If you know of works set in the pre-Republican era, please expand this section.
Founding Fathers (1959) by Alfred Duggan. Originally titled Children of the Wolf, this novel tells the story of King Romulus and the founding of Rome through the eyes of a variety of characters who come to the new city.
Roma (2007) by Steven Saylor. According to the author's website, the book covers part of Rome's early history.
The Seven Kings of Rome series: The Arms of Quirinus (2005), The Scent of Hyacinth (2005), The Warrior's Dance (2008) by Sherrie Seibert Goff
If you know of works set in the Early Republic, please expand this section.
Roma, published March 6, 2007, by Steven Saylor. According to the author's website, the book covers part of Rome's early history.
Viriato by João Aguiar (1st century BC, Viriathus)
Numancia by José Luis Corral (1st century BC, Numantia)
The Wedding Shroud, published September 2010 by Elisabeth Storrs. This book is set on the cusp of the 5th and 4th centuries BC, about a Roman girl married to an Etruscan man in the events leading up to the war between Rome and Veii. The great Roman general Marcus Furius Camillus is featured.
The Etruscan by Mika Waltari. Part of the story is set on the first few years of the Republic.
Traitors’ Legion (Ace G-532,1963) by Jay Scotland, a swashbucker about a disgraced legion, set in Hannibal’s time.
If you know of works set in the Middle Republic, please expand this section.
Roma, published March 6, 2007, by Steven Saylor. According to the author's website, the book covers part of Rome's Republican history.
Scipio: A Novel, published March 1998 by Ross Leckie (Scottish writer). This is the second book in a loose trilogy about the Second Punic War.
Scipio trilogy by Santiago Posteguillo (the Punic Wars general Publius Cornelius Scipio)
- Africanus, el hijo del cónsul
- Las legiones malditas
- La traición de Roma
Of Merchants & Heroes, published 2008 by Paul Waters. Set at the end of the 3rd century BC, about the life of a fictional Roman called Marcus. In the novel Marcus becomes involved in the war against Philip V of Macedon, which was led by Titus Quinctius Flamininus, who later became Consul and is a major character in the story.
"The Shield of Rome", published 2011 by William Kelso. 216 BC. The novel is set during "Rome's finest hour" after the battle of Cannae when Hannibal threatens the very existence of the Republic.
"The Fortune of Carthage", published 2012 by William Kelso. 207 BC. The novel is set during the 2nd Punic War and covers Hasdrubal Barca's attempt to link up with the Carthaginian army of his brother Hannibal.
The Bow of Heaven (2011) by Andrew Levkoff, a novel of events leading up to the battle of Carrhae, and the triumvir responsible for one of the greatest defeats suffered by Republican Rome, Marcus Licinius Crassus
Young Caesar (1958) by Rex Warner
Imperium and Lustrum (novel) by Robert Harris, the first two volumes of a trilogy of fictionalized biography told by his slave, later freedman, Tiro depicting Cicero's rise to the consulship in 63 BC and subsequent role in the final days of the Republic.
A Pillar of Iron (1965) by Taylor Caldwell, a fictionalized biography of Cicero.
Imperial Caesar (1960) also by Rex Warner
The Ides of March (1948) by Thornton Wilder, culminating in Caesar's assassination.
The Key (1988), The Door in the Wall (1994), The Lock (2002) by Benita Kane Jaro
Catiline (2007) by Brandon Winningham
Barbarians in the Republic: The Long Journey to Rome (2005) by Skarr One
Caesar, Anthony by Allan Massie
Freedom, farewell! by Phyllis Bentley.
The Roma Sub Rosa series by Steven Saylor is set in the later years of the Republic and the beginning of the Augustan period.
Roma, published March 6, 2007, by Steven Saylor. According to the author's website, the book covers part of Rome's early history.
The Emperor Series (2003-2013), by Conn Iggulden, Julius Caesar's life
Spartacus (1951) by Howard Fast about the historic slave revolt led by Spartacus around 71 BCE
10th Legion: Battle Born (2015) by Ben Soden the first book in a series based on a fictional group of Roman Legionary anti-heroes who join the 10th legion in Hispania culminating in the beginnings of the Helvetian campaigns.
The Last King: Rome's Greatest Enemy (2005) by Michael Curtis Ford. The career of Mithridates VI (134-63 BC)
The Masters of Rome series by Colleen McCullough. Beginning before the birth of Julius Caesar to after his death, it details the self-immolation of the Roman Republic.
Spartacus by Howard Fast
Spartacus by Lewis Grassic Gibbon
Winter Quarters (1956) by Alfred Duggan. Two Gauls in the time of Julius Caesar, one of whom is under a curse from the Mother Goddess, whose worship he finds throughout the Roman world.
The Conquered by Naomi Mitchison (1923). Gaul & the Gallic Wars 1st century BC
Beric the Briton: A Story of the Roman Invasion (1893) by G. A. Henty
Imperial Caesar (1960) also by Rex Warner
Three's Company (1958) by Alfred Duggan. The career of Lepidus, triumvir with Octavian and Marcus Antonius after the death of Julius Caesar.
Marius' Mules (2009) by S.J.A. Turney. Fictionalised account of Caesar's Gallic Wars from the point of view of a fictional legate. Series ongoing at 7 books to 2014
"Marching with Caesar Series" by R.W. Peake A mostly accurate fiction that takes place during the rise of Julius Caesar, with his first campaign in Gaul, onwards and beyond his life, from the perspective of a soldier as he rises through the ranks
Hay luz en casa de Publio Fama by Juan Miñana (Barcino 60s AD)
Someday Never Comes by Mk Kayem
An Imaginary Life by David Malouf. A fictional account of the poet Ovid's exile from Rome.
The Quest For the Lost Roman Legions by Tony Clunn, Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, with his account of his discovery of the battlefield
Persona Non Grata, Terra Incognita, Medicus and Caveat Emptor, a series of mysteries featuring the "reluctant sleuth" Gaius Petreius Ruso by Ruth Downie, set around 120 AD.
Three Legions series by Rosemary Sutcliff set in Roman Britain c. 130 AD. The three novels consist of The Eagle of the Ninth (1954), The Silver Branch (1957), and The Lantern Bearers (1959). The three were first collected in one volume as Three Legions in 1980.
Empire published August 31, 2010, by Steven Saylor. The book follows two families through Rome's Imperial history, from the reign of Augustus to the reign of Hadrian. The sequel to Roma.
The Nero Prediction by Humphry Knipe
The Roman (1964) by Mika Waltari
The Tribune: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Patrick Larkin
Augustus by John Williams
Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula and Nero's Heirs by Allan Massie
Empire: The Novel of Imperial Rome by Steven Saylor
Let the Emperor Speak: A novel of Caesar Augustus by Allan Massie, Doubleday & Company, Inc, New York, 1987 (First published in Great Britain in 1986 by the Bodley Head as Augustus). Also by this author: Caesar, Anthony, Tiberius, Caligula and Nero's Heirs.
"Pretender" by Lion Feuchtwanger
Books about early Christians or the Christ include:
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1880) by Lew Wallace; famously made into a film starring Charlton Heston; set in the reign of Tiberius in Judaea, the Mediterranean, and Rome. Epilogues carry the story into the reign of Nero
I Am a Barbarian (1967, written 1941) by Edgar Rice Burroughs; the fictionalized memoirs of Caligula's slave.
A Voice in the Wind (1994) by Francine Rivers; the story of Hadassah, a Christian slave taken from Jerusalem and taken to Rome in the time of Titus and his father Mark of the Lion Trilogy book 1
An Echo in the Darkness (1995) by Francine Rivers; the continuing story of Hadassah and Marcus. Mark of the Lion Trilogy book 2
As Sure as the Dawn (1995) by Francine Rivers; the continuing story of Atretes. Mark of the Lion Trilogy book 3
The Centurion's Wife (2009) by Davis Bunn, Janette Oke life for an early Christian woman and her marriage to a Roman soldier. Acts of Faith book 1
The Hidden Flame (2009) by Davis Bunn, Janette Oke Acts of Faith book 2
The Damascus Way (2010) by Davis Bunn, Janette Oke Acts of Faith book 3
The Seventh Season (1965) by Emmanuel of Samaria; features a meeting between St Andrew and Nero.
The Robe (1942), by Lloyd C. Douglas, set in the same period as Ben-Hur; like Ben-Hur, more famous as a film.
Books about Claudius or set in his reign include:
I, Claudius (1934) and its sequel, Claudius the God (1935), by Robert Graves. The classic and influential dramatised account of the life of the emperor Claudius, made into a popular TV series (see below).
The Eagle series by Nigerian-born British novelist Simon Scarrow. The first book Under the Eagle (part of the Eagle series) was published 2000 by Simon Scarrow. Story of Roman invasion of Britain, featuring a young Vespasian. Other books in the series include The Eagle's Conquest (2001 set in 42 AD (introducing Boudicca at the end); When the Eagle Hunts (2002) set in 44 AD. Other books in the series include The Eagle and the Wolves (2003), The Eagle's Prey (2004), The Eagle's Prophecy (2005), The Eagle in the Sand (2006), and the forthcoming Centurion (January - 2008).
Books set in Nero's reign include:
Beric the Briton, A Story of the Roman Invasion (1893) by G. A. Henty; the story of a Romanized Briton captured as a rebel and sent to Rome as a gladiator
Quo Vadis (1895/1896), by Henryk Sienkiewicz set in the reign of Nero in 64 AD.
The Flames of Rome by Paul L. Maier
A Song for Nero (2003) by Tom Holt, writing as Thomas Holt.
Letters from the Realms of Nero (2007) by George Kapo; story of British slave girl in household of Seneca
Rubies of the Viper (2010) by Martha Marks; interwoven stories of a Roman woman who inherits a fortune when her brother is murdered and a Greek slave she inherits as part of the estate; set in AD 53-56.
Nero, the Bloody Poet by Dezső Kosztolányi
The Ides of April by Mary Ray: Part of the Roman Empire Sequence.
Imperial Governor (1968, reprinted 2002), George Shipway, the Icenii revolt under Boudicca.
The Roman (1964) by Mika Waltari
The Cleft by Doris Lessing is a book supposedly written by an historian during Nero's reign.
Josephus Trilogy (1959), by Lion Feuchtwanger about Flavius Josephus, but set in Ancient Rome during Reign of Vespasianus and Titus
"In the Shadow of Tyranny" (2013), the first novel by Chris Westcott tells the story of Gaius whose fate and fortune is aligned to the reigns of Vespasian, Titus and the tyranny of Domitian.
The Course of Honour (1998), the first novel by Lindsey Davis (later author of the Marcus Didius Falco mysteries, which also take place during the reign on Vespasianus) narrates the history of Vespasian's imperial freedwoman mistress Antonia Caenis.
The Light Bearer (1994), by Donna Gillespie tells the story of a Germanic female warrior who becomes a gladiator in Rome in the reign of Domitian.
Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn is the story of a young Jewish slave who rises to become the mistress of Emperor Domitian.
Daughters of Rome by Kate Quinn is set during the Year of Four Emperors and ends with the rise of Vespasian.
Trajan trilogy by Santiago Posteguillo (Trajan life)
- Los asesinos del emperador (Domitian death)
- Circo Máximo (Trajan's Dacian Wars)
The Last Days of Pompeii by E.G.Bulwer-Lytton
Pompeii by Robert Harris, tells the story of Pompeii and the volcano Vesuveus during the reign of Titus.
The Veteran of Rome Series by William Kelso tells the story of a Roman military family in Roman Britain from 83 AD to 106 AD.
"In the Shadow of Tyranny" by Chris Westcott set in the reigns of Vespasian, Titus and Domitian
"The Jew of Rome" by Lion Feuchtwanger
The Equinox (1966) by Carol Saylor, of Rome in the time of Commodus
Memoirs of Hadrian (1951) by Marguerite Yourcenar
The Emperor by Georg Ebers, another fictitious biography of Hadrian
A God Strolling in the Cool of the Evening (1994) by Mario de Carvalho, set mainly in Roman Lusitania
Romanike (2000-2014) by Codex Regius, a series of six novels set mainly on both sides of the Upper-Germanic Limes
Family Favourites (1960), by Alfred Duggan; a tale of court life under the teenage emperor Elagabalus, as recounted by his personal bodyguard
Warrior Of Rome series by historian Harry Sidebottom, takes place in the years 238 to 264, mostly from 256 to 264, six books so far published
Iron And Rust also by historian Harry Sidebottom, takes place before the Warrior Of Rome series
The Young Julian by Thomas J., Ph.D. Hairston
Helena by Evelyn Waugh; follows the quest of the Empress Helena, a Christian and the mother of Emperor Constantine to uncover the remains of the cross upon which Christ was crucified.
Julian (1964) by Gore Vidal, fictionalized biography of the emperor Julian the Apostate, who tried to revive Paganism
The Last Legion: A Novel by Valerio Massimo Manfredi; fictionalized story of the emperor Romulus Augustulus and what might have happened to his surviving retinue.
Eagle in the Snow (1970) by Wallace Breem; set in Britannia and Germania in the late 4th and early 5th century; features a Mithraic Roman general.
The Little Emperors (1951) by Alfred Duggan. A succession of coups in late-Roman Britain.
Gods And Legions: A Novel of the Roman Empire (2002) by Michael Curtis Ford
The Sword of Attila: A Novel of the Last Years of Rome (2005) by Michael Curtis Ford
The Fall of Rome: A Novel of a World Lost (2007) by Michael Curtis Ford
Raptor (1993) by Gary Jennings is an historical novel set in the late 5th and early 6th centuries. It purports to be the memoirs of an Ostrogoth, Thorn, who has a secret.
Threshold of Fire: A Novel of Fifth Century Rome (1966) by Hella Hasse
Legionary (2011) by Gordon Doherty
Legionary: Viper of the North (2012) by Gordon Doherty
Legionary: Land of the Sacred Fire (2013) by Gordon Doherty
Legionary: The Scourge of Thracia (2015) by Gordon Doherty
Legionary: Gods & Emperors (2015) by Gordon Doherty
Anna of Byzantium, 1999
Bélisaire
Belisarius series
Count Belisarius (1938), by Robert Graves, set in the 6th century, in the reign of Justinian
The Dancing Bear (1972), by Peter Dickinson. Young adult.
Justinian, a novel, by H N Turteltaub (Harry Turtledove), August 1998
The Palaeologian Dynasty. The Rise and Fall of Byzantium
Roma Eterna (2003), by Robert Silverberg
A Struggle for Rome (1876), by Felix Dahn
There Will Be Time
Tirant lo Blanch (finished posthumously by Martí Joan de Galba, published 1490), by Joanot Martorell
Up the Line (1969), by Robert Silverberg
You with the Roses - What are You Selling?, (1966) a novel by James Wellard, fictionalised biography of the Empress Theodora
Strategos: Born in the Borderlands (2011) by Gordon Doherty
Strategos: Rise of the Golden Heart (2011) by Gordon Doherty
Strategos: Island in the Storm (2011) by Gordon Doherty
Avventura nel primo secolo by Paolo Monelli
Sand of the Arena by James Duffy
In the Army of Marcus Batallius by David M. Ross
68 A.D. by D.G. Bellenger
Three's Company, Winter Quarters, Conscience of the King, The Little Emperors and Family Favourites by Alfred Duggan
Domitia & Domitian by David Corson
Games of Venus by Sylvia Shults
Antonia by Brenda Jagger
The Virgin's Tale by Sherri Smith
Den of Wolves by Luke Devenish
Nest of Vipers by Luke Devenish
The Tribune: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Patrick Larkin
Hadrian's Wall: A Novel by William Dietrich
The Centurion: A Novel (1986) by Jan de Hartog
The Nero Prediction by Humphry Knipe
Search the Seven Hills (The Quirinal Hill Affair) (1987) by Barbara Hambly
The Roma Sub Rosa series (1991–2012) by Steven Saylor, starts with Roman Blood (1991); the books cover the period 92 BC to 46 BC.
The Marcus Didius Falco series by Lindsey Davis, starts with The Silver Pigs; set in the reign of Vespasian.
The SPQR series by John Maddox Roberts.
The I, Claudia series of novels by Marilyn Todd featuring her picaresque heroine Claudia Seferius
The Publius Aurelius series by Danila Comastri Montanari
The Marcus Corvinus series by David Wishart
Roman Justice: SPQR: Too Roman To Handle, by Anne Hart
The Roman Mysteries young adults' detective/drama series by Caroline Lawrence
The Caius Trilogy by German author Henry Winterfeld: Caius ist ein Dummkopf (Caius is an Idiot); Caius geht ein Licht auf (Caius has an Inspiration), and Caius in der Klemme (Caius in a Fix). The first part was published in English with the alternate title Detectives in Togas. The second was published in English with the alternate title Mystery of the Roman Ransom.
The Third Princess: A Septimus Severus Quistus Roman Mystery by Philip Boast
Rubies of the Viper (2010) by Martha Marks. A Roman woman sets out to uncover the identity of her brother's murderer.
The Eagle series by Simon Scarrow (see above)
The Germanicus Mosaic series by Rosemary Rowe - set in later Roman Britain
Caesar's Bicycle (1997) (Timeline Wars series) by John Barnes
The Green Bronze Mirror (1966) by Lynne Ellison (young adult); set in reign of Nero
Arria Marcella (1852) by Théophile Gautier set in 79 AD in Pompeii
Household Gods (1999), by Judith Tarr and Harry Turtledove set in the reign of Marcus Aurelius
The Time Travelling Cat and the Roman Eagle (2001) by Julia Jarman
Toss of the Coin (Time Rangers) (1998) by Rob Childs
In Daniel Godfrey's New Pompeii (Titan Books, 2016), the population of ancient Pompeii is transported through time to the present day and into a replica of their town.
The following alternate history novels are set in fictional universes where Rome's struggle with Carthago went differently
The Seven Hills (2005) by John Maddox Roberts
Alejandro y las águilas de Roma by Javier Negrete (Alexander the Great doesn't die in Babylon and goes on to Italy to fight Rome)
Delenda Est by Poul Anderson
Lest Darkness Fall (1939) by L. Sprague de Camp; a time-travelling American alters history, set in 535 AD.
Agent of Byzantium by Harry Turtledove set in an alternate 14th century with no Islam.
Hannibal's Children (2002) and its sequel The Seven Hills by John Maddox Roberts. A victorious Hannibal sends all the Romans into exile, but they found a new city and their descendants return for vengeance.
The following alternate history novels are set in fictional universes where the Roman Empire never fell, and has endured to the present day:
Romanitas (2005), by Sophia McDougall
Rome Burning (2006), sequel to Romanitas, by Sophia McDougall
Roma Eterna, a 2003 novel by Robert Silverberg
Warlords of Utopia by Lance Parkin
Gunpowder Empire by Harry Turtledove
The Aquiliad (1983), by Somtow Sucharitkul. Circa 50 AD. A light-hearted novel in which Roman legions discover America, battle the Aztecs, encounter Big Foot, and drive off flying saucers.
Oebis (2002), by Scott Mackay. Romans return to a modern-day Earth to retake it from alien invaders who exiled them centuries ago and imposed a strange form of Christianity.
The Germanicus trilogy, a collection of books by Kirk Mitchell.
Emperor (2006), by Stephen Baxter. After a Celtic chieftain obeys an ancient prophecy, and sides with the invaders, the history of Roman Britain takes a different path. First in a series.
The Adventures of Alix (1948-now) series by Jacques Martin of which some titles are set in Rome and the Ancient World. This series has a spin-off, called The travels of Alix, that gives illustrated information on famous places and empires of the Ancient World during the Roman Era.
Astérix (1959-now) series by René Goscinny (stories) and Albert Uderzo (illustrations). A tiny village in Gaul holds out against the Roman Army, and its doughtiest warriors meet all the famous Romans.
Murena (1997-now) series by Jean Dufaux and Philippe Delaby
Le Fléau des Dieux (2000–2006) series by Valérie Mangin and Aleksa Gajic. Science fiction set in a remote future
Quo Vadis - U.S. 1951 director Mervyn LeRoy
The Robe - U.S. 1953 director Henry Koster
Demetrius and the Gladiators - U.S. 1954 director Delmer Daves (sequel to The Robe)
Jupiter's Darling - U.S. 1955 director George Sidney, based on a play by Robert E. Sherwood
Ben-Hur - U.S. 1959 director William Wyler
Spartacus - U.S. 1960 director Stanley Kubrick
King of Kings - U.S. 1961 director Nicholas Ray
Cleopatra - U.S. 1963 director Joseph L. Mankiewicz
The Fall of the Roman Empire - U.S. 1964 director Anthony Mann
The Greatest Story Ever Told - U.S. 1965 director George Stevens
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - U.S. 1966 director Richard Lester
Fellini Satyricon - Italy 1969 director Federico Fellini
Jesus Christ Superstar - U.S. 1973 director Norman Jewison
Sebastiane - UK 1976 director Derek Jarman
Caligula - U.S. 1979 director Tinto Brass
Monty Python's Life of Brian - U.K. 1979 director Terry Jones
History of the World Part 1 - U.S. 1981 director Mel Brooks
The Last Temptation of Christ - U.S. 1988 director Martin Scorsese
Titus - U.S. 1999 director Julie Taymor
Gladiator - U.S. 2000 director Ridley Scott
Quo Vadis - Polish/U.S. 2001 director Jerzy Kawalerowicz, remake of 1951 film
King Arthur - U.S. 2004 director Antoine Fuqua
The Passion of the Christ - U.S. 2004 director Mel Gibson
The Nativity Story - U.S. 2006 director Catherine Hardwicke
Agora - Spain 2009 director Alejandro Amenábar
Centurion - UK 2010 director Neil Marshall
The Eagle - UK 2011 director Kevin Macdonald
Joseph Addison
Cato
Albert Camus
Caligula
Pierre Corneille
Cinna
Henrik Ibsen
Emperor and Galilean
Ben Jonson
Sejanus, His Fall
Heinrich von Kleist
Die Hermannsschlacht
William Shakespeare
Titus Andronicus
Julius Caesar
Antony and Cleopatra
Coriolanus
Cymbeline
Robert Sherwood
The Road to Rome (1927), on which a little-known 1955 film Jupiter's Darling was based.
Stephen Sondheim
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
I, Claudius
Julius Caesar minisieries by Uli Edel
Masada
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (part of season 8)
Pompeii: The Last Day a dramatized documentary
The Roman Holidays
Rome
Spartacus miniseries by Robert Dornhelm (director)
Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Up Pompeii!
Bread and Circuses (Star Trek: The Original Series)
The Caesar video games series
Centurion: Defender of Rome
Circus Maximus: Chariot Wars
Europa Universalis: Rome
Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance
Colosseum: Road to Freedom
Legion Arena
Rome: Total War
Total War: Rome II
Rome: Pathway to Power
Shadow of Rome
Spartan: Total Warrior
Ryse: Son of Rome
Empire of the Atom, by A. E. van Vogt, translates Graves' novel about Claudius(above) into a science fiction context.
The Foundation series by Isaac Asimov, about the fall of a galactic empire, is derived from Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
Dominic Flandry series by Poul Andersen, a space empire similarly inspired by Gibbon's history (and by Asimov) is decaying and about to collapse into a Long Night of barbarism; a heroic secret agent fights to stave off this fate.
Julian Comstock by Robert Charles Wilson, about a post-apocalyptic America transformed into a neo-Roman Empire, and a high born youth who, like Julian the Apostate, fights the power of the Church.
Bread and Circuses (Star Trek: The Original Series)
Tarzan and the Lost Empire by Edgar Rice Burroughs, a surviving fragment of the Roman Empire is discovered hidden in a corner of 20th century Africa.
In Philip K. Dick's VALIS ancient Rome is superimposed over the present (California in the 20th century) and the far future world of The Android Cried Me a River to reveal "the Empire" – a supra- or trans-temporal constant. Furthermore, it is often repeated that the empire never fell. Also the novel's protagonist is described as living in two spacetime-continua with one of the personalities presently living in ancient Rome. Ancient Rome is also described as to breaking through into the modern world and "real time" is speculated as to having ceased in 70 AD with Roman times still being present.
Leading Comics - in the 1940s, a series called "Nero Fox" (about a funny animal named Nero Fox, who was emperor of Rome) was published as a backup series in this comic title.
Trigan Empire was a Science Fiction comic series telling of adventures on the planet Elekton with many similarities to the Roman Empire
