Review of "Cleopatra\'s Kidnappers"

[FlaviusCrispus]

Avete, amici!

Here's my review of Stephen Dando-Collins' "Cleopatra's Kidnappers," which recently appeared in Ad Signa, the Legio VI VPF newsletter:


Cleopatra’s Kidnappers
How Rome’s Sixth Legion Gave Egypt to Rome and Rome to Caesar

By Stephen Dando-Collins (John Wiley & Sons, 2006)

Author Stephen Dando-Collins has made something of a career out of writing novel-length histories of key Roman legions, namely the Tenth (“Caesar’s Legion,â€

[Praefectusclassis]

Thanks for that review Crispus!

[arklore70]

Crispus,

great review and I agree with you that Dando-Collins does a great narrative, but I just wish he would site his sources, especially since he challenges a lot of accepted ideas of what we know about the history of the Roman War Machine.

With out citations, in my mind, it makes me question, if not just completely not accept some of his ideas.

V/r
Mike

[Nathan Ross]

Crispus -

Congratulations on a very balanced review! You actually read the book as well, which is more than I can say for myself :oops: - the thread below features my take on it, based on a quick glance...

Opinions on 'Cleopatra's Kidnappers'

I wonder if Celer/Zach ever finished his own review?

- Nathan

[Caius Fabius]

I have found that all of Dando-Collins books on Legions are like getting a sweet sugary cake when I wanted meat.

It seems like someone reconstructing an ancient building, but lots of the historical foundations are used, others are arbitrarily thrown away, and the remaining bricks and frame are a mixture of wood and bricks, with a severe filling of sugar candy and fancy frosting.

I am still waiting for references, let alone explanations for the assertions on Imperial Legion lack of recruiting for existing units. Now some well-meaning folks are using these non-scholarly books as a foundation for research and articles, which is much like quoting the lines from 'Gladiator' or 'Braveheart' when writing a paper for historical presentation.

I prefer to spend my money on something a little more factual.