Santiago Posteguillo is one of the most applauded and read Spanish historical novel writers on the current scene. His exciting novels set in Ancient Rome, his precision and good rhythm have elevated him to a privileged position within the genre. The historical novel has a theme highly demanded by readers in recent decades and Posteguillo has gained a large audience that follows him wherever he goes since he published his first novel in 2006.
He was awarded the Planet Award in 2018 for his novel I, Julia which has the following And Julia challenged the gods. His trilogies are also known africanus y Trajan. In addition to being a great admirer of the history of this time, It has also generated informative, entertaining and enjoyable essays on the curiosities of universal literature. These are his books.
Books by Santiago Posteguillo
Africanus: The Consul's Son (2006)
This is the first published novel by this author. The first part of the Africanus Trilogy. About the figure of the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus (236 BC-183 BC), a fundamental character during the Punic Wars for the Roman control of the Iberian Peninsula against the Carthaginian Empire. Africanus: the consul's son narrates the beginnings of this fabulous character, during his childhood and youth.
The Cursed Legions (2008)
In this second part of the Africanus Trilogy we will live the confrontation of the Roman troops in charge of Scipio against Asdrúbal Barca. The story is the narration of a unique historical moment for the western future and how the military skill of Scipio achieved for Rome power and dominance over another great world power of Antiquity, Carthage. However, the challenges also came from Rome with the insidious senator Quinto Fabio Máximo. A dazzling story about war, courage and a sense of duty that will move some ancient ranks of cursed legionnaires to victory.
The Betrayal of Rome (2009)
The outcome of the Africanus Trilogy represents an anthology ending with the mythical clash between Scipio the African and Aníbal Barca. Other well-known characters will participate in the main story, spinning subplots: a slave, a prostitute, the playwright Plautus, the Roman politician and writer Cato the Elder, or Scipio's own wife, Emilia Tercia. A novel full of heroes and betrayal, where everything will be put to the test in favor of a single objective: the splendid victory of the Roman Empire.
The Emperor's Assassins (2011)
First part of the Trajan trilogy. About the Roman emperor Trajan (53 AD-117 AD), who was born in the ancient Roman province of the empire, Bética (Hispania). It is worth noting the contextualized work of the text, capable of transporting the reader to that time of the Roman emperors, conspiratorial and fascinating in equal parts.
Trajan was the first Hispanic emperor to accede to the throne of Rome. In fact, this novel tells of his enthronement, surrounded by disloyalty and deception, after the assassination of Emperor Domitian. An exciting fiction novel full of characters and historical events of the most interesting, such as the last disciple of Christ or the devastating eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD
Circus Maximus (2013)
Circus Maximus focuses on the governance of Emperor Marcus Ulpius Trajan who led the Roman Empire on the path to greatness. Santiago Posteguillo makes a demonstration full of narrative and historical mastery with this second part of the Trajan trilogy. It has all the ingredients: love, war, betrayal and mystery. A plot hangs over the emperor, which will threaten his life and command of Roman power. The reader will reach the last page breathless.
The Lost Legion (2016)
End of Trajan trilogy. An empire that expands with Trajan with his eyes high on the horizon. The emperor wants to cross the Euphrates, in an adventure that began 150 years earlier, in the year 53 BC, when a Roman legion was lost in its dream of reaching Asia and expanding the borders of the empire. The troops are hesitant, there is mistrust and some fear. Heading towards the unknown we accompany the Roman troops through a new epic. The fair closure of the ambitions of Emperor Trajan.
The Night Frankenstein Read Don Quixote (2012)
Secrets and controversy throughout literary history through questions that Santiago Posteguillo leads us to answer with this book full of curiosities. For it, uses independent stories making a summary between universal events, works and authors.
The Blood of the Books (2014)
New volume of the journey through the stories and mysteries behind the greatest works of universal literature and their authors. Shows the hidden face of the creation of masterpieces stained with blood for various reasons. Proven facts and legends intermingle: vampires, eclipses, duels, murders or suicides, some of the keys that surround the most famous writers and books.
The 2017th Circle of Hell (XNUMX)
Another itinerary through universal literature through the work of cursed writers and forgotten writers. It deals with when and how the best stories were forged, always in an infernal circle of impossibilities and obstacles; It is a book, on the one hand, vindictive, on the other, a work that reveres the writers and works that have gone down in history.
The night Frankenstein read Don Quixote, The blood of the books y The seventh circle of hell are also a trilogy that talks about the history of literature in an unusual but funny way.
I Julia (2018)
This novel received planet awardto in 2018. It is based on the figure of Empress Julia Domna (217nd century AD - XNUMX AD), wife of Emperor Septimius Severus. The story is exciting, full of intrigues, betrayals and murders. Posteguillo once again gathers his readers around the dynastic conflicts in imperial Rome. Year 192 AD The empire is under the unstable hand of Commodus, a paranoid and insane emperor who plunged Rome into one of his worst crises. The emperor, fearing an uprising by his military, holds his wives captive. One of them is Julia Domna, the heroine of this story.
And Julia challenged the gods (2020)
The next novel is the outcome of I, Julia. After going through a turbulent year full of blood with different caesars, Septimius Severus comes to the throne of Rome and becomes the new emperor, and Julia the empress. Now Julia Domna will have to face new obstacles, some unpredictable. Members of her family turn against each other, even though the dynastic issue was what the empress had always fought for. When she feels that she cannot handle any more misfortunes, new forces born of love appear.
Rome is me (2022)
Rome is me is the story of one of the greatest figures of the Roman Republic: Julius Caesar (100 BC-44 BC). He was a leading man who decisively influenced the politics of that time. The novel tells the origins of this character, forged through legend. Santiago Posteguillo count the true story of this transcendental myth with the rigor and historical passion that is already common among his novels of the genre. There will be no shortage of conspiracies, strife, romance and infamy.
About the Author
Santiago Posteguillo was born in Valencia in 1967. He is a university professor and writer of historical novels. He trained as a philologist and linguist, and holds a doctorate from the University of Valencia. He also studied literature and creative writing in the United States.
Before publishing his first novel, he had already written other stories that were never published. He says that his work is academic, but that he always liked to write. At first he wrote poetry and crime novels, themes that interested him and helped guide his storytelling career. Besides of Planet Award He has received various literary awards in recognition of his novels.