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All books
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Subjects
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Historical
Fiction —
Ancient Greece & Rome
| From the Old
Testament era to ancient Rome to the Dark Ages--from
crusader castles to frontier settlements to Federal
era ships, these books run the gamut of Western
history. Tale after tale of adventure brings these
various historical epochs to life again with
inspiring and unforgettable characters. |
Ages 12 and up
The Daughters of
Pola
by John Mason Neale
Daughter of a noble Roman
family, Agnella had heard tell of the foul
practices of the Christians. Everyone knew
that they murdered infants and drank their
blood from silver vessels. They venerated a
criminal who died ignominiously on a cross.
They worshipped a god with the head of an ass.
What good person wouldn’t despise such a vile
sect? When Diocletian Augustus declared that
all must offer sacrifice to the immortal gods,
Agnella’s father, Marcus Acilius Dolabella,
præfect of Histria, was quick to put the
emperor’s command into effect. Little could he
imagine that the death of a single elderly
slave from his own household would not only
upset his plan, but also lead his own daughter
down a path where her actions would provide
seed for the burgeoning Christian
Church.
Paperback ~ 156 pp. ~ $13.95 with 10% discount, $12.56
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Ages 12 and up
Centurion’s
Daughter
by Justin Swanton
Her Frankish mother dead,
17-year-old Aemilia arrives at Soissons in
Roman Gaul in search of her Roman father whom
she has never met. She knows only that his
name is Tarunculus and that he is a former
centurion. She finds an old man fixed on the
past, attempting in vain to kindle a spark of
patriotism in his countrymen. Soon, Aemilia is
caught up in her father’s schemes to save the
Empire and the intrigues of the Roman nobility
in Soissons. In the war between Franks and
Romans to decide the fate of the last imperial
province, Providence will lead her down a path
she could never have imagined. Written and
illustrated by master storyteller Justin
Swanton, Centurion’s
Daughter is a thoughtful and
compelling journey to a little-known period of
history when an empire fell and the
foundations of Christendom were laid.”
Paperback ~ 248 pp. ~ $17.95 with 10% discount, $16.16
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Ages 12 and up
Belisarius
Book I: The First Shall Be
Last
by Paolo A.
Belzoni
“A great new resource for
those of you ‘reading your way through
history.’...What I really like about this
telling of the story is that it is not a
white-washed version of the times, or of
Belisarius. His virtue is portrayed sensibly
without making him appear overly perfect. He
is an appealing character, one the reader
sympathizes with and roots for. He is often
put in situations that appear impossible; many
obstacles—from incompetent fellow commanders
to conspiring politicians—frustrate his
purpose. But, while he is not always
victorious, he acquits himself well and his
honor increases. The author weaves in a great
view of the historical time period in
Byzantium: the state of the cities, “the
factions,” the movement and assimilation of
the barbarians, and the politics of the
Empire. The descriptions of the battle scenes
are not dry and incomprehensible, but very
readable and interesting.”
—Favorite
Resources for Catholic Homeschoolers Blog
Paperback ~ 248 pp. ~ $14.95 with 10% discount, $13.46
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Ages 12 and up
Belisarius
Book II: Glory of the
Romans
by Paolo A.
Belzoni
His tremendous victory over
the Persians at the Battle of Daras wins
Belisarius the adulation of a victory-starved
empire but also the envy of his peers in
Constantinople. The emperor Justinian now
tasks his gifted young general with an even
more difficult assignment: a campaign against
the powerful Vandal kingdom in North Africa.
But before Belisarius can set out on this
seemingly impossible mission, he must prove
his loyalty amid the ruins of a capital
shattered by rebellion. Glory of the
Romans continues the epic tale of
Belisarius, the last great general of the
Roman Empire. Aided by his resourceful wife,
Antonina, and his stalwart band of
'biscuit-eaters', Belisarius strives to build
the most formidable army fielded by the Roman
Empire in over a century. But his drive and
determination breed only suspicion in the
empress Theodora and jealousy in the palace
chamberlain, Narses. From the desert
wastes of Mesopotamia, to the riot-torn
streets of Constantinople, to the crumbling
walls of ancient Carthage, Glory of the
Romans follows the daring exploits of
Belisarius as his fame increases and his
virtues are put to the test.
Paperback ~ 300 pp. ~ $16.95 with 10% discount, $15.25
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Ages 12 and up
Belisarius
Book III: Rome the Eternal
by Paolo A.
Belzoni
In one brilliant campaign,
Belisarius has crushed the Vandal kingdom and
restored Africa to the Roman Empire. But the
ambitious emperor Justinian has more glorious
exploits planned for his audacious Master of
Soldiers. The emperor can not rest until Italy
and the Eternal City of Rome are restored to
his empire. But it is not mere flesh and blood
that oppose Belisarius in his Italian
campaign. Can Belisarius gain his greatest
triumph with so many thrones and dominions,
principalities and powers arrayed against him?
Rome the Eternal
is the third volume of the Belisarius series,
continuing the tale of Justinian’s greatest
general. A work of historical fiction that
sticks close to the ancient sources, Rome the
Eternal brings the often obscure Byzantine 6th
century to vibrant life for readers of all
ages. It is especially well-suited for young
readers interested in the triumphs and
tragedies of the Christian Roman Empire.
Paperback ~ 472 pp. ~ $21.95 with 10% discount, $19.76
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Ages 12 and up
Between the
Forest and the Hills
A Historical Fantasy
by Ann
Lawrence
The
times are changing fast in Roman Britain. With
the Western Empire collapsing, the legions have
been withdrawn and the British have been told
that they're on their own. Saxons encroachments
have disrupted ancient lines of communication
leaving many towns isolated and at the mercy of
the barbarians. But some towns, like Iscium, are
remote enough to remain at peace--for a while,
anyway.
An excellent,
character-driven novel, Between the Forest and
the Hills tells the story of how the fictional
late-Roman town of Iscium survives the end of
the Roman Empire and the emergence of the
Saxons. Memorable characters abound, such as
Falx, a virtuous if careless Roman boy; Malleus,
the grumbly bishop; and Ulna, a wide-eyed
barbarian girl, wise in her innocence. The Saxon
chieftain Torcula is fierce yet reasonable,
while the mysterious Teres, like Gandalf in The Lord of the
Rings, seems to turn up whenever he is
most needed. But the most endearing characters
of all may be Hrudin and Concha, the loquacious
ravens..
Paperback ~ 247 pp. ~ $12.95
with 5% discount, $12.30 |
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Ages 14 and up
Citadel of God
A Novel about Saint
Benedict
by Louis de
Wohl
The
Roman Empire in the West has fallen and Italy is
under the government of the Gothic king,
Theoderich. But the Romans who make up the
majority of the population are chaffing under
the barbarian yoke. The Young Lions in the Roman
senate talk quietly of freedom, but the elders
among them urge caution. When a young Roman boy,
Peter, makes a clumsy assassination attempt
against Theoderich, he is injured in body and
spirit, nursing a grudge against the Goths. He
is subsequently entrusted to the gifted young
teacher, Benedictus, to see to his moral
education. Thus begins Citadel of God, a wonderful
book by Louis de Wohl. Originally written in
1959, the work is a gripping journey through the
history of the early 6th century AD. St.
Benedict is portrayed as a humble wonder-worker
inspired by God and driven to do great things
for His greater honor and glory alone. But
surrounding the Benedict story is the entire
panoply of late Roman history--the triumphs and
tragedies of the Justinianic era.
Paperback ~ 436 pp. ~ $17.95
with 5% discount, $17.05 |
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Ages 12 and up
Exiles of the
Cebenna
by John Mason Neale
Told from the perspective of
Aurelius Gratian, a Priest of the holy Church
of God, The Exiles of the Cebenna is a
moving account of the community of Christians
in the Church of Arles during the Decian
persecution (249-251 AD). Written in lively
19th century English by John Mason Neale and
annotated by Paidea Classics for contemporary
readers, the tale weaves together the
tribulations of the Christians who remained in
Arles for the persecution with the experiences
of those who, led by Father Gratian, dared an
escape from the city. The Exiles of the
Cebenna is at once a suspenseful
adventure story and an especially heartening
lesson to inspire and fortify children for the
life of faith that all true followers of
Christ are called upon to live.
Paperback ~ 132 pp. ~ $7.95 with 5% discount, $7.55
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Ages 10 and up
Egyptian
Wanderers
A
Story for Children of the Great Tenth
Persecution
by John Mason Neale
This tale is based on a
passage from the first historian of the
Church, Eusebius Pamphilus who wrote of "the
multitude of them that wandered in the deserts
and mountains, and perished by hunger, and
thirst, and cold, and diseases, and robbers,
and wild beasts." During the furious
persecution of Diocletian, the Egyptian
deserts were filled with confessors, most of
whom perished there. This story begins at the
library of Saint Catherine's Monastery where
the narrator finds an ancient tattered volume
telling of one family's struggle of faith as
they flee into the wilderness. The anecdotes
occasionally introduced are taken from the
early ecclesiastical historians or from the
martyrologies.
Paperback ~ 230 pp. ~ $16.95 with 5% discount, $16.10
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Ages 14 and up
The Restless
Flame
A Novel about Saint
Augustine
by Louis de
Wohl
In
his vigorous and inimitable style, Louis de Wohl
tells the story of St. Augustine's
transformation from a vain, sensual youth to the
brilliant, devout writer and theologian -- the
man who conquered himself as completely as he
did the adversaries of the Church -- whose
literary and philosophical masterpieces were to
dominate Western thought for a thousand years.
He has carefully re-created the exciting
historical background of the time -- the
turbulent atmosphere of the Roman Empire in the
last days of decadence -- skillfully weaving
together the personalities whose lives closely
affected Augustine: Monica, his saintly and
heroic mother; majestic Ambrose, Bishop of
Milan; and many others whom lend richness and
depth to the life story of this great Doctor of
the Church.
Paperback ~ 304 pp. ~ $17.95
with 5% discount, $17.05 |
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Ages 12 and up
Fabiola
by Nicholas Cardinal
Wiseman
Cardinal
Wiseman's classic story of the Christian
persecution under Emperor Diocletian in the 300s
AD. Fabiola is perplexed by the new-found faith
of her cousin Agnes as well as her servant, but
is especially intrigued when she finds the
noblest Roman soldier she knows, Sebastian, is
also a Christian. In this moving description of
the Roman catacombs and the captured Christians
who faced cruel death with unearthly fortitude,
a story of faith and renewal unfolds in the
decaying Roman empire during the last great
persecution of the Church before the advent of
Constantine.
Paperback ~ 444 pp. ~ $21.95
with 5% discount, $20.85 |
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Ages 12 and up
The Laviniad
by Claudio R. Salvucci
"The
Laviniad
is a truly unique work; the story is unique and
the book itself is unique....The author
successfully writes in the style of the ancient
epic in modern English. Lovers of classic tales
will really appreciate the poetry and the plot.
The poem reads easily and naturally with the
flow and flavor of the ancient epics. A complete
glossary in the back will help anyone who has
not read the Aeneid or the Iliad to understand
the relationship of the characters and the
various names of the Greeks, Trojans, and
Latins."
—Favorite
Resources
for Catholic Homeschoolers
Paperback ~ 133
pp. ~ $11.95 with 10% discount, $10.76 |
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Ages 10 and up
Spring Tide
by Mary Ray
It
is AD 311 in West Britain and even in this
far-flung province of the Roman Empire,
Christians are not safe from renewed imperial
persecution. At Caer Taff—modern-day Cardiff—a
brief skirmish against a marauding tribe, the
Deisi, develops into a more dangerous struggle
between the new religion and the dominant pagan
culture of the local Roman fort. Two friends,
Julius and Con, meet and befriend Brychan, a
young Christian priest, who is later captured
and imprisoned at the base camp of the legion.
Torn between obedience to parental orders and
the demands of friendship, the boys resolve to
help him escape. Aided by Aaron the Hebrew, a
Roman soldier who has secretly converted to
Christianity after witnessing the martyrdom of
St. Alban seven years earlier, they set out to
rescue Brychan—but with unexpectedly grave
consequences. This thoughtful story explores the
last persecution of Christians during Roman
times, immediately before Constantine's Edict of
Milan.
Paperback
~ 200 pp. ~ $12.95 with 5% discount, $12.30 |
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Ages 10 and up
City of the
Golden House
by Madeleine A. Polland
Twelve year
old Gretorix is a slave from far off Britain.
His master, Justus, has bestowed him upon
Diomed, a Roman boy who is paralyzed from the
neck down. The only thing keeping young Diomed
alive is the hope that someday he'll be cured of
his paralysis. When he hears that all Rome is
abuzz with the teaching and miracles of the
Galilean Simon Peter, Diomed sends his faithful
Gretorix to find out all he can about the man
and his God, Christus. But trouble is brewing in
the Eternal City. The profligate emperor Nero is
at the height of his decadence, and the people
are grumbling over the exorbitant taxes he
requires to live his lifestyle. When a huge fire
breaks out in the city, Nero desperately
searches for someplace to pin the blame. With
advice from his wicked Praetorian, Tigellenus,
Nero falsely accuses the followers of Simon
Peter--a shadowy sect known as Christians.
Paperback
~ 297 pp. ~ $14.95 with 5% discount, $14.20 |
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Ages 10 and up
Lion in the
Gateway
by Mary Renault
Subtitled,
The Heroic Battles of the Greeks and Persians at
Marathon, Salamis, and Thermopylae, this is a
great retelling of those epic ancient battles
which shaped the course of Western Civilization.
All the great characters are there: Darius and
Xerxes, the Persian Kings; the Greeks
Themistocles, Alcibiades, and the Spartan for
whom the book is named, Leonides, and many
others. The book begins with the historical
roots of the people of Ancient Greece and how
they came to love their freedom more than
anything else. Recommended for ages 9 - 12.
Paperback
~ 132 pp. ~ $14.95 with 5% discount, $14.20 |
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Ages 12 and up
Word to Caesar
by Geoffrey Trease
Set
in Imperial Rome, a teenaged boy travels across
the Empire from his home in Britain to seek an
audience with the new emperor, Hadrian. Along
the way he meets up with the villains who are
trying to stop him, a famous charioteer who
helps him, apathetic solicitors who won't help
him, and finally the emperor Hadrian himself. At
every step of his adventure, he remains loyal,
demonstrates courage and prudence, and does not
give up even when the odds against him seem
impossible. This is a reprint of an edition
printed in Canada especially for use in schools.
At the end of each chapter there are
comprehension, discussion, and language
questions.
Paperback
~ 286 pp. ~ $14.95 with 5% discount, $14.20 |
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Ages 10 and up
Augustine Came to
Kent
by Barbara Willard
It
is the year 597 and Pope Gregory is sending a
select number of his monks, led by Fr.
Augustine, to re-evangelize England. Young Wolf,
born in that land but raised in Rome,
accompanies his father, Wolfstan, who goes as a
guide and interpreter. Though the King of Kent's
wife is a Christian, the missionaries from Rome
do not know whether they will be welcomed,
tolerated or martyred. In a story full of
adventure, Wolf meets Fritha, a Saxon girl whose
life and destiny are soon closely bound up with
his own. Events, significant in the history of
Christianity, are vividly brought to life by
this veteran writer of historical fiction.
Paperback
~ 178 pp. ~ $13.95 with 5% discount, $13.25 |
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Ages 14 and up
The Ides of April
by Mary Ray
Hylas
is a young Greek slave in the household of Caius
Pomponius, a Roman senator involved in dangerous
political schemes. When the senator is found
mysteriously murdered, the household slaves fall
under suspicion. Hylas escapes capture long
enough to enlist the aid of a young tribune,
Camillus Rufus. Attempting to unravel the
threads of intrigue before the summary execution
of the slaves, Camillus is brought before Nero
himself and Hylas discovers the new secret sect
known as the Christians.
Paperback
~ 184 pp. ~ $11.95 with 5% discount, $11.35 |
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Ages 14 and up
Beyond the Desert
Gate
by Mary Ray
The
sequel
to The Ides of April, Beyond the
Desert Gate is set in first century
Palestine. The Jews have revolted against Roman
occupation and the ten Greek cities of Palestine
are caught in the middle. Conan, Nicanor, and
Philo are left almost penniless after the death
of murder of their father. Philo is befriended
by Xenos, a man the brothers had saved from the
desert who had lost his memory. Together they
try to find their identity, one from the past,
the other for the future.
Paperback
~ 190 pp. ~ $11.95 with 5% discount, $11.35 |
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