by Marguerite De Angeli

Set in the middle ages. Robin has grown up the son of a nobleman and knows he must serve the king by becoming a knight.  But his destiny is changed suddenly when he falls ill and loses the use of his legs. A monk rescues Robin and cares for him at a hospice.  There he learns woodcarving and – much harder – strength and patience. When danger threatens, Robin discovers there are more ways to serve the king than riding into battle. The monk tells Robin he must only follow the wall long enough and there will be a door in it.

A favourite story in our home about endurance and the opportunities afforded through suffering that otherwise would remain unknown to us.  For ages 8+; PB, 100g.

Young Theras, born an Athenian, is taken to Sparta by a relative when his father is lost at war.  He is forced to live like a Spartan, a brutal life with no pity for those who are not physically perfect and totally obedient to Spartan control.  After enduring rigorous training and repeated cruel incidents, he escapes with a Perioikoi boy and heads for his beloved Athens.  Here is the story of a hard and dangerous journey including an escape from slavers.

Caroline Dale Snedeker, twice a Newbery Honor winner, captures the authentic flavour of ancient Greek culture in a story of adventure and excitement that fully illustrates the differences between the Athenian and Spartan cultures.  For ages 10+; pb 208p; 300g.

by Caroline Dale Snedeker

Here is a touching story of a young Roman boy, Flavius, and his developing compassion for his captured Greek slave Ariphron.  Ariphon was given to Flavius by his father, General Lucius Mummius, at the time of Mummius’ public Triumph for his victories in Greece and Corinth.  you will learn a great deal about Roman culture observing Flavius’ relationship with his family among the sights and sounds of Rome.

Drama, personal development, tragedy, hope, compassion, triumph – this story has it all in a form easily understood by the young reader. This book is a wonderful introduction to the study of classical Rome and Greece.  Bring this culture to life – don’t just teach language, emperors, wars and dates.  For ages 8-12; pb 94p; 200g.

From the introduction:

‘Caesar’s Commentaries on the Gallic War are among the most interesting historical books which the Romans have left us.  It is not often that a commander of Caesar’s fame has the ability to write well.  His first hand account, written in an extraordinarily simple, clear style, gives us a picture of the Gallic War which may be taken from the Roman point of view, but which is real.  Reading Caesar, we know what he knows – how the Gallic War actually was.’

The original, in Latin of course, was written for adults of Caesar’s time.  It lacked the viewpoint, character description, story line and some of the vivid imagery that would make the story exciting to children.

In 1961, Olivia Coolidge wrote this account, both factual and fictional, of the Gallic War of 58-51 BC, narrated by a fictitious soldier in Caesar’s army, which provides a more vivid and readable companion to Caesar’s Commentaries on the Gallic War.  This book, for more than 40 years, has been one of the finest introductions to Caesar, oman civilsation, and the Gallic War available to children. For ages 11-16; pb 240p; 300g.

See The Old Schoolhouse review.

The White Isle is Britain – a barbaric land to the patrician Claudian family exiled from Hadrian’s Rome, but an island of strange enchantment and stirring adventures to Lavinia, their daughter.  Because Favonius, Lavinia’s father, had been too much in sympathy with the old Republic and had protested when the Emperor proposed to take the street Favonius’ house was on to expand his palace, Favonius incurred the Emperor’s disfavour, and was suddenly appointed ‘legatus’ to far away Britain.

After sad farewells and an abrupt cancellation of Lavinia’s wedding, the whole family began their long journey along the Roman roads through Gaul, across the channel to the white cliffs of the British coast.  The contrast between the cultures of the early British Christians and the pagan Roman aristocracy, and Lavinia’s conversion to Christianity, make a dramatic setting for the novel.

The Whilte Isle was one of the first books to bring young people a spirited picture of Roman life in Gaul and Britain and is on of CD Snedeker’s finest books.

by Caroline Dale Snedeker

Chloe, the young daughter of a noble Roman man, has been lost to herr father, and has spent her life unknown to him, as a slave on one of his own villas.  Cruelly treated, and with no hope of freedom, her only hope is into the stories of her Grecian mother’s home town of Eresos, as told to her by Melissa, a fellow-slave and her mother’s dearest friend.

Aulus, a brave young Roman soldier, is banished from Rome and escapes to his own villa in the Italian countryside.  There he is faced by a life-threatening misfortune, is saved by the enchanting young Chloe, and falls in love with her, despite the fact that she is a slave.

This historically accurate 1934 Newberry Honor Book is a captivating story of adventure, love, Chloe’s struggle with anger and hatred she feels toward her father, and the forgiveness she learns that changes her soul.  For ages 12+; pb 206p; 300g

See The Old Schoolhouse magazine review.

by Caroline Dale Snedeker

The Spartan is the story of Aristodemos, the only survivor of the The Battle of Thermopylae.  Follow Aristodemos through his childhood in Athens and Sparta until the great battle is fought.  Because he survived the battle when Leonidas and his 300 Spartans perished heroically, Aristodemos is cast out and disgraced by Sparta.

Throughout his life, until his valiant death, Aristodemos searches for redemption for his disgrace.  His life touches the lives of Miltiades, Aeschylus, Aristides the Just, Leonidas and Pindar whose characters come to life under the skillful pen of Caroline Dale Snedeker.  This gripping, thrilling story of love, hope, despair and final resolution at the the battle of Plataea will excite and touch each reader and instill a greater understanding of Athenian and Spartan life. For ages 12+; pb 372p; 400g.

See The Old Schoolhouse magazine review.

Here is a gentle story, motivated by sibling love and ending happily, that explores the culture of pagan Athenian society in the time of Euripides.  Lysis and his sister Calisto go to a play during the festival of Dionysus, breaking many of the societal restrictions on the roles of boys and girls, children and adults.  Roles of men and women, free men of other city-states, Athenian citizens and slaves come into focus.  The pantheon of Greek gods, godesses and heroes are seen from the eyes of these children.  For ages 8-12; pb 62p; 100g.

by Margaret Leighton $21.45 This product is available for purchase from Chariot Press.

Margaret Leithton has created twelve wonderful historical fiction stories that span the Middle Ages, from the withdrawal of the Roman legions from Britain to the fall of Venice as Queen of the Sea.  The heroes and heroines of these stories are young people set in the dramatic events that have shaped Western Civilization.

‘The settings, the customs and ideas of the people pictured here are as true to the period as long and careful study could make them.  Whenever an historical figure does appear, like Vortigern or Charlemagne or Alfred, he is only doing what records tell us that he actually did do.’ – foreward.

These stories inspire courage, love, endurance, hope, industry and many other virtues.  They are also one of the best tools to teach the general timeline of the Middle Ages to children. For ages 10-13; pb 198p; 300g.

Twenty-one stories from the Arthurian legends specially selected and adapted for children and told in simple well-written prose. The stirring tales of these chivalrous knights awaken the reader’s admiration for courage and gentleness and high sense of honor essential in all ages. 224p. Ages 9-12.