New Releases by Michael Grant

Mack Macavoy, a seriously average twelve-year-old boy, is faced with a difficult decision when a three-thousand-year-old man appears in the boys'' bathroom and informs him that he is one of the Magnificent Twelve and is needed to find his eleven teammates and save the world.

An informative and accessible guide to the Roman world. Grant is ''justly recognised as an expert and civilized guide to the ancient world'' THE ECONOMIST The Romans changed the Western world and theirs became the first golden age. This is their empire of magnificence and corruption; the republic, the dictators and the slaves; the civilization and the Pax Romana, the brutality and the collapse.

Saint Paul was not only a religious figure of exceptional power but one of the outstanding makers of history. This is the biography of a man who profoundly influenced people of widely divergent beliefs, races and epochs. Without the spiritual earthquake brought about by St Paul, Christianity would probably never have survived. Yet Paul''s importance extends very widely beyond the religious field. His effect upon Western thought has been immeasurable. This is the man Michael Grant has described in his book. Paul''s own authentic voice can still be heard in his surviving letters or Epistles, which not only contain numerous autobiographical clues, but are the earliest Christian documents in existence and rank high among the most valuable literature the world has ever produced. Dr Grant considers in detail this extant literature, along with material of Paul''s four evangelical journeys and discusses the reasons for his spectacular conversion on the road to Damascus. As in The Jews of the Roman World and Herod the Great, he brings together research on Israel on the one hand and Greece and Rome on the other, believing that it is necessary to study these cultures in conjunction, since Paul was a Jew who wrote in Greek and was a Roman citizen. The aim of this book, then, is to bring to life this many sided human being of outstanding and peculiar gifts.

Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, was also a scholar, murderer, lover of Julius Caesar and Mark Antony and one of the most remarkable women in history. The distinguished historian and classicist Michael Grant confirms that her reputation as a temptress was well-founded. However, by unravelling the sources behind the tangle of myth, gossip and invention he shows that the popular image of a wayward woman opting for a life of sensuous luxury and neglecting her affairs of state is far from the truth. A brilliant linguist and the first of her Greek-speaking dynasty who learned Egyptian, she was reputed to be the author of treatises on agriculture, make-up and alchemy. Her love affairs were carefully calculated to further her plans to restore her empire to its former greatness and she was a ruthless foe to all who stood in her way. But dead on her golden couch in the palace at Alexandria her life seemed to have ended in failure; her dreams of empire shattered; her lover Mark Antony a suicide himself and she a prisoner of her conqueror Octavian. An unforgettable portrait of an extraordinary queen and her stormy life.

Imagine what it would be like to go back in time to the 15th century Venice. And imagine what it would be like to meet your lifelong hero, Michelangelo. And imagine what it would be like if, on first meeting, you spill a tray of pasta and wine on that very same hero.Well, that''s what happens to serious young artist Mark Breen. As the result of a drunken bet, Mark knocks out a painting of a toilet bowl. Much to his amazement, he sells it. In short order he''s hailed as the new Andy Warhol and becomes an overnight sensation-and a very wealthy man. Soon, images of his toilet bowls are on more t-shirts, mugs, and calendars than Edvard Munch''s The Scream.His friend and mentor, Hugh Connelly, afraid that Mark is in danger of losing his "artistic soul," advises him to go back to Italy and reacquaint himself with the "old masters." In Venice, Mark falls in love with Alexandra, a beautiful art restorer, but it''s a one-sided affair. One night, hoping to win her over, he climbs up on a roof to find out who painted her favorite fresco. He falls off the roof and wakes up in 15th century Venice where he meets an innkeeper named Francesca, who looks exactly like Alexandra. And it gets curiouser and curiouser from there. During his stay-which is sometimes zany and sometimes frightening-he meet his hero, Michelangelo, who teaches him the true meaning of art.

Plague, Michael Grant''s fourth book in the bestselling Gone series, will satisfy dystopian fans of all ages. It''s been eight months since all the adults disappeared. Gone. They''ve survived hunger. They''ve survived lies. But the stakes keep rising, and the dystopian horror keeps building. Yet despite the simmering unrest left behind by so many battles, power struggles, and angry divides, there is a momentary calm in Perdido Beach. But enemies in the FAYZ don''t just fade away, and in the quiet, deadly things are stirring, mutating, and finding their way free. The Darkness has found its way into the mind of its Nemesis at last and is controlling it through a haze of delirium and confusion. A highly contagious, fatal illness spreads at an alarming rate. Sinister, predatory insects terrorize Perdido Beach. And Sam, Astrid, Diana, and Caine are plagued by a growing doubt that they''ll escape—or even survive—life in the FAYZ. With so much turmoil surrounding them, what desperate choices will they make when it comes to saving themselves and those they love? “Grant’s sf-fantasy thrillers continue to be the very definition of a page-turner.” —ALA Booklist Read the entire series: Gone Hunger Lies Plague Fear Light Monster Villain Hero

Haddley Falls, a sleepy, bucolic New England town, relies on tourism for its economic survival. But then the unthinkable happens: A man and a woman are brutally murdered on a sailboat anchored in the town''s cove. Understandably, these murders throw the resort town into chaos, but no one has more at stake than the town''s three movers and shakers. Jonathan Talbot, a wealthy industrialist, is a nominee for the position of Secretary of the Commerce and can''t afford a hint of scandal. Whittier Sanborne III, a wealthy and reclusive man, has dark family secrets that he must keep. And finally there is Royce Gardner, the Mayor of Haddley Falls, who also has skeletons that could destroy his family''s reputation. For these reasons, the three agree that they can''t afford to have the state police meddling in their affairs. They need someone they can control-someone like their police chief. Tony Brunetta, a retired NYPD homicide detective lieutenant who accepted the job of police chief of Haddley Falls precisely to get away from big city violence, is dismayed to find that he is suddenly tasked with finding the murderer. To make matter worse, his old partner, Pete Delaney, a burned out, suicidal NYPD detective arrives to spend his "last weekend" with his friend, mentor and old boss. Events quickly spiral out of control. Against his will, Pete Delaney is sucked into the vortex of an ever-widening investigation. With the help of two inexperienced deputies-JT Bryce, a beautiful and intelligent woman, and and Clint Avery, a well meaning bumbler, Delaney slowly peels away the protective layers of the town until it becomes clear that Haddley Falls is not the sleepy town is pretends to be. This fast paced novel of murder, mendacity, hubris, and ultimately redemption will appeal to readers who love police thrillers and enjoy watching a big city detective attempt to solve a double-homicide without the support of a major police department.

Twelve-year-old Mack MacAvoy suffers from a serious case of mediumness. Medium looks. Medium grades. Medium parents who barely notice him. With a list of phobias that could make anyone crazy, Mack never would have guessed that he is destined for a more-than-medium life. And then, one day, something incredibly strange happens to Mack. A three-thousand-year-old man named Grimluk appears in the boys’ bathroom to deliver some startling news: Mack is one of the Magnificent Twelve, called the Magnifica in ancient times, whatever that means. An evil force is on its way, and it’s up to Mack to track down eleven other twelve-year-olds in order to stop it. He must travel across the world to battle the wicked Pale Queen’s dangerous daughter, Ereskigal—also known as Risky. But Risky sounds a little scary, and Mack doesn’t want to be a hero. Will he answer the call? A laugh-out-loud story filled with excitement and magic, The Magnificent Twelve: The Call is the first book in bestselling author Michael Grant’s hilarious new fantasy adventure series.

The third book in Michael Grant''s New York Times bestselling Gone series, Lies is another heart-in-your-throat page-turner, both chilling and thought-provoking. It''s been seven months since all the adults disappeared. Gone. It happens in one night. A girl who died now walks among the living; Zil and the Human Crew set fire to Perdido Beach, and amid the flames and smoke, Sam sees the figure of the boy he fears the most: Drake. But Drake is dead. Sam and Caine defeated him along with the Darkness—or so they thought. As Perdido Beach burns, battles rage: Astrid against the Town Council; the Human Crew versus the mutants; and Sam against Drake, who is back from the dead and ready to finish where he and Sam left off. And all the while deadly rumors are raging like the fire itself, spread by the prophetess Orsay and her companion, Nerezza. They say that death is a way to escape the FAYZ. Conditions are worse than ever and kids are desperate to get out. But are they desperate enough to believe that death will set them free? “Disturbing, brilliantly plotted, and boasting a balanced mix of action and scheming.” —ALA Booklist Read the entire series: Gone Hunger Lies Plague Fear Light Monster Villain Hero

The clock is ticking for Sam Temple and the kids of Perdido Beach but it''s not the big one-five that they face now; it''s starvation that threatens the FAYZ. In an abandoned mineshaft a faceless animal lurks, pulling the strings, toying with human and mutant alike. And he''s hungry - hungry in the darkness. An uneasy calm has settled over Perdido Beach. But soon, fear explodes into desperation as starvation sets in and the mob look to place blame. For the ''normals'' the buck must stop somewhere: with the ''freaks''. More and more kids are developing strange powers and, just as frighteningly, so are the animals in the FAYZ: talking coyotes, swimming bats and deadly worms with razor-sharp teeth are just the beginning. For Sam Temple the strain of leadership is beginning to show and he''s got more than just dwindling rations and in-fighting to worry about - Caine is back with the psychotic whiphand, Drake, by his side. And in the background lies the greatest danger of all - and he too needs to be fed.

The first in New York Times bestselling author Michael Grant''s breathtaking dystopian sci-fi saga, Gone is a page-turning thriller that invokes the classic The Lord of the Flies along with the horror of Stephen King. In the blink of an eye, everyone disappears. Gone. Except for the young. There are teens, but not one single adult. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what''s happened. Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day. It''s a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: on your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else. . . . “A potent mix of action and thoughtfulness—centered around good and evil, courage and cowardice—renders this a tour de force that will leave readers dazed, disturbed, and utterly breathless.” —ALA Booklist (starred review) Read the entire series: Gone Hunger Lies Plague Fear Light Monster Villain Hero

Who''s Who in Classical Mythology is the most complete and detailed reference book of its kind. It offers scholarly, yet accessible accounts of those mythological tales surrounding such gods as Apollo, Zeus, Athena and Dionysus, and mortals such as Achilles, Odysseus, Jason, Aeneas, Romulus and Remus and Tarquin. It contains over 1200 extensive entries, covering both Greek and Roman characters, providing detailed biographical information, together with historical and geographical background. In addition there are comprehensive genealogical trees of important mythological families and a detailed list of all Greek and Latin writers referred to in the text.

Grant shows us how the historians of antiquity routinely try to deceive, but he argues for the continuing vital importance of their work, and offers new ways of reading and interpreting it. An indispensible guide to using source-material.

Hundreds of reasons for this collapse have over the centuries been suggested. Michael Grant in his reinterpretation of these cataclysmic events identifies thirteen defects which he sees as being responsible for the fall of the Roman Empire. These flaws within the society of Ancient Rome set Roman against Roman, deviding the nation and thereby destroying its ability to resist invasion.

"Gladiators, an exciting account of the ancient Roman institution of arena combat, traces the bloody 800-year history of the bustuarii from their rise during the third century B.C. to their eventual abolition at the end of the fifth century A.D. The popularity of gladiatorial combat dramatizes the paradox of Roman civilization: poets, philosophers, and politicians glorifying this brutal and savage institution in a culture remarkable for its contributions to government, law, literature, philosophy, and art--a culture that was a cornerstone of Western civilization. Although no amount of explanation can mitigate the savagery, in some ways good things came out of this almost-supreme evil. It brought forth countless acts if individual courage, it created one of the world''s greatest architectural forms, and it inspired a number of thoughtful men to write down violent protests that stood firm against this overwhelming tide of brutality. Illustrations of mosaics, statuettes, reliefs, and the remains of arenas and amphitheaters illuminate the text."--Provided by publisher

A biography of the apostle and leader of the early Christians, based on scholarship in anthropology, archaeology, literature, philosophy, and religion. Includes sections on his relationship with Jesus, his role as a leader, and his death and burial-place.

"The Emperor Constantine was one of the great, charismatic figures of the ancient world. He was directly responsible for two momentous transformations that greatly affected our history and civilization: the founding of Constantinople as the Roman capital and the conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity. With knowledge gained from modern research in all relevant fields, including archaeology, papyrology, and art history, Michael Grant traces the controversies that surround this intriguing ruler back to their very beginnings. He draws a compelling portrait of Constantine, assessing the emperor''s achievements as a general in command of his armies and as a resourceful politician and reformer." "In art, politics, economics, social developments, and particularly in religion, the life of Constantine acts as a bridge between past and present. Michael Grant goes beyond the bias of literary sources and reveals the private man behind the public persona: the superstitious beliefs underpinning Constantine''s hallucinatory visions and dreams that heralded his conversion to Christianity; his persecution of paganism in the name of Christianity that set precedents for centuries to come; and the relationship between church and state that gave way to the totalitarianism of the Late Roman Empire. Was he the last notable Roman emperor, or the first medieval monarch? Was the great convert a saint and hero, or should we regard him as a murderer who killed his wife, his eldest son, and many of his friends to further his own ambitions? These are just some of the issues raised in this revelatory biography."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

A richly detailed portrait of Rome at the height of its glory.

Drawing on recent techniques practiced in archaeology and anthropology, Michael Grant reveals the ancient Greece and Rome of the common people--men and women citizens as well as slaves and freedmen and women--and adds a human dimension to more standard accounts of political and military events. "Grant blows the dust off our timeworn images. . . ".--Publishers Weekly.

Demonstrates the vital role played by archaeology in understanding ancient Greeks and romans.

In this biography of Nero, Michael Grant penetrates the mists of ancient myth and fantasy, and paints a balanced picture of Nero, man and emperor. Ruler of the gigantic Roman Empire at a time of great material and cultural splendor, he refused to fit into the traditional mold. Preferring Greek custom to Roman, he was an enlightened patron of the visual arts and passionately fond of athletics, music and the theatre. It was unprecedented for a ruler to attach more importance to his role as artist than to affairs of state. And this, inevitably, contributed to Nero''s downfall -- but not for fourteen years. Meanwhile, whenever he was frightened for his own safety, he murdered. But the vast majority of the peoples of the Empire remained unaffected by his acts of violence, and in some areas he was acclaimed for the good sense of his government. It remains for Michael Grant to explore the legend of Rome''s most infamous emperor. -- From publisher''s description.

This book discusses not only the fictional myths,fairy-tales & folk-tales but also the sagas and legends which have some historical basis.These myths are as important as their history for us to understand their beliefs.

Written by eminent classical scholar Michael Grant. The Ancient Mediterranean is a wonderfully revealing, unusually comprehensive history of all the peoples who lived around the Mediterranean from about 15,000 B.C. to the time of Constantine (306-337 A.D.). Many volumes, including Professor Grant''s own previous works, trace the histories of the great civilizations of Greece and Rome. But this unique work looks at the influences and cultures of the entire region, including Egypt, Israel, Crete, Carthage, Ionia and the Eastern colonies. Syria, and the Etruscans, as well as the Greek and Roman states. Drawing on archaeology, geography, anthropology, and economics. Professor Grant shows how the great Oriental civilizations—Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Persia—originated attitudes and institutions ultimately passed on to the West. He describes the effect on the people and their achievements of the long, irregular coastline, the mountainous terrain surrounding small fertile plains, the typical plant life of olive and grape, and the rapidly changing weather. Further, he investigates how the demographic factors around this deep and stormy sea caused or influenced the great periods of ancient history, such as that of fifth-century Athens and of Rome in the first century A.D. Appealing and fascinating reading, this impeccably researched history brings a fresh perspective to understanding our ancient heritage.

This useful companion to classical history reveals the ancient world, from Scotland to India and from Spain to the Black Sea, through the numerous sites of its history and legends. Covering nations, provinces, cities, towns, rivers, seas, straits, mountains, plains, and battle sites, the author describes about 900 historically significant places in Europe, Asia, and Africa.

A brilliant historian of the ancient world, Michael Grant turns his attention to the decisive centuries of turmoil and rebirth that followed the final collapse of the Roman Empire in the West. The years from 476 to 816 constitute a relatively neglected period, sometimes dismissed by historians as a "Dark Age." But this impressively illustrated volume puts the dawn of the Middle Ages in a new perspective. Far from a time of "barbarian" darkness, this emerges as a remarkably rich period, in both east and west, a crucial time of innovation and development that went very far toward shaping our modern world. It was an age of great leaders. So many dominant personalities of the period have cast long shadows across the centuries and into our own time. From the pages of Michael Grant''s readable, moving text there emerge fresh portraits of such giants as Justinian the Great in the heyday of Byzantium; Mohammed, the prophet of Arabia; St. Benedict of Italy; St. Patrick of Ireland; and, in the heart of western Europe, the larger-than-life figure of Charlemagne. It was, too, an age of great religions. Here we witness the birth of Islam both as a church and as a political force--and the fateful split, almost from the beginning, between the Arabic and the Iranian branches. These centuries witnessed the rise of such great Christian institutions as the papacy and the monastic orders, which were to change the Catholic Church forever. Judaism, too, underwent crucial changes, in the further refinement of Talmudic studies and the establishment of the longlasting patterns of ghetto community life. Above all, this was an age of great art. From Spain to China, from Sweden and the British Isles to north Africa, this book captures the glories of that past age in a remarkable series of fine color illustrations. Highlights include the gleaming tile surfaces of the Moslem palaces and mosques, the cavernous splendor of the church of Haghia Sophia in Istanbul, the dazzling illuminated manuscripts of Ireland and England, the jewelry of the Merovingians, exotic T''ang and Sui ceramics of China, Hebrew murals, and the glittering, other-worldly mosaics of Ravenna. And throughout it all, there is Michael Grant''s text as a guide. Whether he is tracing a clear path for us through the tangle of Merovingian and Carolingian dynasties, probing the mysteries of Islamic theology or medieval cannon law, or providing flesh-and-blood portraits where before we only had names, Michael Grant provides the utmost in information, perspective, balance, color, and readability. -- Inside jacket flaps.

Provides brief descriptions of the careers, characters, and personal lives of the emperors of Rome.

Biographical sketches of 376 Greek and Latin authors covering the years 800 B.C. to 1000 A.D. Includes a list of works of doubtful attribution and a chronological list of authors by century.

From a small Iron Age settlement on the banks of the Tiber, Rome grew to become the centre of an Empire that dominated the Western world. Powerful in war, Rome was magnificent in peace, so that even today her poets, artists, philosophers and historians exert their influence over Western thought and civilisation. Michael Grant, the renowned classical historian, recreates the evolution of this astonishing city and community. He describes the individuals and events that made Rome a political and cultural conqueror, and defines the dramatic circumstances of her eventual decline and fall.