Roman History Books and More

movie review: the eagle

The Eagle of The Ninth – MIA In Hollywood
(David Reinke, Ancient Warfare Magazine)

 When it was announced, several years ago, that Hollywood was embarking on a feature film adaptation of Rosemary Sutcliff’s YA novel, The Eagle Of The Ninth, there was cautious optimism that a much beloved book would finally give viewers a more authentic vision of the Roman Empire than heretofore had graced the silver screen.  There was good cause for hope.

The creative team of director Kevin Macdonald and writer Jeremy Brock had just received well deserved accolades for their film The Last King Of Scotland, and although the myth of the Ninth Legion’s disappearance had long since been put to rest, Sutcliff’s novel told a rousing story that seemed perfectly suited to the big screen. Casting announcements and early on-set photos sounded notes of caution concerning authenticity, both to history and to the source novel, however it was the decision to change the films title from Eagle Of The Ninth to simply The Eagle that sounded the loudest alarms.  Why change the title?  Now, having seen the film, the answer is obvious: This is not The Eagle Of The Ninth.

… If you are a fan of the book then you are likely too be very disappointed.  Likewise, if you are a fan of films set in ancient Rome, The Eagle will serve, but only just.

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Certainly without me …

peter stothard's 'on the spartacus road' now out as paperback

When we discussed The Spartacus War by and with Barry Strauss last November, I mentioned "The Spartacus Road" Peter Stothard, and indeed one of our members found a review by Barry Strauss of the latter book, see spartacus books (barry strauss, peter stothard).

On the Spartacus Road: A Spectacular Journey Through Ancient Italy is now available as paperback.

The Kindle version at this point in time is only available in the UK, for UK residents.

more good news for gary corby on 'the pericles commission'

The good reviews keep coming for Gary:

Two interesting reviews of The Pericles Commission

Can't wait for the sequel ...

new book received: 'stilicho: the vandal who saved rome' by ian hughes

A while ago I won a free book at UNVR History:

Stilicho: The Vandal Who Saved Rome by Ian Hughes (June 2010) arrived today. Thank you, Christian Posratschnig and UNVR!

Here is a review by Philip Matyszak.

"This book does not shy away from these controversies but tackles them head on. Hughes has his own very clear opinions on these matters, and a comprehensive grasp of the details. So for example, when he describes why Stilicho launched his disastrous attempt to conquer Illyria, he gives a highly convincing description of the personal and strategic incentives which drove Stilicho to do so. Stilicho the man and the general is viewed dispassionately in the text. Hughes makes no attempt to magnify Stilicho's achievements or to hide his faults. The sub-title of the book 'the Vandal who saved Rome' is not developed as a thesis, and is perhaps intended more to catch the attention of a potential reader browsing the bookshelves."

Related interview.

articles on ancient medicine, history of the ancient world

History of the Ancient World is the website for articles, videos and great resources about  Ancient History, focusing on the Ancient Romans, Greeks, Egyptians, Persians, Chinese and other civilizations.

The most recent entry is Ancient Medicine, a wide ranging list of articles on the subject.   

History of the Ancient world also posts on Facebook. Lots of good stuff to download.

lod mosaic at the metropolitan museum in new york

Via an article by  G.W. Bowersock in the New York Review of Books I was reminded that I haven't been to the Met lately.

Image courtesy MetMuseum, click here or on image to enlarge

Here is more directly from the Met, including a video about the discovery of the mosaic and a link to this page.

For those living in the area, how about a field trip before April 3? Contact me at irenesbooks at optonline.net.

book chat march 2: the odes by horace

On March 2 we will return to Horace and talk about the The Odes.

Horace Translations by A.S. Kline (Poetry in Translation)
On Perseus: Conington translation

The Cambridge Companion to Horace (Cambridge Companions to Literature) / BMCR Review

Horace: A Portrait
by Alfred Noyer

Horace at Ancient/Classical History at About.com
Horace at poets.org

Suetonius: The Life of Horace

Gaius Maecenas, patron of the arts (earlier blog post)

Images: Horace's home in Venosa

There is also Horace's villa (with multiple later owners) near Lizensa, as described in in a BMCR review of The Horace's Villa Project, 1997-2003 and a website, The Horace's Villa Contents Page (difficult to navigate).

upcoming book chat: 'conspirata' by robert harris

On Wednesday, February 16, we will discuss Conspirata: A Novel of Ancient Rome by Robert Harris, the sequel to Imperium, which we read in 2008. Cicero's year in office as consul, and the Catlinarian conspiracy.

Both books  are now also available in Kindle format.

more on author chats, past and future

We have had several author chat in recent months, from Barry Strauss, The Spartacus War, to the recently rescheduled chat with Albert Bell, All Roads Lead to Murder: A Case from the Notebooks of Pliny the Younger, to last week's chat with Adrienne Mayor, The Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome's Deadliest Enemy.

There is more to come, see 2011 Reading Schedule. Now there may be also a chance to chat with Karen Essex later in the year about her second Cleopatra novel, Pharaoh. Stay tuned.

author chat with adrienne mayor

Our thanks to Adrienne Mayor for a great chat about her book, The Poison King: The Life and Legend of Mithradates, Rome's Deadliest Enemy. Fun was had by all!