Pietro Rotari, Girl With a Book (detail), c. 1750-62
(These are novels and source books for lovers of ancient history, excluding well known primary texts such as the Iliad, etc. of which most people are aware.)
Alexander, The Ambiguity of Greatness by Guy MacLean Rogers, A very interesting biography of Alexander the Great.
The Egyptologist by Arthur Phillips, A novel about a man in the 1920s desperate to discover an Egyptian tomb.
Goddesses, Whores, Wives, and Slaves, Women in Classical Antiquity by Sarah B. Pomeroy, an extremely fascinating study of the often overlooked lives of women in ancient Greece and Rome.
Women’s Life in Greece and Rome, a source book in translation, by Mary R. Lefkowitz and Maureen B. Fant, An interesting collection of writings by women from the Classic era, including religious texts, poems, prayers and inscriptions.
Troy by Adele Geras, a novel of the last days of Troy told through the eyes of the women who were there including Helen and Andromache.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman, a dark novel full of plot twists and replete with the interaction of ancient gods in modern life.
The Greeks by H.D.F. Kitto, The book to read as an introduction to Ancient Greece.
Greek Lyrics by Richmond Lattimore, Beautiful ancient Greek poetry translated by one of the most well respected ancient Greek scholars.
Flesh and Stone, the body and the city in western civilization by Richard Sennett, From Daphne Spain “Big ideas that range into the realm of the sociology of culture as well as urban sociology, social change, and comparative historical analysis… How does one balance social order with personal disorder to create a humane public realm?” Highly recommend
Classical Mythology by Stephen L. Harris & Gloria Platzner, a complete source book on all things to do with classical mythology. Extremely informative and interesting.
