The Roman Mysteries - Author Interview Aug 02

14 August 2002

Roman Mysteries at Archeon
by Eveilne J. Verhoeve
translated by Carla MJ Velterop

I want to be able to touch, feel and smell objects from the past, that's important...

Archeon Theme Park, Alpen - This week the British-American Caroline Lawrence has been a guest at the Archeon theme park. Today and tomorrow she will be at the Roman Bathhouse. The author of the Roman Mysteries series, exciting detective stories set in Ancient Rome, will be giving a lecture on both afternoons. She will also be answering questions and signing books. The adventures of Flavia Gemina are mostly for children, but even adults will not get bored with these stories.

So far there are six books in the Roman Mysteries series. Thieves of Ostia and The Secrets of Vesuvius have been translated into Dutch. The Pirates of Pompeii is coming out in September. In the stories Flavia and her friends Jonathan, Nubia and Lupus all have adventures in Ostia, Pompeii, Rome and other Ancient Roman places. They discover mysteries everywhere and solve them together.

Greek vases
Lawrence is a passionate story-teller. It was only after secondary school in California that she became interested in Classics. That happened when she became fascinated with Homer's Iliad. At Cambridge she studied Greek and Latin. 'But actually I love classical art and architecture even more. So in all of my books there is a hidden Greek vase. There is usually a story depicted on these vases, a Greek myth. I use these myths in my books, sometimes exactly as they are, and sometimes with a twist.'

The author also owns replicas of ancient artefacts. 'I want to be able to touch, feel and smell objects from the past. That's important to me. That way I can really be in the story, as if I'm using a time machine. Here's a piece of lava mixed with pumice from Pompeii. In the second book a rock hits Vulcan on his head. I always tell people that that was this exact piece of volcanic rock.'

Idea
'I play with objects. For example this sponge on a stick. The Ancient Romans used this to wipe their bottoms. When I give a talk I always ask what people think it is. One kid thought that it was a drumstick. I thought that that was a fantastic idea. Immediately I put that idea into one of the later books. The Dolphins of Laurentum begins with Lupus playing his drum with a sponge- stick!'

'In all of the books I try to make the setting as historically accurate as possible. A lot is based on what I have read. But I also do experiments. The great thing about archaeologists is that they put theories to the test through experimenting. If you actually make and use a replica artefact like a wax-tablet then you immediately understand how it works. I put lots of these kinds of facts in my books. Stil, the most important thing is that children find my books exciting. After all, what is the point of putting in all those great historical facts if no-one reads the books?'

Tragedy
Lawrence's interest in the past constantly stimulates her. She is especially fascinated by the similarities and differences between daily life in the Roman Empire and today's world. She uses these ideas in her books. 'All of my main characters have a tragedy in their lives. Flavia's mother died while giving birth and Jonathan survived the destruction of Jerusalem ten years earlier. Today there are refugee children who have experienced tragedy and destruction in their own countries. Flavia and her friends also encounter other difficulties and hardships. In the third book they get kidnapped. Of course that's very dangerous. Things like that still happens today. Recently in England two young girls were kidnapped. I gloss over some of the darker aspects of ancient Rome, but adult readers will read between the lines and understand.

Interactive
Lawrence also uses her experience as a teacher in her writing. Until recently she still taught Latin and art. Now she does a lot of school events and keeps in touch with young fans through her website. 'Many children's writers create a world where the child main character has adventures completely isolated from the adult world. But I think children are fascinated with the world of adults. In my books I try to prepare children for their adult life by showing it to them, by explaining things. Education which tries to hide evil from children doesn't work. Young people need strategies for life. I try to provide that in my books.'

Caroline Lawrence was in Archeon theme park on Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th August 2002 during the Roman Festival. Archeon theme park, Archeonlaan 1 in Alphen aan den Rijn, information www.archeon.nl.

(Copyright Eveline J. Verhoeve)
Thanks to Carla who translated it with a bit of editing by me

More Author Interviews

Aug 2001April 2002April 2004Nov 2001