Spaghetti Westerns: Cowboys and Europeans from Karl May to Sergio Leone
Book
Spaghetti Westerns is the major critical exploration of the European Western. Christopher Frayling...
Hostel Part II (2007)
Movie Watch
Beth (Lauren German), Lorna (Heather Matarazzo) and Whitney (Bijou Phillips), three young American...
David McK (3372 KP) rated Tribune of Rome in Books
Jan 30, 2019
... you get the picture.
To that list, we can now also add Robert Fabbri with his planned 'Vespasian' series of books, of which this is the first. In the interest of full disclosure, I'm also going to state that (from the above list of authors) I've read at least one book in their respective series. Of those all - and, including, now, this book - I have to say, I've found Scarrow's novels to be the most entertaining.
As a novel, I found this one could be split into three distinct sections: the beginning was set during Vespasians early years in the Roman country-side and mainly concerning the relationship between him and his brother, before the setting moves to Rome proper when the two brothers get embroiled in Roman politics, and then (in the latter half of the book), following Vespasians early military career. It was probably this latter aspect of the book that is the most enjoyable, even if it does still suffer from seemingly stilted conversations that are used to move the plot along - that, and some 'Oh, come on! As if ...' moments (one in particular!).
While I read some more of this series? Possibly, but also I'm not going to be going out of my way to look for them.
Deborah (162 KP) rated Daughters of Rome (The Empress of Rome, #2) in Books
Dec 21, 2018
Many of the characters in this novel did exist historically. Obviously the further back in time you go, the less information there is generally available about what actually went on, which I suppose is a good thing for the historical novelist! The novel centres around four female cousins; two sisters and their two first cousins to be precise. The sisters really did exist, although more is known about one than the other (this is clear when you have read the book and read the historical note at the end). The cousins are invented to drive the plot along; Lollia starts off almost like a WAG - seemingly a bit empty headed and marrying whoever is in favour that month, but she does develop into a more likeable, rounded character. While Diana is difficult to dislike she is a pretty flat character; she's beautiful and completely obsessed with horses and 'The Reds' chariot racing team - a bit like a football bore today I suppose! The sister-in law, Tullia, is another very one-dimensional character, probably best summed up as 'fishwife'.
Many events are based on historical fact, but there are some bits, like the cousins escaping from Rome, that seems a bit unrealistic.
Overall, I found this quite a quick (for a 400 page novel) and entertaining read, but I suspect that like Quinn's Mistress of Rome, I may well be pushed to remember any plot details in a few months time and I probably wouldn't read it again.
The Invention of Peter: Apostolic Discourse and Papal Authority in Late Antiquity
Book
On the first anniversary of his election to the papacy, Leo the Great stood before the assembly of...
Romanticism, Culture and Migration: Aspects of Nineteenth-Century German Migration to Australia After German Unification a Case Study of the Diary and Life of Adolph Wuerfel 1854-1914
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This work provides an understanding of the large worldwide migrations of the German-speaking people...
The True Significance of Sacred Tradition and its Great Worth, by St. Raphael M. Hawaweeny: A Nineteenth-Century Orthodox Response to Roman Catholic and Protestant Missionaries in the East
Raphael M. Hawaweeny and Patrick Demetrios Viscuso
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Never before published, the theological thesis of St. Raphael Hawaweeny (1860 1915) is a fascinating...
Cambridge International AS and A Level Chemistry Workbook with CD-ROM
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Fully revised and updated content matching new Cambridge International Examinations 9701 syllabus...