| Title | : | Vindolanda (Vindolanda #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 416 |
| Publication | : | First published June 1, 2017 |
AD 98, Vindolanda. A fort on the edge of the roman world.
The bustling army base at Vindolanda lies on the northern frontier of Britannia and the entire Roman world. In just over twenty years time, Emperor Hadrian will build his wall. But for now defences are weak as local tribes rebel against Rome.
It falls to Flavius Ferox, Briton and Roman centurion, to keep the peace. But it will take more than just a soldier's courage to survive life in Roman Britain.
This is a hugely authentic historical novel, written by one of Britain's leading historians.
Vindolanda (Vindolanda #1) Reviews
-
”’I do remember my uncle telling me that the Silures were different from everyone, perhaps from every nation on earth.’
‘Oh well, everyone knows that,’ Vindex agreed. ‘Odd people. Funny customs. Don’t talk much. Don’t swear much either and you cannot say that is natural.’
‘Is it true?’ Crispinus asked. ‘Now that you mention it I have not heard you swear.’
‘Waste of good anger,’ Ferox said without looking at him. ‘It was something his grandfather had often said. Do not waste rage. Nurture it, cherish it and use the strength it gives. Hot anger gets a man killed. Cold anger will put the other man in the earth.”
The Roman ruins of Vindolanda.
In 98 AD, the Roman presence has been reduced. Trajan has just become Emperor of Rome. His predecessor Domitian has stripped out legions from Britain for use elsewhere, leaving those left at the edge of the Empire vulnerable to uprisings from the native populations. Boudica’s rebellion is not so distant in that past to make any Roman who is paying attention feel comfortable with the current rustlings of unrest. The tinderbox is glimmering with the first flickerings of flame.
Flavius Ferox, prince of the Silurians and the first of his people to be made a Roman citizen, is on the fast track to be a star when some missteps land him in Britain. A form of exile without being formally punished. The army base at Vindolanda is considered the edge of the Empire, but the outpost where Ferox chooses to stay is even further inland. ”’No one breathes down my neck….I’m on the edge of the empire, almost the edge of the world, if you like. I can see where it ends.’”
Ferox is spending his days brooding, getting drunk, and brooding some more.
He meets a beautiful noblewoman named Sulpicia Lepidina under auspicious circumstances. He has to shake off his cloak of self-pity. He has to knock the rust off those inherent skills that brought him to the attention of Rome in the first place. He is going to have to be clever, bold, and resilient as he tries to stop a war, protect a woman he can never be with, and find out who, why, what is behind the Briton uprising. Why are all these Britons flocking to the banner of the blue tattooed, religious fanatic called Stallion? Who is funding and providing weapons to this psychopath?
Ferox is beginning to remember who he was before fate interceded and his star fell from the Roman sky.
Adrian Goldsworthy adds colorful asides that show the humor that often accompanies tragedy in the life of Roman soldiers. In this case, a rich centurion of a good family leaves an unusual legacy request upon his death. ”One thousand denarii were set aside by special arrangement with Flora (brothel keeper), who for the three days after the centurion's death was to welcome without charge any Tungrian who knocked at her door. ‘Give the lads whatever they want. I want to hear humping as I make my way to the Elysian Fields.’”
There are superbly described battle scenes that put me right there with stale breath in my face, blood splattering my arm greaves, and my ears resounding with the groans, grunts, and screams of those locked in mortal combat. ”The Briton staggered and the sword drove into his belly. Ferox twisted the blade free as the man fell, screaming, and a moment later he blocked a cut with his shield and slashed open the throat of a tattooed fanatic. He pushed into the ranks, and they all seemed to be slow and sluggish while he was as fast as a hawk”
I really enjoyed the development of the rather unusual friendships between Ferox, Vindex, a Briton loyal to Rome, and Sulpicia Lepidina. I found myself so engaged that I set aside my other books and wanted nothing more than to spend my time at the Edge of the Empire.
What really puts this book into the five star category is when Goldsworthy shares where his inspiration for the story came from. It is a birthday invitation on a wood tablet found in a dig at Vindolanda. ”I shall expect you, sister. Farewell, sister, my dearest soul, as I hope to prosper, and hail. To Sulpicia Lepidina, wife of Cerialis, from Severa.” This is the first example of a piece of writing by a woman in the history of Britain. Now if that doesn’t give you the tingles, I don’t know what will.
And what a terrific name...Sulpicia Lepidina. It rolls off the tongue and evokes all kinds of wonderful images of what type of woman must have had such a lovely name.
Examples of the tablets found at Vindolanda.
Goldsworthy normally writes historical nonfiction, so if you have any fears about encountering historical inaccuracies, you can put those fears aside. The third book in the series, Brigantia, is due to be published this year. Meanwhile, I will be finding a copy of the second one, The Encircling Sea. I certainly don’t want to be left in a tent back at Vindolanda while the action and intrigue are farther north. There will be plenty of upheaval until Hadrian gets his wall built, and that is still two decades away.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit
http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:
https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten -
A brilliant historic fiction.
Adrian Goldsworthy’s 2017 novel of Roman Britain set in AD 98, years before Hadrian’s Wall but also a few decades after Boudicca’s revolt, describes a time when the expanding Roman Empire had pushed far into the north of Britain, into Scotland, but was far from holding this far conquest without contest from the natives.
While this is an extraordinarily well researched and erudite novel about life in the Roman Empire, the most compelling details lay in Goldsworthy’s descriptions of the various tribes and peoples who make up the Empire, and only a few in Britain at this time were Italians.
Goldsworthy’s protagonist is Flavius Ferox, a Roman centurion, but also a Silure – from a tribe of people who lived in what is now southern Wales. Ferox’ grandfather was a tribesman who was defeated by the Roman invaders and now this ethnic group has pledged loyalty to Rome and has produced in Ferox a formidable soldier.
Calling someone Native American is like calling someone European – vaguely accurate but falling far short of the whole truth. It is more precise to say Sioux, or Cherokee, or Belgian or German. So too does Goldsworthy eschew the term Celtic and unerringly describe his characters in first century Britain as Brigantians, Caledones, Selgovae, and Iceni. The Romans are also not just Italian, but composed of soldiers from other parts of the empire and Goldsworthy likewise adds details of their tribal ancestry.
The author also spends time with social and cultural aspects of this time and place. The druids are cast as a mysterious and ancient, but still potentially powerful, sect intent on ousting the foreigners. Ferox, a British Roman soldier, is approached in one noteworthy scene by a druid and offered the chance to avenge his grandfather. Fans of such films as Gladiator, The Eagle and Antoine Fuqua’s 2004 King Arthur will like this.
Well written and informative, it is also readable and entertaining.
*** A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review
*** Fans of the Amazon originals show Britannia may like this as many of the same themes are present. Vindolanda is set about 50 years after Britannia.
-
Tras leer un magnifico ensayo sobre la figura de César, me dispongo a leer una novela sobre el mismo autor.
“Vindolanda” es la primera en una nueva serie que ya lleva tres. Estamos en la época de Trajano, pero muy lejos de Roma, concretamente en la frontera norte de las islas británicas, un territorio difícil de defender de las incursiones bárbaras. Allí, el siluro Flavius Ferox, decurión borrachuzo y desencantado, que ha jurado lealtad a Roma aunque no se considere romano, tendrá que vérselas con una incursión de indeseables que intentan secuestrar a la mujer de un comandante. Y, a partir de ese punto, es cuando comienza realmente el relato. Ferox no será el soldado que nos han presentado, pues, siendo originario de las tribus del norte (los siluros), se convertirá en una figura primordial por su conocimiento de dichas tribus y de las costumbres y tradiciones de los bárbaros. Unos bárbaros que están dirigidos por un poderoso hechicero, que agita a la población a rebelarse contra el conquistador romano. Un conquistador romano que tiene entre sus filas a un traidor, que desea la caída del nuevo emperador. Y ya no cuento más. Sólo que Ferox tendrá la inestimable compañía de Vindex, un brigante y magnífico rastreador.
Vindolanda realmente existió. El autor ha hecho uso de los recientes descubrimientos sobre este asentamiento para describirnos con todo lujo de detalles no sólo la geografía del lugar, sino todo lo referente a la vestimenta, costumbres, cultura y usos militares de sus pobladores (se conservan unas tablillas, con la que puede ser la primera carta escrita por una mujer en dicho formato). Es tanto el nivel de detalle exhibido, que en algunos capítulos resulta apabullante tanta minuciosa descripción. Eso hace que el ritmo narrativo se vea algo mermado por mor de una mejor “ambientación”. Pero, en su conjunto, considero a “Vindolanda” como una novela “de romanos” muy conseguida. Y la batalla final entre legionarios y rebeldes está muy bien descrita. -
Our first meeting with Flavius Ferox is hardly auspicious; according to the sentry who is relaying the opener, he is messy drunk and trying desperately not to get involved in the trouble that has just been dumped in his lap. Yet his intelligence, personal morality, and hard working nature come quickly to the fore when we switch to his point of view and when the real and significant threat of these raiding tribes becomes clear. This is not some drunk who benefits from miracles, but a centurion who thinks, plans, puts in the work. His voice won me over: clever, capable, and more than a little handy with his gladius.
Goldsworthy has put together a great central character here, one who I hope to see more of in future novels, but it's not just him that keeps you reading. In fact, I was surprised by the fast paced and intriguing plot, especially considering the level of detail about Roman army weapons, fighting styles, and units. Goldsworthy is an excellent historian who specialises in the Roman army and whose books are exceptionally researched, argued, and wide ranging, yet can tend towards the dry due to the sheer amount of information included. Here, he manages to add enough that the reader can imagine an intricate and specific picture in their mind, created by someone who probably knows as much as there is to know about the subject, without impeding the vivid and violent scenes of battle. Perhaps it's just me but I found it added that much more to the scenes, knowing just what type of weapon was used to stab that Roman or that Briton; it reminded me that while this is a fictionalised version, there were once real men who fought in this way, in these places, and who died at each others' hands. Isn't that at the very heart of historical fiction?
This is a great addition to the genre, both readable and exciting. Hopefully the start of a new series...
ARC via Netgalley. -
4/5 Estrellas.
Año 98 d.c. Trajano acaba de subir al poder tras la muerte del viejo Nerva. Todavía no está claro que pueda retener el poder el primer emperador nacido fuera de la península Itálica.
En uno de los confines del imperio, la frontera entre la provincia de Britannia y las tribus celtas que todavía no han caído bajo el yugo de Roma, se agita.
A finales del siglo I está frontera está constituida por una serie de fuertes dispuestos entre el muro que construirá Adriano y el que nunca acabará de construir Antonino Pío entre los estuarios del Clyde y del Forth unos años más tarde. Uno de estos fuertes es el de Vindolanda, que quedara ligeramente al sur del muro de Adriano y que se ha convertido en un yacimiento arqueológico excepcional, donde se han encontrado todo tipo de elementos de la vida cotidiana romana e incluso tablillas con el texto conservado.
Tras las campañas de Agrícola en los años 80 del siglo I, que estuvieron a punto de incorporar toda la isla al Imperio, la envidia de Domiciano y los problemas en el Danubio, obligaron a la retirada de tropas y al abandono de todo lo conquistado al norte de esta zona.
La debilidad del Imperio, política y militar, es percibida por las tribus que, agitadas por oscuros poderes y por traiciones dentro del bando romano, se empiezan a reunir bajo el mando de magos, druidas y reyes con la esperanza de expulsar al invasor romano.
Estupenda novela de frontera la que nos regala Goldsworthy. Se nota que es un experto en la organización y en la forma de combatir del ejército romano y es una gozada las descripciónes de las distintas unidades desplegadas en la frontera. Vemos cómo los auxiliares de distintas partes del Imperio copan muchos de los puestos de frontera más expuestos intentando ganarse la ciudadanía, germanos (batavos y tungros), hispanos (vardulos), britanos (trinovantes, siluros, brigantes), mientras que la élite legionaria (ciudadanos), aguarda acantonada en puestos menos expuestos.
Desde las primeras páginas asistimos a todo tipo de escaramuzas y batallas, sin descanso. Más o menos bien conseguidas, repito, el autor sabe de lo que habla. Aparece nuestro principal protagonista, Flavio Ferox, britano de origen Siluro, que tras la conquista de su territorio en las primeras fases de conquista de la isla (en el actual Gales), es entregado cómo rehén y, finalmente, asimilado como ciudadano, lucha para el Imperio. Más antihéroe que otra cosa, se ve involucrado en todos los fregados, demasiado supermanico para mi gusto, pero bastante disfrutable.
Lo peor, las intrigas políticas subyacentes, la relación con los druidas y magos para levantar en armas la zona. Me ha parecido todo un poco confuso y traído por los pelos, es aquí donde se me va una estrella.
La batalla final, de notable alto.
En definitiva, gran novela de romanos, con mucha acción, no me ha enamorado, pero me impulsa claramente a seguir con la segunda entrega, Hibernia, que creo que sigue con Ferox de protagonista, aunque me parece que no está ambientada en la misma frontera. Espero comprobarlo en breve.
También van a ir a la saca algunos de los libros sobre el ejército romano del autor, se nota que es un experto.
Recomendable, sobre todo para amantes de la novela histórica. -
“A man who keeps asking you to trust him is always hiding something.”
Vindolanda is the first instalment of a series about the man Flavius Ferox, a figure in the Roman army, in this book centred in the wild lands of Britain. This is full of rich detail, clearly showing the passion of Adrian Goldsworthy, who is a respected historian himself. This knowledge is shared and spread throughout Vindolanda in a way that is natural and most certainly not overwhelming.
We are given an insight particularly into the workings of a Roman army stationed in Britain, as well as an exploration of the politics between Romans and the different factions within Britain. Alliances are made, enemies formed, and battle lines are drawn in this first instalment of Vindolanda.
“Waste of good anger,’ Ferox said without looking at him. It was something his grandfather had often said. Do not waste rage. Nurture it, cherish it and use the strength it gives. Hot anger gets a man killed. Cold anger will put the other man in the earth.”
Our main character and sole perspective is Flavius Ferox, a Roman solider, but a man who has a foot in both camps. Much of what is enjoyable in Vindolanda is the conflict of identity, as well as Flavius Ferox investigating a mystery, and battling the prejudices and constantly revolving politics he is thrust in to.
On top of this, we have some great action sequences that work very well to expand on character. Whilst the side cast were not as strong throughout, Adrian Goldsworthy still laid down a great base.
In Vindolanda we are introduced to a wild and conflicted Britain that Adrian Goldsworthy does a great job of crafting vividly. Flavius Ferox is a compelling leading character who I am looking forward to following throughout the next two instalments.
4/5 STARS -
Fine historical fiction
Adrian Goldsworthy is a historian who has written several non-fiction books of Roman history and biography. He has also proven to have a deft hand with historical fiction with this first volume in a series set in Roman Britain at the time of Emperor Trajan. I have also read the first three volumes of his series featuring the British army in Spain during the Napoleonic wars. That series, beginning with True Soldier Gentlemen is a worthy addition to the works of Bernard Cornwell. Vindolanda is in the upper tier of historical fiction which I read this year. -
This is a pretty enjoyable historical novel. The action moves along at a fair pace, but what I liked most was the sense of time and place that the novel conveys. That probably comes from the author being a well-regarded historian of the Roman Empire. My main criticism would be around the book’s romantic sub-plot, which I found a bit corny, if I’m being honest.
The setting is 98AD and the Roman fort of Vindolanda, in what is now the northernmost part of England. A quarter century later Vindolanda would become part of the defence complex of Hadrian’s Wall, which separated the Roman province of Britannia from unconquered Caledonia, the latter approximating very closely to modern day Scotland. Some of the places featured in the story are well-known to me, which added to my enjoyment.
Our lead character, Ferox, is a Roman centurion, born as the son of a chief of the Silures tribe of southern Britain. He is the first of his people to have been offered Roman citizenship and therefore straddles the Roman and Celtic worlds. The fictional storyline is based on the idea of growing unrest amongst the Caledonian tribes, linked to a fanatical religious cult. My edition contained an afterword in which the author draws a comparison between the cult he creates and the “Ghost Dance” belief amongst Native American tribes in the late 19th century, as well as a similar outbreak of mysticism amongst the Xhosa of South Africa, also in the 19th century. Ferox has to play his part in combating the threat from the Britons, as well as trying to navigate his way through the intrigue and plotting of aristocratic Roman generals.
The legionary and auxiliary units featured in the novel are drawn from the real-life Vindolanda writing tablets, recovered by archaeologists, which refer for example to auxiliary units recruited from Tungria (Belgic Gaul) and Batavia (around the Rhine Estuary). The novel also features Legio IX (or Legio VIIII) Hispana. The mysterious disappearance of this legion has been the basis of numerous books and films, and I wonder whether more might made of that in future books in the series.
When I read a novel in this genre I’m not looking for deep literature. I’m looking for an entertaining story that stays within the bounds of plausibility, and that’s what the author delivers. I’m interested enough to read the next book in the series, so that has to be counted a success. 7/10 rounded up to 4 stars. -
The author, a noted historian, has tried his hand at historical fiction--first, novels set in the Napoleonic years, now for a change in pace, Roman Britain, just after Trajan has become emperor. Having studied the Vindolanda tablets Goldsworthy has constructed a whole novel around the famous birthday invitation from one commander's wife to another. This tale is a worthy addition to the plethora of Roman novels set in Britannia. When we first meet Flavius Ferox, centurio regionarius, a Silure prince, seconded from II Augusta Legion, he's an unappealing drunk full of boredom and self-pity. He has been tasked with keeping the peace in the frontier area and is based at a small outpost, the fictional "Syracuse." But faced with military command, he loses these negative aspects and we quickly see his wiliness, cunning, and outright decency when on a supposedly simple raid, he and the men with him foil an ambush on Sulpicia Lepidina, wife of Vindolanda's commander of a Batavian regiment, while she's on a journey to Coria Fort to visit the commander's wife there. All through the novel, Ferox's knowledge of the different tribes and their customs prove invaluable, as well as his language skills as interpreter. A well-described battle between the Romans--from "Syracuse", Vindolanda and Coria--brings to the fore the existence of a druid called the "Stallion", stirring the tribes to rebellion and aiming to expel the Romans from their land. Ferox and Sulpicia strike up an unlikely friendship. An embassy to Tincommius, an important tribal leader, proves successful and his men rush in at the exciting climactic battle with the Stallion although they hedge their bets until the last minute. Upon the order of the governor who knows his reputation for seeking out the truth wherever it may lead, Ferox unmasks a traitor in the Roman camp. This introduction to Ferox and particular adventure is tied up neatly, but Ferox states himself there are still other loose ends and enumerates them. That says to me there may be a sequel in the works.
The author took what meager facts there are, also suppositions from archaeological artifacts at Vindolanda, and wove an enthralling novel. Characters were believable as to personalities and physical descriptions. The only note of dissonance I felt was the somewhat implausible and risible love scene between Ferox and Sulpicia, especially given the location. Why couldn't they just have remained platonic friends with mutual admiration? I did like how Goldsworthy pointed out differences between the tribes; they were not all the same as the Romans and even we, think. I liked his comments in the "Historical Notes" as to how he spun his story, making it as credible as possible, from the state of the Roman Army of that time to personal details of Sulpicia, Cerialis and the number of children--well, his; she was stepmother in the story. From the archaeological find of a child's shoe with odd wear pattern, Goldsworthy posited Cerialis' oldest son having a twisted spine. I highly recommend this novel and hope to read a sequel. -
This is my latest book from the Articles For the Blind postal audiobook service and, as with a lot of the books they send me, it’s not one I would have chosen for myself. I have to say, though, that I really enjoyed it.
Set just before Hadrian built his famous wall, this tale is part war novel, part murder mystery and part political thriller and it has plenty of action, intrigue and twists. The best thing about it, though, is that the author is a highly regarded historian first and novelist second and it shows. The period detail is fantastic; despite only having a passing knowledge of the period, the world really came alive for me.
I’m glad this is the first part of a trilogy, because I want more, even if I do have to use my Audible credits on them. :-)
My next book:
Mr. Bounce -
This was excellent! I’ve never actually heard of the author but I wasn’t surprised to find he is an acclaimed historian. I was torn on how to score this book because although I enjoyed it, it was very much a military book, for which I have a limited capacity for interest. However, it was an excellent story, well told. So I’m going for 4 stars and am interested in reading the rest of the trilogy and more of this author’s work.
-
Fantastic historical fiction treasure here. The battles were top notch, the details were enriching and the writing was superb.
-
7/10
No he sido justo con las 3 estrellas a esta novela, creo que se merecería 4, pero llevo en los últimos meses 4 o 5 novelas de romanos y lo cierto es que esta Vindolanda, gustándome, no me ha aportado nada nuevo que no haya leído ya y sin duda ese empacho de romanos le ha perjudicado.
La historia nos sitúa en una zona remota del imperio en Britania en plena llegada al poder de un nuevo emperador, Trajano, cuyo poder todavía no esta cercano de verse consolidado. Nuestro protagonista, un britano con ciudadanía romana y veterano del ejercito, hastiado de la vida y cuyo único objetivo es dejar que transcurran los días, se verá enfrascado entre una rebelión de las tribus de la zona y la inestabilidad política que genera la llegada de un Trajano que por el momento ha accedido a un cargo al que muchos creen que no merece.
Tanto la trama como el ritmo narrativo se cohesionan muy bien, creando una narración entretenida y que salvo en momentos muy puntuales es fácil de seguir para el lector. Los personajes cumplen bastante bien, destacando al protagonista y a un par de secundarios muy allegados a este, que cumplen con nota. El resto hacen su papel sin más. La trama en si tiene algún giro de guion interesante y al final consigue que todo el puzle cuadre de forma bastante natural.
¿Sus peros? Pues bueno, ya lo he comentado antes, para mi gusto le falta un poco más de punch al conjunto y por ese motivo ha perdido la 4 estrella, pero estoy seguro de que si hubiera leído este libro dentro de un año y sin tanto romano por el medio, se habría llevado 4 estrellas, pero claro, el momento ha sido el que ha sido y mis sensaciones ahora mismo son que merece 1 estrella menos.
Resumiendo, novela de romanos con buenos mimbres, tanto trama como personajes, cuya lectura es bastante amena y que creo que puede gustar a aquellos que disfruten de este tipo de historias más centradas en el aspecto bélico del imperio. -
thanks to the publishers and netgalley for a free copy in return for an open and honest review.
the author has a detailed knowledge of roman army and history and felt the book was slightly too long but did enjoy it overall as you felt you were on the fringes of the roman empire in whats now close to the english/scottish borders. -
Thanks to Ian for his review, which drew me to buy a copy of this book when I visited the site of the Roman garrison of Vindolanda in Northumberland a year ago. My having been there did mean that the story easily came alive for me. This novel is set when the garrison was at its weakest, in AD 98, twenty years before Hadrian built his wall. Rome has withdrawn forces and abandoned settlements in Northern Britain, and the British tribes are gathering strength once more. So far this is historical, but Adrian Goldsworthy freely admits,
“Vindolanda is a novel, and much of the story is invented, because we know very little about what was really happening in northern Britain at this time. However, given that I have spent my entire adult life studying the Roman world and the Roman army in particular, I have done my best to place the story in as accurate a setting as possible.”
There was indeed a lot of detail about the army and the way it was run, but the story needed it - and it was woven into the soldiers’ lives, so that it did not become tedious. The author bases the intricacies of the fictional plot around an actual birthday invitation received by the wife of the commander at Vindolanda, a photograph of which I used some years back in a brief and irresponsible foray into teaching elementary Latin, so this too enhanced my interest level. Sulpicia Lepidina leaves the safety of the fort to visit the garrison at Coria several miles away, and the stage is set for action. The subsequent events kept me turning pages, and the pace didn’t flag. Sometimes at the end of a book it feels as if the author loses energy or interest and hurries through the last few pages to an unsatisfactory ending, but this book didn’t do that (Ian has commented that a later one does).
I struggled a bit with the graphic descriptions of the savage deeds carried out by the British warriors, especially those who have been manipulated into religious fanatics – be warned of one terrible scene that I hope I will one day manage to forget! But this graphic detail was not gratuitous; how else could you write a story of this type?
The characters mostly appear in fairly obvious good or bad guise, but the action hinges on the duplicity of one of them, and we are kept guessing. It falls on Ferox the Centurion to resolve this and save the situation. He is no milk-white hero, but, as we are told, has lived through earlier trouble and testing. His birth and childhood as a prince of the Silures, a Welsh tribe, form the depths of his character. We meet him at his weakest and worst, but we just know he’ll win through. And he does. It was interesting that I read this tale of recklessness and bravery just after reading about real-life heroes in Eastern Approaches by Fitzroy MacLean, but Vindolanda didn’t suffer too much from the comparison, as it was so obviously in the fictional hero genre.
I don’t think the author was at all bothered about the relevance of his themes to history and to the modern world – it feels like he just wanted to write a good story with a rip-roaring plot, which he certainly did. But the rising of the tribes, the detail of which is invented, rests on religious fanaticism. Not quite what Voltaire meant in later centuries when he wrote about “the malign hold of priesthood” (reference and translation from Tom Holland’s Dominion”) but we could stretch the point. Certainly Voltaire's comment, "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities" (Wikipedia) holds good here.
I agree completely with all that Ian says about this book (especially the corny romantic bit, which includes a good old Hollywood slap across the face!). I might read the others in the Vindolanda series but not at the moment. As I have found before on GR, this book naturally leads on to the next, which will be John William’s Augustus, recommended by Ilse. Or should I say “The Divine Augustus”, as Vindolanda does? It seems that religious idolatry raises its head even among those rational Romans. . . laudamus te, O Voltaire!
Invitation from Claudia Severa to Sulpicia Lepidina, ref Tab. Vindol. II 291
By Fæ, CC BY-SA 3.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... -
Having recently delved into Adrian Goldsworthy's "Pax Romana" which I found eminently readable and stuffed with fascinating facts and insight into the Roman world, I was excited to see that Goldsworthy had tried his hand at historical fiction when "Vindolanda" showed up in my list of audiobooks available on Audible. Without hesitation I used one of my subscription credits to purchase it and began listening to it as soon as I finished my last of eleven novels by Anthony Riches.
I realized this novel appeared to be his first effort at using his formidable knowledge about the Roman world in a fictional tale but I was not daunted by that since one of my favorite series, "Warrior of Rome", was written by a the Director of Studies in Ancient History at Oxford University, Harry Sidebottom.
Goldsworthy's protagonist, Flavius Ferox, is a prince of the Silures tribe who, as a hostage taken after the Roman conquest of Britain, was educated in Rome and inducted into the legions.
The Silures were a powerful tribal confederation that occupied what is now southeast Wales. Their first resistance to Roman conquest began in 48 CE with the help of Caratacus, a prince of the Catuvellauni, who had fled from further east after his own tribe was defeated. The Romans, led by Publius Ostorius Scapula, spent several years campaigning against the Silures, and found the Silures so adept at guerrilla warfare that Ostorius announced they posed such a danger that they should be either exterminated or transplanted.
After Ostorius died the Silures, still undefeated, went on to defeat the Second Legion. But, they were eventually subdued by Sextus Julius Frontinus in a series of campaigns ending about 78 CE. Of the Silures, the Roman historian Tacitus wrote: non atrocitate, non clementia mutabatur– the tribe "was changed neither by cruelty nor by clemency".
When the novel begins, Ferox is a Centurio Regionarius, an officer responsible for local law enforcement, who has been sent to an isolated outpost within a days ride of the more formidable Roman fort at Vindolanda. We learn from his own recalled memories or from comments made by a Brigantes scout named Vindex, that Ferox has a past littered with moments of extreme bravery clouded by an irascible nature that has resulted in conflict between Ferox and his commanders, ultimately leading to his apparent banishment to this backwater post.
Ferox also appears to have a sporadic drinking problem that crops up whenever he is not kept suitably occupied. We learn his wife mysteriously disappeared some years ago and he blames himself. Whether she was kidnapped by disaffected druids or simply left for personal reasons is not made clear. This plot point was apparently introduced to justify his rather unprofessional initial behavior.
Vindex has known Ferox for some time and knows how to handle him during his despondent periods. The best medicine is loosing Ferox on the scent of a murder and fortunately, Vindex rides in with two bodies.
At this point I had to adjust my expectations for this story. I was expecting a story about a Centurion and a band of reluctant cohorts that he had to whip into shape to confront a threat from local rebels. But, I was only partly correct. As it turns out, Ferox is first and foremost, a highly skilled tracker and more of a detective type, than cohort commander. Ferox appears to have little influence on his own troops but soon leaves them anyway so I guess it doesn't matter. The only relationship he has developed is with Vindex and it is more like that between two lone wolves than the close brotherhood of centurions I had grown so accustomed to after reading eleven novels by Anthony Riches.
This lack of depth in character dynamics left me feeling detached from any of the people I met, including Ferox. So I began to struggle to become engaged in the plot.
Ferox and Vindex find evidence of a rebel war band and track the rebels to the road leading to Vindolanda. They find the rebels attacking a Roman carriage escorted by a Batavian cohort from Vindolanda. But, the Batavians are outnumbered and are being overwhelmed by scantily dressed warriors emblazoned by tatoos shaped like a horse.
At this point, I really had to struggle to remain open-minded as I had just read "Betrayal" and "Onslaught" in Anthony Riches' "Centurions" series about the Batavian Revolt in which I learned the Batavians were considered the "best of the best" Roman auxilliaries. But this was about thirty years after that time and perhaps the Batavians had lost some of their edge after being put in their place when the Romans exacted "Retribution" (the third novel in the series due out in April).
Anyway, Ferox and Vindex turn the tables and Ferox ends up saving the life of Sulpicia Lepidina, wife of the prefect of Vindolanda, Flavius Cerialis (and a real woman in history as attested to by letters that have been recovered by archaeologists there).
Ferox and Sulpicia are apparently attracted to one another and their relationship will become a subplot throughout the rest of the novel.
Ferox and Vindex return the lady and her maid to Vindolanda and confer with Cerialis about the looming rebel threat. Then Ferox and Vindex ride out to the signal tower to see why the warning signal was delayed. There they find the detachment slaughtered with the exception of one soldier who is missing. At this point Ferox begins to suspect there must be a high-ranking traitor among the Romans who is working with the enemy.
The rest of the novel follows Ferox as he tries to determine who has betrayed Rome and survive the forces of "The Stallion."
With Goldsworthy's extensive classical education, the descriptions of Roman life and military deployments is, of course, authoritative. However, sometimes the extensive descriptions actually get in the way of the story and slow the pace considerably. I also felt the supporting characters lacked sufficient development to make the story as compelling as it could have been. I didn't know enough about the officer who turned out to be the villain to be appalled by his behavior and Goldsworthy didn't supply enough information about why his family opposed the newly minted emperor Trajan to really justify his betrayal. I also didn't think there were enough "breadcrumbs" left throughout the story so a reader could at least have an idea who the traitor might be. At the end, when all was revealed, I felt no catharsis, since I didn't have hardly a clue about who it might be anyway.
However, I do think Goldsworthy's battle scenes were visceral and authentic, reflecting his extensive study of the Roman military in action. For a first novel, it was a good effort and I do plan to give the sequel, "The Encircling Sea," a listen if it makes it to Audible. -
A fort on the Northern borders, AD98, garrisoned by a small unit, a Thracian sentry on the night watch, 2 years left on his 25years service who doesn’t enjoy the isolation, BUT it’s peaceful & boosts his chances of survival & becoming a Roman citizen, watches & welcomes the warmth of the coming dawn…… In the distance he spies a band of British horseman making for the fort…..
So begins our tale
Our heroes in this tale are Flavius Ferox & Vindex who are Roman Centurion & Brigantian scout respectively. Ferox is a Britain turned Roman whose back story we unravel along the way through encounters & reveals when he is musing, he is respected by many around him although its fair to say a troubled soul. Vindex is less complex to say the least. Both though are indelibly likeable (in the early exchanges) as they rub along or is that clash in their ways.
The action is swift at the start & the tale engrossing as the pair set out to investigate two deaths & discover if a raiding party (or more) of barbarians has encroached onto Roman lands. Once we get into the story though & the action lulls there is more intrigue in the tale, almost reads at times like a murder mystery plus there is a fair bit of “flirting” going on between Ferox & the “lady of the manor” which for sure I could have done without at times, bit cringy so it was. The story also morphed into more interactions within the political class than soldiery once we get to Vindolanda, which is the name of a major fort in the region for those not in the know, also a major archaeological site/museum open to the public.
So…. Back to the story, which picks up again when Ferox/Vindex become part of a Roman force sent out to “investigate” as well as secure overdue payments from the local chieftains, which is Roman codeword for bashing the locals over the head, yes fighting ensues which becomes more of a confused running battle rather than a great Roman victory or perhaps it’s the way the author relays the battle sequence which I’ll admit was hard to follow at times. It was though to the point, not overtly gory at all which some have said in their reviews, I found it fair straight forward & expected of the times.
So at half way there is some intrigue & the historical detail is great (which I’d expect from a historian & writer of non-fiction) but I must admit im struggling with the main man Ferox (Vindex is a mere apparition by now) who is jus plain dour & a bit of a dry stick who succeeds in pulling me down with him as pages flit by. He’s as bleak as the landscape & totally humourless & it could do with a laugh here & there or a jape to break up what becomes a bit of a dirge for pages at a time…… Im screaming at the pages “cheer up you miserable TWAT!” AND it’s not only him, its all the characters who are all rather bland & grey, dialogue which goes on for pages says “they joked”, Ferox Chuckled…… for what, sorry there is zip humour at all in the book, no real depth of feeling between anyone, it’s cold n dry & is the main reason ive quit at jus over halfway………
I think this could have been so much better with more of a livelier main character as it has a lot going for it historically until it comes to some of the dialogue, all very regimental, very proper & oh so bland…..
2 Stars is all I can give & that’s for the historical details. -
The year is 98 AD, and Vindolanda is a major fortification close to where Hadrian will eventually build his wall. The story is fictional, and mainly follows Flavius Ferox, a Centurion, and also a Briton (a Silure) from the far south. There is unrest in the northern border, there is druid and "priest" stirring up said trouble, there is a northern king whose allegiance is uncertain, and the reader can guess more or less what happens. The characters are fictional, except a small number of them were real people. The land around Vindolanda had quite good preservative properties, and the story starts with travelling to a birthday celebration, and the inspiration was a letter (written on a thin panel of wood) from Claudia Severa to Sulpicia Lepidina, wife of Cerialis. The whole story that follows results from that.
Goldsworthy clearly knows a lot about Roman times, and it is the detail that makes this story a clear head and shoulders above most others. There are the inevitable battles, and these read at least plausibly authentic. Battle scenes are not easy to write, and Goldsworthy does an excellent job or portraying at Ferox' level. The descriptions include the social life, including that of women at an army base, and the living conditions, including that of the Britons/Celts to the north, and their nature, which tended to be small farmers and/or raiders. Goldsworthy has even added his own Latin that his Ferox says often enough: Omnes ad stercus, which means, more or less "We're all in the shit." Something to remember the book by! -
A highly accurate historical fiction/detective mystery/conspiracy mashup in which a talented, but dissolute Roman Briton soldier on the British frontier becomes embroiled in a conspiracy involving native revolt and embarrassment to the new Roman Emperor Trajan.
TL; DR Description
This was a credible effort by a British, Roman military historian to write fiction. The hero was a Roman Legionary officer. The Roman military had police powers on the frontier. The author worked a serviceable noirish mystery story involving Roman imperial succession politics and tribal uprising into a story. However, the largest part of the story was well-wrought descriptions of Roman and ancient British life and Roman legionaries thumping barbarians with sword and shield.
THE REVIEW
My dead tree copy was 416-pages with a 2018 UK copyright. Rate through the book was mixed, both fast and slow. The Historical Note and Endpapers should not be ignored, if you consider yourself an amateur historian of Roman Britain.
Adrian Goldsworthy is a British historian and author of both non-fiction and non-fiction. He has written about ten novels. This is the first novel in the author’s Vindolanda series.
Writing was better than expected. The style was very British. Goldsworthy can’t hide the fact that he’s an academic, but he is an experienced writer. Action sequences were well choreographed. Dialog and descriptive prose was mixed. The descriptive prose was generally excellent in its precision. It’s very much historically accurate while eschewing info-dumps. This may be unnerving, if you don’t know anything about 1st Century Roman culture. I did come think there was an unlikely number of “full figured” women in Roman Britain. Dialog irked me. The barbarians spoke one way, and the Romans another. The author used a different syntax to denote the usage of a Celtic vs. Latin language. I came to think of it more as an
Upstairs, ˈDownstairs difference, with the gentry being the Romans.
There was sex, drugs and Roman rock ‘n roll music in the story. Violence was more graphic than expected. There was a fair amount of sex and discussion of sex in the story. Not all the sex was heteronormative. It was however, only moderately graphic. Alcohol, was the poison of choice, although only beer and wine, was used both moderately and to excess. Note that
posca was consumed like modern bottled water. Roman and native Briton musical entertainment occured in several scenes. Violence was physical and edged-weapons. It was moderately graphic. Note there was torture and bodily mutilation in the story. Body count was in-line with a warzone. I often wonder that with a much smaller and dispersed population in ancient times, if the large losses of life described in epic battles are sustainable?
The protagonist, Flavius Ferox a native Briton Roman centurion was the sole POV. Ferox was a
Philip Marlowe-esque character as well as being a soldier and a Briton prince. Ferox was the most developed character in the book. Vindex was Ferox’s native Briton side-kick. He provides extra muscle and a compare and contrast with the partiality Romanized Ferox. Sulpicia Lepidina was Ferox’s love interest. She was also the aristocratic wife of Ferox’s Roman aristocratic superior Flavius Cerialis. Part of Ferox’s “job” was to educate and make the younger Flavius Cerialis ‘look good’. The Ferox/Sulpicia Lepidina/Flavius Cerialis love triangle was interesting, but not terribly deep. It’s bound to be a long-term plot line in the series. Other characters both Roman and Briton were either a bit thin or reliant on well-trod tropes. For example, all the legionaries reminded me of
grodnards. There was also an informant, Brothel Madam with a heart of gold. Most of the friendly barbarians were noble savages.
There are both Roman and Briton antagonists. There was mysterious cabal promoting a Roman succession conspiracy and a Druidic inspired revolt against Roman occupation. The Druidic antagonist appears to be a long-term plot line.
Plot involves a Roman Briton princeling (Ferox) caught between two worlds and encumbered with an unlucky backstory. Despite his talents he’s happily drinking himself to death in a frontier backwater. The wheels come off his life with the convergence of frontier tribal unrest and a Roman political conspiracy throw the frontier into war. "Not on my patch.", he says. The reader is treated to episodes of Roman legions on the march and Roman and ancient Briton life as he puts down the rebellion and ferrets out the traitors.
As mentioned earlier, world building was very authentic. I’ve read several non-fiction books on the Roman military and Roman Briton. I’ve also read a lot of Roman era historical fiction. The story may have been a bit thin, but this was Roman Britain world building in-depth. I learned quiet a bit from reading this on a subject I'm interested in. In addition, the author didn’t digress to provide explanations. For example you’d have to know that
Falernian wine had a reputation as a Roman cult wine like Dom Perignon has today. Recognizing
Samian ware as high end crockery was another example. The author also seemed to know a lot about barbarian and Roman shield appearance, construction and usage. A problem I did have was that Ferox held the rank of Centurion. This was a mid-level rank. He exerted influence in the Roman command structure far above his rank. He also exposed himself to enemy action like a legionary much lower in rank. In addition for someone as decorated as he was, he likely should have been a Tribune (senior officer).
We learn through being told stories. This story provided an in-depth, entertaining introduction to war and peace in 1st Century Roman Britain. The story and the characters were a little thin, but the battles were epic and the history was solid. The historical discussion added to the end of the book as a separate section describing how archeological and scholarly history of Roman Britain was embroidered into the story was more entertaining (to me) than many parts of the fictional narration.
I’ll likely read the next book in the series
The Encircling Sea.
If you liked this story, you'd also be interested in
The Fall of the Roman Empire: A New History of Rome and the Barbarians. (My review.) -
Absolutely. Positively. Blown away by this title. 11 out of 5 stars. Mr. Goldsworthy is a master of all things Roman and conveying that historical information in an exciting manner with his nonfiction titles. I should not be surprised then that he is an excellent historical fiction writer as well.
The characters, the story, the details, so rich, so expressive, so exciting to get lost in. I couldn't put it down literally. The battles, the action, the fighting so well conveyed with that historian's eye for detail and accuracy. The story itself is believable and fraught with highs, lows, and all the excitement that goes with both.
This is sword and sandal goodness taken to a higher level. Cannot recommend this highly enough. And there's 2 more in the series!? Be still my beating heart! -
Gave up at 80%. Well, Andy, you were right!
Strictly aside, I have a lot of difficulty in rooting for a couple when half of the couple is married to someone else. I don't care if it's a loveless marriage or not; married is married.
But this just isn't the type of historical fiction I enjoy. The low rating is not due to my complaint above, it's due to the inconsistency of the story. Is it war fiction? A mystery? A bad romance? Beats me. It seemed to start off good, but then it lost its way and sort of meandered. Finally I gave up on it. -
Really good historical novel set in northern Britain and Scotland during the very early years of the emperor Trajan. The battle scenes are detailed and make you feel you are in the centre of the action, maybe not for the faint-hearted. There is also a bit of a mystery about it, as a traitor is uncovered and gets his just desserts. The author is an ancient historian specialising in the Roman Army, so brings a great deal of historical detail to the novel. Excellent!
-
I was quickly drawn into Vindolanda by Adrian Goldsworthy, a novel set in northern frontier of Britain in 98 AD. It’s full of historical detail. Whilst some characters are based on real people about whom little is known apart from their names, most of the characters are fictional, including the main character, centurion Flavius Ferox. He is based at a small fort called Syracuse (a fictional fort) near the garrison of Vindolanda (modern Chesterholm). Vindolanda is south of Hadrian’s Wall and predates its construction.
The story begins with the arrival of Vindex, the head of the native scouts and a minor son of a chieftain of the Brigantes tribe, who announces that there is a force of at least sixty barbarians in the area planning an attack on the road to Coria (modern day Corbridge). He needs Ferox’s help in hunting these marauders. This is just the start of a series of skirmishes, ambushes and full scale battles. There is at least one traitor in the Roman army informing the tribes of the army’s movements and Ferox is charged with finding out who it is.
I enjoyed reading Vindolanda and the insight it gives into the early period of British history. Adrian Goldsworthy’s Historical Note at the end of the book is excellent, explaining just what is fictional and what is fact in his novel. After Boudicca’s defeat in AD 60 there was little resistance to the Romans in southern Britain, but it was different in northern Britain where there were frequent outbursts of violence, raids and warfare.
There are sections in the Historical Note about the Roman army describing its structure and tactics, on the period before the construction of Hadrian’s Wall, on tribes and druids. The most interesting section for me is the one on Vindolanda and the Writing Tablets found there. These are wooden tablets written in ink on thin sheets of wood. Hundreds of them have survived, most are mundane containing details of daily life, letters, accounts and give an idea about the food they ate and of the social life of the commanders and their families. Among them are details about the commanding officer around AD 98, the Prefect Flavius Cerialis and his wife, Sulpicia Lepidina, both of whom are major characters in the novel.
Vindolanda is a most enjoyable and informative book. I have just one criticism of it, which is purely personal because my eyes always glaze over during battle scenes (both in books and on screen) and in this book there is just too much detail about the battles for me interrupting the storyline, even though the scenes are graphic and fast-paced.
My thanks for the advance review copy I received courtesy of NetGalley and the publishers, Head of Zeus. -
Vindolanda is a stunningly good book, a story simply wonderfully told, from a new (to me) author and a much-needed (again, maybe, for me) new voice in Roman period Historical Fiction. A hugely impressive novel, made even more impressive by the fact that the good Mr Goldsworthy's day job, is that of a non-fiction All Things Roman Author. You can tell, tell that he knows his stuff, but the story isn't loaded down with "listen up class!" little bits and pieces, that, in my experience only serve to slow the story down - to a stop often. This one, wears its learning light on the sleeve and concentrates on story, character and situation.
Like, I suspect, many readers of Roman tales, I can best relate to those set in Britain, Germany at a push. So Vindolanda has that base well covered, but then the surprise for one set in the northern parts of Britannia, is that is is set before Hadrian's Wall was built. That premise on its own sold it to me. What made me glad I bought, was the fresh, energetic, well-paced writing. As the learned Prof. H. Sidebottom says on the back of my copy, it is, "an instant classic." What he goes on to say (possibly) is "forget your Anthony Riches' this is the real deal." Though maybe those were just the voices in my head.
Again, as HS says Ferox is "a wonderful, charismatic hero." Reluctant as well, given his background. That kind of 'which side is he on really?' sort of thing has been done a zillion times in - amongst other genres - Historical Fiction, but you'd never know it here. Here, it is the sense and the sensibility of the character of Ferox that determines his actions. He is a well-drawn, fully functioning creation and one I think could well go on to be one of the classics of Roman Historical Fiction. And, a special mention for his close friend, though sometimes you'd be forgiven for wondering if he really is, Vindex. He's a gem. And as usual, perhaps even more appropriately from Adrian G., the Historical Note at the end is well worth reading.
There are only a couple of very minor points. 'Humping' instead of 'fucking'? Humped - fucked. There were also a couple of raised eyebrows and an 'almost imperceptible,' but otherwise thankfully, and revealingly (meaning listen up you established Hist Fic authors. it can be done), it is Hist-Fic cliche-free.
For more of this kind of nonsense:
Speesh Reads
Or for Facebook nonsense:
Speesh Reads -
I always wonder about the current trend for historians to write historical fiction. It's become something of a fashion but it doesn't always work: good historians may tell stories with novelistic flair, and good historical fiction writers have to get their facts right, but the two genres do demand a different skill-set. Not everyone can make the transition from one to the other. So I was amused to see that Adrian Goldsworthy, the celebrated historian of the Roman Empire, has decided to try his hand at a novel. Naturally, I couldn't resist; and I'm pleased to report that Goldsworthy is one of the rare breed who can make the leap. Focusing on the men based at the forts along the northernmost frontier of Roman Britain, he tells a story full of battles, diplomacy and honour, with a very enjoyable 'odd couple' pairing at its heart.
It's 98 AD and Britannia slumbers in apparent peace. It's been almost forty years since the great uprising of the Eceni queen Boudica, and the Roman garrisons have settled into a cautious modus vivendi with their British neighbours. Up in the north, at the tiny fort of Syracuse, the centurion Flavius Ferox has allowed himself to sink into the blessed oblivion of drink in the hope of escaping his past. British by birth - and Prince of the Silures (who lived in present-day South Wales) - Ferox has long since bought in to the Roman way of life, and takes his oaths of loyalty seriously. When sober, he serves as liaison with the local tribes, giving judgements and resolving disputes. But, one morning, his scout-leader Vindex (of the Brigantes) arrives at the fort with news of a murderous skirmish. Despite his hangover, Ferox forces himself out with the scouts to track down the malefactors, but discovers that this is more than a simple cattle raid...
For the full post, due to be published on 15 April, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2017/04/15/v... -
Good 1st novel. I think Roman history buffs would probably enioy this more. Quite involved and detailed. Armour weapons and battles very good. I probably felt like some prior knowledge of the time etc would have helped the me enjoy it more.
-
Plot: 5 (typical Roman military fare)
Characters: 6 (enjoyable but sometimes interchangeable)
Accuracy: 7 (well-researched but full of modern attitudes and behavior)
Goldsworthy obviously knows what he's talking about (obviously!) but he nicens up the Roman army into basically just a modern peacekeeping force. Reading this book was a bit like reading the memoirs of a British army colonel serving in colonial India. All the massacres and travesties are committed by wretched foreigners and the lead characters are suitably horrified and would never commit such crimes themselves (never!). Basically, the book falls into the irritating fallacy where ancient characters behave just like modern people (or near to it), with all values and beliefs intact. I'd expected a scholar to do better than that. He certainly should know how ruthless the Romans could be and how indifferent towards human life they were. And how foreign Roman values were to moderns. That's something that
Harry Sidebottom (another scholar turned novelist) understands to his bones. If his books sometimes dwell overmuch on the darkness at the heart of Roman life, at least they acknowledge that Romans are not just closet Brits in togas.
The writing itself is fine. The story is fairly basic with few major plotpoints or character moments and a largely tame conclusion. It's pretty obvious that he's planning on making this a series since he's established a large number of plotlines that don't go anywhere yet. At least he doesn't fall into the sequelitis trap of leaving the majority of his plotlines unresolved at the end of the novel. I have few major complaints to make, but similarly I have few major aspects to praise. It fits in pretty tightly with other modern Roman military memoirs (see
Simon Scarrow or
Anthony Riches). There's some fairly well written action, a hint of romance, and a tidy conclusion. Characters aren't even allowed to use curse words, which makes this book very tame for a supposedly realistic war story. -
A romantic historical fiction from popular British military historian best known for his books on key Roman emperors. His facts are his strong points. He knows the subject well. Narrative? KInda like Dumas, he can spin a good yarn without hardly writing a poetic sentence. But the story rolls forward and he has created good characters. I will finish the trilogy, but can't exactly place it on the shelf next to
Robert Graves or
Mary Beard. This is more at the same level as
Robert Harris. But if you like historical fiction that reads like a military romance (
The Three Muskateers) you might enjoy it. I'll give it four stars and hope there isn't a steep drop off with books 2 and 3. -
With Vindolanda Adrian Goldsworthy demonstrated his broad knowledge of Roman military equipment, organization, and tactics through the vehicle of a novel. The “whodunit?” aspect of the tale was weak, with the mystery wrapped up hurriedly in the last few pages. Overall, however, it was an enjoyable and informative entertainment. Goldsworthy earned Four Stars from me.
-
An absorbing historical fiction read, set at the northern British edge of the Roman Empire soon before 100AD.
The author is a professional historian so you know that the historical part is likely to be well covered. The question for all historical fiction I read is whether the fiction, with its drama and characters, is also up to scratch. It’s my first read by this author and I thought he covered both bases well.
One issue with historical fiction is you often find the accurate historical detail, the detailed research, that the author is so keen to push on you, getting in the way of the story. And occasionally I saw that here when instead of belligerents bearing basic swords or shields we’d get a more detailed description of the hardware, with Latin names as appropriate. That can rather slow the pace of any action scenes as you grapple for the meanings of the strange words but I think this author was rather less inclined towards such distracting detail than I’ve seen elsewhere.
In this tale we have Ferox, a Romanised British warrior and centurion, as the main character now based on the northern frontier of the Empire. His backstory explains his loyalty to the conquerors and although it’s sometimes in doubt he doesn’t see much to admire in the nearby superstitious tribes in an uneasy truce with Roman forces. There’s political intrigue, small and large military engagements, daily routine in the forts and towns. The prose served its purpose pretty well and the characters are fairly well rounded without being deep. The author does also touch on his sources in an appendix, describing everyday correspondence found recently in excavations of an old Roman British frontier fort with the same name as the novel’s title.
For someone like me who has an interest in Ancient Rome, and lives in a city flaunting it’s Roman heritage, I thought this was up there with the better Roman historical fiction I’ve read. More for the historical accuracy (I hope) and action than for intriguing characterisations. One small complaint is that the resolution of a mysterious political intrigue thread towards the end was far from Agatha Christie standard!
I’ll certainly look at other books in this series in due course. Absorbing, interesting without being exceptional. 3.5*.
