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132nd out of 354 books
—
448 voters
Legionary: The Roman Soldier's (Unofficial) Manual
Every aspect of army life is discussed, from drill to diet, with handy tips on topics such as how to select the best boots, or how to avoid being skewered by enemy spears.
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
June 29th 2009
by Thames & Hudson
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I really needed a break from some of the 21st century novels I've been reading lately, so I thought I'd read a little non-fiction. The idea of a manual for Roman soldiers was interesting, and I liked the idea of a work bringing together what is currently known about the life of a legionary.
What was disappointing is that this work was also infected with the weak, lame form of irony. Irony is not meant to distance you from your subject. Quite the opposite. You have to fully immerse yourself in the...more
What was disappointing is that this work was also infected with the weak, lame form of irony. Irony is not meant to distance you from your subject. Quite the opposite. You have to fully immerse yourself in the...more
This is a very great read for those interested in military history, especially more about the life of a soldier and the things outside of the battle parts of military history. Here are the chapters:
1. Joining the Roman Army
2. The Prospective Recruit's Good Legion Guide
3. Alternative Military Careers
4. Legionary Kit and Equipment
5. Training, Discipline and Ranks
6. People Who Will Want to Kill You
7. Life in Camp
8. On Campaign
9. How to Storm a City
10. Battle
11. Aftermath
As this book is very short (...more
1. Joining the Roman Army
2. The Prospective Recruit's Good Legion Guide
3. Alternative Military Careers
4. Legionary Kit and Equipment
5. Training, Discipline and Ranks
6. People Who Will Want to Kill You
7. Life in Camp
8. On Campaign
9. How to Storm a City
10. Battle
11. Aftermath
As this book is very short (...more
Jul 24, 2011
Terence
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Roman history and military history buffs
Shelves:
history-ancient,
history-general
Legionaries is a light-hearted (?) look at the life and times of a Roman soldier c. AD 100, when Rome was at the height of its power and the legions were at the height of their professionalism, couched as a guidebook about what to expect for the next 25 years of the new recruit’s life.
I’ve been a student of Roman history since I was a kid and saw 8 mm movies in class about the pax Romana or TV movies like Masada so the broad outlines of its military history were familiar enough but it’s fascinat...more
5 likes · like · see review
view all 12 comments
A quick and thoroughly enjoyable read - as the subtitle says, an unofficial manual explaining what it was like to be a Roman soldier during a time when the Empire was near the height of its power.
The author provides an authoritative amount of detail about the details of daily life and the larger background, up to and including the political situation vis-a-vis other countries or peoples. What's more, he manages to make the whole thing funny without diminishing its informative character - it's a...more
The author provides an authoritative amount of detail about the details of daily life and the larger background, up to and including the political situation vis-a-vis other countries or peoples. What's more, he manages to make the whole thing funny without diminishing its informative character - it's a...more
A friend discovered this and couldn't wait to call and tell me. I looked up the author and said "big gun"; and read on. So I ended up ordering and reading three of Dr. Matyszak's books, and will go back for the others.
It's rare to find a top rate scholar who can look at history with a grin on his face; I think the good Doc does. I do know that it was funny as hell. I know I learned a lot...and that brings up a good point. I don't think you have to be scholarly and grim to write and teach people....more
It's rare to find a top rate scholar who can look at history with a grin on his face; I think the good Doc does. I do know that it was funny as hell. I know I learned a lot...and that brings up a good point. I don't think you have to be scholarly and grim to write and teach people....more
This is a short enjoyable read, indicated if you already know a fair bit about the ancient Romans but wish a down to ground view of their military system. It does not really discuss tactics or battles, even if a few are mentioned. It aims to present what a grunt in the middle of a maniple would know and think about, in a proximate and amusing (and anachronic, of course) style. So digging and retirement gets much more space than sword fighting, as it should.
Although he mentions other periods, thi...more
Although he mentions other periods, thi...more
I was surprised how entertaining this piece is, more so than most novels out there. Written with great humor, this reference stays 100% in character as a 100 AD field guide for a newly minted roman soldier in the legion of your choosing. Brings you back 2000 years, and is a good reminder of how demanding a soldier's life was and always has been. It covers the basics from recruitment, equipment, legion hierarchy, camp logistics (my favorite insight given in the book complete with maps), siege ope...more
This is a wonderful, pithy look at the Roman legions at the beginning of the second century AD. It covers recruitment, career paths, recent politics, geography, daily life, and all sorts of other things regarding the history of the legions in one place that would otherwise have to be collected from a variety of sources.
Not footnoted, but references reliable ancient sources in the back that the material in the book came from, uses quotes from ancient historians, and has fun with latin phrasing at...more
Not footnoted, but references reliable ancient sources in the back that the material in the book came from, uses quotes from ancient historians, and has fun with latin phrasing at...more
It was a well written, informative and humourous book purporting to be the kind of guide given by the army to potential/ new recruits.
In this case the Army is the imperial Roman army at the height of its powers and strength in about AD 100.
Want to know the type of equipment you will be issued with, how to use it, clean it, conditions of service, punishments and rewards for 25 years of your life, as well as who the people are who will try to spoil your day by killing you in many different painful...more
In this case the Army is the imperial Roman army at the height of its powers and strength in about AD 100.
Want to know the type of equipment you will be issued with, how to use it, clean it, conditions of service, punishments and rewards for 25 years of your life, as well as who the people are who will try to spoil your day by killing you in many different painful...more
-¡No esperes hasta el próximo dilectus, valiente lector! ¡Únete ahora al ejército romano! ¡Viajarás, conocerás otras culturas, otras gentes, e incluso puede que vuelvas para contarlo! ¡El Imperio Romano te necesita!-.
Género. Ensayo
Lo que nos cuenta. Manual (no oficial) del soldado romano, según el subtítulo, pero en realidad una guía para que todos aquellos que lean este libro en tiempos de Trajano conozcan más lo que implica alistarse en el ejército y anticipen todas las ventajas y maravillas q...more
Género. Ensayo
Lo que nos cuenta. Manual (no oficial) del soldado romano, según el subtítulo, pero en realidad una guía para que todos aquellos que lean este libro en tiempos de Trajano conozcan más lo que implica alistarse en el ejército y anticipen todas las ventajas y maravillas q...more
I'm a sucker for all things Roman history, so obviously my sterling rating is biased, but this was still an enjoyable read. It goes step-by-step on how to be a Legionary, often using humorous, easy-to-read prose (much different from most historical textbooks, which, even to me, can be stuffy). It wasn't an in-depth study, but I still learned many fascinating tidbits on Roman military life. A great read if you're interested in the subject.
A very entertaining and informative book if you're interested in Ancient Rome. Written in the form of a manual for someone contemplating joining the Roman Army in the late 1st century. The author presents a wealth of detail about the organization and tactics, daily life, career prospects, and the long list of potential enemies you, a potential recruit, will face, with a good bitof wry humor thrown in.
A very readable look at the life of the Roman soldier, from enlistment to retirement, training to battle, and all the little details in between. My knowledge of Roman history is spotty, but the author provides enough context that I'm not lost. (And many of the quotations suggest that soldiers are the same, whatever the era....)
Definitely going on my to-buy-in-paper list.
Definitely going on my to-buy-in-paper list.
Matyszak hits the nail on the head again. I haven't read one of his books that I didn't like. This one is, like the others, well-researched, packed with facts, funny and fun to read -- a good book for trying to get people to like history. I do believe he has become one of my favorite nonfiction writers.
I love Matyszak so much. All of his books are delightful from beginning to end, this one included. Structured as a "manual" for the Roman soldier, it collects an incredible amount of detail into a compulsively readable narrative.
Best book on the material i've ever come across; i would use this to teach to students. Fun, entertaining, easy to read. Not the best academically - but the best for learning the subject matter.
This book is a wonderful collection of facts packaged as a guide to surviving the life of a Roman solder. An enjoyable and easy read which is accurate enough that I can use it in my classes on Rome.
Read the first half on the flight to Disneyland; the second half on the way back. First off, this is a good book - well bound, thick pages, a joy to hold! Second, the contents are really well done. A nice overview of life as a Roman Soldier circa 100 AD, with a few "hints" about the future. An excellent description of camp life, training, discipline, and how battle was run and won. Color photos and wonderful illustrations just add to the beauty; kudos to the Ermine Street Guard for some great ph...more
A great, quick, entertaining read, and a wonderful introduction to the workings of a Roman army, from recruitment, to training, to fighting, and even to what to do with yourself afterwards.
Aug 26, 2012
Matt Austin
added it
A fun read with lots of wit and sarcasm. Overall enjoyable as the author is an expert in ancient Roman history.
A delightfully accessible description of what life was like for a Roman Legionary. A quick and humorous read.
Fabulous book about the nitty-gritty details of being a foot soldier in a Roman Legion around 100 A.D.
Apr 19, 2010
Leah B
is currently reading it
So far, so great! Entertaining, accurate, and accessible.
Ad creadnum ante nobis destruere opus est
Nice and funny manual that shows a wide range of aspects of the life being a legionary!
Enjoyable read. Matyszak provides insights into the daily life of a Roman soldier c. AD 100. I've always been more of a big picture kind of historian, so it was fun to get into the other side a bit, and I learned quite a few new things about Roman soldiers that I didn't know before. I enjoyed Matyszak's quirky sense of humor throughout, and despite a few inevitable anachronisms, it was generally well done. I could have gone for a little more detail in a few places.
One of the best roman era books i've ever read
An excellent in depth introduction to the Roman Empire. Highly recommended both for its coverage of Roman royal politics and the everyday life of a common Roman soldier.
A very readable look at the life of an Imperial Roman soldier. The author uses the conceit that the book is being written as a manual for a new legionary, but doesn't allow that conceit to keep him from pointing out interesting details just because they are anachronistic (such as a legion constructed bridge leaving remnants until the 20th Century).
Honestly, I was expecting a totally dry, historical account of Roman military life, description of their kit, etc when I purchased this book on a whim. I was delightfully surprised by Matyszak's wit, humour and entertaining narrative. This book is a must for anyone interested in the Roman military or even for the casual history buff.
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