Ten modern novels set in Antiquity
Explore ten captivating modern novels set in Antiquity, featuring historical fiction masterpieces that bring ancient worlds to life. Discover must-read books inspired by Greek, Roman, and Egyptian eras.
Book
Memoirs of Hadrian
by Marguerite Yourcenar
Written in the form of a testamentary letter from the Emperor Hadrian to his successor, the youthful Marcus Aurelius, this work is as extraordinary for its psychological depth as for its accurate reconstruction of the second century of our era. The author describes the book as a meditation upon history, but this meditation is built upon intensive study of the personal and political life of a great and complex character as seen by himself and his contemporaries, both friends and enemies. Marguerite Yourcenar reconstructs Hadrian's arduous early years, his triumphs and reversals, and his gradual reordering of a war-torn world.
Book
Quarantine
by Jim Crace
Retells the story of Jesus Christ's forty-day sojourn in the wilderness and its impact on a small group of individuals.
Book
I, Claudius
by Robert Graves
Considered an idiot because of his physical infirmities, Claudius survived the intrigues and poisonings of the reigns of Augustus, Tiberius, and the Mad Caligula to become emperor in 41 A.D. A masterpiece.
Book
Creation
by Gore Vidal
Vidal's magnificent, bestselling historical novel of the fifth century B.C. is now released in a restored edition, featuring never-before-published material from the original manuscript. Map.