Book of the week and Bibliography - Harry Sidebottom, Warrior of Rome - Fire in the East

I have a fondness for novels set in Roman times, and this week's book of the week is another first novel (though not a first book) which has attracted good reviews and which will be the first in a series. For more details about Harry Sidebottom, please refer to his website. In this case the novel, is set late in the Roman Empire, a period which has featured relativfely little in fiction. The author is an historian, and the historical accuracy of the detail of the novel has been praised by many reviewers. It has been highlighted by many of the UK modern firsts dealers and is definitely recommended.

AD 255 - the Roman Imperium is stretched to breaking point, its authority and might challenged throughout the territories and along every border. Yet the most lethal threat lurks far to the east in Persia, where the massing forces of the Sassanid Empire loom with fiery menace. AD 255 - the Roman Imperium is stretched to breaking point, its authority and might challenged throughout the territories and along every border. Yet the most lethal threat lurks far to the east in Persia, where the massing forces of the Sassanid Empire loom with fiery menace. The far-flung and isolated citadel of Arete faces out across the wasteland, awaiting the inevitable invasion. One man is sent to marshall the defences of this lonely city - one man to shore up the crumbling walls of a once indomitable symbol of Roman power - a man whose name itself means war, a man called Ballista. Alone, Ballista is called to muster the forces and the courage to stand first and to stand hard against the greatest enemy ever to confront the Imperium.


Bibliography

Ancient Warfare : A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2004)

Warrior or Rome Series
Fire in the East (Michael Joseph, 2008)
King of Kings (Michael Joseph, 2009)
Lion of the Sun (Michael Joseph, scheduled July 2010)