As someone who writes fiction inspired by Ancient Rome, I am always fascinating by the lives of the ordinary people. I find the adventures of the ones comprising 99.5% of the population much more fascinating than the movers and shakers. What to Expect Expect a review of non-elite (as much as possible) sources, where Knapp […]
Non Fiction
Book Review: Architecture 101: From Frank Gehry to Ziggurats, an Essential Guide to Building Styles and Materials, by Nicole Bridge
Architecture has been on my mind lately, so what’s better than a book with a review of the development of architecture throughout the ages? While this is a bit if the expansion of the usual remit of the Roman history side of this blog, I know many of you appreciate related topics like food history […]
Book Review: A Year in the Life of Ancient Greece, by Philip Matyszak
I adore Matyszak’s works for bringing daily life in antiquity to the modern reader. Our perceptions of life in the classical era are influenced so much by contemporary writers that were from and concerned with the 1% plus Hollywood’s misappropriation and misrepresentation, that Matyszak’s works are a breath of fresh air. What to Expect The […]
Book Review: A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Murder in Ancient Rome, by Emma Southon
A book about murders in Ancient Rome? Gimme! This is a non-fiction work, covering not just the notable murders — but the Roman people’s attitudes towards killing. A great piece to understanding both the ancient world and ourselves, as we take our modern viewpoints to evaluate historical accounts. What to expect Southon does a credible […]
Two courses on Food History
This week I’ll review two courses on food history, both by Prof Ken Albala and available on The Great Courses. The courses are complementary, and I’d recommend them to everyone who likes history, cuisines, and the involvement of both in literature. First, a few words about the lecturer. Ken Albala is a professor of history, […]
Book Review: Forgotten Peoples of the Ancient World, by Philip Matyszak
Matyszak is one of my favourite historians (because archaeologists and historians are much more deserving of celebrity culture than actual celebrities 😜), and I loved previous books of his. This books offers a review of people and nations you’ve probably heard of in passing, and promises to give you a deeper understanding of those forgotten […]
Book Review: What Kings Ate and Wizards Drank, by Krista D. Ball
I can’t remember exactly when What Kings Ate floated past me, but given my love of both fantasy and historical foodstuffs I knew it was going to be a hit. What to expect A non-fiction that’s still light-hearted, both informative and entertaining. The author covers many aspects of food throughout history as a way to […]
Book Review: 1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed, by Eric H. Cline
I watched Cline’s lecture on the topic (see below) and found it fascinating, so wanted to follow up with reading more details. This book should be required reading to anyone interested in the bronze age and antiquity. What to Expect Cline starts with an over-view of the collapse of the Late Bronze Age, and then […]
Book Review: 24 Hours in Ancient Athens, by Philip Matyszak
I’ve read a couple of Matyszak’s fictional-non-fiction works before, and I find his style refreshing. 24 Hours in Ancient Athens doesn’t disappoint, and delivers an excellent education resources – packaged in easy to consume storytelling. What to Expect This isn’t fiction in the normal sense – no plot and characters as such. Instead, Matyszak reconstructs […]
Book Rreview: Philip Matyszak’s Gladiator: The Unofficial Manual
Following Matyszak’s 24 Hours in Ancient Rome (because, y’know, he has a great style balancing information and readability), I sought out his other books. Gladiator touches on a subject core to the third Felix Novel – In Victrix – so I started with it. What to Expect A witty, lighthearted non-fiction description of the lives of gladiators […]
FELIX THE FOX MYSTERIES 