Literary theme analysis, by a book like {foo}
Books about Ancient History
Mary, Called Magdalene
by Margaret George
A fictionalized account of Mary Magdalene's life, from her childhood in Magdala to her relationship with Jesus and beyond.
As a woman in the Bible , Mary Magdalene 's story is not recounted as fully as that of some of the males associated with Jesus. The novel presents a new view of Mary Magdalene – a female apostle who ... (Wikipedia)
The Epic of Gilgamesh
by Anonymous
Ancient Sumerian epic poem recounting the adventures of a hero who struggles with mortality.
Miraculously preserved on clay tablets dating back as much as four thousand years, the poem of Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, is the world’s oldest epic, predating Homer by many centuries. The story tells ... (Goodreads)
The Persian Boy
by Mary Renault
A historical novel about the life of Bagoas, a Persian eunuch who becomes the lover of Alexander the Great.
“It takes skill to depict, as Miss Renault has done, this half-man, half Courtesan who is so deeply in love with the warrior.”– The Atlantic Monthly, The Persian Boy traces the last years of ... (Goodreads)
History of the Peloponnesian War
by Thucydides
Detailed account of the protracted war between Athens and Sparta in ancient Greece.
Written four hundred years before the birth of Christ, this detailed contemporary account of the long life-and-death struggle between Athens and Sparta stands an excellent chance of fulfilling its ... (Goodreads)
The Silmarillion
by J.R.R. Tolkien
Epic saga of the history of Middle-Earth, a world filled with mythical creatures.
The Silmarillion is an account of the Elder Days, of the First Age of Tolkien’s world. It is the ancient drama to which the characters in The Lord of the Rings look back, and in whose events some of ... (Goodreads)
The Conquest of Gaul
by Gaius Julius Caesar
A narrative of Julius Caesar's military campaigns in Gaul, chronicling his strategy and triumphs.
Mara, Daughter of the Nile
by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
An adventure story set in Ancient Egypt, featuring a brave and courageous girl who rises to a heroic challenge.
The story opens introducing the reader to Nekonkh, an Egyptian river boat captain on the Nile during the rule of Queen Hatshepsut . Nekonkh is on his way to Thebes, carrying his usual cargo and an ... (Wikipedia)
The Queen of the Damned
by Anne Rice
A vampire queen's quest to restore the vampires to power and uncover the secrets of the past.
Librarian's note: An alternate cover edition can be found, here, In 1976, a uniquely seductive world of vampires was unveiled in the now-classic Interview with the Vampire . . . in 1985, a wild and ... (Goodreads)
Azazeel
by Youssef Ziedan
A historical-fiction novel of a young man's discovery of an ancient manuscript that leads to a secret religious order.
تدور أحداث الرواية في القرن الخامس الميلادي ما بين صعيد مصر والإسكندرية وشمال سوريا، عقب تبني الإمبراطورية الرومانية للدين المسيحي، وما تلا ذلك من صراع مذهبي داخلي بين آباء الكنيسة من جهة، والمؤمنين ... (Goodreads)
The Last Oracle
by James Rollins
An action-packed journey of global discovery and exploration, unlocking a secret long buried beneath the sea.
In Washington, D.C., a homeless man dies in Commander Gray Pierce's arms, shot by an assassin's bullet. But the death leaves behind a greater mystery: a bloody coin found clutched in the dead man's ... (Goodreads)
Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield
by René Goscinny
Asterix and Obelix embark on a quest to retrieve a stolen shield for their village's chief.
The book begins with Vercingetorix conceding defeat to Julius Caesar . His surrendered weapons remain at Caesar's chair for several hours, until a Roman archer steals Vercingetorix's famous shield , ... (Wikipedia)
The Histories
by Herodotus
Exploration into the rise and fall of empires in the ancient world.
One of the masterpieces of classical literature, the "Histories" describes how a small and quarrelsome band of Greek city states united to repel the might of the Persian empire. But while this epic ... (Goodreads)
The Aeneid
by Virgil
Epic tale of Aeneas and the founding of Rome, a fateful journey through the gods.
The Aeneid – thrilling, terrifying and poignant in equal measure – has inspired centuries of artists, writers and musicians. Virgil’s epic tale tells the story of Aeneas, a Trojan hero, who flees his ... (Goodreads)
The Secret Teachings of All Ages
by Manly P. Hall
A comprehensive guide to the esoteric teachings of ancient civilizations, covering topics such as symbolism, mythology, and spirituality.
A classic since 1928, this masterly encyclopedia of ancient mythology, ritual, symbolism, and the arcane mysteries of the ages is available for the first time in a compact "reader's edition." Like no ... (Goodreads)
Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold
by Stephen Fry
Reimagining of classic Greek myths, with a modern twist.
Mythos is a modern collection of Greek myths, stylishly retold by legendary writer, actor, and comedian Stephen Fry. Fry transforms the adventures of Zeus and the Olympians into emotionally resonant ... (Goodreads)
Inca Gold
by Clive Cussler
A thrilling journey of archaeological discovery in the jungles of Peru.
In 1532 a fleet of ships sails in secret to an island in the middle of an inland sea. There they hide a magnificent treasure more vast than that any Pharaoh would ever possess. Then they disappear, ... (Wikipedia)
D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths
by Ingri d'Aulaire
A captivating collection of timeless myths and legends from Ancient Greece.
Here are the gods, goddesses, and legendary figures of ancient Greece–mighty Zeus, with his fistful of thunderbolts; gray-eyed Athena, goddess of wisdom; Helios, the sun; greedy King Midas--lavishly ... (Goodreads)
The Eternal Temple
by Christian Jacq
A young man's journey to become a priest in ancient Egypt, facing challenges and discovering secrets of the temple.
The splendor and danger of ancient Egypt continues in the second volume of this magnificent saga. For Ramses, the Son of Light, the coronation has arrived. Now he will learn whether the friends of ... (Goodreads)
Ilium
by Dan Simmons
An epic sci-fi tale of gods, robots, and humans on a quest to uncover the secrets of the ancient past.
The novel centers on three character groups: that of Hockenberry (a resurrected twentieth-century Homeric scholar whose duty is to compare the events of the Iliad to the reenacted events of the ... (Wikipedia)
Mythago Wood
by Robert Holdstock
A haunting tale of a family's encounter with mythological creatures in a mysterious forest.
The events of Mythago Wood occur between 1946 and 1948. Stephen Huxley returns from service (after recuperating from his war wounds) to see his elder brother Christian, who now lives alone in their ... (Wikipedia)
White Fire
by Douglas Preston
A thrilling mystery-adventure, uncovering a lost secret hidden in the ruins of the Mayan city.
Corrie Swanson sets out to solve a long-forgotten mystery. In 1876, in a remote mining camp called Roaring Fork in the Colorado Rockies, several miners were killed in devastating grizzly bear ... (Wikipedia)
Waterfall
by Lisa Tawn Bergren
A young woman travels to a remote village in Italy and discovers a hidden waterfall, leading to love and self-discovery.
Gabriella has never spent a summer in Italy like this one. Remaining means giving up all she's known and loved . . . and leaving means forfeiting what she's come to know—and love itself. Most ... (Barnes & Noble)
A Morbid Taste for Bones
by Ellis Peters
A 12th-century monk and his quest to uncover the truth behind a cult's mysterious relic.
In May 1137, Prior Robert of Shrewsbury Abbey is determined that the Abbey must have the relics of a saint. Finding no suitable local saint, Robert finds one in nearby Wales. Brother Cadfael has two ... (Wikipedia)
A Hidden Fire
by Elizabeth Hunter
A librarian discovers a hidden world of vampires and magic, and must navigate dangerous alliances to protect those she loves.
A phone call from an old friend sets Dr. Giovanni Vecchio back on the path of a mysterious manuscript he's hunted for over five hundred years. He never expected a young student librarian could be the ... (Goodreads)
The Mummy Case
by Elizabeth Peters
An archeological adventure uncovering ancient Egyptian mysteries.
Amelia and her husband, Professor Radcliffe Emerson , return to Egypt for the 1894–95 season , to excavate the ruined pyramids of Mazghunah , which pale in comparison to the nearby dig at Dahshoor – ... (Wikipedia)
The Firebrand
by Marion Zimmer Bradley
A retelling of the Trojan War from the perspective of Kassandra, a priestess cursed with prophetic visions.
Blending archaeological fact and legend, the myths of the gods and the feats of heroes, Marion Zimmer Bradley breathes new life into the classic tale of the Trojan War-reinventing larger-than-life ... (Goodreads)
The Eye of God
by James Rollins
A thrilling journey across the world to uncover an ancient conspiracy.
In The Eye of God, a Sigma Force novel, New York Times bestselling author James Rollins delivers an apocalyptic vision of a future predicted by the distant past. In the wilds of Mongolia, a research ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Last Templar
by Raymond Khoury
A quest to uncover the mysteries of the lost Templar Order, set against a backdrop of conspiracy and hidden secrets.
"It has served us well, this myth of Christ." Pope Leo X, 16th Century In a hail of fire and flashing sword, as the burning city of Acre falls from the hands of the West in 1291, The Last Templar ... (Goodreads)
The Complete Poems
by Catullus
A collection of poems by the Roman poet Catullus, exploring themes of love, friendship, and society.
Catullus is a companion of lovers and of those whom love has disappointed. He is also a satirical and epigrammatic writer who savagely consoles with laughter. Carmina captures in English both the ... (Goodreads)
The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery that Holds the Secret of America's Future
by Jonathan Cahn
Unveiling of a prophetic mystery that reveals a pattern of national judgment and a call to national repentance.
Is it possible... That there exists an ancient mystery that holds the secret of America's future? That this mystery lies behind everything from 9/11 to the collapse of the global economy? That ... (Goodreads)
The Persian Expedition
by Xenophon
An account of the Greek mercenary soldiers' journey to Persia and their struggles against the Persian army.
In The Persian Expedition, Xenophon, a young Athenian noble who sought his destiny abroad, provides an enthralling eyewitness account of the attempt by a Greek mercenary army - the Ten Thousand - to ... (Goodreads)
Fingerprints of the Gods: The Evidence of Earth's Lost Civilization
by Graham Hancock
An exploration of ancient monuments and artifacts, uncovering evidence of a lost advanced civilization.
Could the story of mankind be far older than we have previously believed? Using tools as varied as archaeo-astronomy, geology, and computer analysis of ancient myths, Graham Hancock presents a ... (Goodreads)
The Alexandria Link
by Steve Berry
A thrilling journey of intrigue and discovery, uncovering an ancient mystery.
The Library of Alexandria was the most important collection of ancient knowledge ever assembled. The building stood for six hundred years and contained more than half a million manuscripts. Then ... (Wikipedia)
Ghost Hunter
by Michelle Paver
A chilling tale of a ghost hunter's journey to a haunted mountain in the Himalayas.
Ghost hunter is the final book in the series. Set in the high mountains, it tells of Torak's battle against the most fearsome of all the Soul-Eaters, Eostra the Eagle Owl Mage, who seeks to rule both ... (Wikipedia)
Cleopatra: A Life
by Stacy Schiff
Biography of Cleopatra VII, the last ruler of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer brings to life the most intriguing woman in the history of the world: Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt. Her palace shimmered with onyx, garnets, and gold, but ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Bone Labyrinth
by James Rollins
An archaeological expedition unravels an ancient secret, igniting a global race to prevent a catastrophic event.
A war is coming, a battle that will stretch from the prehistoric forests of the ancient past to the cutting-edge research labs of today, all to reveal a true mystery buried deep within our DNA, a ... (Barnes & Noble)
Caesar's Women
by Colleen McCullough
The third book in the Masters of Rome series, following the lives of Caesar and his women. Political intrigue, love affairs, and power struggles abound.
The novel is set during a ten-year interval, from 68-58 BC, which Julius Caesar spent mainly in Rome, climbing the political ladder and outmaneuvering his many enemies. It opens with Caesar returning ... (Wikipedia)
Alexander: Child of a Dream
by Valerio Massimo Manfredi
The story of Alexander the Great, from his childhood to his ascension to the throne. A tale of ambition, conquest, and tragedy.
The story starts before the birth of Alexander at Pella , when his mother Queen Olympias dreams of a snake slithering inside her bed and thrusting its seed inside her; when she recounts her dream to ... (Wikipedia)
Stonehenge
by Bernard Cornwell
A gripping tale of a warrior's journey to uncover the secrets of the mysterious Stonehenge.
Four thousand years ago, a stranger's death at the Old Temple of Ratharryn-and his ominous "gift" of gold-precipitates the building of what for centuries to come will be known as one of mankind's ... (Goodreads)
The Ruins of Gorlan
by John Flanagan
A young orphan's rise to become a heroic knight, defending the kingdom against an evil sorcerer.
Morgarath, the exiled lord of the bleak, barren Mountains of Rain and Night has been waiting fifteen years in his dark realm, carefully planning his revenge against the Kingdom of Araluen. His former ... (Wikipedia)
Gods and Kings
by Lynn Austin
Biblical epic, depicting the rise and fall of kings, and the clash between Israelite and pagan cultures.
Though born the second son of King Ahaz, Hezekiah is not protected from his father's perverted attempts to gain the favor of the idol Molech. Terrified and powerless at the foot of Molech's altar, ... (Goodreads)
The Crown of Ptolemy
by Rick Riordan
Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase team up with Sadie and Carter Kane to prevent an ancient Egyptian magician from causing chaos.
Annabeth Chase dreams of her mother, Athena, telling her that there is trouble brewing. Annabeth and Percy Jackson take a ferry to Governors Island in New York Harbor . When they become trapped on ... (Wikipedia)
The Atlantis Gene
by A.G. Riddle
A thrilling race to decipher the code of an ancient, mysterious gene.
The greatest mystery of all time...,the history of human origins...,will be revealed. In Antarctica, researchers discover a mysterious structure, buried in ice. In a lab in Jakarta, an autism ... (Goodreads)
The Seventh Scroll
by Wilbur Smith
An Egyptian adventure leading to the lost tomb of Pharaoh Mamose.
This book is set in the present and follows the adventurer Nicholas Quenton-Harper and his love interest, Dr. Royan Al Simma, as they uncover the tomb of Tanus. Duraid Al Simma and his wife Royan ... (Wikipedia)
Asterix and the Big Fight
by René Goscinny
Gauls Asterix and Obelix help a neighboring village fight off Roman invaders. Classic comic book humor and adventure.
The Romans having been humiliated many times by the rebel Gauls , Felonius Caucus, advisor to Centurion Nebulus Nimbus, suggests a single combat between Vitalstatistix , chief of Asterix's tribe, and ... (Wikipedia)
This Rough Magic
by Mary Stewart
A young actress arrives on a Greek island to rehearse a play and becomes embroiled in a dangerous adventure involving smugglers and a reclusive musician.
Lucy Waring, a struggling young actress, is on holiday in Corfu at the villa of her wealthy sister, Phyllida Forli, and becomes involved in intrigue involving international smuggling. The Forlis rent ... (Wikipedia)
Persian Fire: The First World Empire and the Battle for the West
by Tom Holland
A historical account of the Persian Empire and its conflicts with Greece, including the famous Battle of Marathon.
In 480 B.C., Xerxes, the King of Persia, led an invasion of mainland Greece. Its success should have been a formality. For seventy years, victory—rapid, spectacular victory—had seemed the birthright ... (Goodreads)
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