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Rome -- Fiction Books
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Petronius Arbiter
The Satyricon — Complete
"The Satyricon — Complete" by Petronius Arbiter is a Latin work of fiction believed to have been written in the late 1st century AD. This fragmentary Roman novel follows the narrator Encolpius and his young companion Giton through a series of bizarre, erotic, and darkly comic adventures. Blending prose and verse, the surviving sections depict encounters with eccentric characters, sexual escapades, and the infamous dinner party hosted by the vulgar freedman Trimalchio—offering a vivid glimpse into the decadent underbelly of early Imperial Rome.
Petronius Arbiter
The Satyricon — Volume 06: Editor's Notes
"The Satyricon — Volume 06: Editor's Notes" by Petronius Arbiter is a scholarly supplement to a Latin work written in the late 1st century AD. This volume provides editorial annotations for a picaresque satire following the narrator Encolpius and his companions through a series of bizarre, often erotic adventures in ancient Rome. The notes illuminate the text's mixture of prose and verse, its social commentary on lower-class Roman life, and its most famous sequence: the extravagant dinner party hosted by the vulgar freedman Trimalchio.
Petronius Arbiter
The Satyricon — Volume 02: Dinner of Trimalchio
"The Satyricon — Volume 02: Dinner of Trimalchio" by Petronius Arbiter is a Latin work of fiction written in the late 1st century AD. This volume focuses on the infamous banquet hosted by Trimalchio, an enormously wealthy freedman who entertains guests with grotesque extravagance. The narrator Encolpius and his companions endure outrageous courses, vulgar displays of wealth, and pretentious conversation among freedmen. Through this satirical dinner party, Petronius exposes the absurdity and ostentation of newly rich Romans, creating a vivid portrait of everyday life in the early Roman Empire.
Walter Pater
Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1
"Marius the Epicurean — Volume 1" by Walter Pater is a philosophical novel written between 1881 and 1884. Set in second-century Rome, it follows a young patrician's intellectual and spiritual journey through a time of uncertainty. Marius explores various philosophies—from Epicureanism to Stoicism—while encountering the emerging Christian faith. As he questions each system's ability to provide meaning, he moves from youthful hedonism toward something deeper, guided by friendship, beauty, and an elusive sense of peace he glimpses in unexpected places.
Walter Pater
Marius the Epicurean — Volume 2
"Marius the Epicurean — Volume 2" by Walter Pater is a philosophical novel published in 1885. Set in second-century Rome, it follows young Marius as he searches for meaning amid competing philosophies and religions. After questioning both Epicureanism and Stoicism, he encounters a mysterious Christian community whose rituals and sense of purpose deeply move him. His journey culminates in an act of self-sacrifice that tests his beliefs and brings unexpected peace in his final moments.
Petronius Arbiter
The Satyricon — Volume 01: Introduction
"The Satyricon — Volume 01: Introduction" by Petronius Arbiter is a Latin work of fiction written in the late 1st century AD. This Menippean satire blends prose and verse to chronicle the outrageous adventures of Encolpius and his sixteen-year-old companion Giton as they navigate the decadent underbelly of Roman society. Through brothels, bizarre rituals, and the infamous dinner party of the vulgar freedman Trimalchio, the narrative exposes the vulgarity and pretensions of early Imperial Rome with darkly comic and erotic abandon.
Petronius Arbiter
The Satyricon of Petronius Arbiter
"The Satyricon of Petronius Arbiter" by Petronius Arbiter is a Latin work of fiction written in the late 1st century AD. This fragmentary Roman novel follows narrator Encolpius and his companion Giton through a series of bizarre, erotic, and comic adventures in the Roman underworld. Blending prose and verse, the surviving sections showcase absurd encounters—from sexual escapades to the infamous banquet of Trimalchio, a vulgar, wealthy freedman whose grotesque extravagance exposes the pretensions of Rome's nouveau riche. This Menippean satire offers both outrageous entertainment and revealing glimpses into early Roman Empire life.
Petronius Arbiter
The Satyricon — Volume 07: Marchena Notes
"The Satyricon — Volume 07: Marchena Notes" by Petronius Arbiter is a collection of scholarly annotations to a Latin work of fiction written in the late 1st century AD. The original Satyricon follows narrator Encolpius and his companions through bizarre, often erotic adventures in ancient Rome. This volume presents the Marchena Notes, scholarly commentary examining a text that blends prose and verse, mixing comic and serious elements while depicting the decadent lives of Romans across social classes—from wealthy freedmen to aging poets.
J. G. (John Gibson) Lockhart
Valerius. A Roman Story
"Valerius. A Roman Story" by J. G. Lockhart is a historical novel written in the early 19th century. The story follows Valerius, a young man of Roman descent living in Britain, as he embarks on a journey to Rome to claim an inheritance and experience the city's grandeur and complexities. The narrative weaves themes of exploration, personal discovery, and the contrast between the simplicity of provincial life and the sophistication of urban culture. At the start of the tale, Valerius reflects on his past and the events that prompt his journey to Rome. Following his father's death, he receives news of his inheritance that requires him to travel to the metropolis. Accompanied by his loyal servant Boto, Valerius navigates various challenges during their sea journey to Italy. Their arrival in Rome unveils a vibrant city full of diverse characters, encapsulating both the beauty of Roman life and its underlying tensions. The opening establishes Valerius's character, his dreams of grandeur, and the initial impressions of a city that promises both opportunity and peril.
Petronius Arbiter
The Satyricon — Volume 05: Crotona Affairs
"The Satyricon — Volume 05: Crotona Affairs" by Petronius Arbiter is a Latin work of fiction written in the late 1st century AD. This volume follows the narrator Encolpius and his companions as they navigate a world of decadence, deception, and desire. Blending prose and verse, the narrative offers satirical glimpses into Roman society through bizarre encounters and erotic adventures. The work combines serious and comic elements, creating a unique example of Menippean satire that reveals the absurdities of wealth, pretension, and human behavior in the early Roman Empire.
Petronius Arbiter
The Satyricon — Volume 03: Encolpius and His Companions
"The Satyricon — Volume 03: Encolpius and His Companions" by Petronius Arbiter is a Latin work of fiction written in the late 1st century AD. This fragment of a much longer Roman novel follows the narrator Encolpius and his companions through a series of bizarre, bawdy adventures. Their escapades include disputes over a handsome slave boy, encounters with devotees of Priapus, and an infamous dinner at the estate of Trimalchio, a wealthy freedman whose grotesque extravagance and pretentious displays expose the vulgarity of Rome's nouveau riche.
Petronius Arbiter
The Satyricon — Volume 04 : Escape by Sea
"The Satyricon — Volume 04 : Escape by Sea" by Petronius Arbiter is a Latin work of fiction written in the late 1st century AD. This volume continues the bizarre adventures of Encolpius and his companions as they navigate a world of decadence and danger. Mixing prose and verse, the narrative blends serious and comic elements with satirical observations of Roman society. The story follows their chaotic encounters with colorful characters, from wealthy vulgarians to lecherous poets, as they flee complications and pursue survival in the early Roman Empire.
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