Entries by Alex Gough

Review – Praetorian by Simon Scarrow

Praetorian by Simon Scarrow Publisher: Headline Publication date: November 2011   Hardcover 368 pages Also available as paperback, Kindle e-book and audio download   Review: Book 11 in Simon Scarrow’s Roman Legion series, Praetorian continues the adventures of army veterans Macro and Cato. While Cato has grown up a lot over the series, he remains […]

Graffiti from Pompeii (parental advisory)

The Romans were a fairly earthy lot, so please don’t read on if you are easily offended… A selection of graffiti to be found on the walls of Pompeian buildings:  Fortunatus you sweet little darling you great fornicator, someone who knows you writes this. Figulus loves Idaia G. Julius Promogenius was here on time, what’s […]

Quick guide to Roman Authors

Quick guide to Roman fiction authors: A list of the major authors of Roman fiction, past and present (plus one aspiring one, see if you can spot which one that is!). This list is a work in progress – I will update with titles, a summary of subgenre and writing style (for those I have […]

The vigiles

The vigiles were create by Augustus in 6 AD, and were Rome’s first official fire fighters. Prior to this, firefighting organisations were privately owned. One notorious group were the slaves owned by Crassus, who would not put out a fire until Crassus had purchased the burning house at a knock down price. Although firefighting was […]

Carbo of Rome, work in progress

Instead of working on my novel today, I’ve been working on this website instead. Carbo of Rome is a flawed and troubled veteran of the Roman legions. Living and mixing with the poorest and roughest elements of Roman society, far removed from the palaces and villas of the elite, Carbo tries to cope with his […]

Books and authors on my reading list

Anthony Riches, Empire: The Leopard Sword Ben Kane, Forgotten Legion S J A Turney, Marius’ Mules I: The invasion of Gaul Douglas Jackson, Caligula Robert Fabbri, Vespasian: Tribune of Rome Manda Scott: Rome: The Emperor’s Spy Got a few others in the library too, but I think that is plenty to be getting on with!

My favourite Roman authors

My favourite authors in no particular order. I will be reviewing books by these authors in the near future. Colleen McCullough Simon Scarrow Anthony Riches John Stack Steven Saylor Lindsay Davies Allan Massie Robert Harris Ross Leckie Robert Graves Goscinny and Uderzo 🙂 Harry Sidebottom Rosemary Sutcliff Thornton Wilder

New website

So I’m starting to construct the new website, using wordpress to make it easier to edit and update. With reviews of Roman fiction, articles and photos about Ancient Rome, and information on my work in progress (working title Carbo of Rome), I am hoping this site will appeal to fans of Roman fiction and Ancient […]