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What biographies would you like to read?


sonic

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I was recently commissioned to write a book and am hoping to finish it in the next couple of months.

 

Once it is finished, I'll - obviously! - be wanting to write another one. I am aiming to specialise in writing 'military' biographies (ie biographies of military men in the ancient world). However, I am unsure of who to write about next and was wondering if you lot had any ideas? Who would you like to see a biography on?? I'm not interested in writing yet another book about Julius C., Alexander t. G., etc, as these have all been well covered already. What I'm thinking of is an individual who may be slightly less well known but whose story could still run to between 70,- and 90,000 words. (So somebody who is only mentioned twice in Tacitus would be no good!!)

 

It need not necessarily be Roman, just somebody who was living prior to the reconquests of Justinian, as that is where my knowledge becomes fragmentary at best!

 

Any ideas folks, or do I have to use my own mind?? (Trust me - that is not a good idea!!)

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I was recently commissioned to write a book and am hoping to finish it in the next couple of months.

 

Once it is finished, I'll - obviously! - be wanting to write another one. I am aiming to specialise in writing 'military' biographies (ie biographies of military men in the ancient world). However, I am unsure of who to write about next and was wondering if you lot had any ideas? Who would you like to see a biography on?? I'm not interested in writing yet another book about Julius C., Alexander t. G., etc, as these have all been well covered already. What I'm thinking of is an individual who may be slightly less well known but whose story could still run to between 70,- and 90,000 words. (So somebody who is only mentioned twice in Tacitus would be no good!!)

 

It need not necessarily be Roman, just somebody who was living prior to the reconquests of Justinian, as that is where my knowledge becomes fragmentary at best!

 

Any ideas folks, or do I have to use my own mind up?? (Trust me - that is not a good idea!!)

It's not easy to find specific biographies of the enemies of Caesar and/or Augustus. What do you think of Titus Labienus? Or Sextus Pompeius? Or Caius Cassius Longinus? My preferences go in that order.

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I've always had a soft spot for Lucius Cornelius Sulla, I know there's already a few books out there about him but another wouldn't hurt would it.

 

Also what about Lucius Licinius Lucullus, Sulla's close friend and General who was a very capable soldier in his own right.

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Military history? Someone slightly less well know than Caesar and Alexander?

 

How about Agrippa?

 

Seconded! Come on, Sonic - he only has one biography in English - and that is the Reinhold which is now some 60 years old! I think he would make a good subject. Scipio Africanus has also not been overdone, exactly. There's also Drusus and his campaigns on the Elbe and Danube. Is there a biography of Corbulo?

 

I'm sure we can all find you subjects - it will keep you busy for many years to come :lol:

 

And there really is one person who is screaming out for a biography - even if not 'military' in the purest sense: Lucius Aelius Sejanus. I'm sure with the right amount of research you would get a 70,000 word book out of the material available. Or would your editors consider a book on 'influential prefects of the Praetorian Guard' in which you could combine such people as Sejanus, Tigellinus etc?

 

On the non-Roman side - wouldn't Philip II of Macedon stand to be reassessed?

Edited by The Augusta
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Great ideas, keep them coming - I wouldn't mind being kept busy for the next 20 years, as writing books is much better than teaching (my profession before I stopped working to look after my son - now a two-year-old ankle-biter) and may help to keep me in food!!

 

Don't forget that the book has to sell, so keep in mind that a minor general in a forgotten war would not be commercially viable and would be rejected by the publishers!

 

I've got to admit that a friend recently suggested a book on Scipio Africanus, which would be a real possibility, but I don't want to dive in before considering other options!!

 

What about Epaminondas? Or is that too Greek-oriented for you?

 

Agrippa, Corbulo, Drusus, Sulla, Lucullus, .......

 

Oh dear, I'm going to have to make a decision. I hate making decisions!!

 

Thanks for all of these ideas: any more, or would you second the ones already proposed??

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I second the nominations for Sejanus. Quite an interesting fellow.

 

 

I agree that Sejanus is interesting, but I don't think he has enough of a military background or career to warrant his inclusion. My desire to write about military commanders is not simply personal, it is also in keeping with the desires of the publishers.

 

Maybe, once I've made my name - like Goldsworthy etc - I can write what I personally want. Until then, I am at the mercy of the publishers! Then again, writing about something you love is not exactly that hard!! :lol:

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I agree that Sejanus is interesting, but I don't think he has enough of a military background or career to warrant his inclusion. My desire to write about military commanders is not simply personal, it is also in keeping with the desires of the publishers.

 

Maybe, once I've made my name - like Goldsworthy etc - I can write what I personally want. Until then, I am at the mercy of the publishers! Then again, writing about something you love is not exactly that hard!! :lol:

 

 

You could always write a much shorter work for UNRV on whatever topic you chose. Could give you some free publicity. It also helps for promotion to Patrician status, and there are certain benefits involved along those lines.

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Don't laugh, but I've always wanted to read a biography of that tragi-comic figure Bibulus. Aside from bearing an uncanny resemblance to the character Butters on South Park (or perhaps Neville in the Harry Potter novels), Bibulus seems to have shown either a heroic courage at the end of his life or the signs of a history-changing mental breakdown. In any case, after reading apologies for such monsters as Caligula, it would be nice to read something sympathetic about this poor guy.

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Don't laugh, but I've always wanted to read a biography of that tragi-comic figure Bibulus. Aside from bearing an uncanny resemblance to the character Butters on South Park (or perhaps Neville in the Harry Potter novels),

 

 

Well, I, for one, am laughing. Not about Bibulus, but over the fact that you apparently read Harry Potter. :lol:

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Don't laugh, but I've always wanted to read a biography of that tragi-comic figure Bibulus. Aside from bearing an uncanny resemblance to the character Butters on South Park (or perhaps Neville in the Harry Potter novels),

 

 

Well, I, for one, am laughing. Not about Bibulus, but over the fact that you apparently read Harry Potter. :lol:

 

Proudly I read Harry Potter! It's fun, and they're better written than any of the drivel by 'literary fiction' writers like Joyce Carol Oates (let alone trashy 'adult' fiction like 'The Thorn Birds').

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I agree that Sejanus is interesting, but I don't think he has enough of a military background or career to warrant his inclusion. My desire to write about military commanders is not simply personal, it is also in keeping with the desires of the publishers.

 

Maybe, once I've made my name - like Goldsworthy etc - I can write what I personally want. Until then, I am at the mercy of the publishers! Then again, writing about something you love is not exactly that hard!! :lol:

 

 

You could always write a much shorter work for UNRV on whatever topic you chose. Could give you some free publicity. It also helps for promotion to Patrician status, and there are certain benefits involved along those lines.

 

 

Really? Tell me more - I'm all ears!!

 

Oh, and I like Harry Potter as well - it's a good laugh. Mind you, I'll not be going to conventions or queuing at midnight to get the new one etc. etc!!

Edited by sonic
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How about Late Roman Generals? Men like Flavius Aetius and Stilicho?

 

What's interesting about them is that they were virtual warlords, perhaps with as much power and influence as the Emperors they served. Aetius played an important part in the politics of ther era, as well asbeing the man who led the Romans to their last victory against Attila the Hun at the Battle of Chalons.

 

He's a very interesting figure and there is no main stream biography on him, only a few expensive monographs. Attila has plenty of mainstream biographies, so 'The Last of the Romans' deserves one too.

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