Rome

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Rome

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1Ardashir
Editado: Ago 26, 2007, 6:32 pm

A couple of years ago I visited Rome - wonderful city, of course.

I had then recently read Angels and Demons by Dan Brown, which was a tense, fast-paced read, not all that well-written, perhaps, but perfect for a trip to Rome. In many ways, the book reads as a tourist guide to a number of Rome's foremost attractions, and as such is warmly recommended as a companion on such a trip.

However, I would also like to read other books set in Rome before someday, hopefully soon, returning there. Any pointers?

I have read all of Steven Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa-series, as well as McCullough's Masters of Rome, but as much as I love to read about Ancient Rome, the city is not the same now, so perhaps something a bit more recent - perhaps set in the Renaissance, or even contemporary Rome?

2vpfluke
Editado: Ago 26, 2007, 8:00 pm

I enjoyed Angels and Demons also. I liked it better than the Da Vinci Code.

Then, I did a tagmash on Rome, novel and among all the books about ancient Rome, a book came up with one that I remember from my high school days:

The marble faun by Nathaniel Hawthorne; a story of expatriates living in Rome in the mid-19th century. According to the editorial description at Amazon.com, this book was used a travel guide for visitors during Victorian times. I remember enjoying it, but I read it over 40 years ago.

3Ardashir
Ago 26, 2007, 8:27 pm

Thank you, the Hawthorne book sounds really interesting.

4fictionmap Primeira Mensagem
Editado: Ago 26, 2007, 8:43 pm

If you're interested in reading a short story, I highly recommend Edith Wharton's "Roman Fever" (which is available online: here.

The Seventh Sinner by Elizabeth Peters is an entertaining mystery with a lot of interesting historical tidbits about Rome.

And I can't resist adding one (or two) recommendations about ancient Rome: I, Claudius and Claudius the God by Robert Graves.

5Ardashir
Ago 27, 2007, 9:42 am

I love I, Claudius as well, but it doesn't exactly describe the city so much as the Empire and its rulers. McCullough and Saylor include a lot more description of the city itself in their books.

I'll take a look at Roman Fever, though - I have no problem with reading a short story. Right now, in fact, I am reading a short story collection taking place primarily in the, sadly, fictional city of Bella, capital of the Empire of Scythia-Pannonia-Transbalkania.

Does anyone know which book this is?

6PensiveCat
Nov 14, 2007, 10:40 am

I thought I'd try to revive this thread, because there's a chance I'll be visiting Rome next year. Any more books to recommend?

7varielle
Nov 14, 2007, 10:50 am

I'm reading a mystery about modern Rome called The Dante Game which seems pretty good so far.

8wandering_star
Nov 14, 2007, 1:17 pm

Michael Dibdin's Aurelio Zen novels are good for Italian atmosphere, but I can't remember off the top of my head which ones are set in Rome - except Cabal which is set in and around the Vatican (and _highly_ recommended).

9twacorbies
Nov 14, 2007, 2:54 pm

I think The Marble Faun was the book mentioned in the doc Grey Gardens as being Edie Beale's favorite.

Here's a real guilty pleasure one if you like mysteries: When in Rome by Ngaio Marsh. I read it on a plane trip to Detroit, not Rome, unfortunately. I have a hard time reading at all on a plane, so I stay away from anything too weighty. Dark happenings in the bowels of a basilica...

10vpfluke
Nov 14, 2007, 4:50 pm

The woman of Rome : a novel by Alberto Moravia might be interesting and it deals with the WWI period, not ancient Rome.

11Ardashir
Mar 25, 2009, 6:49 am

History: A Novel by Elsa Morante seems to be one of the more famous novels set in Rome, during World War II. Looks like a very interesting novel.

A series of historical comic books set in Rome around the year 1500 are Borgia: Blood For the Pope, Borgia: Power and Incest and a third volume not yet published in English, by the giants Jodorowsky and Manara.

Another series is set 1500 years earlier, during the reign of Claudius and Nero: Murena by Dufaux and Delaby.

The Family by Mario Puzo also deals with the Borgias, who really left their mark on the city of Rome.

Count Belisarius, also by the aforementioned Robert Graves, has a haunting portrait of an empty Rome, depopulated after the fall of the western Empire, which is just the skeleton left behind by the vibrant metropolis of Augustus and Trajan.

The Agony and the Ecstasy by Irving Stone is a heavily researched novel about the life of Michelangelo, and looks very interesting.

In The Adventurer by the great Finnish writer Mika Waltari, our heroes Mikael and Andy at one point find themselves participating in the Sack of Rome in 1527.

12Ardashir
Mar 25, 2009, 6:55 am

The great sculptor Benvenuto Cellini wrote his memoirs, The autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini, which is probably also a very interesting read. Cellini moved to Rome from Florence at the age of 19, where he lived at the time of the Sack.