The Flames of Rome by Paul L. Maier

The Flames of Rome is the final novel by Paul L. Maier that I'm going to review (because he doesn't have any more right now, haha). First published in 1981, this story takes us through the Roman world during the time of the early church (and some well known emperors). For anyone who loves ancient Rome (me!), this book definitely interested me.

From Claudius to Nero and Vespasian, Maier takes us through the turbulent times of AD 41-69 in the center of the Roman Empire. Full of intrigue and adventure, the reader sees the rise and fall of each emperor, runs from the flames of the great fire, and finally, sees the first Christians martyred for sport in front of a Roman crowd. The depth of Maier's research is evident, as well as his skill with a pen.

This novel also reminded me of Robert Whitlow's The Advocate, which also was set during that time period (but published much more recently). Their similarities, though written so many decades apart, is proof to me of the verifiable sources available on this time period. It was fun to see how the different authors crafted their own story while staying true to what happened. After all, this is, as Maier says in his preface, a "documentary novel, resorting to fiction for such connective material as well as dramatization, dialogue, and subplot to flesh out the story and bring its characters to life" (p. 9). In addition, he also includes a section of notes at the back of the book, listed chapter by chapter. 

Despite its 'older' style, The Flames of Rome is a great read for anyone looking to understand this fascinating time and culture. You can find it here on Amazon!