Hi everyone, I would like to add to the reading list below which I currently have ( I mainly teach Juniors) and I think it would be worthwhile for other teachers to see and contribute to this list. I am often asked by parents what reading material is out there at an appropriate level for their son/daughter. There are many accessible books for secondary school students and many young people have a natural interest in the subject, wishing to read deeper and more extensively than what the curriculum offers. So can I lean on members here and their experience to add to this list by commenting/contributing to this post and perhaps it can be added to the website for teachers to gain access to at a later stage. The key here I believe, is about accessibility and not heavy academic texts/novels, so books that have a good reputation and that suit our target audience.
Many thanks Derek.
Rick Riordan (22 books)
Conn Iggulden (5 books)
Ben Kane (25 books)
Simon Scarrow (20 books)
Stephen Fry (3 books)
Robert Harris (trilogy) + (Pompeii)
Steven Pressfield (5 books)
The Roman Mysteries (17 books)
Many thanks everyone, for the suggestions and comments here. Very much appreciated.
Btw another book worth a read - but definitely only for Leaving Cert because of the amount of bad language used - is A Fatal thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Murder in Ancient Rome by Emma Southon. Very entertaining and informative about death in Ancient Rome. Very useful for information on Gladiators, Executions, Senatorial Rivalries, and the death if Julius Caesar.
Thanks a lot for this
Hi Derek,
I'm not sure what else I can recommend for Junior Cycle. Except that I always enjoyed Asterix (36 comic books) - these are also available in Latin (though the Latin is probably a little tricky). I've also enjoyed reading Gareth Hinds graphic novel adaption of the Iliad and the Odyssey - but these could probably be used as textbooks in class rather than extra reading. If you have any students interested in reading myths in simple Latin (learning Latin and myths at the same time), I've shared some of these novella's by Andrew Olimpi with (Classical Studies) students in the past: (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ego-Polyphemus-Andrew-Olimpi/dp/1719066434).
For Senior Level, I would highly recommend Pat Baker's Silence of the Girls (definitely not for Junior Cycle), Madeline Miller's Circe and Song of Achilles, and Natalie Haynes Children of Jocasta, A Thousand Ships, and Pandora's Jar (this last one would also be suitable for Junior Cycle). They are also mostly available on audio-book too (some read by the author) which is a great help for those students who aren't readers but want to learn more.
I would also highly recommend Daniel Mendelson's Elusive Embrace: Desire and the Riddle of Identity and An Odyssey. They are both brilliant books that have a unique approach to exploring Classics, but he does go in to some details about his personal & romantic life, so I would only recommend them to the mature students who might relate to these books. (Or indeed to Classics Teachers perhaps).
Also, on another note, I would highly recommend the audiobooks (available on audible or CD) for Stephen's Fry's books. I (and one of my 6th years) actually found reading them somewhat awkward or difficult; his prose is somewhat stilted, and more suitable for reading aloud. So, his own audiobook readings of them are much easier to digest: he uses different voices and accents and really makes the books so much more enjoyable than a mere reading. Much more accessible to all students with different strengths.
Hey Derek, cheers for the list - already robbed a few! The "24 Hours in Ancient Athens/Rome/Egypt" books by Philip Matyszak are pretty decent for just a brief overview of daily life. For something a little more challenging but not massively academic, for the most part, Mary Beard's books are decent. Can be a little challenging at times to be fair, but depending on the student they might be able to manage. Hope that helps!
Cheers,
Simon