Warrior of Rome I: Fire in the East
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4.4 • 44 Ratings
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- £4.99
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- £4.99
Publisher Description
Warrior of Rome I: Fire in the East is Harry Sidebottom's historical debut.
The year is AD 255 - the Roman Imperium is stretched to breaking point, its authority and might challenged along every border. The greatest threat lies in Persia to the east, where the massing forces of the Sassanid Empire loom with fiery menace. There the isolated Roman citadel of Arete awaits inevitable invasion.
One man is sent to marshal the defences and shore up crumbling walls. A man whose name itself means war: a man called Ballista. Alone, Ballista is called to muster the forces and the courage to stand first and to stand hard against the greatest enemy ever to confront the Imperium.
This is part one of Warrior of Rome: an epic of empire, of heroes, of treachery, of courage, and most of all, a story of brutal bloody warfare.
Dr Harry Sidebottom is a leading authority on ancient warfare - he applies his knowledge with a spectacular flair for sheer explosive action and knuckle-whitening drama. Fans of Bernard Cornwell will love Sidebottom's recreation of the ancient world.
Praise for Harry Sidebottom:
'Sidebottom's prose blazes with searing scholarship' The Times
'The best sort of red-blooded historical fiction' Andrew Taylor, author of The American Boy
Dr. Harry Sidebottom is Fellow of St Benets Hall, and Lecturer at Lincoln College, Oxford - where he specializes in ancient warfare and classical art.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this blood and guts tale of ancient warfare, Oxford lecturer Sidebottom introduces readers to Marcus Clodius Bastilla, a third-century warrior who has risen through the ranks of the Roman army to achieve citizenship and the honorific of Dux Ripea. Charged by the emperors Valerian and Gallienus with the responsibility of defending the empire's eastern borders, Bastilla says good-bye to his new wife and sets sail for the East. Once he arrives at the Syrian city of Arete on the banks of the Euphrates, Bastilla organizes his legionaries to defend against the besieging Sassanid Persian army and hold out until reinforcements can arrive. In addition to having his hands full with the invading army, Bastilla must also deal with traitors, saboteurs, assassins and patrician officers who resent obeying the orders of a low-born superior. How the brave and resourceful former barbarian defends himself from forces both within and without the city walls forms the spine of this action-packed and detail-rich narrative. This novel of sharp swords and blunt wit should find an appreciative audience among bloodthirsty battle boys of all ages.
Customer Reviews
Warrior Of Rome
A good read which was enjoyable nearly up to the end! The ending was a bit abrupt and clearly signposted, letting down a good story. Just about the right amount of detail throughout from an author that clearly knows his stuff.
A thoroughly enjoyable read
After a bit of a shaky start in which a little coherence is lost, Harry Sidebottom settles down, finds his vision, and the story gathers pace and authority. Great stuff.
Worryer of Rome
Not the best book I ever read, the narrative jumps around a bit in an attempt to heighten anxiety, detail was occasionally superfluous.