Free (nook/Kindle) Flames of Rome [Christian Ancient Rome Researched Courtroom Drama]

[ATDrake]

The Flames of Rome: A Novel by Paul L. Maier (Wikipedia), a former Russell H. Seibert Professor of Ancient History at Western Michigan University, is another of his thoroughly-researched "documentary fiction" historical dramas, exploring the intersection of personal faith and political life in Imperial Rome during the reigns of Claudius and Nero, free courtesy of Christian publisher Kregel, and originally print-published in 1981.

This one, apparently, is also a courtroom drama with a prominent Roman matron being put on trial for her faith, and one of the Amazon reviewers complained about "graphic sexual content" unsuitable for their teenagers, which given the examples they cited, is really very mild by secular standards. But, just so you know if you're hoping for an entirely "clean" read.

Like his other freebie novel which we received recently, this once again comes with a note from the author regarding his incorporation and interpretation of incidents from the historical record, as well as extensive citations for the documentary sources with explanatory footnotes. I approve of this manner of supplements for historical fiction, even when authors change stuff for dramatic effect, and I might even try reading one of these†.

Currently free, probably just for a day since the previous one only lasted that long @ B&N (also UK) & Amazon UK (slated to drop in the main store after midnight).

ETA: now also free @ Google Play (available to Canadians).

Description
A madman who murders his way into power lusts for ever-greater glory and domination. A capital city awash with corruption, sensuality, and political intrigue is at the flash point. And caught between the crushing currents of history are a new but growing religious group known as the followers of The Way.

Award-winning historian and best-selling author Paul L. Maier has created a compelling style of documentary fiction, using only known historical events and persons to bring to life first-century Rome in all its excess, treachery, and insanity. This is the Rome that the apostle Paul visits, where he’s placed on trial, and which is forever changed by his testimony and witness.

Maier takes readers into the courtroom of imperial justice and into the homes of the people struggling with the new faith they’ve encountered to answers questions such as: How did Christianity first reach Rome? Why did Paul have to wait two years for trial and was he condemned or set free? Why does the New Testament account in Acts end so abruptly? Who set fire to Rome and why did Nero persecute Christians so horribly?

Following the the family of Flavius Sabinus, mayor of Rome under Nero Maier captures all the drama and tension of the political conflicts that precede and follow the Great Fire of Rome, and the epic political and religious clashes of the world’s capital. This is the sensational story of pagans at their worst—and Christians at their best. Readers won’t want to put it down.

† Probably this one, because I, Claudius which has an excellent adaptation with Patrick Stewart in it, which I also should warn is full of graphic sexual content entirely unsuitable for your teenagers, and perhaps even yourself, if you are concerned about such things.

[crich70]

Thanks ATDrake, I got both of them though Pontius Pilate (as you mentioned) has since stopped being free.You have to be quick to grab them.

[ATDrake]

Now a repeat freebie in the original stores and newly free @ Google Play. Linkage edited into OP.

[Breathinlady]

thanks so much for the books!