Next to the table of the great novelists of ancient Rome: posteguillo, Scarrow and Kane. And at least at the level of his compatriot Lindsey Davis, the Englishman Harry Sidebottom brings new energy to the already abundant repertoire of narratives from that ancient world not so far from today in terms of the representation of power and its scenarios where betrayals abound, conspiracies and where the wars that unfortunately still find reflection in those days are awakened today.
Only that the distance of the years brings an epic tone that Harry Sidebottom manages like no other writer focused on ancient Rome. Because Sidebottom's thing is to complement the great chronicles with the brilliance of detail that goes from the warlike to the most human, from the scenes of power to the last cities dominated by the empire.
This is how this author sums up, in his historical fictions, the taste for the most meticulous contextualization with that life that must beat in the most successful historical fictions. Characters recognized by all and outstanding unexpected protagonists among the Roman army, among the slaves or any other inhabitants of that time. Balanced historical fictions for all types of readers of this genre.
Top 3 Recommended Harry Sidebottom Novels
The return of the centurion
The conspiracies are already something atavistic of human civilization as soon as power systems of an imperial nature were established. And Rome is that space par excellence where conspiracies and machinations were the order of the day in order to do and undo in terms of popular control systems to perpetuate themselves in power. Leaning on the etymological democracy and naturally established in Greece and extended in its strictly more parliamentary facet in Rome, everything was possible to create heroes, myths and villains at the convenience of the powerful of the day... Only sometimes things did not turn out as well as expected. They thought because the character on duty to erect and later vilify ended up mounting his particular revolution...
145 B.C. C., Calabria. Gaius Furio Paulo returns as a hero to his hometown, Temesa, after hard years of war defending the good name of Rome. But it seems that a death omen continues to haunt his destiny: a few days after his return, the dismembered body of a neighbor appears, and Paulo will become the main suspect in the murder.
Paulo will have to get rid of his personal ghosts if he wants to track down the murderer and clear his name. Because he knows it's only a matter of time before he becomes the next target. A historical thriller, as gripping as Aquitaine. More addictive than Game of Thrones. For all, a hero. For death, one more.
Iron and Power (Caesar's Throne Series 1)
The best thing about ancient Rome, as a strictly narrative space, is that you don't have to indulge in great lucubrations in terms of plots either. The history of the great empire is already the substrate for all kinds of interpretations that can be derived directly from the known facts. Then there is the hand of the author on duty to decorate the matter with good literature.
SPRING 235 d. C. Emperor Alexander Severus has just been assassinated, and Caesar's throne becomes an object of desire. Thus begins a turbulent period in Roman history in which in just one year, there will be six applicants for the throne. The hero of the revolt is Maximinus the Thracian, who becomes the first Caesar to emerge from the heat of battle. His reign will come to nothing without the approval of the Senate, and many senators do not accept being ruled by a former pastor.
In the north, the war against the barbarians consumes men and money, and rebellion and personal tragedy drive Maximinus to desperate extremes, bloody revenge and the limits of his sanity. Inspired by true events, this is the first installment of an epic adventure where men will kill to sit on Caesar's throne.
the rebels of rome
In Rome there is life beyond Rome itself. In places like the Sicily that is presented to us in this novel, that other side of the provincial empire that already began from the very periphery of the big city is discovered. A juicy narrative with great epic overtones among the most common inhabitants of the empire. Because glory was also a matter of simple survival...
Sicily, 265 B.C. C. In the shadow of Mount Etna, the slaves rebel. As the leaders of the revolt declare Sicily the new land of freedom, men and women are massacred, the island's towns and villages looted and burned. When a ship is wrecked off the western coast, only two survivors manage to escape the fury of the rebels. A veteran Roman soldier known for his friendship with the emperor and sporting the equestrian ring on his hand, Ballista has always found a way to face danger and adversity. However, he is now accompanied by his son Marco, whom he barely knows, still very young and inexperienced.
Forced to fight together, the two must fight their way across a devastated Sicily, in a race against time to save the rest of the family and put an end to the revolt before the entire island burns in the fires of war.
