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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN num: 9780312305345
ISBN number: 0312305346
Label: St. Martin's Griffin
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 320
Printing Date: January 16, 2004
Publishing house: St. Martin's Griffin
Sale Popularity Level: 42461
Studio: St. Martin's Griffin
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Product Description:
When Centurion Macro and his young subordinate, Optio Cato arrive on the shores of Britain to take part in the Emperor Claudius' invasion in AD 43, Macro knows the desperately outnumbered Roman army will be facing one of the toughest campaigns ever. Meanwhile, a sinister organization is secretly betraying the brave men of the legions. When assassination rumors coincide with the Emperor's arrival, the soldiers realize they are up against a force more ruthless than the Britons, and that time is running out if they are to prevent Claudius's glorious victory from turning to disaster.
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Rated by buyers -
Very fast read, it's very difficult to stop reading Simon Scarrow's books. The characters are interesting, especially the "secondary" Vespasian, he's the most believable of the lot; the suspicions about his wife's loyalty, her past, and how it affects his personal and love life. Obviously our heroes Macro and Cato are vey likeable. One of the major merits of this author is that the characters ARE Romans, with the sense of superiority, civilizing force in this world and the might makes right way of thinking that characterized that culture. They are not the typical hollywoodian Heroe with no "flaws" and anachronistic way of thinking. Obviously there are some expressions and actions that wouldn't be said or done in the ancient world, but that's a way that the author uses to be understood by the modern audience (I really don't understand the reviewers that criticize authors on this matter; NO AUTHOR USES THE EXPRESSIONS OR PHRASE CONSTRUCTION THAT THE ROMANS USED!!!), I really believe the substance rules over form. Naturally some completely anachronic terminology should be avoided. There are some "less good" things in this book: Emperor Claudius may not be the wise hero of "I Claudius", but I really doubt he was a complete idiotic buffoon. The Britons are also shown like the hardest bunch, strange how they were defeated so easily (and the romans always praised valorous adversaries - more glory to the victors); and the use of captured ballistas by the britons in the last battle and using them to hit elephants (!!!) is completely silly; war machines were't easy to use, untrained troops couldn't use them even seeing them being used frequently; how could Britons use them so efficiently seeing them almost for the very first time??? All in all it's a good read, with a easy to hate, but smart, villain and a fast paced military and cloack and dagger plot (although a bit deus ex machina). Four Stars.
Rated by buyers -
I was always interested in Roman history, and the Simon Scarrow novels have really brought history to life for me, The characters are genuine, the dialogue flows well, and the whole nove fits very comfortably within the events that actually took place. The stories are written in such a way that the reader gains real sympathy for the legionaries and their foes amid the horrors of the Roman battlefield : I felt a visceral reaction to the description of some of the battles. This series of novels is a real find if you're a history / action buff !
Rated by buyers 
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This book is extremely interesting. I'm a pretty big history buff, so I really appreciate how well Scarrow has done at acurately portraying life in a Roman legion. When you add the exemplary story telling to that I think it definitely makes this story worth reading!
Rated by buyers -
An excellent series of fictional people in real history , I you liked the HBO series ROME you will love this series.
Rated by buyers -
The author, Simon Scarrow teaches at a leading Sixth Form College. He has run a Roman History programme taking parties of students to a number of ruins and museums across Britain. This is the very first in a series of books about Quintus Licinius Cato, Optio (second in command) to Macro a centurion and veteran of more than one campaign in the Roman legions.
Centurion Macro and his Optio (second in command) Quintus Licinius Cato have arrived in Britain as part of the Emperor Claudius's invasion force in AD43. The Roman army are easily outnumbered by the local natives, so it is essential that the Roman's engage the enemy before they have a chance to grow strong enough to overwhelm the legions.
However the Britons are not the only danger facing Macro and Cato. An organisation opposed to the Emperor is secretly betraying the Legions and when rumours of an assassination plot coincide with Claudius arriving on British soil, the soldiers know that they are up against a force much more dangerous the British.
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