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395th out of 762 books
—
3,520 voters
The Last Legion
The story opens on the day that the Western Roman Empire collapses finally in 470AD, as the last emperor of Rome is encamped protected by the Nova Invicta Legion. All is lost in the space of a few minutes as a horde of Barbarians sweep through the camp in the fog, kill the Imperial family and take the young emperor captive. The Roman Empire is in ruins... But all is not l
...morePaperback, 448 pages
Published
February 28th 2003
by Pan
(first published 2002)
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Dec 28, 2009
Ryan Patrick
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction-2009,
historical-fiction
I'm not sure how to evaluate this book, really. As historical fiction, I think it does alright. Manfredi definitely evokes a feeling that the world, or at least Roman civilization, is collapsing everywhere. He obviously takes some liberties with the facts, as all historical fiction writers do, that I would have to take issue with, especially since I know he has an academic background. My biggest beef was with certain anachronisms I don't think you would find in the fifth century west.
As fiction,...more
As fiction,...more
The Roman Empire is in its death throes as the story opens, it is falling apart from the inside, the barbarians have more or less obtained control, and even as Romulus Augustus' father attempts to set his son up as a rallying point, his dream is destroyed and his son is taken.
A courageous band of misfits comes together and set out to rescue the boy emperor. Their journey eventually leads them to the island of Britannia, where they must convince the disbanded 9th Legion to join their cause, and l...more
A courageous band of misfits comes together and set out to rescue the boy emperor. Their journey eventually leads them to the island of Britannia, where they must convince the disbanded 9th Legion to join their cause, and l...more
There aren't many books that I'll stop reading. I hate that feeling of a lack of accomplishment. But honestly, there are too many good, fun and/or interesting books to read rather than slogging through some simply unacceptable writing.
Manfredi's "The Last Legion" has a pretty solid story - in broad strokes it paints a picture of the very last days of the Western Roman Empire, the kidnapping of the Last Emperor - Romulus Agustus, and his rescue. I can't tell you more of the plot because I couldn'...more
Manfredi's "The Last Legion" has a pretty solid story - in broad strokes it paints a picture of the very last days of the Western Roman Empire, the kidnapping of the Last Emperor - Romulus Agustus, and his rescue. I can't tell you more of the plot because I couldn'...more
I love historical novels and I admire Manfredi's attention to detail and his obvious depth of research. I find myself checking his characters and events on the internet or in history books to know more - and that is always a good thing for any book.
This novel feels a bit like a Hollywood film and not just because it has already been filmed. There's the same action packed plot - I wonder if there were times when all that happened was that they were simply walking in the forest? There's the tortu...more
This novel feels a bit like a Hollywood film and not just because it has already been filmed. There's the same action packed plot - I wonder if there were times when all that happened was that they were simply walking in the forest? There's the tortu...more
This book wasn't what I thought it was. I still like reading stories that take place in this period of Roman rule so I read it anyway once I realized things weren't going the way I thought they should go.
I am wondering if it would have been better if it wasn't a translation. The author is Italian and in some spots I thought, "please tell me that something was lost in the translation because I could have done better than this." And as you can tell that must be pretty bad because when I post some...more
I am wondering if it would have been better if it wasn't a translation. The author is Italian and in some spots I thought, "please tell me that something was lost in the translation because I could have done better than this." And as you can tell that must be pretty bad because when I post some...more
I absolutely loved this book!!! This is the prequel to the King Arthur legend. It tells of how Arthur's father was originally Ceasar Romulus Augustus, who was desposed when rival barbarian chief Odoacer killed his parents. Romulus' tutor, Ambrosius (otherwise known as Merlyn!) kept him safe with the help of a band of misfit Roman legionaires (since there were no more Roman Legions, these legionaires wanted to help the young Ceasar to keep his life). They go through many trials and tribulations,...more
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There are things I really liked about the book and things I didn't. What I WILL say for potential readers is that the film they made from it bears virtually no resemblance to the book, so you can be happy about that before reading.
The characters are quite well-defined and the heroes likeable. The fact that the story is set at the end of the western Empire gives it a fresh interest for me. There are fewer stories of the era than the high principate.
I feel that the plot, as it unravels, is often t...more
The characters are quite well-defined and the heroes likeable. The fact that the story is set at the end of the western Empire gives it a fresh interest for me. There are fewer stories of the era than the high principate.
I feel that the plot, as it unravels, is often t...more
I liked the cover and I needed something to read.
Perhaps the story was lackluster due to poor translation? The premise of the book, the last Roman Emperor emigrates to Britain and establishes Pendragon royalty was interesting. It was just the endless slogging through endless boring terrain and the predictable "twists" (how new is it when Wulfie keeps showing up just when things start looking up...every time?).
And our hero (not the boy Emperor, but an amnesiac legionnaire) is at the end, dropped...more
Perhaps the story was lackluster due to poor translation? The premise of the book, the last Roman Emperor emigrates to Britain and establishes Pendragon royalty was interesting. It was just the endless slogging through endless boring terrain and the predictable "twists" (how new is it when Wulfie keeps showing up just when things start looking up...every time?).
And our hero (not the boy Emperor, but an amnesiac legionnaire) is at the end, dropped...more
Found this tough going at first but once I got into it, it was a good read. The book is essentially the tale of a journey, and as such gave a sweep across parts of the late Roman world. I found the societies less well realized than I might have expected from an academic historian. It did annoy me that the main characters kept going on about how the Roman Empire had fallen and that Romulus Augustus was the last emperor when (as Manfredi acknowledged in his epilogue), no one in 476 thought that wa...more
If you like me are a fan of Manfredi's work, then this will not dissapoint you. the setting is somewhere near the end of the Roman empire, and the beginning of a new era..in britannia.. can't say more without giving away the ending.
The characters are beautifully crafted and you feel a genuine connection with them. The story is quite fast paced and kept me at the edge of my seat.
Overall was a pretty good read. I found the ending was a bit abrupt. though i guess i can't think of a better way to en...more
The characters are beautifully crafted and you feel a genuine connection with them. The story is quite fast paced and kept me at the edge of my seat.
Overall was a pretty good read. I found the ending was a bit abrupt. though i guess i can't think of a better way to en...more
"L'ultima legione" �� un libro che ho trovato gradevole, originale, ben scritto, capace di rendere vividamente gli ultimi giorni dell'Impero Romano.
Solamente il finale mi ha convinto poco, infatti succede che... ahah no ovviamente non lo riveler��, vi dico solo che la conclusione mi �� sembrata un po' troppo "improbabile".
Comunque un buon libro, sono curioso di vedere il film al cinema il prossimo settembre (2007).
Solamente il finale mi ha convinto poco, infatti succede che... ahah no ovviamente non lo riveler��, vi dico solo che la conclusione mi �� sembrata un po' troppo "improbabile".
Comunque un buon libro, sono curioso di vedere il film al cinema il prossimo settembre (2007).
Ho fatto male a leggerlo dopo "la legione di videssos" di Turteldove, mi ero abituato bene.. La storia raccontata da Manfredi e' a volte accurata e logica, ma in alcuni punti e' fuori come un balcone.
Di buono c'e' che mi ha fatto venir voglia di leggere le cronache di Camelot di jack White (la pietra del cielo), scritto 6 anni prima de "l'ultima legione" e che parla degli stessi temi ma con una classe decisamente superiore nel fondere trama, storicita' e fantasy.
by mik
Di buono c'e' che mi ha fatto venir voglia di leggere le cronache di Camelot di jack White (la pietra del cielo), scritto 6 anni prima de "l'ultima legione" e che parla degli stessi temi ma con una classe decisamente superiore nel fondere trama, storicita' e fantasy.
by mik
A somewhat messy (which could have been the translation rather than the original writing) but enjoyable read. I thought the fundamental premise was brilliant, and if the pacing would have been better — too slow in the middle, much too rushed at the end — it would have been four stars.
Não tenho muito a dizer sobre este livro, o que mais me salta em evidência é a narrativa aborrecida ao ponto de até os vários confrontos que se dão não suscitarem a mínima partícula de interesse, aliada a personagens e relações amorosas que se encaram com um “meh” sem sal.
Dando a César o que é de César, os pormenores históricos conhecidos encontram-se lá, e o conhecimento final de como o jovem Rómulo Augusto ficará conhecido na História tem o seu quê de engraçado… Mas não o suficiente para que o...more
Dando a César o que é de César, os pormenores históricos conhecidos encontram-se lá, e o conhecimento final de como o jovem Rómulo Augusto ficará conhecido na História tem o seu quê de engraçado… Mas não o suficiente para que o...more
Appassionante racconto dei drammatici giorni vissuti da Romolo Augustolo, che la storia ci consegna come ultimo imperatore dell'Impero Romano d'Occidente, deposto da Odoacre. Valerio Massimo Manfredi ne intreccia il destino con quello della mitica spada EXCALIBUR.
Really enjoyed this - historical fiction with lots going on and a good pace. Saw the movie a few weeks before and although it's quite different in parts it didn't prevent my enjoyment of the novel. Worth a read.
SOY UNA ADMIRADORA DEL ESTILO DE VALERIO MASSIMO MANFREDI, Y CREO QUE ESTA ES DE SUS MEJORES NOVELAS, NO HAY TREGUA, TODA LA HISTORIA ES TREPIDANTE, PLAGADA DE AVENTURAS INTENSAS. AMPLIAMENTE RECOMENDABLE.
Great book.. recently made into a rubbish film.. shame really, the book is filled with historical accuracies, s much so it makes you believe it could be fact rather than fiction and is immense... Read it
Great book, with an interesting twist for the ancestry of Britain's King Arthur. Much better than the movie, with a realistic heroine rather than the on-screen ball breaking martial arts maven.
Rispetto agli altri di Manfredi risente forse un po' il fatto che è scritto già come sceneggiatura del film, ma tutto sommato è un bel libro.
Mar 08, 2013
David Campton
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction
A decent historical fiction where Manfredi weaves together a few facts concerning the breakdown of the western Roman Empire, together with various legends of the era, and his own imagination. Some of the dialogue is cringe-worthy, but as others have suggested, perhaps this us a function of the translation from Italian. The somewhat unbelievable climax cannot be so easily written off however, but, unlike other reviewers I will not get into this for fear of spoilers. It isn't as bad as some review...more
all his books steeped in history,adventure,action,in that order,for a terrific experience in epic novel testement.
Creo que es lo mejor que ha escrito VMM. El personaje de Wulfilas es detestable.
Yo le habría dado un final menos... medieval.
Yo le habría dado un final menos... medieval.
Probabilmente il miglior libro di Manfredi: un mix riuscito tra avventura, fiction, mito e storia.
alla radice del mito di Artu', la fuga (inventata) dell'ultimo imperatore di Roma.
De los que he leido de Valerio Massimo Manfredi me parece el más flojo.
Great book about the beginning of the Excalibur legend, Arthur and Merlin.
Beautifully fast paced ...only spoiled by the bad adaptation to the screen!
il film è una ciofeca... ma il libro è il migliore dell'autore
The sort of story Bernard Cornwell does much better.
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Valerio Massimo Manfredi (born 1943) is an Italian historian, writer, archaeologist and journalist. He was born in Piumazzo di Castelfranco Emilia, province of Modena and is married to Christine Fedderson Manfredi, who translates his published works from Italian to English. They have two children and live in a small town near Bologna.
Valerio Massimo Manfredi defines himself as an "Ancient World To...more
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