Apart from publishing singles, allan massie is also the author of various trilogies and book series many of which include historical novels such as caesar, caligula, tiberius and many others. The novels narrator, a roman general languishing in captivity among the gauls, muses over the events that have brought down his career. Allan massie on the year ahead in books unquestionably the highlight of the coming year is polygons new edition of muriel sparks novels, all 22 of them. He lives in the scottish borders and writes for the daily telegraph and the scotsman. Allan massies four novels are peopled with a wellimagined cast of selfish aristocrats, germans some of them good and honourable ones, reactionaries, jews, communists, gays, spies, prostitutes, collaborators or many kinds, and policemen, most notably inspector lannes, the troubled midranking investigator who, together with his.
The roman novels, in a sense that wasnt too difficult because for the most part. Alan massies roman novels are all first rate, this is the fourth that i have read. Roman history through a hundred novels historical novel society. A question of loyalties 1989, the sins of the father 1991 and shadows of empire 1997. Caesar is a 1993 historical novel by scottish writer allan massie, the third in the authors series of novels about the early roman emperors. Tiberius, caligula, claudius, nero, it is one of the great achievements of allan massies roman novels caligula is the sixth in a sequence that covers a period from 49 bc to 70 ad that he restores to these monstrous rulers their full due of human complexity. Allan massie allan massie is the awardwinning author of many novels, including his roman quartet. Allan massie is a prolific scottish novelist, an historian and literary editor. Allan massie project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. It is the second in the series of novels massie wrote about the early roman emperors. Allan massies latest bordeaux novel is another fine. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author.
There have also been roman novels in other european languages, notably the death of virgil by hermann broch and marguerite yourcenars memoirs of hadrian perhaps the finest of all. Beyond his impressive weekly word count for the press, massie has more than 20 novels behind him, notably his acclaimed loose trilogy set in mid20thcentury europe, a question of loyalties, the. Like its predecessor augustus, it is written as a memoir towards the end of the old emperors life. I embarked on my roman novels originally intending to write just one, about augustus only after i had published a book of biographical essays on the first 12 caesars, intended as a companion volume to suetonius. Also a journalist and critic of fiction, he writes regularly for the scotsman, sunday times scotland and the scottish daily mail and contributes to. Unlike them he can range over all levels of society, for crime can easily breach the barriers that exist in our stratified society. Allan massie is the awardwinning author of many novels, including his roman quartet, antony, augustus, tiberius and caesar, as well. Published anonymously in 1814 as scotts first venture into prose fiction, it is often regarded as one of the first historical novels in the western tradition. I need input on allan massie s roman novels sign in to follow this. Massie succeeds admirably in bringing to life the architect of imperial rome and the society that surrounded him. Augustus married three times and his successors were the son tiberius, great grandson and grandson of his third wife, livia. I like the roman novels but a question of loyalties is in a different league and deserves to be better known. For emperors with more than one novel in which they are protagonists, i would like to know the best one. Narrated partly by antony himself as he stands on the verge of ruin, and partly by his greek secretary critias, the novel charts antonys fortunes since the murder of julius caeser.
Unlike them he can range over all levels of society, for crime can easily. Massie uses the roman world as suitable material with which to reconstruct the lives of these two very different men but then he goes a step further. A question of loyalties by allan massie henrys world of. The royal stuarts by allan massie overdrive rakuten. His new novel, charlemagne and roland, is the third part of a dark ages trilogy, and tells the story of europes first emperor after the fall of the roman empire.
Allan massie is a scottish author of historical fiction, political thrillers, contemporary fiction novels, and nonfiction books. How close it is to the historical events the book is, i have insufficient knowledge to give an opinion. Antony by allan massie and a great selection of related books. Allan massie occupies a curious place in scottish letters. Currently, allan massie resides in scotland with his spouse. So far, there are four volumes augustus, tiberius, caesar, and caligula. In 2002 i alienated influential people by attacking the edinburgh book festival, the first and now biggest of several such hoolies which descend on scots towns melrose, wigtown, etc. Allan massie was born on 19 october 1938 in singapore, and was educated at trinity. Allan massie, caesar ny 1994, published in britain 1993 by hodder and stoughton, about julius caesar. Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards.
Caligula 2004, a further novel in the sequence, tells the story of the infamous, mad roman emperor. Caesar is the third in allan massies quartet of roman novels, a brilliant a. In his career as an author, allan massie also published nonfiction books as well such as muriel spark, byron, and colette. The author makes us believe that the story is based on new writings recently found by archaeologists.
Buy allan massie ebooks to read online or download in pdf or epub on your pc, tablet or mobile device. Allan massie made his debut as a published author in 1978 with the novel change and decay in all around i see. School, and also taught english as a second language in rome 19725. Allan massie is the awardwinning author of many novels, including his roman quartet. It seems extraordinary that a novel of such power and ambition didnt trouble the booker judges that year.
I believed that bit of fiction for a short time after i had read it. Tiberius massie novel tiberius is a 1991 historical novel by scottish writer allan massie, about the roman emperor tiberius. Colleen mccullough, the first man in rome 1990, the grass crown 1992, fortunes favorites 1993, historical novels about republican rome. Allan massie is the awardwinning author of twentyfive novels, including the roman series antony, augustus, tiberius, caesar, neros heirs and caligula, as well as several works of nonfiction. Another writer of some literary merit who has attempted fiction based on the roman emperor is allan massie. This is the final book of the authors quartet of roman novels. Novels about roman emperors historical fiction librarything.
When i was younger i thought eagle of the ninth by rosemary sutcliff was fantastic, but. I need input on allan massies roman novels libri unrv. In this third in a projected quartet of historical novels set in ancient rome, massie tiberius attempts to find new drama in the story of julius caesars murder. Successful historical fiction with margaret mcgoverne a.
Below is a list of allan massie s books in order of when they were originally published. Allan massie allan massie is the awardwinning author of many novels, including his roman quartet antony, augustus, tiberius and caesar. Retelling the story of caesar in a glamorous, sexually charged light, the third of the author s roman novels depicts the downfall of a charismatic showman desperate. He lives in the scottish borders and writes for the daily telegraph, scotsman and for the spectator, where he has a regular column. Tiberius is a 1991 historical novel by scottish writer allan massie, about the roman emperor tiberius. Allan massie is the awardwinning author of many novels, including his roman quartet, antony, augustus, tiberius and caesaras as well as several works of nonfiction, most recently the royal stuarts. In addition there have been many more entire plays, poems and more recently novels using such material, for example racines phaedra, keats hyperion, and. Allan massie has 67 books on goodreads with 9533 ratings. Allan massie is the awardwinning author of many novels, including his roman quartet antony, augustus, tiberius and caesar. How close it is to the historical events the book is, i.
Allan massie biography london, novel, political, and. Allan massies roman emperor and nearly emperor novels offer us a glimpse of the alltoofrail humans behind the marble statues and history books that represent what. Allan massie was born in singapore on 19 october, 1938. Allan was educated at glenalmond and trinity college, cambridge. In popular imagination the very names make a litany of depravity and crime. Allan massie is a prolific scottish novelist, an historian and literary editor, as well as a lively and controversial journalist for various newspapers in both scotland and england. Clearly the author s prestanding interest in subject and period is the first reason for the choice. Allan massie historisk roman, bygget over kejser augustus erindringer. Allan massie s caesar is narrated by the imperators protege, the other brutus. Caesar is the third in allan massie s quartet of roman novels, a brilliant and eagerly awaited successor to tiberius, which was widely ac. Sep 01, 2004 alan massies roman novels are all first rate, this is the fourth that i have read.
Drawing on the accounts of historians past and present, novels and plays, allan massie tells the familys full story, from the salt marshes of brittany to the thrones of scotland and england, and then eventual exile. Allan massie will be speaking at two events at aye write. Due to his contribution to literature, allan massie received the cbe award commanderoforder in the year 20. Since 2006 he has been busy with the warrior of rome novels that has ballista a roman army officer as the lead. Allan massie s most popular book is the royal stuarts.
As a journalist and political commentator he embraces the politics of the conservative new right. This is the final book of the author s quartet of roman novels. Allan massie is the awardwinning author of many novels, including his roman quartet antony, augustus, tiberius and caesar as well as several works of nonfiction. Augustus by allan massie sceptre, 1987 notes western literature abounds in references, allusions to the myths, legends and historical events of greece and rome. Colin waters spoke to allan massie about war, nationalism, and the dangers of idealism. He has lived in the scottish borders for the last 25 years, and now lives in selkirk. Caesar is a 1993 historical novel by scottish writer allan massie, the third in the author s series of novels about the early roman emperors.
Allan massies latest bordeaux novel is another fine vintage. It is a great book, and a book that you will want to read over and over again. Allan massie is the awardwinning author of many novels, including his roman quartet, antony, augustus, tiberius and caesaras well as several works of nonfiction. Allan massie first came to prominence in the 1980s, at the same time as other scottish novelists such as james kelman and alasdair gray. The first of a planned historical trilogy is set in the last days of the roman empire as massie tiberius, 1993, etc. Two novels set in imperial rome augustus, by allan massie, is the supposed autobiography of julius caesars nephew and heir, octavius, first roman emperor. Allan massie s roman emperor and nearly emperor novels offer us a glimpse of the alltoofrail humans behind the marble statues and history books that represent what we know about these historical movers and shakers. Novels set in ancient greece and rome a leading uk.
The author cleverly inserts his narrator at the center of roman intrigue by assigning him the overextended clodia as a lover and the undistinguished but sly young octavian as a catamite. Successful historical fiction with margaret mcgoverne. The wizard who sheds light on the dark ages telegraph. Allan massie is currently considered a single author.
In both he finds something of the loneliness of power. Allan johnstone massie cbe frsl frse born 16 october 1938 is a scottish journalist, columnist, sports writer and novelist. In allan massies fictional account of the life of augustus there is a similar awareness of the way that political life is all about reacting to unpredictable realities. I myself have written six roman novels, offering a fictionalised history of rome from julius caesar to the flavian emperors. Today the crime novelist has one advantage denied to writers of straight or literary novels. Allan massie is the awardwinning author of many novels, including his roman quartet, antony, augustus, tiberius and caesar, as well as several works of nonfiction. Alan massie s roman novels are all first rate, this is the fourth that i have read. The most successful of his novels, at least in terms of sales, have been a series of reconstructed autobiographies or biographies of roman. Massie makes the emperor gaius, known as caligula bootikins human, not a particularly likable one, but human none the less. Allan massie is also the author of a trilogy of novels about four brothers set during the second world war.