Roman Reading

During the term my reading tends to follow what my kids are learning about, with some ‘escape from school’ reading on the side. This term, as we are studying ancient Rome, there are lots of things to interest me and help me have a deeper sense of the material I’m going to be teaching the children. So, here are three books that I’ve read quite recently that have been amusing and helpful in my study of ancient Rome.

The Ides of April by Mary Ray combines a murder mystery in ancient Rome with a compassionate look into the life and lot of a slave, as well as a gentle hint at the spread of Christianity. The senator is dead, and it’s up to his son in law and secretary to find out who did it and save the household slaves from execution. I’m currently reading this to my kids as their historical fiction novel for the term.

The Flames of Rome by Paul Maier was a book that greatly exceeded my expectations. I have very high standards for historical fiction, and this book met them all. There were great references to Paul, Pricilla and Aquila, and Peter, that didn’t spout a chapter or two of Acts at you. Nero was made totally real in his odiousness, and the main character, the ‘mayor’ or Rome did not get saved in a gushing scene at the end, but as an afterthought we are informed that he too did eventually believe after all the things he had seen and read. The ‘ick’ of ancient Rome is dealt with in a tasteful manner, and you leave wishing the book hadn’t ended!

Trunk Road for Hannibal by John Hoyte has been a interesting way to look at Hannibal—in the summer of 1959 a team of people crossed the Alps from France to Italy with an elephant to test out some theories about the route taken by Hannibal, and the reliability of the ancient record. Quite an interesting read, and leaves you wanting to procure a pachyderm and wander over the Alps yourself! We think this person might have been a relative of the Hoyte family of missionary fame, but aren’t quite sure how he is related. While out of print, this was well worth the read!