A historical fiction recommendation

Jwt708 · Oct 5, 2017

Sallent said: ↑

For those of you Julius Caesar fans:

I'm normally not the type to read fiction novels. My library is mostly made up of historical books, law books, and science books. However, lately I decided to explore other genres, and tried my hand at historical novels.

I want to bring to your attention one I know you numismatists and history buffs will enjoy. This is a 10 book series called Marius' mules, which ranges from the campaigns of Caesar in Gaul to the Civil Wars. So far the series is in book 10 as Caesar and Pompey start to face off.

The books are well researched and are extremely educational despite being fiction. Thr battles are properly described, the names and geographical location of the tribes, and their cultures, are all accurate, and the lives of the legionnaires on campaign are accurate down to the smallest details based on the latest scholarly research , etc..

The fictional characters that are center stage in these books are the officers and centurions of Caesar's legions, as they struggle to keep their men alive, motivated to fight, and disciplined, through Caesar's challenging, arduous, and ambitious Gallic campaigns. The characters are likeable, relatable, and have real depth to them. If you want an account of the Galic wars through the perspective of the ordinary soldiers, centurions, and officers of a Roman legion, and not Caesar's self-promoting propaganda which seldom mentions the ordinary soldiers that helped him make history, give this a read.

Look, I stink at book reviews, but I'm reading this series and enjoying it, and I think you might too. And there is a Kindle special on these...$28 for all 10 books. It's got good reviews on Amazon and new books to the series are due to be released soon.

View attachment 685710

Here is a relevant coin.

View attachment 685717
Julius Caesar

Also, an you recommend me other ancient historical fictions? Looking to expand my reading list.
Click to expand...

Your review was good enough to get me interested. I don't have a lot of time to read fiction...but it's good to get caught up in a story just for fun.

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

JGGonzalez · Jan 25, 2018

Roman Collector said: ↑

Folks here also may be interested in Vipsania: A Roman Odyssey, a historical novel by Jasper Burns. Jasper is an ancient coin collector who wrote a series of articles in The Celator about the women who appear on Roman coins.

View attachment 685810
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip. I just downloaded it on Kindle for $3!

Johnnie Black · Jan 27, 2018

I really enjoyed Steven Pressfield’s “Gates of Fire” about the Battle of Thermopylae, and “Virtues of War” about Alexander the Great.

Michael Curtis Ford wrote “The Ten Thousand” about Xenophon which I remember being a fun read.

Log in or Sign up

A historical fiction recommendation

Jwt708 Well-Known Member

Guest User Guest

JGGonzalez Well-Known Member

Johnnie Black Neither Gentleman Nor Scholar

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

A historical fiction recommendation

Jwt708 Well-Known Member

Guest User Guest

JGGonzalez Well-Known Member

Johnnie Black Neither Gentleman Nor Scholar

Share This Page

Useful Searches