Celebrate the Ides of March (March 15) with a biography of Julius Caesar. Philip Freeman’s acclaimed account, Julius Caesar (2009), follows Caesar from his early years as a military tribune to his betrayal and brutal murder at the hands of the Roman Senate. Or for a different look at life in the ancient world, there's Stacy Schiff's Cleopatra: a Life (currently ranked fourth on the New York Times List of Nonfiction Best Sellers.)For fiction with a Roman flair, consider works by best-selling author, Robert Harris. Harris' novel Pompeii (2005) opens on August 22, 79 AD, two days before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. As the hours tick away, Marcus Attilius Primus, a resourceful engineer sent to repair a damaged aqueduct, must use his wits to mobilize the Roman fleet and rescue the woman he loves.
If you like mysteries, you might want to check out one of Lindsey Davis’ whodunits. Davis’ witty series features Marcus Didius Falco, a Roman informer with a nose for trouble.
My personal favorite is The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff, a thrilling story about a boy, a slave, and their quest to recover the lost eagle of a doomed Roman legion. You can find it in the Library's Teen collection. I’m almost afraid to watch the movie, The Eagle, for fear it won’t measure up. Those of you who’ve read the book AND seen the movie, what do you think? Is the movie as good as the book?
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