New York Times * Bestseller: A magnificent novel of ancient Rome and the tragic life of Cicero*, who tried in vain to save the republic he loved from tyranny. In this riveting tale, the Roman Empire in its final glory is seen through the eyes of philosopher, orator, and political theorist Marcus Tullius Cicero. From his birth in 106 BC in the hill town of Arpinum, Cicero, the educated son of a wealthy member of the equestrian order, is destined for greatness. At a young age, he discovers the legend of the Unknown God, the coming Messiah, and it propels the rising lawyer on a journey of spiritual conflict and self-discovery. From his tumultuous family life to his tenuous alliance with Julius Caesar to a fateful love affair with the Roman empress Livia and, finally, to the political role that will make him a target of powerful enemies, A Pillar of Iron is the story of Cicero’s legacy as one the greatest influences on Western civilization. Based on hundreds of speeches, voluminous private correspondence, and ancient texts and manuscripts, this bestselling epic brings into focus Cicero’s complicated relationships with his contemporaries, including Caesar, Mark Antony, and Crassus, and brilliantly captures the pageantry, turmoil, and intrigue of life in ancient Rome. According to legendary editor Maxwell Perkins, author “Taylor Caldwell is a storyteller first, last and foremost, and once you begin reading one of her books, you can’t help finishing it.” This ebook features an illustrated biography of Taylor Caldwell including rare images from the author’s estate.

313AD. Under the rule of Emperor Constantine, Rome finally appears to be emerging from its turbulent past. In order to consolidate his control and under the guidance of his mother Helena, Constantine plans to harness the power of the increasingly influential Christian Church. But his loyalties are brought into question when three courtesans from the Guild of Aphrodite - a guild Constantine himself frequents - are found dead. All three bodies have crosses etched on their forehead and each cheek. Aiming at protecting her son's future, Helena calls upon the service of an 'agente in rebus politcus' - or spy. Claudia is the niece of a tavern-owner and is placed as a wine-server in Constantine's household. But Claudia has secret motives of her own...About the AuthorPaul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough. He studied History at Liverpool and Oxford Universities and obtained a doctorate for his thesis on Edward II and Queen Isabella. He is now headmaster of a school in north-east London and lives with his family in Essex.

Agrippina - mother of Nero, wife of Claudius - has no choice but to fight with her wits to stay alive. Emerging victorious in the secretive plot to end the reign of Tiberius, she also proves to be a formidable opponent to her insane and cruel brother, Caligula. But as she rises to power as the wife of Claudius, her one weakness becomes apparent: her ambitious love for her son, Nero.In the treacherous arena of Ancient Rome, Agrippina knows that each player must fight to survive - or die. And be prepared to sacrifice anything or anyone...Review"Medieval London comes vividly to life... Doherty's depictions of medieval characters and manners of thought... ring true." -- Publishers Weekly "The best of its kind since the death of Ellis Peters." -- Time Out "The master of the historical whodunnit" -- BooklistFrom the PublisherHistorically informative, skillfully plotted, and superbly entertaining, these novels are the work of a master storyteller. Paul Doherty, who earned a doctorate in History from Oxford University, is the author of a number of successful historical mystery series, including The Sorrowful Mysteries of Brother Athelstan, the Alexander the Great mysteries, and the Hugh Corbett medieval mysteries. Writing pseudonymously as C.L. Grace, he is also the author of The Canterbury Tales of Kathryn Swinbrooke series.

Malaria and Rome is the first comprehensive book on the history of malaria in Roman Italy. Aimed at an interdisciplinary readership, it explores the evolution and ecology of malaria, its medical and demographic effects on human populations in antiquity, its social and economic effects, the human responses to it, and the human interpretations of it..

313 AD, and tempers are rising in Rome. The Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena are trying to make sense of the new Christian religion which is spreading through the Empire - but the Christians can't agree among themselves. Scholars are locked in a bitter struggle over whether Christ really was the son of God, and Constantine invites delegates from both sides to debate before him at his villa. Now strange things start to happen. Envoys from both sides are found murdered in a most macabre way. The villa is secretly attacked, and the Holy Sword is stolen. Helena calls on the help of her secret agent Claudia - that shrewd, unobtrusive detective - to untangle the dangerous web of intrigue. As she sets to work, the spy is also facing a crisis in her own life...About the AuthorPaul Doherty was born in Middlesbrough. He studied History at Liverpool and Oxford Universities and obtained a doctorate for his thesis on Edward II and Queen Isabella. He is now headmaster of a school in north-east London and lives with his family in Essex.

Suspense in ancient Rome Elissa Rubria Honoria is a Vestal Virgin--priestess of the sacred flame, a visionary, and one of the most powerful women in Rome. Vestals are sacrosanct, sworn to chastity on penalty of death, but the emperor, Nero, holds himself above the law. He pursues Elissa, engaging her in a deadly game of wits and sexuality. Or is Elissa really the pursuer? She stumbles on dark secrets. No longer trusting Roman gods, she follows a new god, Jesus of Nazareth, jeopardizing her life and the future of The Roman Empire.            *New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks says,"A writer of real talent, a promising new voice."           *  New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen says, "Suzanne Tyrpak weaves a spell that utterly enchants and delights. Her writing is pure magic."                                                             If you enjoy historical suspense, check out Hetaera--Suspense in Ancient Athens, Book One of the Agathon's Daughter Trilogy. Sale priced for .99 cents till January 1, 2012ReviewA fascinating and intriguing work of historical fiction.Midwest Book Review -- 5 stars With a fluid writing style, Suzanne Tyrpak has created a gripping tale that immerses you in another time and culture. From the very beginning, I was pulled into the storyline.--Mother Lode Book Reviews There is a tension throughout that is well worth savoring, a sort of dread that fills the reader as things start to go wrong.  -- Alice Y. Yeh  (5 Stars)  --Stimulated Outlet Book ReviewsHistorical fiction readers will relish this powerful thriller that brings vividly to the armchair audience first century Rome. --Harriet Klausner --The Merry Genre Go Round Reviews (5 stars)This book begins with the poem, "The Silent Dead" by Catullus and perfectly sets the stage for the beginning of this most inspiring and heartbreaking work. 5 Stars from J. Lynn--Red Adept Reviews From the AuthorAbout seven years ago (before my divorce, when I had some expendable income) I traveled to Rome with a group of writers. I fell in love with Italy, Rome in particular. A travel book I read contained a short blurb about vestal virgins; it mentioned they were sworn to thirty years of chastity and, if that vow were broken, they would be entombed alive. That got me going! Plus, on a tour of the Coliseum, a guide pointed out the seats designated to the vestal virgins--the six priestess of Vesta were educated, and therefore powerful, at a time when most women weren't even taught to read.I traveled to Rome twice, and on my second trip I hired a scholar who specialized in the year I'm writing about, A.D. 63-64, to give me a tour of the Forum. One of the most useful books I found was History of the Vestal Virgins of Rome, published in 1934 by T. Cato Worsfold. I also wrote to Colleen McCullough, and she was kind enough to write back. She gave me the name of an out-of-print book that I've used a lot, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Roman Republic, by H.H. Scullard. I have shelves of books about Roman history and Paul of Tarsus. Very little has been written about vestal virgins--but that gave me quite a bit of leeway. After all, I'm writing fiction!

This is the second story of Togas, daggers, and Magic – for lovers of Ancient Rome, Hardboiled detectives, and Urban Fantasy.A rich landlord finds tenants are abandoning his apartment buildings, spouting tales of horrific events and whispering that the old gods - the numina - came alive and cursed the buildings.Enter Felix, a professional fox. Dressed in a toga and armed with a dagger, Felix is neither a traditional detective nor a traditional magician - but something in between. Whenever there is a foul business of bad magic, Felix is hired to sniff out the truth. Now he must separate fact from superstition - a hard task in a world where the old gods still roam the earth.Praise for theStories of Togas, Daggers, and Magicseries:“Mehr creates a vivid cast and an equally vivid setting in which magic just seems to fit in perfectly.”-- Richard Knaak, NYT best-selling author of Legends of Huma"Mehr's imagined world based on ancient Rome feels at once familiar and dreamlike."-- Ruth Downie, author of the acclaimed Medicus series of Roman mysteries

What made the Romans laugh? Was ancient Rome a carnival, filled with practical jokes and hearty chuckles? Or was it a carefully regulated culture in which the uncontrollable excess of laughter was a force to fear—a world of wit, irony, and knowing smiles? How did Romans make sense of laughter? What role did it play in the world of the law courts, the imperial palace, or the spectacles of the arena? Laughter in Ancient Rome explores one of the most intriguing, but also trickiest, of historical subjects. Drawing on a wide range of Roman writing—from essays on rhetoric to a surviving Roman joke book—Mary Beard tracks down the giggles, smirks, and guffaws of the ancient Romans themselves. From ancient "monkey business" to the role of a chuckle in a culture of tyranny, she explores Roman humor from the hilarious, to the momentous, to the surprising. But she also reflects on even bigger historical questions. What kind of history of laughter can we...