The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile by C.W. Gortner (historical fiction)

Isabella is a controversial figure, highly intelligent, an effective ruler, and yet the author of much destruction and bigotry in Spain and the "New World."  Gortner gives the reader a plausible analysis of Isabella's personality in a fun piece of historical fiction.

The Unfaithful Queen by Carolly Erickson (historical fiction)

Awesome, fun fluff about Catherine Howard. Ms. Erickson's historical fiction is heavy on the fiction, but that doesn't matter when the novel is a simple pleasure to read.

Constantine the Emperor by David Potter (nonfiction)

Though it is nice to see a book about Constantine that doesn't focus on the conversion, some of this book became a tedious slog through official papers.  Some of it was exciting, interesting, and cool, but the reader wants to know what the author believes is the significance of Constantine's administrative rulings, not just that they exist.

Queen's Bounty by Fiona Buckley (historical mystery)

I've read several books in this series now, and this is by far the best.  It was hilarious, touching, exciting, and fun, which made it go fast.

The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory (historical fiction)

One of Gregory's best, breathing new life into historical fiction.  At first, I was confused and annoyed by the choppiness, but as I stuck with it, I realized that Anne Neville, the protagonist and daughter of Warwick, was only 11 years old as the book opens.  This is a gripping tale, a truly interesting and plausible telling of some stories that we will never learn for certain.

Spartacus, directed by Stanley Kubrick (DVD)

This movie seems slightly goofy and very innocent by today's standards, but it originally shocked audiences with its sexual suggestions.  I still think it is a classic.  The music is great.

The Devil's Brood by Sharon Kay Penman (historical fiction)

About the later years of the marriage of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, I've always thought this author was pretty good at writing the hearts and minds of historical characters without getting sappy or assuming too much.  This is an epic.

The Omnivorous Mind by John Allen (nonfiction)

Mr. Allen brings together evidence from many different scientific disciplines to explain how our ability to eat everything made our brains into our special human brains.  Thought-provoking, funny, learned, insightful.  He talks over everything from gourmands to why we had to cook with fire.

Centurion by Simon Sharrows (historical fiction)

About action in the east during the reign of Claudius, fun and entertaining.  But I didn't think it was on par with Ben Kane.

Imperium by Robert Harris (historical fiction)

Really really good, five stars.  Although it was a fast read, it was absorbing. From the POV of Cicero's secretary, Tiro, who was quite the learned figure himself, this book tells the story of Cicero's early career.  I never liked Cicero as a person, but now I have new perspective.  In this election season, some of the tactics he used in his own elections are too close for comfort.

Cheese and Culture by Paul S. Kindstedt (nonfiction)

I've never read anything quite like this before - a history of civilization told by a cheese historian using cheese history.  I enjoyed the book overall, even though there were slow parts.  I learned some new things that I didn't know about history and about cheese.  Mostly fun.

The Sons of Caesar: Imperial Rome's First Dynasty by Philip Matyszak

Instead of focusing on silly rumors and stereotypes about these guys, the author analyzes the political and social changes that made the Empire possible and that the first emperors themselves brought about.  I've always been skeptical of the one-dimensional characterizations of Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero, so I enjoyed this a lot.

More Ursula Blanchard mysteries by Fiona Buckley (historical fiction)

I've read two more in the series now, The Doublet Affair and Queen of Ambition.  The first was better in terms of sustained suspense and a convoluted plot that I didn't guess correctly.  The second wasn't a bad novel, just a little less streamlined.  These are set in Queen Elizabeth's time, and although she shows up only a few times, I think the author does a great job characterizing her.

Catherine the Great: A Portrait of a Woman by Robert K. Massie (nonfiction)

Five stars, read this book if you love history.  The book is long but engrossing.  I learned a lot.

Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel (historical fiction)

Very very good, but not as good as Wolf Hall, the first book, which won the Man Booker Prize.  Bring Up the Bodies is in contention for that prize.  These are first-person accounts by Thomas Cromwell, a minister of Henry VIII.  The first one was gripping and amazing, while this one, still a great effort, is less inspired.

The Kings' Mistresses: The Liberated Lives of Marie Mancini, Princess Colonna, and Her Sister Hortense, Duchess Mazarin by Elizabeth Goldsmith (nonfiction)

A book about independent women before there were feminists, this is an adventure.  Apparently the media of the 1800s made up all kinds of stories about these sisters, even though the truth was amazing.  This book was almost like a novel although it is nonfiction.

Roman Women: Their History and Habits by J.P.V.D. Balsdon (nonfiction)

I should have read Caesar's Wives and Women in the Ancient World first to understand more about how interpretations of the ancient sources have evolved.  Interpretations of the same text can be so different.  The author here is male, and makes some rather interesting chauvinistic remarks that could have been left out.  His descriptions of various groups of women in the second half of the book are fascinating and new to me.

Fear of Food: A History of Why We Worry about What We Eat (nonfiction)

This book was fun, made me laugh out loud several times.  It challenged me to deal with my "fears" about food because learning about the history of food scares enlightened some of my own views.

Sister Queens: The Noble, Tragic Lives of Katherine of Aragon and Juana, Queen of Castile by Julia Fox (nonfiction)

These sister queens are Juana of Castile and Catherine of Aragon.  Mary Todd Lincoln has been in the press lately because of her mock re-trial for insanity, but Juana remains the most egregious use of that charge by men who want to take over the wealth of the woman in question.  And we all think we know what happened to Catherine.  Ms. Fox alternates between the sisters throughout a timeline, articulating new interpretations of their motives and experiences.  I loved this book.

Mistress of Mourning by Karen Harper (historical fiction)

This romance/history/mystery hybrid is pretty fun, focusing on questions about Prince Arthur's death and the disappearance of the princes in the Tower.  The romance part got a little repetitive in certain passages, maybe because the heroine was a proper lady who held out for marriage.  She gets tingly and weak in the knees several times when her fella brushes up against her.  Karen Harper is always very meticulous in her research, and I enjoy the author's explanations of what she chose to use to set up her story.
Harper opts to give some plausible explanations for these mysteries that will never be solved.  It's nothing you haven't heard before, but the book is enjoyable overall.

The Divorce of Henry VIII: the Untold Story from Inside the Vatican by Catherine Fletcher (nonfiction)

Beyond a few zippier sections about diplomacy in the 1500s and Roman life, I would not recommend this to anyone who wasn't obsessed with the topic like I am.  It was dry.

The Corpus Conundrum, A Third Case from the Notebook of Pliny the Younger by Albert A. Bell, Jr. (historical mystery)

Five stars.  This book was funny, sexy, scary and twisty-turny.  Mysteries are best when you have no idea who did the deed, and even better when you change your guess over and over again.  This one had me going.

Caesars' Wives by Annelise Freisenbruch (nonfiction)

This book helped me finally understand the imperial family trees, which are pretty complicated.  This is an effort to get at the imperial ladies' real lives beyond the wild rumors and official inscriptions and statues.

Rome: Rise and Fall of an Empire (DVD by The History Channel)

The eminent historians who took part in this series have really good observations to share, but the first two volumes of the DVD suffer from the very close focus on war and martial exploits.  While I agree that the army is a very important, perhaps the most important, element of the Empire's rise and fall, there is little discussion and less recreation of anything but battles.  Unfortunately there is a lot of footage used over and over again to illustrate different conflicts, and that can be distracting.  There isn't much footage of art and architecture, which would surely help illuminate the conclusions this series is making.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt (nonfiction)

This has to be one of the most delightful true crime novels out there.  Many times you forget that this stuff actually happened, it is so charming and lighthearted in its racism, murder and violence.  Highly recommend this book.

Master and God by Lindsey Davis (historical fiction)

Sappy romance + detailed history = love.  The author gave a sensitive rendering of Domitian's descent into murderous paranoia.  The book had elements of comedy, tragedy and a fun love story between a hairdressing imperial freedwoman and a Praetorian guard.

The Crown by Nancy Billyeau (historical fiction)

I enjoyed this book set during Henry VIII's reign because it is just a really good novel.  All the historical details of setting, characters, and plot are simply part of the story, and the story happens to be gripping.  This book could have been classified as a mystery.

The Philosopher Prince by Paul Waters (historical fiction)

Since I enjoy this author and couldn't find the first book in the series, Cast Not the Day, I went ahead and jumped in to The Philosopher Prince.  Apparently Mr. Waters uses bisexual characters often, but I didn't think he handled it as well here as he did in The Republic of Vengeance.  Some of the love scenes between the two main characters were sappy.  On the other hand, I thought the book as a whole was very good, and gave a welcome new twist to characterizations of Julian "the Apostate."

Two Whole Cakes by Lesley Kinzel (nonfiction)

This short book about fat acceptance speaks against dieting and self-hatred, both of which can be much worse for your health than being fat.  I found it powerful and empowering.  The author is particularly good at making you feel her pain.  You also feel her joyous breakthrough after great resistance to the culture of fat self-hatred.

The Spartacus War by Barry Strauss (nonfiction)

This book was some of the best nonfiction I've ever read in terms of an exciting narrative that brings a new understanding of the topic to the reader.  Strauss achieves this by organizing the book chronologically and explaining with each new section how much we know from contemporary accounts, later ancient sources, and archaeological sources.  He's very clear exactly when he goes into what could have happened in the context of what is known. 

Saladin by Anne-Marie Edde (nonfiction)

This is a hefty tome, full of learned research and exciting exploits.  I've read quite a bit about the Third Crusade, but didn't know a thing about it from Saladin's perspective.  I learned a lot, and then Edde bogged me down in a lot of analysis of rather esoteric subjects, especially in later chapters like "The Gaze of the Other" and "Between Image and Reality."  I enjoyed the book very much until the author became wordy, and even repeated herself.

Queen of the Conqueror: The Life of Matilda, Wife of William I by Tracy Borman (nonfiction)

An intense read for nonfiction, absolutely fascinating.  Five stars.  Matilda was the first crowned Queen of England, as other ladies had been only wives of kings, and the author is able to trace Matilda's movements based on charters she witnessed, mostly for land grants.  Also mentioned were several other powerful ladies of the time, and I will have fun looking them up and reading other books by Ms. Borman.

The Great Epochs of European Art (DVD by Kultur)

This is a series of videos, and I watched The Art of the Ancient Greeks and the Art of the Romans.  I liked it because there are moments when you can enjoy looking at the beautiful things in silence.  The narration is learned, although I suspect the translation from German suffers a bit.  The Greek section showed some lovely graceful statues that had been discovered underwater within the last 60 years.

Queen without a Crown by Fiona Buckley (historical fiction)

The book takes place during the time that Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned in England. This Ursula Blanchard mystery at Queen Elizabeth I's court mentions queens to set the mood, but Elizabeth shows up just a little and Mary not at all. I wasn't disappointed with the action or the author's obviously deep scholarship (while her protagonist an upper class woman, she provides detail about other social strata and life at the time), but I knew who did the murder as soon as that perpetrator appeared, which is a letdown in a mystery in my opinion.  I may try another of this series, but if the same thing happens again, won't give it a third chance.

Babylon: Mesopotamia and the Birth of Civilization by Paul Kriwaczek (nonfiction)

I know next to nothing about the birth of civilization in Mesopotamia, and this book was an enjoyable way to get started.  Sometimes it can be really hard to get interested in stuff that happened so long ago, especially when evidence is sparse, but I found this book in particular to have a coherent narrative that kept me fascinated and wanting more.

The Other Queen by Phillipa Gregory (historical fiction)

Told from the perspective of Mary Queen of Scots and the Shrewsburys, the married couple who Elizabeth chose to keep her while in England, this book is cleverly organized.  I enjoyed how the author treated the crazy rumors about Mary.  This is one of the best books by Gregory, in my opinion.

The Borgia Mistress by Sara Poole (historical fiction)

I've read The Borgia Betrayal, the second book in this series, but not Poison, the first.  I enjoyed this one more than The Betrayal, even though it suffers a little bit from reminding the reader of stuff that's already happened.  The twist was truly shocking, and I didn't figure it out before the protagonist did.  The ending is tad corny, but not as corny as most of The Betrayal.  The descriptions of the Vatican and the characterization of Rodrigo Borgia, Pope Alexander VI, are very good across both books.

Spartacus: Blood and Sand (DVD, historical fiction, starz)

I gave up after four episodes, surprised that I lasted that long after the overwhelming dumbness of the first episode.  My friend said, "it's the UFC with gladiator costumes," which is accurate, but leaves out the corny soft-core porn. 
I hardly expect television and movies to stick with what we actually know about historical characters, but I do expect them to have better music and a lucid storyline.  The series is kind of like a graphic novel or a cartoon, but just no good.  I didn't care.

Clash of Crowns by Mary McAuliffe (nonfiction)

A Story of Bloodshed, Betrayal and Revenge - The Clash of Crowns:  William the Conqueror, Richard Lionheart, and Eleanor of Aquitaine.  Super long title, pretty zippy read.  I've read about all three of these folks quite a bit, and I found this book interesting because of the geography-based analysis of the battles between Richard of England and Phillip of France, which is what most of the book is about.  The author has obviously spent a lot of time traveling and researching in the area, and that adds to her ability to explain events.

Spartacus the Gladiator by Ben Kane (historical fiction)

Spartacus' story has been thrilling us for thousands of years even though there are only 4,000 words about him in the ancient sources.  I've read books by Ben Kane before, but this was by far the best.  He really fleshes out the character with his vast knowledge of Roman history, especially warfare.  Amazing fight scenes made me wince.  I can't wait for the second novel to come out later this year.

Sexual Intelligence by Marty Klein, PhD (nonfiction)

This book was intelligent.  It's main focus is teaching us how to accept sex the way it is, not the way we think it should be.  There was a lot of "letting go," which I agree is important to sexual fulfillment.  The idea of divorcing sex from physical function is important too.  This book was a quick, enjoyable read with sections about how the doctor has helped some of his own clients.

Nine for the Devil by Mary Reed & Eric Mayer (historical fiction - mystery)

Apparently I'm missing out on something, because this is the ninth mystery in the series written by a husband and wife.  This particular book uses the emperor Justinian's growing paranoia to shed light on the political situation in Constantinople in 548.  I'm not a big fan of mysteries, but I liked this book's fast pace and plot twists, so I won't give any spoilers.

Empress of the Seven Hills by Kate Quinn (historical fiction)

I've also read Ms. Quinn's Mistress of Rome, and both books are fast-paced adventure romances.  Empress of the Seven Hills uses several different first-person perspectives to give a 360-degree view of the story.  In another author's hands it may not be as effective, but in Ms. Quinn's hands, this technique allows even someone who knows the story to be surprised.  This book should not be judged by its cheesy romance cover.

Byzantium - The Lost Empire (DVD) by The Learning Channel

I found this video unwatchable.  The writer, who is also the narrator, is the main character.  He has an overdeveloped sense of drama.  The camera was far too often on him, to the detriment of my experience of the art and architecture.

The Queen and the Courtesan by Freda Lightfoot (historical fiction)

This book about Henri of Navarre's (Henri III) wife Marie de Medici and one of his mistresses, Henriette d'Entragues is well-written, interesting and exciting.  Some of it is told from Henriette's point of view, and I had a hard time relating to her, especially since it seemed like the author did too.  There wasn't much of her character worth caring about.  I've read about her before, but always as a peripheral character.  Everything I've read suggests that she was horribly ambitious, a selfish conniver and liar.  Perhaps someone should write a sympathetic biography.

The Sister Queens by Sophie Perinot (historical fiction)

I liked this book, the author's debut novel.  The author uses fictitious letters between the sisters to keep the story moving along, and they each go through some character development as they grow up.  With that said, I enjoy learning how much an author of historical fiction "makes up" and much of the relationship that drives the book appears to be the author's conclusions.  It doesn't ruin the book for me, though.

The Tigress of Forli, Renaissance Italy's Most Courageous and Notorious Countess, Caterina Riario Sforza De' Medici by Elizabeth Lev (nonfiction)

Learning about this woman was amazing - she wore one of the only cuirasses made for a woman at this time.  It had reinforced plates so her breasts would not be crushed in battle.  The author uses plenty of primary sources, some from the Countess' letters that have never been translated into English before.  She fought against Cesare Borgia - need I say more?

The Maid (a novel of Joan of Arc) by Kimberly Cutter (fiction)

This book made me stay up past my bedtime because it was so good.  The author did a great job of verbalizing Joan's experience of her visions and voices - the urgency of the battles and the ecstasy of her communion with the saints was brutally real.

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker (fiction)

Readable but sappy story about a NYC girl whose Burmese father goes missing.  I was impressed to learn this is the author's first book in English.

I, Caesar: The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire (Kultur DVD)

This 2-disc set contains features about Julius Caesar, Augustus, Nero, Hadrian, Constantine and Justinian.  I've seen the Julius Caesar one in another video.  There are plenty of scenes of art and architecture, which I always enjoy, and not too many silly recreations.

Rome: Engineering an Empire (History Channel DVD)

Loved, loved loved.  This video discussed the Roman Empire through the lens of some of its greatest engineering feats.  Fascinating info about the aqueducts and the Colosseum.

The Medici, Godfathers of the Renaissance (DVD) by PBS

This DVD has four Parts that focus on different generations of Medicis and their experiences, especially as patrons of the arts and sciences.  The cinematography featuring the art was beautiful.  The parts with actors playing the characters got very tedious in Part II and Part IV. 

Women in the Ancient World by Jenifer Niels (nonfiction)

A huge treasure of beautiful pictures, intelligent historical analysis.  I didn't want it to end.  The chapters were divided by roles of women rather than time periods, which was sensible to me.

The Story of Civilization: The Romans and Barbarians (DVD from a series by Kultur)

This video had lots of new-to-me details about British methods of warfare, which it focuses on.  Some of the reconstruction footage can get pretty silly, but they don't dwell on it.

Pompeii and the Roman Villa (DVD by the National Gallery of Art)

A beautiful DVD narrated by Derek Jacobi.  Features art and archaeology from around the Bay of Naples.

Warrior of Rome (series of historical fiction) by Harry Sidebottom

Mr. Sidebottom is an ancient martial expert, and that certainly shows in his novels.  I thought the second and third novels, King of Kings and Lion of the Sun, were better than Fire in the East, which suffers from a lot of exposition.  The settings are more developed than the characters in all the novels, but that can be enjoyable.

The fourth book, The Caspian Gates, was a real page-turner.  I thought the main character developed and matured in this book, making it even more readable, even for people who have no particular interest in Roman warfare during the Empire.  Sidebottom's grasp of place and meticulous detail in the war scenes makes this book in particular truly exciting.

The Lady of the Rivers by Phillipa Gregory (fiction)

Gregory contributes consistently good historical fiction, especially about women.  Only seldom does she repeat simple characterizations too much, but this book about Jacquetta, Elizabeth Woodville's mother, suffers a little more than usual because so little is known about her.  The beginning of the book, about Jacquetta's childhood, is most enjoyable, perhaps because the author feels free to invent a beautiful and compelling story, as there is nothing in the "facts" to hold her back.

Tutankhamen - The Search for an Egyptian King by Joyce Tyldesley (nonfiction)

Fascinating, well-researched, intelligent.  Focuses on what we really know about Tut.  The account of the discovery of his tomb was heartbreaking.

The Republic of Vengeance by Paul Waters (historical fiction)

This was a readable book, doesn't suffer from that horrible side effect of historical fiction, over-explaining.  Waters made good use of interesting details from the primary sources without harping on them.  The 'vengeance' was a minor element of the plot, but that was OK, as the story of a young man becoming an adult in early Republican times was pretty good.  The protagonist, Marcus, is bisexual, and the homosexual love story is the first I've read in historical fiction about Republican times.  Waters did a beautiful job writing about the attraction between the men, their story, and their love.  His tone as he described their experiences was appropriate to the times.

The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak (fiction)

This book about Catherine the Great's path to power, told through the eyes of a lady in waiting who served as a spy, was well written and fast paced.  It mostly focused on the spy lady's story, which I thought was a good way to get at details of Catherine's early life in Russia without having to make major leaps of faith.  There are a whole lot of salacious and damning stories about Catherine out there, and this book justifies some of her actions without tedious explanation, just good storytelling.  5-star historical fiction.

Reading List

Paul Waters, ancient historical fiction (read Republic of Vengeance, thought was very good)

Mary Renault, ancient historical fiction

Naomi Mitchison, ancient historical fiction

Rosemary Sutclif, ancient historical fiction

William Golding, ancient historical fiction

Paul Cartledge, Thermopylae

Foreman – Georgina, Duchess of Devon

Susan Holloway Scott – the Countess and the King

Leslie Carrol – Royal Affairs

Skidmore – Death and the Virgin Queen

Thomas Penn – Winter King

Ekirch – At Day’s Close

Guthman – Weighing In

Weir – The Lady in the Tower (nonfic)

Goldstone – The Maid and the Queen

Klein – Sexual Intelligence (reviewed)

Herold – Mistress to an Age

Plowden – The House of Tudor

Griffiths – The Making of the Tudors

Brimacombe – Tudor England

Schofield – The Rise and Fall of Cromwell

James – Catherine Parr

Hart – The Mistresses of Henry VIII

Mantel – Bringing Up the Bodies (reviewed)

CJ Sanum

Harry Sidebottom - read Warrior of Rome series, may look at some non-fiction

Willig

Worth

Karen Maxwell

Harper

Meyer – The Tudors

Kate Emerson

Polydore Vergil

Helen DeWitt – Lightning Rods

Guillot – Crusades

David Starkey – Henry

Poole

Penman

Barbara Wood – Domina and The Prophetess (though The Divining wasn't that good)

Sforza family

Cesare Borgia

Seneca

El Cid
A.N. Wilson - The Elizabethans
Saladin
Albert Bell, Jr. - Pliny the Younger mysteries
D.S. Potter - The Roman Empire at Bay AD 180-395
J.P.V.D. Balsdon - Life and Leisure in Ancient Rome
Periods in Pop Culture - Rosewarne
Arousal: The Secret Logic of Sexual Fantasies by Michael Bader
And When She Was Good - Lippman
Betha, wife of Aethelred of Kent
Empress Adelaide of Italy
Empress Theophanu

The Divining by Barbara Wood (fiction)

I zipped right through this book set in Claudian and Neronian times.  The love story was clunky and over-explained in several places, but I enjoyed the heroine's travels around the empire.  I thought the historical research and details were lovely, while the characters were slightly ridiculous.

Caesar by Christian Meier (nonfiction)

Many have said that this book is one of the best about Caesar, and I have to agree.  Found it gripping and thorough, with psychological insights that rang true.  Other books I've read about Caesar tried to give a personality profile and came off corny, but Meier is very careful.  Even though I have been studying this period for 25 years, I didn't find that the author's setting of the tone of the times got in the way.  Instead, it deepened my understanding.

The Young Elizabeth by Alison Plowden (nonfiction)

This is the first book of Plowden's "Elizabeth Quartet" and it covers her childhood through coronation. I thought it was a zippy and comprehensive read, although there aren't too many details known about Elizabeth's very early life.  Plowden put the facts together in a pleasing and interesting manner, and her points about assumptions made by many historians rang true with me.  For instance, many have assumed that requests for money for clothing and supplies in the years after Anne Boleyn's death meant that Henry was deliberately slighting Elizabeth, refusing to take care of  her.  Plowden interprets the situation as an oversight, in which Henry simply didn't realize the girl was growing out of her clothes so fast.