comments: \'THE COMPLETE ROMAN ARMY\'

[Anonymous]

This is the latest book from Adrian Goldsworthy, who I'm beginning to think is really several guys writing as one, given the quantity of 'his' output! I at first found the title 'The Complete Roman Army' somewhat overly ambitious, until I realized that the book was the seventh of a series 'The Complete.....etc, etc'. At any rate, this volume really is a fairly 'complete' survey of the Roman Army, although a serious student of the subject will have seen all the material therein somewhere else by now. The author presents a brief history of the institution along with a wee bit on the navy, and then concentrates in the main on the early Principate. He does, however, wind up the book with several pages on the Late Army.<br>
<br>
Among many others, the author briefly discusses such disparate items as rank structure, diet, religious practices, burial arrangements, battle formations and encampments, and in general attempts to cover as wide a number of subjects as is possible in one medium-sized book. Folks interested only in actual warfare might be somewhat disappointed as he only devotes some twenty-odd pages to this in particular, but overall he gives an excellent 'feel' for what life as a Roman soldier would likely have been like.<br>
<br>
The book is really an attractive, quality product; it has very good production values, is well laid-out, and is highly illustrated with photos, diagrams, drawings, maps, battle plans and tables. As I said before, the specialist probably is not going to find anything he hasn't seen before, but he is not going to be insulted with poorly-presented misinformation either. Certainly, a generalist will be delighted with it; at $23.97 (from Amazon) it is a great buy.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>

[Praefectusclassis]

At first sight it does look good, though I have spotted several mistakes especially in photo comments. Sloppiness on the editors part, I am afraid.<br>
Hey, and if you buy: do it through Romanarmy.com and support that site and this forum! <p>Greets<br>
<br>
Jasper</p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

re: your post above, Jasper. Mea culpa- I didn't at the time I wrote know of the book service. I do now, it's a great resource, and I'll certainly use it in the future. Thanks for the heads-up. <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

I really enjoy this book. I think it's a good companion to anyone's Roman library, and it's a great overall reference.<br>
<br>
Although I would have liked to have seen more specific details (if possible) on Marius' reforms, some of the Republican details, and more on the Navy and Late Empire era.<br>
<br>
There are some questionable items, but I can only expect so much of any one book or one author to give (as compared to the bitter reviews on "The Battle That Stopped Rome" in another thread, eeps! I took that off my xmas list awful fast), combine this reference to many others and I think it's better than "just" this book.<br>
<br>
I totally regret not getting my copy thru Romanarmy.com, I completely forgot about the resource.<br>
<br>
guess I need to check it more often!<br>
valete<br>
ANDY <p></p><i></i>

[Anonymous]

Found this a very useful book. It covers a decent amount of ground for its size (and cost) and is a good supplement for my other books on the subject (fear it may not fit on the bookshelves though!<br>
<br>
Sorry - didn't know about the book service. I'll go and stand outside the Principia in an unbelted tunic holding a pole for a couple of hours as punishment. <p></p><i></i>