Favourite Roman authors?

Originally posted by zeno Suetonius, Petronius and Juvenal my passion for the ancient world is relatively new (i'm doing a Masters on Roman myths this year), and i'm interested in what kinds of Roman literature are popular these days

I liked Suetonius for his refreshing style that takes in the little details of the imperial court.

While a writer such as Tacitus gives us a much richer source of information about the Empire as a whole, Suetonius provides a work which is more entertaining overall.

I enjoyed Caesar's "Gallic Wars"

can anyone recommend a speed by Cicero or a chapter from Caesar that are particularly enjoyable?

Livy Livy Livy!

Ovidius , ars Amandi.

Suetonius

Yeah, I do like Marital and Juvenal, not, of course, as primary sources but because of the little essential bits of context that they can give you. We, as ancient historians, have the additional challenge of having to deal with a completely self-contained period of history in which there is not modern cultural or political paralell to really latch on to. Unlike those guys in the modern world history section, we must use these sources like Marital, Juvenal, and also Terence, to get the cultural background that we need to include in our stuff so that we can see the bigger picture. Just because those writers haven't given me any primary stuff in my new article (please read! - Titus Quinctius Flaminius and Rome's war with the east, not done yet though!  ), they are no less valubale in giving the background needed to slot it all into.