EB Bibliography II: What are you currently reading?

[Zaknafien]

Like the previous thread, but Id like to make a spot for EB fans to let us know what antiquity books they are currently reading or enjoyed recently, maybe letting others know of great books on subjects they might be interested in.

Im currently re-reading Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome Series, the classic historical ficiton set from the rise of Marius through the death of Caesar and beyond. The books include The First Man in Rome, The Grass Crown, Fortune's Favorites, Caesar's Women, Caesar, and The October Horse.

On the non fiction side of the house, I just got Augustus: The Life of Rome's First Emperor, and a new copy of From the Gracchi to Nero which I will be re-reading soon.

[Bava]

Just finished Gisbert Haef´s "Troy", nice read, but not as good as his "Hannibal"(absolutley loved it, though was a bit carthie biased).

I saw some copies of the "Imperium" series in my local book store today, is it worth buying?

[abou]

Caesar: Life of a Colossus by Adrian Goldsworthy. It's a good read and I should devote more time to it. Next I plan on reading From Samarkhand to Sardis, which my library amazingly actually had a copy of, and picking through the first book of Caesar's commentaries in Latin.

[Kugutsu]

I am currently reading three books which are relevant to your question:

Xenophon's Anabasis. I am rereading this, as I remember reading it when I was translating bits at school. I reckon the version I read then was abridged, as I cant remember reading anything about what happened after they reached Trapezous.
Edit: To anyone who hasnt read this, its an extremely readable, enjoyable book, I highly recommend it. Its the story of a mercenary army of 10 000 greek hoplites hired by Cyrus, a pretender to the throne of Persia (in about 400BC). They get virtually to Babylon, beat the King, but unfortunately Cyrus is killed in the battle (Cunaxa) and the greeks are stuck in the middle of a hostile country. The story tells how they got back to greece, chronicled by Xenophon who was one of the generals.

Polybius' Histories: in preparation for the historical campaign I am going to play as the Romans when EB 0.82 (or whatever the devs consider to be the next big release) is released.

I am also reading Plutarch's Lives, but only when I go to the bookshop on saturdays. Theres a great bookshop where I live which combines comfortable leather armchairs and for some reason being a social hub where all the beautiful people meet, so its a good place to lurk, read and people-watch!

(Just in case people are thinking Im some kind of freak, I am also reading some fiction which is not based in antiquity, but I'll mention it anyway: 'Birds Without Wings' is a story set in Turkey, and traces the development of that country and its neighbours through the lives of characters living through last century. A very interesting book about whats happening now in the region I tend to play in in EB! Also 'Labyrinth' which is a thriller in the vein of the Da Vinci Code, but better IMHO...)

[QwertyMIDX]

I'm reading Pontus and the Outside World: Studies in Black Sea History, Historiography, and Archaelogy. editied by C.J. Tuplin. It's a collection of articles, the one I'm reading right now is about the Bosphoran Kingdom's political system and it's diplomatic relationships with the rest of the Hellenistic world, espeically the Ptolemaic Egypt.

[Geoffrey S]

De Oudheid: Grieken en Romeinen in de context van de wereldgeschiedenis by F.G. Naerebout and H.W. Singor. It's an extremely useful overview of the classical world from the Persian empire to the fall of Rome, with a brief overview of the rest of the world at the same time at the start of each period. Though the reason I'm reading it is for an exam coming tuesday on this subject, I can recommend it to any Dutch reader looking for a comprehensive guide to the period.

[Shifty_GMH]

Currently reading The Sword of Hannibal by Terry McCarthy

Next up is probably going to be Pride of Carthage by David Anthony Durham

I'll give you a list of books I enjoyed a little later when I have some more free time. Just about all of them will be historical fiction dealing mostly with Rome and a few with ancient Greece.

[Spectral]

Just finished "Empire of Dragons" by Valerio Massimo Manfredi, a bunch of roman soldiers that reach China. Quite simply,it sucked, too Gladiator-style for my taste. I mean the roman general fights with a gladius in each hand, not to talk about the hiper-super-duper chinese warrior monks ...

[Lucasiewicz]

De Oudheid: Grieken en Romeinen in de context van de wereldgeschiedenis by F.G. Naerebout and H.W. Singor.

No need to recommend it, I was reading it myself some weeks ago.

I also read Ancient Persia: from 550 BC to 650 AD by Jozef Wiesehöfer.

My current read is Memories of Hadrianus by Marguerite Yourcenar. Not as historical as well as philosophical.

[Thaatu]

Bob Dylan: Chronicles, volume one.

I know, not really related to EB.
I also have a swedish book about Alexander the Great, but I don't speak swedish...

[Geoffrey S]

My current read is Memories of Hadrianus by Marguerite Yourcenar. Not as historical as well as philosophical.

Hey, absolutely loved that book. I found it beautiful how Yourcenar managed to perfectly capture the essence of a great leader confronted by his own approaching demise after living through those of so many others.

[Narhon]

Lucan's Pharsalia at this time. It took a minute to get use to but I am enjoying It. It kind of reads like the Iliad

[Warmaster Horus]

a little off EB's topic

Euphemism of the day!

I'm reading Simon Scarrow's "Under the Eagle" series. Pretty nice.

[cunctator]

I've just finished The Mycenaeans by Louise Schofield. A very good and most importantly up to date introduction to the Mycenaean culture. I can warmly recommend it to anybody interested in late bronze age greece who doesn't allready have a few books about this topic. The book covers all important areas and is well illustrated with photographs and drawings. I only would have wished thaat some of the more controversial points had been discussed in greater detail, however the bibliography hints at further literature about these.


Other than this book I've read since I posted last time in this thread:


The Spanish Galleon, Osprey, Angus Konstam
Loeb Classical Libary Book 156, containing the surving fragments of the works of three less known greek tacticians Aenas "The Tactician" (4th century BC), (1st century Bc) and Onosander (1st century AD)
The conspiracy of Catiliana, Sallust
Imperium, Robert Harris
The 50 Gun Ship, Ric Winfield: All you have to know about the RN's 50 gun ships. Comes with a seperate fold out plan of HMS Leopard (1799). Really worth every cent.

[Ozymandias]

Plutarch's Parallel Lives, Suetonius's Lives of the Caesers, and the Illiad.

[Owen the Mighty]

I'm currently reading The Romans for Dummies by Guy de la Bedoyere. Informative, but not a PhD thesis, so it's perfect for any average person interested in the Roman Empire.

I'm also planning on reading Mario Puzo's The Sicilian, because I love the Godfather

Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories series is an enjoyable read aswell......200 years too late, but hey, you can't go wrong with some Saxon vs Viking action!

(The first book is called The Last Kingdom, if I remember correctly)

[Digby Tatham Warter]

Steven Pressfield's THE AFGHAN CAMPAIGN is my current read.
It's about Alexander the Great's 3 yr struggle to subdue the tribes, so he would have a secure supply route when invading India.

It's particually interesting at the moment, because my EB campaign as the Seluekids means I am fighting in this territory.

It brings to life the Mod so much more when you read about the remoteness of the place, and just reading the names of the places, and then finding them on EB's map. It makes more sense when it takes me ages to get troops through the 'wilderness'.

[Owen the Mighty]

@ Digby Tatham Warter: I am having a similar experience now that I'm reading A Brief History of The Celts. While campaigning in Gaul, I have a raised respect for the Aedui and the Arverni.

[Lysander13]

Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Stories series is an enjoyable read aswell......200 years too late, but hey, you can't go wrong with some Saxon vs Viking action!

(The first book is called The Last Kingdom, if I remember correctly)

Yes, The Last Kingdom was the first one in the series. Very good series i happen to come across in my local library and was pleasantly surprised. If your into historical fiction you may enjoy this series as it depicts The Danes vs. The Saxons in England during the time of Alfred The Great.
Good entertaining read.

Also just finished The Spartans by Paul Cartledge. It was...ok. However, i could see where some would find it difficult to sit thru unless your really interested in the subject matter.