Happy Ides of March! Obviously, the best way to commemorate the assassination of Julius Caesar is by collectively stabbing the coworker who annoys you most. The second best way is by reading about the Romans.
The Marcus Corvinus Roman mysteries start after the exile and death of Ovid, so that’s years after the assassination of Julius Caesar. Augustus and Livia are the rulers in the beginning, and Marcus soon gets tasked with solving Germanicus’ murder. There are 21 mysteries in the series now, so they go way beyond Julio-Claudian drama as the series goes on. (When I went to check how many books there are in the series, I fell down a Marcus Corvinus fandom rabbit hole, and landed on this hilarious interview with Marcus on The Protagonist Speaks.)
I, Claudius, by Robert Graves, tells the life of the Roman emperor Claudius in the form of his secret autobiography, beginning with story of the Emperor Augustus, I mean, the humble First Citizen Augustus. Young Claudius is such an unlikely protagonist, and even though readers will know from the start that he’s going to become emperor, it’s a ridiculously wild route there, with so much Julio-Claudian drama and twists.
Feast of Sorrow by Crystal King tells the story of a cook, Thrasius, in the kitchens of Marcus Gavius Apicius. Thracius plans and caters elaborate parties, as Apicius tries to become Rome’s arbiter of taste, which brings them closer to the Julio-Claudian intrigue. This is another really well-researched story, including some wonderful Roman details, and some unappetizing recipes. A lot of this is set in kitchens and banquets, but the novel’s events tie in with historical accounts. (Full review of Feast of Sorrow is here.)
Are you reading anything Roman today? (It doesn’t have to be today, pretty much every day is a good day to read about ancient Rome.)
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