In the sixteenth century, William Shakespeare discovered the dramatic potential of the great figures of the late Roman Republic, with Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, and Mark Antony becoming the main characters of plays that have defined, in part, our perception of the Roman world. Interest in ancient Rome as a literary subject is certainly not exclusive to our times. To be deemed historical (in our sense), a novel must have been written at least fifty years after the events described, or have been written by someone who was not alive at the time of those events (who therefore approaches them only by research). When does “ contemporary” end, and “ historical” begin? What about novels that are part historical, part contemporary? And how much distortion of history will we allow before a book becomes more fantasy than historical? There will never be a satisfactory answer to these questions, but these are the arbitrary decisions we’ ve made. There are problems with defining historical novels, as with defining any genre. Colleen McCollough (Australia en 1937-2015). Richard Lee, the founder of the Historical Novel Society, provides a good definition of the genre: Having no personal commitment to either of the new consuls, Gaius Julius Caesar and his sons simply tacked themselves onto the procession which started nearest. But, in Rome, his enemies are plotting his downfall and. Historical fiction is one of the most popular narrative genres, not least because it allows the reader to delve into the past and discover the culture, lifestyle, or political thought of a certain historical period in an enjoyable and interesting way. Rome 54 BC: Caesars legions are sweeping across Gaul, brutally subduing the tribes who defy him. Reception, Recovery, Reinvention of the Ancient World in Current Popular Culture The Present of Antiquity, 185‑219

Colleen mccullough cesar