Corvinus’s connections, the reader gets a glimpse of a convoluted world of politics and intrigue. A lot of the historical events that occur in this novel are accurate and are intertwined seamlessly into the plot of Corvinus’s investigations. Marcus Corvinus is an unusual character in that he is from a privileged class but has the ability to find compassion for those who are less fortunate than him.

If you like science fiction, then you might like Roma Eterna by Robert Silverberg. The premise of the book focuses what the ancient Roman Empire would have achieved if it had survived until the modern times. A lot of the events that occur in the book have actually occurred in history, but they aren’t always necessarily associated with ancient Roman history. For example, the ancient Romans have managed to circumnavigate around the world and have even discovered the technology to fly in space. This book really stretches the imagination, but that’s expected since it’s a sci-fi book.