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08-06-2002, 09:44 AM

Well, I broke down and picked up my copy of the above book...I haven't had this good a read since I was researching Viking culture and reading The Viking World and Cultural Atlas of the Viking World...I know this is almost required reading for most of us and I'm thrilled to have it as part of my (rapidly growing) collection of reference material! 
 
Vale, Marcus Bruttius Romulus 
Optio 
Legio III Augusta

***Praefectusclassis*** · 08-06-2002, 10:04 AM

And if you're bored with reading, the pictures are very nice! Greets 
 
Jasper

08-06-2002, 04:27 PM

I found it to be pretty dry at times, but the pictures are awesome, just awesome. "Only Trajan could go to Dacia." 
 
Magnus/Matt 
Optio 
Legio XXX "Ulpia Victrix"

08-06-2002, 05:42 PM

It was the book that got me interested in the period----saw it, the pics and it was a must have 
 
 
<img src="http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mark.martin/AUXILIA/icon.gif" width="46" height="65" align="right">

08-06-2002, 10:24 PM

It's a fine book. Nice mix of fairly breathless historical narrative, with detailed discussions on equipment and illustrations to die for. I've had my copy for many years, and re-read sections regularly. I love the description of Hannibal's campaigns and battles. Peter's a huge fan of the Punic general and it shows! 
Everyone should have this book, and pass it on when they die.

08-07-2002, 01:37 AM

As a recent purchaser of this exceptional book, I share the same positive sentiments. Another book that is a comparatively good read is John Warry's Warfare in the Classical World. Both these works were instrumental in kindling my interest in this subject matter.

Gregg · 08-07-2002, 03:39 AM

Yeah, this book is a must-have for anyone's collection. I picked up a copy of the first edition around 1987, and that's what started my interest in ancient military history. I've since worn out the first edition and had to get a copy of the reprint. Connolly's analysis of the Punic wars is excellent, and his survey of Greek and especially Italian military equipment is still crucial. I take umbrage with his section on the Celts, but other than that the book has stood up very well considering it was first published over twenty years ago. 
 
Gregg

08-22-2002, 11:45 AM

Hello, 
 
I too was hooked by "Warfare in the Classical World" by Warry 
[and all of Peter's stuff too, of course]. I read my first copy to 
pieces [literally] and ended up giving an arm and a leg for a 
second-hand copy. Even though this was published in the late 
70's [I believe] I am amazed how accurate [by today's standards] 
much of the artistic reconstruction work they did for it was. 
Can anyone find anything seriously wrong with their legionary 
or hoplite reconstructions, for example? I notice recently they 
re-issued it in a text-only format. I sometimes found that the 
ace illustrations made it hard to concentrate on the text [which 
is first-rate too] so "text only" maybe is a good idea after all. 
 
I also once had a kiddies book called "Roman Legionaries in the 
time of Julius Caesar" [can't remember the author - I lost the 
book in an "incendiary incident" years ago] which I loved. 
Does anyone know it? 
 
-- Susan

08-22-2002, 11:59 AM

Salve, 
 
The book you refer to is probably: 
 
Abranson, E., Roman legionaries at the time of Julius Caesar (London 1979). Macdonald Educational, 
4-61p : ill(chiefly col),plan ; 29cm. Translated from a French original. 
 
Unfortunately I only have it in B&W copies. It was nicely illustrated and the text was good (though both not as good as The Roman army by Connolly) taking into account that it was aimed at children. 
 
Regards, 
 
Sander van Dorst

08-22-2002, 01:23 PM

Hello, 
 
Yes, that's it. Erik Abranson. I liked the comprehensive coverage. 
Everything from equipment to religion to medical services and even 
a decent discussion of the enemy. 
 
-- Susan

**richsc** · 08-22-2002, 04:57 PM

Is this the color edition of the book? 
 
Abranson, Erik ROMAN LEGIONARIES AT THE TIME OF JULIUS CAESAR 
Macdonald Educational, Londond, 1979 1st edition 61 pp. Book Condition: Hardback - Very Good; D/J Condition: Illustrated Boards, no dust jacket; Arms, armour, uniforms, equipment illustrated in full color. 4TH CLASS POSTAGE IS INCLUDED FOR BOOKS SENT WITHIN THE Richard Campbell, Legio XX.
http://www.geocities.com/richsc53/studies/

08-23-2002, 08:06 AM

That's it! Where is it for sale? [or have you got your 
eye on it for yourself?] 
 
-- Susan

**richsc** · 08-23-2002, 09:53 AM

I found two copies of it through www.bookfinder.com 
 
just put the title in. One is about $25, the other $30. 
 
I just grabbed a copy of Robinson (only $42! ) , so I can't feel too greedy. Richard Campbell, Legio XX.
http://www.geocities.com/richsc53/studies/

Caius Fabius · 08-28-2002, 04:58 PM

Back to Peter's book... 
 
This summer we had the great pleasure of touring with peter Connolly, and while he admits to being a great genius, and an demi-deity (all in fun), he bemoans the fact that he can't keep his works updated with all the new information he discovers. He would like to go back and make many changes to his older pictures and books, in the light of what he knows now! He just submitted an article to JRMES on the sarissa and it was obsolete by the time it will be published. He has much more information on the pila and other items, but since he is busy doing research for a book on Julius Caesar, (and several others), I doubt he'll find time to make the corrections and write all the addendum he would like to share. 
Yes we talked about the latest lorica finds, tunic color wars, the trails the Helvetii used, the battlefields and many other interesting things during the day. In the evenings we had great conversations, especially about the mental stability of re-enactors, best wines and foods, religion, and even Roman history. I do have one of his lectures and parts of a discussion about the hill where Caesar and the mounted LEG X met the German leader on video, which I will be transferring to VHS sometime in the future. 
I wish you could have all been there, at least for the lectures, it would be hard to find a dining table big enough for even 1/4th of the RAT crew. "Just before class started, I looked in the big book where all the world's history is written, and it said...." Neil J. Hackett, PhD ancient history, professor OSU, 1987

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