Tales of slavery and defeat set in Greek and Roman times.

Delightful collection of short stories and novellas [the last two] taking in the whole sweep of Roman history from Caesar's conquest of Gaul [50's BC] through Alaric's final siege of Rome [410]. I was enthralled by each and every one!

"The hostages": during Caesar's conquest, the taking of three Gallic hostages, in the words of one of them.
"Cottia goes to Bibracte": the wife of a Roman army officer deals with the aftermath, caring for several hostages and waiting for her husband to join her.
"The man from Alesia": One slave helps another escape from slavery.
Got to put up with it now: a die-maker wishes to sketch Vercingetorix for coins, and talks to him in prison.

The more unusual ones are the last two--of novella length:
"Triumph of faith": giving life and a family to the New Testament Philemon. We also see his household, his slave Onesimus, and his neighbor: how the household deals with a crisis of faith.
"When the bough breaks": waning of the Western Roman Empire through Alaric's siege of Rome. A Scandinavian girl disguises herself as a man, leaves her country, and follows the Goths. She also lives among Romans and is witness to the siege.

Most highly recommended. Sort of an accompaniment to the author's full-length novel [The Conquered]. ( )