Warrior of Rome - Fire in the East

For all you fans of Roman and military history let me recommend this 2008 novel by Dr Harry Sidebottom. It is unusual in the fact that it deals with Rome's eastern frontier (where for centuries Rome fought the Parthian and later the Persian Empires) and that it is set in the third century AD.

Most Roman military fictions are set in the last days of the Republic or the early days of the Empire either in Rome or Britain. In the third century things were going badly for Rome. Usurpers were murdering Emperors at a rapid rate. Britain and Gaul broke away for a decade. An Emperor was killed fighting the Goths and another captured by the Persians. Yet the Empire survived.

The hero of the story is Roman General Marcus Clodius Ballista. There was a real life Ballista on the eastern front at this time who defeated the Persians and captured the Persian King's harem. Indeed in the book his harem is penetrated(sic) during a night raid by Ballista's troops. Fictional Ballista speaks Latin, Greek, his native Anglo-Saxon and a form of Celtic to his bodyguard. And also Persian well enough to fool his enemies in a life or death situation. That was stretching the storyline a bit far for me and also why did the ultimate betrayers follow their mad leader to disaster? But don't be put off. This is a real page turner, excellent reading which can't be put down.

Saw a fellow on the tube the other day reading Ancient Warfare - a very short introduction by Harry Sidebottom published by Oxford. It could be worth a read.