Harry Sidebottom, Warrior of Rome: Fire in the East Pt. 1

[Dan Diffendale]

I bought this at Heathrow on my way home from Greece a few days ago, and read it all on the plane... I can't recommend it highly enough!

It's historical fiction written by Dr. Harry Sidebottom, Fellow in Ancient History at Oxford, author of Ancient Warfare: A Very Short Introduction, and the book is set for the most part during the Sassanid siege of Dura Europos (thinly disguised as the city of 'Arete')... probably *the* most accurate piece of Roman military historical fiction ever!


Amazon ISBN [amazon]0718153294[/amazon] n.b. only available in the UK at the moment as far as I can tell, so the US, DE, and CA links won't work...

[Praefectusclassis]

Just wrote a review in AW in the same vein. Keep 'm coming, I'd say!

[Vincula]

written by Dr. Harry Sidebottom, Fellow in Ancient History at Oxford, author of Ancient Warfare: A Very Short Introduction

I found this review, antoninuspius.blogspot.com

[Lochinvar]

Bought it last night.
Will add my tuppence-worth when I've read it.

[John Conyard]

I read it about a month ago. I thought it was the best novel on the Roman military I have ever read. It certainly brought Dura to life for me.

[Et tu brute]

That looks excellent, I think I'll have a look and see if the local library has it.

[Sapor]

I wrote the book review for our newspaper in Canberra, I have attached it here.

Warrior of Rome – Fire in the East

Ballista is an odd name. Technically it's a torsion powered artillery piece. Imagine two giant bars, held in place by tightly wound ropes, (or in emergencies, human hair), that are wound back against the resistance of the ropes, then finally released to hurl a giant arrow at the enemy. Think Heath Robinson meets 'Scrapheap Challenge'. The Roman army used them in the same way as today an army might use artillery, to defend a position or attack other 'machines'. It's also our hero, who has some of the same characteristics, tightly wound and liable to cause great destruction when discharged.

Ballista; or to give him his full name, Marcus Clodius Ballista, knight of Rome, and Dux Ripae, (Duke of the Riverbanks) has a mission to fulfill. He must defend the city of Arete from the invader.

Originally a barbarian hostage from Britain, enobled for his role in the death of Emperor Maximus the Thracian, he is accompanied by faithful servants from Hibernia (Ireland) and Caledonia (Scotland). Both are somewhat caricatured, but at various points provide comic relief as well as the Deus ex machina that sustains the plot. His Greek secretary and a Persian captive create an interesting contrast, and allow the author to present different cultural perspectives.

The author Harry Sidebottom, is in fact Dr. Harry Sidebottom, who teaches Classical History at Oxford, and this is one of the great strengths of this novel, as well as being a source of weakness, of which more later. To further the historical accuracy, the city of Arete is based on Dura Europus, formerly a Palmyran outpost, captured once by the Parthians, recaptured by Rome. It's final fate is recorded faithfully, and Sidebottom tells the story well.

In the third century AD, (or now, being politically correct, 'CE' – Common Era), the Roman Empire faced it's greatest challenge since Hannibal. Caesar had been a mere amateur, facing tribal confederations and small towns and villages. The emperors of the third century, when not actively tearing lumps off each other, faced the other superpower of the day, the Persians. These are not the Persians of '300' - no war rhinoceroses, but a later dynasty – the Sasanians, sometimes known as the Sassanids. Their empire covered what is now Iraq, Iran, extended into Northern India, Afghanistan, and Armenia and supported a disiplined army and a civilisation as advanced as the Romans themselves, building huge fortified walls, vast irrigation schemes, fortresses and cities, some even populated by their Roman prisoners. Ultimately they would kill or capture three separate Roman Emperors.

The main concern of our hero however, is that on the fluid borders between the two states lie numerous fortified towns; Dura, Amida, Edessa, and many others. It is 255CE, Shapur I, Shahanshah (King of Kings) is moving to attack Roman territory, and Arete is his objective.

Haunted by the dead Emperor, Ballista is also distrusted by Rome, and so is spied upon and expected to fail. He is given few resources – and the defence is something of a suicide mission in the face of the Persian army. Regardless, he motivates his men, (in the same vein as countless movies where tough officers win over recalcitrant troopers), and mounts a sturdy defence. Here is where the real meat of the book benefits from the author's knowledge of the period. The various means of attacking a fortified city and the counter-measures are almost text book, the artillery, the siege towers, the mine and counter-mine.

Incidents recorded by classical authors such as Ammianus and Procopius in other sieges are woven into the story, adding authenticity. One such is when the common prostitutes of Arete insult the Persians by exposing themselves upon the walls. The original, in Ammianus has it: “Besides this some courtesans shamelessly drew up their clothing and displayed to Cabades (Kawad the Persian King), who was standing close by, those parts of a woman's body which it is not proper that men should see uncovered.â€

[derek forrest]

I endorse all said about this book.
He writes of course as a specialist and the book has great authority whilst being very readable.
I noticed he has decided a Contubernium should contain 10 and whilst I hesitate to contradict so distinguished a writer the usual number quoted is 8.

I also noticed that his characters frequently recite "We will do what is ordered and at every command we shall be ready". this prompted me to look at the originals and sure enough there it appears "Quod imperatum fuerit facimus et ad omnem tesseram parati erimus". Clearly a stock phrase of the Roman Military at the time. I could see no sign of it in the Vindolanda documents.

The phrase "milites caligati" seems to be used to describe military personnel which my Dr Smith defines as "wearing soldiers boots "but also as "a private soldier". Has a nice analogy with grunt or boot camp and is interesting that it is used long after caligae seem to have been abandoned in favour of the closed boot.

[D B Campbell]

I noticed he has decided a Contubernium should contain 10 and whilst I hesitate to contradict so distinguished a writer the usual number quoted is 8.

Vegetius says 10. No-one else describes a "contubernium", per se.

The phrase "milites caligati" seems to be used to describe military personnel which my Dr Smith defines as "wearing soldiers boots "but also as "a private soldier". Has a nice analogy with grunt or boot camp and is interesting that it is used long after caligae seem to have been abandoned in favour of the closed boot.

The third-fifth century law codes still use the term to designate the common soldiery.

[Caballo]

Just finished the book (lent me by Celer) ,and really enjoyed it. Don't be put off by the cover, which seems to be a bid to get the maximum number of inauthentic articles of armour and weapons, worn in the wrong way, in the wrong place of any Roman book. (Presumably a perverse publisher's bet of some kind...)

But the writing and research is really excellent- recommended. I'll be buying the next books (unless of course, Celer buys them first!)

Cheers

Caballo

PS Derek, what is the source for "Quod imperatum fuerit facimus et ad omnem tesseram parati erimus" ("We will do what is ordered and at every command we shall be ready")?

[derek forrest]

Hi Caballo
Here it is
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=dz3d ... dq=We+will
Cheers
Derek

[D B Campbell]

what is the source for "Quod imperatum fuerit facimus et ad omnem tesseram parati erimus" ("We will do what is ordered and at every command we shall be ready")?

It crops up in the Dura papyri.

[Caballo]

Thanks Derek and DB.

PS I still think the position with the courtesan and the three Roman miltes described towards the end of the book when the Romans believe that the siege is lifted may well be anatomically impossible.......but you'll have to read it to find out! :roll:

[Praefectusclassis]

Just did a short interview with Harry

[Lochinvar]

I delayed reading this (partly because I always have too many books on the go at any time and also partly, although I will concede not logically, because of the dreadful cover) but I now can't wait for his next novel.
More please!