Photo of Tom Holland
Open Library

Tom Holland

1 series 4 books in order 1 standalone book

Tom Holland, born in 1968, is an English popular historian, biographer, and broadcaster. He wrote Rubicon: The Triumph and the Tragedy of the Roman Republic, winner of the Hessell-Tiltman Prize for History and shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize. Persian Fire, his history of the Graeco-Persian wars, won the Anglo-Hellenic League's Runciman Award in 2006. He also wrote Millennium: The End of the World and the Forging of Christendom, In the Shadow of the Sword, and Dynasty.

Born
1968
Known for
History of Rome

Where to start with Tom Holland

Begin with Rubicon: The Triumph and the Tragedy of the Roman Republic, the first book in Tom Holland’s History of Rome series. It provides a comprehensive account of the late Roman Republic and serves as a foundational entry into his work. Proceed with the series in publication order: follow Rubicon with The Forge of Rome, then Dynasty. These three books together form a continuous narrative of Rome’s transformation from republic to empire. Persian Fire, a standalone work, offers a detailed history of the Graeco-Persian wars and can be read at any time, either before or after the Rome series, as it covers a different historical period and subject.

Series by Tom Holland

History of Rome

3 books in order · 2003–2023

  1. Cover of Rubicon

    Rubicon

    2003 · Tom Holland

    Rubicon is a 2003 book by Tom Holland giving a vivid historical account of Rome's social world as it moved from republic to empire. In 49 B.C.,…

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  2. Cover of Dynasty

    Dynasty

    2015 · Tom Holland

    "The follow-up to Rubicon picks up with the murder of Julius Caesar and vividly depicts the intrigue, murder, ambition, and treachery of Emperors…

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  3. Cover of Pax

    Pax

    2023 · Tom Holland

    Pax is a 2023 book by Tom Holland. It is book 3 of the series History of Rome. Catalog genres: Historical Non-Fiction, History. OpenLibrary readers…

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Standalone books

  1. Cover of Persian Fire
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Frequently asked questions

How many books has Tom Holland written?

We list 4 books by Tom Holland across 1 series, published between 2003–2023 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read Tom Holland's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “Rubicon.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy Tom Holland's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted a wrong order, a missing book, or any other mistake? and we'll correct it.