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Great Modern Fiction Set in the Ancient World

Our recently retired English teacher considers the current popularity of the retelling of myths in contemporary fiction, and then expanded his focus to look at quality modern fiction that is set in the ancient world. Here are 101 novels and plays that treat ancient history and ancient myth seriously and are well worth reading. Our compiler has included works whose settings range from prehistoric times to the fall of Rome, and that encompass both legend and history.
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300 (Frank Miller)
300
1
Frank Miller
The Afghan Campaign (Steven Pressfield)
The Afghan Campaign
2
Steven Pressfield
Age of Bronze (Eric Shanower)
Age of Bronze
3
Eric Shanower
Age of Bronze: Betrayal (Eric Shanower)
Age of Bronze: Betrayal
4
Eric Shanower
Age of Bronze: Sacrifice (Eric Shanower)
Age of Bronze: Sacrifice
5
Eric Shanower
Ariadne (Jennifer Saint)
Ariadne
6
Jennifer Saint
At the Lion Gate (Palmer)
At the Lion Gate
7
Palmer
Barabbas (Pär Lagerkvist)
Barabbas
8
Pär Lagerkvist
Ben-Hur (Lew Wallace)
Ben-Hur
9
Lew Wallace
The Big Fisherman (Lloyd C. Douglas)
The Big Fisherman
10
Lloyd C. Douglas
Black Ships Before Troy (Rosemary Sutcliff)
Black Ships Before Troy
11
Rosemary Sutcliff
The Bull From the Sea (Mary Renault)
The Bull From the Sea
12
Mary Renault
Cassandra
Cassandra
13
The Cave of Spears (Lester Del Rey)
The Cave of Spears
14
Lester Del Rey
The Children of Jocasta (Natalie Haynes)
The Children of Jocasta
15
Natalie Haynes
Circe (Madeleine Miller)
Circe
16
Madeleine Miller
Conspirata (Robert Harris)
Conspirata
17
Robert Harris
Corrupting Dr. Nice (John Kessel)
Corrupting Dr. Nice
18
John Kessel
Dear and Glorious Physician (Caldwell)
Dear and Glorious Physician
19
Caldwell
Dictator (Robert Harris)
Dictator
20
Robert Harris
Drinker of Blood (Robinson)
Drinker of Blood
21
Robinson
Earth's Children Series
Earth's Children Series
22
Eater of Souls (Lynda S. Robinson)
Eater of Souls
23
Lynda S. Robinson
The Egyptian (Mika Waltari)
The Egyptian
24
Mika Waltari
The Egyptian Necklace (Palmer)
The Egyptian Necklace
25
Palmer
The Egyptian Novels (Wilbur Smith)
The Egyptian Novels
26
Wilbur Smith
The Etruscan (Mika Waltari)
The Etruscan
27
Mika Waltari
The Fall of Rome (Michael Curtis Ford)
The Fall of Rome
28
Michael Curtis Ford
Fire From Heaven (Mary Renault)
Fire From Heaven
29
Mary Renault
The Firebrand (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
The Firebrand
30
Marion Zimmer Bradley
The Firstborn (Christopher Fry)
The Firstborn
31
Christopher Fry
The Flies (Jean-Paul Sartre)
The Flies
32
Jean-Paul Sartre
Funeral Games (Mary Renault)
Funeral Games
33
Mary Renault
Gates of Fire (Steven Pressfield)
Gates of Fire
34
Steven Pressfield
The Gladiators (Koestler)
The Gladiators
35
Koestler
Goddess of Yesterday (Caroline B. Cooney)
Goddess of Yesterday
36
Caroline B. Cooney
Gods and Legions: A Novel of the Roman Empire (Michael Curtis Ford)
Gods and Legions: A Novel of the Roman Empire
37
Michael Curtis Ford
Gordianus the Finder (Saylor)
Gordianus the Finder
38
Saylor
The Gospel According to the Son (Norman Mailer)
The Gospel According to the Son
39
Norman Mailer
Helen of Troy (Margaret George)
Helen of Troy
40
Margaret George
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