03-02-2004, 12:10 PM
My apologies for this less-than-novel post, but please bear with me...<br>
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I've decided that it's high time I invested in a really good reference book on the Roman army, so I don't keep having to chase bits of information in a dozen different places. There are several such titles, most of which have been mentioned or discussed here, but what I want is quite specific - i.e the most detailed, thorough, up to date and comprehensive account available, covering everything from recruitment to discharge and settlement, organisation, rank structure and administration. I don't need a beginner's guide, nor a lot of fancy illustrations and colour photos - just the facts, soup to nuts (or eggs to apples, as I believe the Romans would have phrased it!)<br>
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Also, I'd quite like something which either focusses on or deals extensively with the army of the late republic. My options appear to be 'The Roman Army at War 100BC - 200AD' by Goldsworthy, which covers the right ground (although I've read that some of Mr G's theories in this book are rather debatable - any thoughts?), Webster's 'Imperial Roman Army' (the time period being out, but is this a problem?), Peddie's 'Roman War Machine' or Connelly's 'Greece and Rome at War' (which seems heavy on the pictures and a bit 'coffee table', if nice looking - the same factor puts me off 'The Complete Roman Army')<br>
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If I was slightly more wealthy, I'd just get the lot, but as it is I have to chose - I'd have to order it too, so I don't have the opportunity to survey the options. Can anyone give me a recommendation? <p></p><i></i>
<br>
I've decided that it's high time I invested in a really good reference book on the Roman army, so I don't keep having to chase bits of information in a dozen different places. There are several such titles, most of which have been mentioned or discussed here, but what I want is quite specific - i.e the most detailed, thorough, up to date and comprehensive account available, covering everything from recruitment to discharge and settlement, organisation, rank structure and administration. I don't need a beginner's guide, nor a lot of fancy illustrations and colour photos - just the facts, soup to nuts (or eggs to apples, as I believe the Romans would have phrased it!)<br>
<br>
Also, I'd quite like something which either focusses on or deals extensively with the army of the late republic. My options appear to be 'The Roman Army at War 100BC - 200AD' by Goldsworthy, which covers the right ground (although I've read that some of Mr G's theories in this book are rather debatable - any thoughts?), Webster's 'Imperial Roman Army' (the time period being out, but is this a problem?), Peddie's 'Roman War Machine' or Connelly's 'Greece and Rome at War' (which seems heavy on the pictures and a bit 'coffee table', if nice looking - the same factor puts me off 'The Complete Roman Army')<br>
<br>
If I was slightly more wealthy, I'd just get the lot, but as it is I have to chose - I'd have to order it too, so I don't have the opportunity to survey the options. Can anyone give me a recommendation? <p></p><i></i>
Nathan Ross