03-13-2002, 11:08 PM
One of my students told me she only reads fiction!<br>
<br>
...Of course, all history is somewhat fictional, and all secondary source history is conjectural as well. Who can actually know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and also present a unbiased account? But, Lindsay Davis, John Maddox Roberts, Steven Saylor, Simon Scarrow, Patrick Tivette, Rosemary Sutcliff, Maureen McClullough, General Lew Wallace, Howard Fast,and so many others are as responsible for my love of the time period, and decision to study it as are Michael Simkins, Peter Connolly, and Michael Grant.<br>
The in period writers are the best storytellers, of course, Livy, Pliny (both), Julius Caesar, Lucan, and a host of others, but they too have their bias, their reasons for telling the story they do. I suggest that you grab a bit of light reading, from time to time, or see a fictional film, just to keep you from academic burnout! I enjoyed "Roman Women", and even the 1930-50's bodice rippers, but one of my favorite Roman fictions was the first book written for the Casca series by Barry Sadler. (He wrote a couple more set in Imperial Rome that weren't bad.) I also enjoyed Harold Lamb, but I don't remember if he ever wrote about a Roman theme.<br>
Maybe Turtledove's books need an "accuracy"blind eye, but they make good reading while lying in hospital. Sprague de Camp's "Less Darkness Fall" and other author's alternate history books are "interesting". I keep remembering one set of books where Rome never fell and was engaged in a war against the Siricans, the Aztecs and Muslim extremists. Are they good history? No way! Are they fun.... maybe!<br>
If you really are in a critical mood, you can pick apart any writers' work with facts that you are sure you know. If you just want something totally silly, try some of the early 20th century "Roman" and other ancient history "bodice rippers". If you want one person's attempt to show ancient Rome, try some of the authors mentioned above. <p></p><i></i>
<br>
...Of course, all history is somewhat fictional, and all secondary source history is conjectural as well. Who can actually know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and also present a unbiased account? But, Lindsay Davis, John Maddox Roberts, Steven Saylor, Simon Scarrow, Patrick Tivette, Rosemary Sutcliff, Maureen McClullough, General Lew Wallace, Howard Fast,and so many others are as responsible for my love of the time period, and decision to study it as are Michael Simkins, Peter Connolly, and Michael Grant.<br>
The in period writers are the best storytellers, of course, Livy, Pliny (both), Julius Caesar, Lucan, and a host of others, but they too have their bias, their reasons for telling the story they do. I suggest that you grab a bit of light reading, from time to time, or see a fictional film, just to keep you from academic burnout! I enjoyed "Roman Women", and even the 1930-50's bodice rippers, but one of my favorite Roman fictions was the first book written for the Casca series by Barry Sadler. (He wrote a couple more set in Imperial Rome that weren't bad.) I also enjoyed Harold Lamb, but I don't remember if he ever wrote about a Roman theme.<br>
Maybe Turtledove's books need an "accuracy"blind eye, but they make good reading while lying in hospital. Sprague de Camp's "Less Darkness Fall" and other author's alternate history books are "interesting". I keep remembering one set of books where Rome never fell and was engaged in a war against the Siricans, the Aztecs and Muslim extremists. Are they good history? No way! Are they fun.... maybe!<br>
If you really are in a critical mood, you can pick apart any writers' work with facts that you are sure you know. If you just want something totally silly, try some of the early 20th century "Roman" and other ancient history "bodice rippers". If you want one person's attempt to show ancient Rome, try some of the authors mentioned above. <p></p><i></i>
Caius Fabius Maior
Charles Foxtrot
moderator, Roman Army Talk
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Charles Foxtrot
moderator, Roman Army Talk
link to the rules for posting
[url:2zv11pbx]http://romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?t=22853[/url]
