Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

Does anyone know of any historical fiction concerning the Severan Dynasty. I have read Family Favorites about Elagabalus, but have yet to discover others of this rather chaotic period of the Principate Empire. I'd especially be interested in works concerning Septimus Severus and his sons Caracalla and Geta.

I used to collect imperial and provincial coins of the Severans and have read some histories, ancient and modern, but now would like some decent historical fiction of the era 193 and 235 CE, through Severus Alexander.

Thanks, Bill

Kernos wrote: "Does anyone know of any historical fiction concerning the Severan Dynasty. I have read Family Favorites about Elagabalus, but have yet to discover others of this rather chaotic peri..."

Did you like ? Alfred Duggan is one of my favorite authors - I've read all of his Roman novels. What I like about him is that the stories don't necessarily have a happy ending, but the characters muddle on nonetheless.

Yes I did, Vicki. It's been awhile, but I remember liking the prose and that Duggan put the blame for the creation of the creature Elagabalus was where it probably belonged: his mother & grandmother. Cassius Dio made him a monster, reflecting the views of the Senate which I think primarily about religion.

I've read another novel about him—Child of the Sun which is of interest if you don't mind it being very NSFW, sexually explicit.

@Vicki— I was looking at Duggan's books while waiting at the docs thin morn. Have you read his Founding Fathers aka "Children of the Wolf"? It sounds like something I'm looking for about pre-Republic Rome.

Kernos wrote: "@Vicki— I was looking at Duggan's books while waiting at the docs thin morn. Have you read his Founding Fathers7733812] aka "Children of the Wolf"? It sounds like something I'm look..."

Yes, I liked Children of the Wolf - it tells the story of the founding of Rome from the perspectives of four different characters, all quite plausible. Another good one is Winter Quarters, about a couple of Gaulish nobles who went with Crassus to fight the Parthians.