History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Under the Eagle: A Tale of Military Adventure and Reckless Heroism with the Roman Legions

Average customer rating:

Outstanding Historical Fiction
Weak
Couldn't put this book down!
Change of Pace
If you know Roman history....you'll hate it

Under the Eagle: A Tale of Military Adventure and Reckless Heroism with the Roman Legions
Simon Scarrow
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0312304242

Book Description

It is the year 42 AD, and Centurion Macro, battle-scarred and fearless, is in the heart of Germany with the Second Legion, the toughest in the Roman army. Cato, a new recruit and the newly appointed second-in-command to Macro, will have more to prove than most. In a bloody skirmish with local tribes, Cato gets his first chance to prove that he's more than a callow, privileged youth. As their next campaign takes them to a land of unparalleled barbarity - Britain - a special mission unfolds, thrusting Cato and Macro headlong into a conspiracy that threatens to topple the Emperor himself.

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding Historical Fiction.......2007-08-30

Under the Eagle is a great historical fiction read. The characters are well developed and the story pace is fast and engaging. There is never a dull moment in this story. I actually like Simon Scarrow's writing better than Bernard Cornwell in the historical fiction area!

Weak.......2007-08-06

While some of the insights into Roman conquest were helpful, the plot line and characters were distracting at best.

The secondary plots of intrique and spies contributed little to the action.

I will not further read anything by Scarrow.

Couldn't put this book down!.......2007-06-29

Simon Scarrow's book was awesome! His characters are a nitty-gritty, down in the trenches view on the Roman Legions in the early Roman Empire. Focusing on two main characters, there's enough to love and hate here for everyone. A great adventure, with some serious historical flavor!

Change of Pace.......2007-02-25

I've just finished a book by Nicholas Nicastro and I loved the change of pace and exciting events in this book compared to nicholas's. This was definitly a page turner with multible events and storylines to keep the reader interested. I've already purchased the other books to this trilogy and can't wait to get them. This is fiction but also has historical facts within it.

If you know Roman history....you'll hate it.......2007-02-15

This is much better written than the Steven Saylor FINDER series. The story of a Roman second-in-command on the verge of invading Britan is interesting. Emperor Claudius has selected our hero to deliver instructions to Vespacian on the Gaul-ish front. OK. But why do I feel the author wants this to be made into a movie? Ever feel like your being tricked? Well, this novel is gripping enough but it could have been set in the Civil War, WWII, or the Invasion of Grenada. The characters are slightly cartoonish, but if you want an action packed quasi-historical read, then by all means, buy the book, get on the plane, and finish it before you land at the coast. If you want adventure with sandals and swords....here 'tis. If you want history to wash it down with, then Robert Graves, Stephen Dando-Collins, or Adrian Goldsworthy is just the refreshing saloon you are looking for, pilgram.
It is a tricky balance keeping the interest of the masses looking-for adventure-stories weighted against the couch-historians like myself. I'll buy one more, because Scarrow is a good writer. But one more like this will throw me back in the (metaphorical) arms of Michael Curtis Ford.

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)

Average customer rating:

Check and see
Suprise! Suprise!
Prescient St Augustine?
Something of a disappointment
Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy..

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
Anatoly T Fomenko
Manufacturer: Delamere Resources LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621066

Product Description

`History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2` is the second volume of the most explosive and astounding tractate on history ever written - however, every theory it contains, no matter how unorthodox, is backed by rock solid scientific data. The book is easy and pleasant to read; it is well-illustrated, contains hundreds of charts, graphs and illustrations, copies of ancient manuscripts, and countless facts attesting to the falsity of the chronology used nowadays. You will be amazed to discover: - That the chronology universally accepted today and taken for granted is simply wrong; - That ALL methods of dating of ancient sources and artefacts known today are erroneous or non-exact; - That there is not a single document that could be reliably dated earlier than the XIth century; The Author refers to the Middle Ages as the Antiquity and proves mutual superimposition of the Second and the Third Roman Empire, both of which become identified as the respective kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Furthermore, he asserts that the famous reform of the Occidental Church in the XI century by Pope Gregory Hildebrand was the reflection of the XII century reforms of Byzantine emperor Andronicus who in his turn identifies with Jesus Christ. The Trojan war counted by Homer happened only as late as of the XIII century A.D. and the great poet actually lived in XIV century A.D. No stone in history of Antiquity is left unturned. Literally. This book is the beginning of a major correction to the chronology we live with.

Customer Reviews:

Check and see.......2007-06-21

I don't care what other people say of this book. Those affirmig it's fake, they hadn't ever read it. Or have some special reasons to do so. "Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see..." This book won't make you feel comfortable. It'll make you feel free. It'll make you feel you're "not the only one" to feel you'd been lied to for centuries.

Suprise! Suprise!.......2007-03-22

Here is a serie of books which turns "the whole world" upside down. I learned a lot of it and I hope that a new book from A.T. Fomenko will follow very quick. A absolute must for everybody who is interested in history or even a little bit from it.

Prescient St Augustine?.......2006-02-05

We can so far divide the New Chronology into the following three parts:

a) The verifiable theory that proves consensual chronology wrong with the aid of astronomy, statistics and mathematics;

b) The new chronology hypothesis based on a new understanding of known historical facts and the most likely logical explanation of the most obvious inconsistencies inherent in the official version of history;

c) The history conjectures, that is experimental historical reconstructions based on assumptions that the authors believe to make sense in the light of their research and linguistic parallels - void of ironclad factual support to date.

Fomenko's theory complies with the most rigid scientific standards as a whole:

It gives a coherent explanation of what we already know.

- It is consistent: independent lines of inquiry all lead to the same conclusion.

- The predictions it makes are confirmed empirically.

Fomenko goes by the following axioms:

- Chronology is the basis of history;

- Human evolution has always been linear, gradual and irreversible;

- The "cyclic" nature of human civilization is a myth, likewise all the gaps, duplicates, "dark ages" and "renaissances" that we know from consensual history;

- The accumulation of geographical knowledge as reflected in cartography is a gradual and irreversible process;

- The chronological distance between a given manuscript and the events described therein is proportional to the amount of distortions it contains;

- There is no "useless" information in authentic ancient sources.

Why the mainstream historians do not shower mathematician Academician Dr.Prof Fomenko with thanks and laurels?

The Russians:

Because Fomenko asserts that there was no such thing as the Tartar and Mongol invasion followed by three centuries of slavery, providing a formidable body of documental evidence to prove his assertion. The so-called "Tartars and Mongols" were the actual ancestors of the modern Russians, living in a bilingual state with Arabic spoken as freely as Russian. The ancient Russian state was governed by a double structure of civil and military authorities. The hordes were actually professional armies with a tradition of lifelong conscription (the recruitment being the so-called "blood tax"). Their "invasions" were punitive operations against the regions that attempted tax evasion. Fomenko proves that Russian history as we know it today is a blatant forgery concocted by a host of German scientists brought to Russia by the usurper dynasty of the Romanovs, whose ascension to the throne was the result of coup d'état, charged with the mission of making their reign look legitimate. Fomenko proves Ivan the Terrible to be a collation of four rulers, no less. They represented the two rival dynasties - the legitimate rulers and the ambitious upstarts. The winner took it all! Over some 30 years of controversy, Russian historians have made a most remarkable transition - they were initially accusing the young mathematician Fomenko of anticommunist dissident activity and attempts to deface the historical legacy of Soviet Russia; nowadays the middle-aged mathematician is accused of adhering to "pro-communist Russian nationalism" and defacing the proud historical legacy of Great Russia.

The Westerners:

Because Fomenko blows consensual Russian history to smithereens, successfully removing a crucial cornerstone from underneath the otherwise impeccable edifice of World History. Fomenko adds insult to injury, wiping out one by one the Ancient Rome (the foundation of Rome in Italy is dated to the XIV century A. D.), the Ancient Greece and its numerous poleis, which he identifies as the mediaeval crusader settlements on the territory of Greece, and the Ancient Egypt (the pyramids of Giza become dated to the XI-XV century A. D. and identified as the royal cemetery of the Global "Mongolian" Empire, no less). The civilization of the Ancient Egypt is irrefutably dated to the XII-XV century A. D. with the aid of the ancient Egyptian horoscopes cut in stone. He was the first one to decipher and date all such horoscopes, coming up with mediaeval dates in every case. English historians rage at the suggestion that the history of Ancient England was de facto a Byzantine import transplanted to the English soil by the fugitive Byzantine nobility. To reward the English historians who consider themselves the true scribes of World History, the cover of the present book portrays Tintoretto's Jesus Christ crucified on the Big Ben.

The Chinese:

Because Fomenko wipes out the Ancient History of China outright. No such thing. Full point. The compilation of the so-called Ancient Chinese History is reliably datable to the XVII-XVIII century only. It is perfectly recognizable as the Ancient European history, reworked and transcribed in hieroglyphs as yet another historical transplantation, this time performed on the Chinese soil by the loving Jesuit hands. The Chinese are the next in line to go berserk. Chinese history is inevitably bound to get both more ancient and more eventful, proportionally to the growing involvement of China in the world affairs. Chinese historians will keep on finding valid proof of prehistoric Chinese spaceflights until the Politburo orders them to shut up.

The Arabs:

Too bad. Islam with all its key figures is datable to XV-XVI century A. D. Arabic historians may find consolation in the crucial historical role of the Ottoman Empire in the XVI-XVII century. The trouble is that this empire was initially a Christian state, with Hagia Sophia identifiable as Temple of Solomon, according to Fomenko! We can only guess if the acquisition of Alexander the Great (a Macedonian and a Christian) as the founder of the Muslim World Empire will make Fomenko's theories more acceptable to the Arabic mainstream. He certainly does not spare any holy cows at all, claiming The Stone of Qa'Aba in Mecca to contain the lost Arch of the Covenant.

The Divinity:

Despite of reiterated statement that his theory is all about chronology and not Religion, Fomenko stirs up a whole condominium of wasp nests. His collection of anathemas, fatwa, and other condemnations from all parties concerned is already considerable. Little wonder, considering that the history of religions à la Fomenko looks as follows: the pre-Christian period (before the XI century and JC), Bacchic Christianity (XI-XII century, before and after JC), JC Christianity (XII-XVI century) and its subsequent mutations into Orthodox Christianity, the Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, and so on.

According to Fomenko we know strictly NOTHING about the events that predate the X century A. D.

St Augustin was prescient when he spoke unto us: "be wary of mathematicians, particularly when they speak the truth."

Something of a disappointment.......2005-09-09

After having read the first volume of this expected series of 7 volumes I was triggered by the thesis of these authors that ancient Greek and Roman history did in fact take place in the Middle Ages. So I started studying medieval history of the Middle East - also known as Islamic history - to find out if the opponents of the ancient Greeks and Romans - the Acheamenid Persians, Sassanids, Scythians, Egyptians, etc. - also have their duplicates in medieval history. My search was disappointing: none of the many medieval Islamic dynasties seemed to correspond to the ancient middle eastern rulers.

However, I did find a close correspondence between Herodotus' Persian kings and medieval events:

- the defeat and capture of an Anatolian king - the Lydian Croesus - by the Persian conqueror Cyrus is identical to the defeat and capture of another Anatolian king - sultan Bayezid - by the Asian/Mongol conqueror Tamerlane;
- the Persian conquest of Egypt by the cruel tyrant Cambyses reds almost exactly as the Ottoman conquest of Egypt by Selim the Grim (note the nickname!);
- Darius the Lawgiver of the Persian Empire looks very much alike to Sulayman the Magnificent, the Lawgiver in Islamic history;
- Xerxes, whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by the Greeks at the naval battle of Salamis, looks like Selim II (the Sot) whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by a Spanish-Italian alliance at the naval battle of Lepanto.

I should have expected Fomenko et al. to arrive at similar conclusions, however, they claim that the Persian kings are the alter egos of the Angevin kings of Sicily whose biographies do not contain the exploits of the Persian kings.

The similiarities I indicate lead to the conclusion that Herodotus must have written his Histories at the close of the 16th century. But this is extremely late, given that Herodotus is "the Father of History", so therefore all other "ancient" histories must have been fabricated even later. Yet, the founders of modern chronology - Scaliger and Petavius - laid their foundations also at the close of the 16th century and had the full corpus of ancient histories already at their disposal.

It seems to me that Fomenko has to address these inconsistencies, maybe in the forthcoming 5 volumes?

Another critique of their book is that the correspondencies between different rulers are often based on a superficial comparison of the biographies; upon a more thorough comparison many details appear that do not correspond at all.

Finally, the authors rely heavily on the works of Gregorovius (1821-1891!!) - his medieval histories of Rome and Athens - as the source of medieval history; these works are - at least in the West - hoplessly outdated and have been superceded by more up-to-date works (for instance, Julius Norwich's trilogy on Byzantine history is not even cited).

Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy.........2005-07-30

If you agree with Fomenko that Roman chronology is basically the foundation of the entire edifice of global chronology; you would also certainly agree that despite its numerous gaps and inconsistencies, Roman history is the best-documented field of ancient history, and thus a reference scale. But how well is the actual date of the Eternal City's foundation known?

Firstly, Rome is supposed to have been founded by the Trojans who had to flee after the fall of Troy. Some claim Rome to have been founded by Aeneas and Ulysses shortly after Troy had fallen; others are of the opinion that there was an entire dynasty that ruled for 500 years between the fall of Troy and the foundation of Rome.

Well, that's just an innocent 500 years long misunderstanding compared with what heretic Fomenko says, asserts, proves in his second volume: Second Roman Empire, Third Roman Empire, Biblical Kingdom of Israel, Biblical Kingdom of Judah, Holy Roman Empire are stories about basically same events, written from different points of view at different times. The underlying events have actually taken place during xii-xv cy. These histories have been written and perfected by multitude of highly talented humanist and clerical writers of xiii-xvi cy disguised as "ancients" with glorious names like Homer, Pluto, Thucydides etc..Chronology 2.0 beta..

Historians are kindly invited to report the bugs.

The Quest For the Lost Roman Legions: Discovering the Varus Battlefield

Average customer rating:

Excellent
Outstanding In Every Respect!
skip this, buy the other two
Amazing What You Can Find in a Lump of Mud
Skip the fiction please ....

The Quest For the Lost Roman Legions: Discovering the Varus Battlefield
Tony Clunn
Manufacturer: Savas Beatie
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1932714081

Book Description

In 9 A.D., the 17th, 18th and 19th Roman legions and their auxiliary troops under command of Publius Quinctilius Varus vanished in the boggy wilds of Germania. They died singly and by the hundreds over several days in a carefully planned ambush led by Arminius-a Roman-trained German warrior determined to stop Rome's advance east beyond the Rhine River. By the time it was over, some 25,000 men, women, and children were dead and the course of European history had been forever altered. "Quinctilius Varus, give me back my legions!" Emperor Augustus agonized aloud when he learned of the devastating loss. As the decades slipped past, the location of one of the western world's most important battlefields was lost to history for two millenia.

Fueled by an unshakeable curiosity and burning interest in the story, a British major named Tony Clunn delved into the nooks and crannies of times past. By sheer persistence and good luck, he turned the foundation of German national history on its ear. Convinced the running battle took place north of Osnabruck, Germany, Clunn set out to prove his point. His discovery of a handful of Roman coins in the late 1980s, followed by a flood of thousands of other artifacts (including weapons and human remains) ended the mystery once and for all. Today, a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art museum houses and interprets these priceless historical treasures on the very site Varus's legions were lost.

In Quest of the Lost Roman Legions is a masterful retelling of Clunn's search to discover the Varus battlefield. His well-placed, carefully conceived, and vivid writing style makes for a compelling read from the first page to the last, as he alternates between his incredible modern quest and the ancient tale of the Roman occupation of Germany that ultimately ended so tragically in the peat bogs of Kalkriese.

Tony Clunn joined the army at age 15 and served with the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment. He retired in the late 1990s after twenty-two years with the rank of major, an is currently employed by the British Army in Osnaburck and Kalkriese. He was presented with the Member of the Royal Order of the British Empire in 1996 by Queen Elizabeth II.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-09-22

Major Clunn deserves credit for a well-written narrative - he does equally well in recounting his own explorations and in spinning out (admittedly) speculative history.

To denigrate his speculations as "historical fiction" is nonsense. All of the accounts of Varus, Arminius and this battle are almost entirely speculative (fictitious, I guess) -- for example, the expensive fiction of the Hermannsdenkmal. Perhaps we ought to allow some leeway to the man who, after untold thousands of failures and nearly two thousand years, solved the riddle of the site of that battle.

The absence of maps is a warranted critique. Yet, the absence forced me to read this book with constant reference to MS Live Earth and Google Maps. I cannot overstate how much more I learned by proceeding in this fashion -- incomparably more than I would have learned by reference to a few two-dimensional and static maps in a book. So, even in this, the author deserves my praise and appreciation.

In summary, this book provided me with one of my most enjoyable reading experiences in long time, and it is very highly recommended.

Outstanding In Every Respect!.......2007-09-09

In late July, 2007, a friend and I joined a group and traveled to the Varus Battle Site and museum at that location. I had already read some of the literature about this battle, but was pleasantly surprised to find that Retired Major Tony Clunn was at the site when we paid our visit. He graciously took the time to guide us through the museum and the scene of the massacre, explaining what events occurred at each point as could best be pieced together. I had wanted to visit the Varus site for a long time, so this was a real treat.
Major Clunn's book describes the research and searching he actually performed, leading to discovery of the site as well as how many of the artifacts were found. His narrative is interspersed with the events leading up to the massacre in AD 9, the battle, and the aftermath. Lots of great information in these pages. I highly recommend this book to anyone curious about ancient Roman archaeology and history. It is an interesting, fast-paced read--history and detective work woven into a riveting summarization! This book is a keeper.

skip this, buy the other two.......2007-09-04

Some of my objections are similar to those already noted, especially the lack of maps and the annoying fiction. I bought the three major books on the Varusschlacht (Murdoch and Wells in addition to this one), and Clunn is the most irritating. He's a mediocre writer at best, and the book has too much redundancy, contradiction, and error. The narrative, with its imagined dialogue, is incredibly annoying. If you consider just the archaeological story, the book is okay. But even that is too drawn out, and the discovery of the most sensational artifact - the face mask - is completely glossed over. He doesn't even credit the person who found it. I recommend the other two books in combination. Wells does the best job of providing a historical background, and provides a sufficient number of maps. Murdoch's book is best read after Wells. Clunn's book is a major disappointment.

Amazing What You Can Find in a Lump of Mud.......2007-07-11

I never thought I would be excited about some one writing about what he found under little lumps of mud in the cold and rain someplace in Germany. But this book is unusual. First, there is first class scholorship -- he knows how to look for ancient artificats, and how to read the picture they paint for you. Secondly, He shows you how he "backward engineered" the strategy and tactics of Arminius the German and followed his insights to find what no one else had been able to place for hundreds of years-- a 2000 year old battlefield that probably changed the course of history.
This is one terrific book. I couldn't put it down.

Skip the fiction please ...........2006-08-25

Add another star or two depending on how much you enjoy historical fiction. I wish the author had not been so creative because I think his fictional re-creation detracts from an otherwise invaluable account of his discovery of one of main sites of the legendary battle of the Tuetoburg Forest. A very detailed proposed reconstruction of the battle is thoroughly supported and explained though this is hampered by inadequate maps. I am determined to find adequate topographical maps on my own because the author is a man who has walked and explored this terrain and shares his insights about how and where the fights in and around the Teutoburg Forest might have developed. Something that is often glossed over by others. Recommended, but you will have to work at getting the most out of this book.

Gods and Legions: A Novel of the Roman Empire

Average customer rating:

Worm's eye view
Book Review
OK... I think I've got it....
WELL WRITTEN
Why Put Forth the Effort?

Gods and Legions: A Novel of the Roman Empire
Michael Curtis Ford
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0312989407

Book Description

In the year, 354 A.D., Julian, a sheltered scholar and pacifist lives in peace-until a summons from Emperor Constantine the Great changes the young man's life forever. Dispatched to Gaul to help reclaim a beaten Roman territory from German barbarians, Julian displays a surprising and brutal genius for survival against impossible odds. Emerging as an unlikely hero and adored by a legion of zealots, his untapped ambition is ignited-to reign as the new emperor. It's a position of power that'll test the loyalty of his friends, stir the ire of enemies, and cast an ominous shadow over his mad, and most magnificently impossible conquest of all...From the author of the acclaimed The Ten Thousand comes a breathtaking recreation of the historic rise to power of a ruthless yet unlikely leader plunged into the chaos of war-and his shocking fall that would become one of the most fascinating mysteries of the ages. A novel of courage and conviction, of loyalty and betrayal, of personal victory and dark ambition, Gods and Legions is epic storytelling at its most riveting.

Customer Reviews:

Worm's eye view.......2007-05-13

The key to GODS AND LEGIONS is its narrator. Caesarion, physician to two emperors, begins as a bright scientist who likes to push the boundaries of reseach. Contradictorily, he is also a 4th century Christian, and in Caesarion Christianity is gradually winning. As a Christian's twisted view of Emperor Julian, GODS AND LEGIONS is a cultural study of the Roman Empire.

Caesarion begins as a friend of young student Julian, the only surviving male cousin of Emperor Constantius. Julian survives because his love of books seems to make him harmlessly unambitious. But Constantius needs a figurehead to represent Roman power in the West. Placed in Gaul, Julian flowers into a brilliant general and administrator. His sense of justice and his sympathy for Rome's subjects make him immensely popular. As so often happened in the Roman Empire, Julian is acclaimed Emperor by his people.

While Julian comes into his own, Caesarion's disenchantment grows. For most of the book there is a strict correlation between their attitudes: Julian's headed up, Caesarion's headed down. Like all good Christians of the time, to Caesarion religious tolerance would be a sin, and Caesarion will eventually be declared a saint. Trapped by his sense of duty in a grossly uncongenial position, he becomes grim and disapproving. From the moment Julian declares that he follows the Hellenistic gods, Caesarion believes him mad; it is very clear in the text that all of Caesarion's later accounts of Julian are colored by the Christian view of Julian as the Antichrist.

Was Julian murdered in Persia by someone among his own troops? We have no evidence of that, and Julian was stabbed in battle. He didn't stand behind with his generals, observing; he fought. Ford says that either army might have been using the type of spear that killed him. Julian did the same thing as Napoleon did -- led his troops beyond their supply lines. Napoleon's troops didn't kill him. Maybe the murder theory is just another case of the victors rewriting history.

Gore Vidal's JULIAN has a delicious, satirical approach that hurts the powerfully dramatic GODS AND LEGIONS by comparison, but agrees with Ford that the murder theory makes a better story. I'm going to have to track down the writings of Julian and Ammianus Marcellinus, and see for myself if I agree with either novel.

Book Review.......2007-05-13

I enjoyed the book overall, but got "bogged down" in some of the battle descriptions. Otherwise, it was an enjoyable read.

OK... I think I've got it...........2007-02-15

This book helped me understand what I am looking for in an historical fiction. (deep breath) Steven Saylor (Mysteries of Ancient Rome series) does not hold my interest.... Simon Scarrow (Under the Eagle) is modern writing writ small for the epic that is Rome. But Michael Curtis Ford... ahhh ... If you understand the humor in this line, you will love him. Ready ? Here goes... " I believe he was a Spartan" muttered Julian laconically'. Was that funny to you? If so, Michael Curtis Ford is your cup of tea. Writing circles within circles as the ancient narrarator struggles with his own style. The history is tight as the soon-to-be mad emperor Julian undoes, unstrings, and unravels what Constantine the Great sought to do. Julian reverts to paganism and heads, where else, for Persia and his own Waterloo.(sorry for my own very mixed metaphor) This after reluctantly becoming a Roman warrior, succeeding his uncle, (the Roman emperor), overthrowing the Gauls, and in general, having an adventure that makes the AD 300's come to life. I went in ignorant of this particular time period. I came out smarter and better for the experience. This is a meaty novel, not pure history, but not the pap Saylor and Scarrow churn out, either. This is on par with Colleen McCollough and the Grass Crown / Caesars Women series. Call me middle brow, but I'm havin' some fun here !!

WELL WRITTEN.......2006-10-30

A take on Emperor Julian, the last Roman emperor, who tried to eradicate Christianity as the main religion of the Roman Empire (then situated mostly in Constantinople, now Istanbul).

A lot of it seems to be Historically accurate though there are some areas that are considered to be questionable and the author does take liberties in certain areas where we really do not know, for sure, what happened.

Great battles and ideas, especially in the beginning against the Persian elephants and the Germanic tribes fooling the Romans along the river.

The take on Julian's reasons for having problems with Christianty were done well enough, but, for such a hot topic, they could have spent more time detailing it as we are mostly a Christian country and a superb reason is needed for people to understand why one might want to not make it the main religion.

Why Put Forth the Effort?.......2006-07-24

Gore Vidal's "Julian" is one of my favorite all-time books, so I thought I might enjoy another on the subject. All-in-all I was disappointed and only managed to make it about 3/4 of the way through with much effort. Though the author's writing style is quite readable, writing a story from the viewpoint of someone who diliked Julian and is supposed to be his friend just didn't cut it with me. The self-righteous Christian got old real fast. And the secondary characters like Oribasius and Maximus were so vividly done by Vidal as to make them a jarring, discordant note in this work. The only way it was in any way better than Vidal's work is the battle descriptions, which are well done.
To me it was like someone trying to re-write Gone With the Wind, To Kill a Mockingbird or A Confederacy of Dunces. It can't be improved upon, so why put forth the effort?

The Roman Army: Legions, Wars and Campaigns: A Military History of the World's First Superpower From the Rise of the Republic and the Might of the Empire to the Fall of the West

Average customer rating:

a big disappointment
A glossy study of the Roman legion
Great stuff

The Roman Army: Legions, Wars and Campaigns: A Military History of the World's First Superpower From the Rise of the Republic and the Might of the Empire to the Fall of the West
Nigel Rodgers
Manufacturer: Southwater
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1844762106

Book Description

This authoritative, fact filled history traces the growth of the Roman army fromits earlydays as an unpaid citizen's mililtia to its establishment as a world conquering professional force.

Customer Reviews:

a big disappointment.......2007-08-01

when i first ordered this book, i thought i would get a detailed description of the Roman army's legions, wars, and campaigns, as the title suggests. but don't let the title fool you. its actually a rough summery of the Roman empire. very little on the actual wars, legions and campaigns. so if you are just getting into the Roman empire, and don't know much about it, buy this book. otherwise, you're wasting your money, like i did.

A glossy study of the Roman legion.......2006-07-01

A rather glossy book that discusses the Roman legion from approx Hannibal to the fall of the Western Empire. To those that know something of Rome you will find little new or orginal in the book but it makes a good introduction on the subject as the writer clearly knows his topic.

Great stuff.......2006-01-31

For the aficiendado who is interested in Rome, the legions and campaigns, the conquests, this is the best and newest book on the military aspects of Rome. Rome ruled an empire for almost 700 years and its legions were what made it successful, the decline of the legions and their replacement by third rate mercenaries spelled the end. This book catalouges all the famous campaigns, in Gaul, in Britian, in Judea, in Germania and against the Greeks and Carthaginians. An interesting book.

Seth J. Frantzman

The Battle That Stopped Rome: Emperor Augustus, Arminius, and the Slaughter of the Legions in the Teutoburg Forest

Average customer rating:

A Rare But Costly Roman Debacle
Too much fluff......
Interesting but not too enlightening
I received great service!
Not Good at All

The Battle That Stopped Rome: Emperor Augustus, Arminius, and the Slaughter of the Legions in the Teutoburg Forest
Peter S. Wells
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0393020282

Book Description

The story of the horrific destruction of the Roman army by German barbarians, forever ending the expansion of the Roman Empire.

In AD 9, a Roman traitor led an army of barbarians who trapped and then slaughtered three entire Roman legions: 20,000 men, half the Roman army in Europe. If not for this battle, the Roman Empire would surely have expanded to the Elbe River, and probably eastward into present-day Russia. But after this defeat, the shocked Romans ended all efforts to expand beyond the Rhine, which became the fixed border between Rome and Germania for the next 400 years, and which remains the cultural border between Latin western Europe and Germanic central and eastern Europe today.

This fascinating narrative introduces us to the key protagonists: the emperor Augustus, the most powerful of the Caesars; his general Varus, who was the wrong man in the wrong place; and the barbarian leader Arminius, later celebrated as the first German hero. In graphic detail, based on recent archaeological finds, the author leads the reader through the mud, blood, and decimation that was the Battle of Teutoburg Forest. 16 pages of illustrations, 9 maps.

Customer Reviews:

A Rare But Costly Roman Debacle.......2007-04-02

The number of significant Roman military defeats was so low that one can draw the inescapable conclusion that Rome lost so rarely because Rome made sure that defeat simply could not happen with any regularity. The annihilation of Rome's legions at Cannae comes to mind as an exception. And now in THE BATTLE THAT STOPPED ROME. Peter S. Wells details what is perhaps Rome's second most notorious debacle. The details of the destruction of three of Emperor Augustus' legions have been well documented in other texts, but what makes Wells' version worthwhile is the sense that the reader feels that he is right there in the Teutoburg Forest in Germany in 9 AD. The first half of his book details the preliminaries: the background of the geography, the competing rulers, the structure of both armies, and the villain of this piece--the German Arminius, who had once served in Rome's legions and used that knowledge of tactics against them. Wells now adds that there is a new villain--the Roman general Varus, whom Wells describes as "the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Before the battle, Rome seemed destined to expand its hegemony throughout Germany. Augustus tapped Varus as the commander who could deliver Germany as a docile vassal of Rome. The German hordes could be many things but docile was not one of them. Arminius induced Rome's three legions to traverse a narrow pathway in the Teutoburg Forest, where the disciplined battle order of the legions could not be used. What Wells adds to other and earlier accounts is a "you are there" scenario. Much of what one reads he claims is based on the latest archeological finds, but the depth of detail suggests a fertile imagination that fills out the meat from the bare skeleton of these finds. Several reviewers have suggested that they found it difficult to believe that twenty thousand legionnaires could have been slaughtered in under one hour. But a careful consideration of the geography adds credence to the speed with which the Germans could have wreaked incalculable damage with spears tossed directly into the midst of bunched up Romans, all of whom were sitting or rather standing ducks. Indeed, one can visualize the majority being impaled within just the first few minutes. Wells clearly labels this less a battle than a massacre, the result of which was to fix forever the easternmost edge of the Roman empire. For modern students of Roman history who wish to recreate in a few dozen pages how a mighty fighting force could have been eradicated within moments, THE BATTLE THAT STOPPED ROME depicts how so many were killed solely because of the incompetence of a commander who should have known better.

Too much fluff.............2007-03-09

I found Peter S. Wells' book on the destruction of the three Roman legions at Teutoburg Forest to be terribly limited in scrope and very short on description. Since Teutoburg Forest is a very specific military campaign, most people who would read this book will already have a good solid background on Rome and her history. Thus, we do not need 160 pages worth of background material which will not add anything to anyone's knowledge.

To make this really sad, I thought the author's description of the campaign and battle to be truly simplified. What make the author even dream that this entire battle was over within a hour?? It going to take whole lot more then 18,000 barbaric Germans to wipe out three Roman legions in one hour regardless of the situation. It may be that the author tried too hard to be different from the norm and this led to many foolish conjectures that borderline on fantasy.

It should also be stress that as catastrophic as this defeat may be, it only discouraged Roman expansion across into Germany. But it definitely did not stopped the Romans from moving in other territories. Just look at Trajan's rule or even earlier...Claudius' invasion and conquest of Britain. Glory of Rome have only began in 9 AD, it did not end at Teutoberg Forest. The author appears to be grossly overhyped this campaign. (In hindsight, it may have been a disaster for Germany who didn't get the benefits of Roman civilization.)

Considering that there are several other books written on this campaign, it would be easy to pass on this book which really doesn't explained much about the battle or the campaign. I would recommend Major Tony Clunn's In Quest of the Lost Legions which explained the details of this campaign and battle in far clearer and with more authority. The paperback copy of this book I was reading, looked exactly like the first edition copy of Clunn's book. Same black background with Roman mask.

I also find very interesting reading the past reviews of this book that people who wrote negatively about this book appears to be know more about Teutoberg Forest then the people who wrote positively.

Interesting but not too enlightening.......2007-02-24

The author seems to have written this as a very basic coverage of what was likely a much more complicated situation. I didn't know anything about this incident in history, but from his own descriptions, it had far reaching consequences. I was hoping for a little more meat but as an introduction, it was sufficient. This just makes me want to find out more about the Teutoberg battle.

I received great service!.......2007-01-08

Received in a timely manner, and the product was in great shape! Thank you!

Not Good at All.......2006-10-02

Looks lets be realistic. After 2000 years there is precious little that we really know about the Battle in the Teutonburg Forest. Wells does a good job but like a lot books on obscure figures, events, and times we know relatively little, the writer ends up spending a lot of time on speculation of what might or must of happenned or concentrating on events that are more or less tangental. And so wells does so in this book, which may be the best overall review in English about what we know of the battle.

Precisely because we are stuck with various hagiographies such as that of Tacitus and other, more obscure remnants, more snippets of information from other Roman or Greek historians (usually a few hundred years after the event), and even more obscure archeological inferences -- we need to infer and cover topics that are increasingly not related to the battle. And so this book does exactly that: Wells covers the acheological and written record, the main sources, and then launches off into short chapters on Augustus, Varus and Arminius. There is also coverage of such topics of the structure of the Roman Army (but a little too light in my opinion), battle order, weaponry, details on combat technique and how people eventually were slain and died.

There is far too much speculation here and unfortunately, unless one is consigned to writting a book of about 100 pages, this is the way it will be with topics such as this. There has been a lot of what I would call "inferential writing" these days about the classic antiquity era of warfare VD Hansen, being a good example. It is amazing what truths these people propound with the very thinnest of premises and even less hardcore written and physical evidence. Its as if people, at a despair with the lack of sources and evidence, have resorted to inventing their record and truths.

The book is light and breezy and should be read like that as well -- after you have put down your Kant or Hegel of the evening, when you eyes have closed on your Burkehart, then this one should keep you up a few more hours.... and in that sense it is well worth reading.

Warriors of Rome: An Illustrated Military History of the Roman Legions

Average customer rating:

A Great addition to a Roman military student's library
Highly recommended for the Roman history buff.

Warriors of Rome: An Illustrated Military History of the Roman Legions
Michael Simkins
Manufacturer: Blandford Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0713720018

Customer Reviews:

A Great addition to a Roman military student's library.......2001-11-13

I am a fan of the work of Michael Simkins. His art both in re-creating the arms and armor of ancient Rome, and in the line drawings and explanations of the equipment, makes this a great addition to your library. His text is a basic starter for historical research, which I often refer to, just to save time in my studies! The color plates are in a style which shows equipment and the way it was worn, not fancy backgrounds. I appreciate this style. The photos of the recreated helmets, armor and swords are stunning

Highly recommended for the Roman history buff........2001-03-08

Noted Roman military scholar Michael Simkins and illustrator James Field team up to give us a detailed if somewhat less than comprehensive history of the development of the Roman soldier from the late republic thru the rise of Constantine. After a concise introduction that sketches the basics of how a Roman soldier was recruited and lived, Simkins text then gives us detailed glimpses into some key campaigns of Roman history and how the progression of such campaigns influenced the development of the Roman military machine. Alas, the last campaign he details in this manner is Masada, omitting some key campaigns of the triumphant Second and tumultuous Third centuries that are so important in understanding the evolution of Roman arms. Some of this slack is taken up in the excellent closing chapters that survey individual items of legionary and auxiliary equipage ranging from military belts thru edged weaponry.

Linking all this is of course the beautiful illustrations of James Field coupled with extensive color and black and white photographs of sundry Roman military gear from both archaeological recoveries and reenactor reconstruction's. Field's plates are wonderfully fluid whether displaying legionaries on mundane guard duty or engaged in desperate close combat. Each plate of course comes with a detailed image summery to allow the reader to identify specific items in the course of their actual use.

All in all, this is a highly recommended work that if not quite in the league of Peter Connoley is nevertheless still well worth the time and expense of any Roman military history buff.

Average customer rating:

Getorix: The Eagle and The Bull

A Perfect Novel. I could not put it down!

An interesting story about pre-Caesarian Rome.

A thoroughly captivating and intimate story of a young man's struggle with identity and pride

Getorix The Eagle and The Bull: A Celtic Adventure in Ancient Rome
Judith Geary
Manufacturer: Ingalls Pub/High Country
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Saturnalia: A Marcus Didius Falco Novel (Marcus Didius Falco Mysteries)

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Under the Eagle: A Tale of Military Adventure and Reckless Heroism with the Roman Legions

Imperium: A Novel of Ancient Rome

ASIN: 193215874X

Book Description

Getorix (15) has one last opportunity to earn his father's regard and welcome into the Otherworld He must face death with courage at the end of the Roman triumph. Instead the gods throw him a different challenge Can Getorix accept friendship from t

Customer Reviews:

Getorix: The Eagle and The Bull.......2006-09-19

Getorix: The Eagle and the Bull is a story of a young boy's adventures in Rome that is comperable to the Harry Potter novels in that the concept is equally as fascinating. Geary's attention to historical detail paints a vivid image of Rome during a time period that is educational as well as entertaining. Getorix's incessant stubborness in fufilling his promise to his father emphasizes the cultural difference between the Celts and Romans and is the foundation of an unlikely friendship in the end. This book leaves the reader awaiting a young adult adventure series that has the potential to be brilliant.

A Perfect Novel. I could not put it down!.......2006-09-13

This is a beautifully written, riveting tale of a Celtic boy on the cusp of manhood, who along with his father, was captured in battle by the Romans. The boy, Getorix, is determined to honor a vow to his father made just before the father is executed. He is spared by General Catulus and given to his son, Lucius, as a slave. However, Getorix will be no one's slave, especially not a slave to a Roman enemy. His growing friendship to a boy who would be his master, and his desperate need to become a man his father would have been proud of sends him on a journey of pain and self-discovery which will ultimately chart his course in life. I see this book as a young adult book only in that there are no scenes of sexuality or obscene language. It is a wealth of insight into the life and politics of Rome before Julius Caesar and has been meticulously researched. The author, Judith Geary, speaks to an intelligent reader with language that propels the reader to another time and commands the reader to experience a slice of history along side her richly developed characters. I was hooked from the first page to the last and can not wait to read it's sequel.

An interesting story about pre-Caesarian Rome........2006-08-18

Getorix is a teenage son of a Cimbri ruler who is captured, along with his father, and taken to Rome for a triumph and eventual execution. His father is killed, but he is spared and becomes a slave in the household of Quintus Lutatius Catulus, a Roman general and official. The story concerns the developing relationship between Getorix, Catulus' son, Lucius, and Keltus, a Celtic slave of the household. The author gives us a taste of what the life of a Roman household slave would be like, plus a description of some of the politics existing in the time before Julius Caesar becomes absolute ruler. An excellent appendix gives the neophyte reader a list of Latin and 'barbarian' words and what they mean. This book may be boring to adults, but is quite good for pre-teens and teenagers. It is fortunate that the activities and perversions of Sulla are not discussed fully, or it would not be suitable for young readers. The story ends without a satisfactory ending, leading me to believe there will be a sequel as Getorix deals with his status as a slave and his vow to make his father proud of him.

A thoroughly captivating and intimate story of a young man's struggle with identity and pride.......2006-08-13

Judith Geary's debut novel, Getorix: The Eagle And The Bull is set in the days of the Roman Republic (rather than the later Roman Empire) and is the story of a young Celt named Getorix. Following the adventurous life of Getorix which includes the depressing defeat of his father in a battle with the Romans, Getorix: The Eagle And The Bull deftly carries readers through a Celtic family struggles and Getorix befriending a Roman soldier who has spared his life. A superbly written novel whose author has taken great pains to be as historically accurate as possible in the little details so important to background settings and plot developments, Getorix: The Eagle And The Bull is very strongly recommended as a thoroughly captivating and intimate story of a young man's struggle with identity and pride. Written for a young adult readership, Getoix: The Eagle And The Bull is the first installment of a three volume trilogy and will leave the reader looking eagerly toward the next two titles in this superbly crafted and original series.

Nero's Killing Machine: The True Story of Rome's Remarkable 14th Legion (Roman Legions)

Average customer rating:

It could have been good, BUT....
The XX Legion would be jealous.
Nero's Killing Machine
A Roman Legion Comes to Life
14th Legion

Nero's Killing Machine: The True Story of Rome's Remarkable 14th Legion (Roman Legions)
Stephen Dando-Collins
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0470046384

Book Description

The 14th Gemina Martia Victrix Legion was the most celebrated unit of the early Roman Empire–a force that had been wiped out under Julius Caesar, reformed, and almost wiped out again. After participating in the a.d. 43 invasion of Britain, the 14th Legion achieved its greatest glory when it put down the famous rebellion of the Britons under Boudicca. Numbering less than 10,000 men, the disciplined Roman killing machine defeated 230,000 rampaging rebels, slaughtering 80,000 with only 400 Roman losses–an accomplishment that led the emperor Nero to honor the legion with the title "Conqueror of Britain." In this gripping book, second in the author’s definitive histories of the legions of ancient Rome, Stephen Dando-Collins brings the 14th Legion to life, offering military history aficionados a unique soldier’s-eye view of their tactics, campaigns, and battles.

Customer Reviews:

It could have been good, BUT...........2007-06-14

But I was very annoyed by author's decision to use modern American military ranks instead of Roman ones. What prompted it I have no idea. Did he think it would make it more understandable for readers? Except which readers? I mean, don't you have to be at least somewhat interested in Roman history to decide to go and read a whole book on one particular legion? And if you are somewhat interested, I am fairly certain that terms - centurion, legate, legion, cohort, etc. do not confuse you!

I don't know about other readers, but personally for me this "replacement" made impossible to enjoy what otherwise would have been a very interesting read... I had read and liked Collins' book on Legio X (where author used proper terminology!), that's why I bought this book. I considered purchasing the next installment (about Legio VI), but decided against it. I just know, it will nug me again every time I'll read about brigadier general or lieutenant colonel walking around in crested helmets...

Other comments: worse book than previous one, though certainly this one is as good (maybe better) read.
very good read because has good and vivid descriptions of battles (Rebellion in Britain under Queen Baudicca being especially interesting).
Worse book because on more than few occasions when there is a gap in historical data about Legio XIIII, author fills us in what was going on in Rome in general, or tells us about exploits of other legions and makes assumption how Legio XIIII would have reacted to the news... There are probably thousands of books about Roman history - if your niche is to tell the story of one legion (BTW: great idea!), stick to it! I don't need to learn from this book a wikipedia version of Roman history of several decades...

The XX Legion would be jealous........2007-01-13

Mister Collins has done a very good job at telling the full history of the famous XIV Legion. Anyone can write a detailed history, with a little research and some discipline, but to use grave stones and other remains as a flash back into the personal lives of the participants, is extraordinary. The Roman's lived in such a remarkable, we should study them more to make ours better. This book is a must for the serious reader on Roman history.

Nero's Killing Machine.......2006-11-05

He makes the usual American mistake of calling the Roman legionaries as Legionares. Legionares serve in the French Foreign Legion.

A Roman Legion Comes to Life.......2006-04-11

Once again, author Stephen Dando-Collins demonstrates his exceptional writing talents. This book is his second account of a Roman legion; in this case, the 14th. He follows this Legion through its long and glorious history. Along the way, he describes in vivid detail its participation in battles against "Herman" the German and Queen Boudicca. These include the famous Battle of Watling Street where the Legion succeeded in defeating a British force that outnumbered it 23 t o 1. In addition to these many battles, the book also provides insight into the day to day life of a Roman soldier. The mundane administrative facts of running an army, such as recruitment, pay, retention, and discharge, are discussed in both a clear and entertaining fashion.
The greatest asset of this book, however, is the author's ability to tell history in a manner that is entertaining. This book is an easy read. The pace is quick and the reader will not want to put it down. The author provides the detail necessary to understand the story without getting bogged down in minutia. The more scholarly readers will be glad to see that the author lists all his sources in an appendix. The book also contain a handy glossary of well recognized Roman terms. Bottom line: This is an historically accurate work of non-fiction. Nevertheless, it reads like a fast paced novel. Good writing is difficult but Dando-Collins makes it look easy.

14th Legion.......2006-03-16

A very readable well researched book. A must read for anyone interested in Roman history.

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