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CICERO: MURDER TRIALS trans. by Michael Grant Includes Cicero’s speech for Sextus Roscius, accused of parricide — the inspiration for Steven’s first novel, Roman
Blood. Great reading for true crime fans!
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CICERO:
SELECTED POLITICAL SPEECHES trans. by Michael Grant Includes the speeches which inspired three of Steven’s novels — Catilina’s Riddle,
The Venus Throw, and
A Murder on the Appian
Way.
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JULIUS CAESAR: THE CONQUEST OF GAUL trans. by S.A. Handford Caesar’s fascinating account of his campaigns in Gaul. (As readers of Rubicon know, Gordianus’s son Meto did a lot of ghost-writing for J.C....)
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JULIUS CAESAR:
THE CIVIL WAR trans. by Jane Gardner A primary inspiration for Steven’s novels dealing with the Civil War between Caesar and Pompey, including Rubicon and Last Seen in Massilia.
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SALLUST: THE JUGURTHINE WAR & THE CONSPIRACY OF CATILINE A primary source for the events which inspired Steven’s novel Catilina’s Riddle.
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SUETONIUS: THE TWELVE CAESARS trans. by Robert Graves The primary source which inspired Robert Graves to write I, Claudius also includes Suetonius’s biography of Julius Caesar.
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POEMS OF CATULLUS trans. by Peter Whigham The complete works of the scandalous poet who figures so prominently in Steven’s novel The
Venus Throw, rendered in vivid English translation.
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THE AENEID by Virgil, trans. by David West Aeneas, survivor of Troy, journeys to Italy and founds the Roman race. This prose translation reads like a gripping adventure novel.
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PLAUTUS: THE ROPE & OTHER PLAYS trans. by E.F. Watling When Gordianus goes to the theater, often it’s to see a comedy by Plautus, who inspired Sondheim’s “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.”
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PLAUTUS: THE POT OF GOLD & OTHER PLAYS trans. by E.F. Watling “The Pot of Gold” is the comedy Gordianus and Eco see in the story “Death Wears a Mask” in Steven’s The House of the Vestals. Great fun to read.
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PLUTARCH: FALL OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC trans. by Rex Warner Includes Plutarch’s biographies of Marius, Sulla, Pompey, Caesar, Cicero, and Crassus (villain of Steven’s Arms of Nemesis).
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PLUTARCH: MAKERS OF ROME trans. by Ian Scott Kilvert The lives of nine towering Romans, including Marc Antony and the rebel general Sertorius (subject of Steven’s short story “The White Fawn”).
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