Robert L. O'Connell, The Ghosts of Cannae

*BUMPED.*

At Amazon, Robert L. O'Connell, The Ghosts of Cannae: Hannibal and the Darkest Hour of the Roman Republic.

I've Finished I, Claudius

I took the book with me to Disneyland, and read good-sized chunks of it while waiting in line for some rides. Plus I chilled with some beer for a while as well, while waiting for my boys to hit the new Guardians of the Galaxy ride (which used to be Tower of Terror).

At Amazon, Robert Graves, I, Claudius: From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius Born 10 B.C., Murdered and Deified A.D. 54.

I'm zipping through Howard Fast today, also at Amazon, Spartacus.

Chris Wickham, The Inheritance of Rome

This looks fantastic!

At Amazon, Chris Wickham, The Inheritance of Rome: Illuminating the Dark Ages 400-1000.

Colleen McCullough's 'Masters of Rome' Series

I found a brand new paperback copy of The Grass Crown for 25 cents at the Irvine Public Library. I thought what the heck? I'd procrastinated on picking up any of Colleen McCullough's books, but I'm starting an Ancient Rome jag, and I that one helped me launch it.

But I need to start at the beginning of the series, which is found in The First Man in Rome, so I'll start out with that (maybe today, heh).

The only problem with these books is their length. This one's about 930 pages, not counting a massive glossary!

Peter S. Wells, The Battle That Stopped Rome

Here's another on Teutoburg.

From Peter S. Wells, at Amazon, The Battle That Stopped Rome: Emperor Augustus, Arminius, and the Slaughter of the Legions in the Teutoburg Forest.

Adrian Murdoch, Rome's Greatest Defeat

Reading I, Claudius has gotten me fascinated with Rome's wars with Germania, especially the crushing defeat at Teutoburg.

See, at Amazon, Adrian Murdoch, Rome's Greatest Defeat: Massacre in the Teutoburg Forest.

Howard Fast, Spartacus

I've been puttering around all day at used bookstores, and sometimes you find the most serendipitous things.

As noted, I'm plugging along on I, Claudius, which has been a good read, and which has piqued my already not insubstantial interest in Roman history. And while there are many good scholarly works, apparently there's a wealth of really high-quality fiction on Rome as well, many tomes of which come highly recommended by experts of antiquity.

Now, I don't know if Howard Fast qualifies as one of the great novelists of the genre, although reading around and browsing online, I've come across mention of the book, so I was startled to see a cheap copy in excellent condition while out today on my lackadaisical rounds.

There's some used copies available on Amazon as well, if you're so inclined. See, Howard Fast, Spartacus.

And here's another edition, Spartacus (North Castle Books). (Click through for a used edition, as they're so much more affordable.)

In any case, books are my hobby right now. I always read a lot anyway, but since I don't watch news anymore, I've got even more time for it. And thanks for shopping through my Amazon links, as well. It's not a very expensive hobby, but your purchases are helpful in any event. So, thanks again.

Bryan Ward-Perkins, The Fall of Rome

At Amazon, Bryan Ward-Perkins, The Fall of Rome: And the End of Civilization.

Robert Graves, I, Claudius

*BUMPED.*

I'm currently reading this masterpiece. It's been sitting on my bookshelf for almost 30 years.

[Added: I'm almost halfway through this one, and I can say that once you wade through the first few chapters, the book gets fairly lively indeed. I'm enjoying it. And I love how historical dates are appended to the margins, to give accurate temporal context to events. Impressive book.]

At Amazon, Robert Graves, I, Claudius: From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius Born 10 B.C., Murdered and Deified A.D. 54 (Vintage International).

Averil Cameron, The Later Roman Empire

At Amazon, Averil Cameron, The Later Roman Empire.

Colin Wells, The Roman Empire

*BUMPED.*

Colin Wells, The Roman Empire: Second Edition.

Michael Crawford, The Roman Republic

*BUMPED.*

At Amazon, Michael Crawford, The Roman Republic: Second Edition.

Adrian Goldsworthy, Pax Romana

At Amazon, Adrian Goldsworthy, Pax Romana: War, Peace and Conquest in the Roman World.

ICYMI: Edward Gibbon, Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

At Amazon, Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

Nigel Rodgers, Ancient Rome

At Amazon, Nigel Rodgers, Ancient Rome: A Complete History of the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire, Chronicling the Story of the Most Important and Influential Civilization the World Has Ever Known.

Adrian Goldsworthy, How Rome Fell

At Amazon, Adrian Goldsworthy, How Rome Fell: Death of a Superpower.

Anthony Everitt, The Rise of Rome

At Amazon, Anthony Everitt, The Rise of Rome: The Making of the World's Greatest Empire.

William V. Harris, War and Imperialism in Republican Rome

At Amazon, William V. Harris, War and Imperialism in Republican Rome: 327-70 B.C.

Edward Gibbon, Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

I've got a couple more books to finish on World War I to finish, as well as one on 19th century European imperialism in Africa, then I'm looking to go on a Roman empire jag. I've got a couple of novels lined up already, but I've had Edward Gibbon's classic tome on my shelf for almost 30 years. I need to wade through that thing and blow it out. I picked it up back at the time when Paul Kennedy's Rise and Fall of the Great Powers was the rage.

Once summer's over I'll switch gears a little. As noted, I'm teaching comparative politics this fall, and the German case plays large in my approach. It's going to be a blast.

In any case, at Amazon, Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

Remains of Roman Camp Found in Austria

Fascinating.

At the Austrian Times, "Earliest military camp discovered at Carnuntum."

Also at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeology, "The first Romans in Carnuntum."