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The Quest for the Lost Roman Legions: Discovering the Varus Battlefield
In 9 A.D., the 17th, 18th, & 19th Roman legions and their auxiliary troops under the command of Publius Quinctilius Varus vanished in the boggy wilds of Germania. They died singly and by the hundreds over several days in a carefully planned ambush led by Arminius—a Roman-trained German warrior adopted and subsequently knighted by the Romans, but determined to stop Rome’s advance east beyond the Rhine River. By the time it was over, some 25,000 men, women, and children were dead and the course of European history had been forever altered. “Quinctilius Varus, give me back my legions!” Emperor Augustus agonized aloud when he learned of the devastating loss.
As the decades slipped past, the location of the Varus defeat, one of the Western world’s most important battlefields, was lost to history. It remained so for two millenia.
Fueled by an unshakeable curiosity and burning interest in the story, a British Major named J. A. S. (Tony) Clunn delved into the nooks and crannies of times past. By sheer persistence and good luck, he turned the foundation of German national history on its ear. Convinced the running battle took place north of Osnabruck, Germany, Clunn set out to prove his point. His discovery of large numbers of Roman coins in the late 1980s, followed by a flood of thousands of other artifacts (including weapons and human remains), ended the mystery once and for all. Archaeologists and historians across the world agreed. Today, a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art museum houses and interprets these priceless historical treasures on the very site Varus’s legions were lost.
The Quest for the Lost Roman Legions, now available in trade paperback, is a masterful retelling of Clunn’s search to discover the Varus battlefield. His well-paced, carefully conceived, and vivid writing style makes for a compelling read from the first page to the last, as he alternates between his incredible modern quest, and the ancient tale of the Roman occupation of Germany (based upon actual finds from the battlefield) that ultimately ended so tragically in the peat bogs of Kalkriese.
About the Tony Clunn joined the army at age 15, and at 17 joined the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment. After 22 years of Regimental service he took a Queen’s commission for a further ten years and retired in the late 1990s with the rank of Major. He is employed by the British Army in Osnabruck and serves as a consultant at Kalkriese. In 1996, Clunn was presented with the Member of the Royal Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II; The German Order of Merit in 1997; and the German Medal of Honor in 1999.
As the decades slipped past, the location of the Varus defeat, one of the Western world’s most important battlefields, was lost to history. It remained so for two millenia.
Fueled by an unshakeable curiosity and burning interest in the story, a British Major named J. A. S. (Tony) Clunn delved into the nooks and crannies of times past. By sheer persistence and good luck, he turned the foundation of German national history on its ear. Convinced the running battle took place north of Osnabruck, Germany, Clunn set out to prove his point. His discovery of large numbers of Roman coins in the late 1980s, followed by a flood of thousands of other artifacts (including weapons and human remains), ended the mystery once and for all. Archaeologists and historians across the world agreed. Today, a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art museum houses and interprets these priceless historical treasures on the very site Varus’s legions were lost.
The Quest for the Lost Roman Legions, now available in trade paperback, is a masterful retelling of Clunn’s search to discover the Varus battlefield. His well-paced, carefully conceived, and vivid writing style makes for a compelling read from the first page to the last, as he alternates between his incredible modern quest, and the ancient tale of the Roman occupation of Germany (based upon actual finds from the battlefield) that ultimately ended so tragically in the peat bogs of Kalkriese.
About the Tony Clunn joined the army at age 15, and at 17 joined the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment. After 22 years of Regimental service he took a Queen’s commission for a further ten years and retired in the late 1990s with the rank of Major. He is employed by the British Army in Osnabruck and serves as a consultant at Kalkriese. In 1996, Clunn was presented with the Member of the Royal Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II; The German Order of Merit in 1997; and the German Medal of Honor in 1999.
414 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 11, 2025
Read some years back. Always had a fascination for Roman history but have to say the annihilation of 3 Roman legions by Arminius had escaped me.
Made the schoolboy error of working in Cologne for 3 years but failing to travel out to this site. The book is a fascinating mixture of fact - how Tony Clunn managed to find the site. And fiction in a superb novella of Arminius and Varus. Excellent book. A visit to the forest is still on my bucket list.
Made the schoolboy error of working in Cologne for 3 years but failing to travel out to this site. The book is a fascinating mixture of fact - how Tony Clunn managed to find the site. And fiction in a superb novella of Arminius and Varus. Excellent book. A visit to the forest is still on my bucket list.
September 15, 2012
In Quest Of The Lost Legions: The Varusschlacht by Major Tony Clunn is one of those rare gems of a book. You don't realise just how good it is until you start. I purchased this book based on the reviews at Amazon.com in the United States and the United Kingdom. After I received my copy I had a quick flick through it and decided that I would read it at a later date. Over the last few months I picked up the book a few times, flicked through and decided `next time'. I am so disappointed in myself for not reading this book as soon as I received it in the mail.
This is a great story, packed full of interesting information and a great narrative of the demise of the 17th, 18th & 19th Roman Legions under command of Publius Quinctilius Varus in Germany during the year 9 A.D. The author tells two interesting and interconnected stories in this book. One covers his archeological hunt for the site of the final demise of the Roman Legions. The other story that parallels this quest is a fictional account, which is based on the early Roman Histories, later German historians and the archeological evidence, offering the reader the most likely scenario to explain the destruction of three Roman Legions of over 20,000 men in a dark German forest so many years ago.
Both stories are well told. Initially I enjoyed the author's account of his quest in locating Roman artifacts whilst based in Germany with the British Army. However, after awhile into the book I became hooked on the story about the Roman Legions, the men and their commanders. Towards the end of the book I found it hard to put down as the narrative speed towards the final battle. I knew what was coming but the story had me enthralled, I couldn't put the book away, I had to keep reading. In the end I was quite caught up in the fate of Marcus Aius and one of the Signifers (Standard Bearers) of the Roman Legions.
This is an exceptional book told with a knack for great story telling. How accurate is the authors telling of the final battle between the German warriors and the Roman Legions under Varus? Who knows, maybe the future will confirm Major Clunn's theory but either way this is a well told story and I am sure anyone who enjoys ancient history or accounts of the glory days of the Roman Empire will love this book.
This is a great story, packed full of interesting information and a great narrative of the demise of the 17th, 18th & 19th Roman Legions under command of Publius Quinctilius Varus in Germany during the year 9 A.D. The author tells two interesting and interconnected stories in this book. One covers his archeological hunt for the site of the final demise of the Roman Legions. The other story that parallels this quest is a fictional account, which is based on the early Roman Histories, later German historians and the archeological evidence, offering the reader the most likely scenario to explain the destruction of three Roman Legions of over 20,000 men in a dark German forest so many years ago.
Both stories are well told. Initially I enjoyed the author's account of his quest in locating Roman artifacts whilst based in Germany with the British Army. However, after awhile into the book I became hooked on the story about the Roman Legions, the men and their commanders. Towards the end of the book I found it hard to put down as the narrative speed towards the final battle. I knew what was coming but the story had me enthralled, I couldn't put the book away, I had to keep reading. In the end I was quite caught up in the fate of Marcus Aius and one of the Signifers (Standard Bearers) of the Roman Legions.
This is an exceptional book told with a knack for great story telling. How accurate is the authors telling of the final battle between the German warriors and the Roman Legions under Varus? Who knows, maybe the future will confirm Major Clunn's theory but either way this is a well told story and I am sure anyone who enjoys ancient history or accounts of the glory days of the Roman Empire will love this book.
March 23, 2014
In 9 A.D., three Roman legions were annihilated in the Teutoburg Forest in ancient Germania. This effectively stopped the Roman Empire from further expansion into the area between the Rhine and the Elbe, a decision which would eventually affect Rome when centuries later the Germanic tribes would overrun the Empire. In other words, this was the greatest military defeat during Emperor Augustus's reign, which had him screaming the immortal lines of:
Quinctilius Varus, give me back my legions!
This book combines this historical event with the metal detector wanderings of Tony Clunn, a British officer who discovered the remains of the battle in the 1980s while searching for Roman coins. It is a fascinating story, for history and for archaeology. Clunn puts his ego aside and gives credit to German scholars for their assistance, but it is amazing how his non-flagging work ethic led to such a great find.
Ever since seeing, and hearing, Brian Blessed scream about this devastating misfortune on the telly production of I, Claudius, I have always wanted to learn more about these lost men and more about the tribes who defeated them. The author devotes time in each chapter to his specific detection and recovery, while also fictionalizing the possible last moments of the haughty Romans. For me, this was the weakest part of the book, as it would veer from reality to historical fiction. Other readers may enjoy this, but it was difficult for me to the point that I tried skipping pages, which is a GoldGato no-no. Otherwise, the research and writing is good.
Years after the great massacre, the Romans returned to gather two of the lost eagle standards, where they found and rescued a handful of remaining POWs from the Germans. The stories told of torture and burnings, thus producing a centuries-long fear of Germania. The tribal leader who produced the greatest German victory, Arminius, was eventually poisoned by his own family. Karma.
Book Season = Winter (cold brooding forest)
Quinctilius Varus, give me back my legions!
This book combines this historical event with the metal detector wanderings of Tony Clunn, a British officer who discovered the remains of the battle in the 1980s while searching for Roman coins. It is a fascinating story, for history and for archaeology. Clunn puts his ego aside and gives credit to German scholars for their assistance, but it is amazing how his non-flagging work ethic led to such a great find.
Ever since seeing, and hearing, Brian Blessed scream about this devastating misfortune on the telly production of I, Claudius, I have always wanted to learn more about these lost men and more about the tribes who defeated them. The author devotes time in each chapter to his specific detection and recovery, while also fictionalizing the possible last moments of the haughty Romans. For me, this was the weakest part of the book, as it would veer from reality to historical fiction. Other readers may enjoy this, but it was difficult for me to the point that I tried skipping pages, which is a GoldGato no-no. Otherwise, the research and writing is good.
Years after the great massacre, the Romans returned to gather two of the lost eagle standards, where they found and rescued a handful of remaining POWs from the Germans. The stories told of torture and burnings, thus producing a centuries-long fear of Germania. The tribal leader who produced the greatest German victory, Arminius, was eventually poisoned by his own family. Karma.
Book Season = Winter (cold brooding forest)
February 22, 2023
A masterful book, an unusual combination of nonfiction (the long-sought hunt for the battlefield, discovery of Roman coins and other artifacts, based on his author's diaries, Roman histories and lots of credit to Clunn's German associates) and fiction (the author's dramatic story of what could have occurred, based on the archaeological discoveries and his research. This spotlights the human story and gives needed context to what happened in that dark German forest in AD 9).
It's two different approaches, and writing styles, but stick with it, you'll be rewarded.
The author, a retired British Army major and very good amateur archaeologist, had been working on a second book about the battle's aftermath (and what happened to Arminius, the German who cleverly led the attacking warriors that annihilated three Roman legions) when he suffered a debilitating stroke in the fall of 2010. He died in August 2014.
It's two different approaches, and writing styles, but stick with it, you'll be rewarded.
The author, a retired British Army major and very good amateur archaeologist, had been working on a second book about the battle's aftermath (and what happened to Arminius, the German who cleverly led the attacking warriors that annihilated three Roman legions) when he suffered a debilitating stroke in the fall of 2010. He died in August 2014.
April 9, 2012
This book is a must-read for Germanists and those interested in field archaeology. A fascinating story of on-the-ground German history for anyone who's lived or traveled in Germany. It is not for someone looking for a quick summary of the Varus battle. Perhaps the account is not as cogent as it would be if written by a professional author, but I am glad that the author told it in his own words. There are plenty of books written by people who've only read about Varus and Arminius. Clunn spent years walking the ground they trod and unearthing the objects they left behind. His notes are a treasure trove of their own.
The book tells the story of a British military physician's role in the discovery of one of the most important battleground sites in European history, and interwoven in his recollections, a retelling of the destruction of the Army of the Rhine by one they trusted, the German-born cavalry officer Arminius. This is the battle that set the Roman-barbarian divide at the Rhine. Without it, there would have been no Germany as we know it. There would be no England as we know it. The failure of Rome to pacify the Germanic tribes would have a profound effect on European medieval history and consequently on the modern west.
Following the traces left by 19th century historian Theodor Mommsen and stories of locals about Roman silver and gold, Tony Clunn set out with a Fisher metal detector and an eye for how an army would move over terrain. Historians had long believed that the battle had taken place in the Teutoburger forest. The finds that Clunn uncovered started a decade-long excavation that revealed that the battlefield was actually further north, near Kalkriese. Clunn believes that the earlier researchers had mistranslated the Latin saltus as forest rather than as the Teutoburger Pass.
The book jumps back and forth from descriptions of Clunn's painstaking excavation and meandering of German bureacracy, and a fictionalized account of the battle and the events leading up to it. This can be confusing and the journal notes of Clunn's work could be dull to the non-archaeologist. The author also takes rabbit trails into other archaeological sites in the Minden- Kalkriese area, such as a port on the Weser and a sacred grove Arminius might have used as a camp. However, after a slow start the book picks up to what I found an exciting pace. It is one of the best and most detailed accounts of the Varus battle I've come across, plausible and gripping.
The author's imagination is obviously fired by this story and by the sense of history in the stone, mountains and forest of Germany. Someone with no background in the history or German geography may have a hard time following, but I found Clunn's enthusiasm contagious. He's a hero of mine.
The book tells the story of a British military physician's role in the discovery of one of the most important battleground sites in European history, and interwoven in his recollections, a retelling of the destruction of the Army of the Rhine by one they trusted, the German-born cavalry officer Arminius. This is the battle that set the Roman-barbarian divide at the Rhine. Without it, there would have been no Germany as we know it. There would be no England as we know it. The failure of Rome to pacify the Germanic tribes would have a profound effect on European medieval history and consequently on the modern west.
Following the traces left by 19th century historian Theodor Mommsen and stories of locals about Roman silver and gold, Tony Clunn set out with a Fisher metal detector and an eye for how an army would move over terrain. Historians had long believed that the battle had taken place in the Teutoburger forest. The finds that Clunn uncovered started a decade-long excavation that revealed that the battlefield was actually further north, near Kalkriese. Clunn believes that the earlier researchers had mistranslated the Latin saltus as forest rather than as the Teutoburger Pass.
The book jumps back and forth from descriptions of Clunn's painstaking excavation and meandering of German bureacracy, and a fictionalized account of the battle and the events leading up to it. This can be confusing and the journal notes of Clunn's work could be dull to the non-archaeologist. The author also takes rabbit trails into other archaeological sites in the Minden- Kalkriese area, such as a port on the Weser and a sacred grove Arminius might have used as a camp. However, after a slow start the book picks up to what I found an exciting pace. It is one of the best and most detailed accounts of the Varus battle I've come across, plausible and gripping.
The author's imagination is obviously fired by this story and by the sense of history in the stone, mountains and forest of Germany. Someone with no background in the history or German geography may have a hard time following, but I found Clunn's enthusiasm contagious. He's a hero of mine.
June 3, 2021
When I read some of the reviews of this book which complained of no images and maps, I was a little hesitant and was relieved to find that my Kindle edition had everything. There were indeed image plates, photos, and maps. The only thing I did not see were pictures of ALL the coins Clunn found; just the best specimens.
Nevertheless, Clunn's find was more than just impressive. For his work, he was given high honors in both Britain and Germany. I can't think of any other amateur historian and sleuth in modern times being rewarded as such. Clunn was very careful and methodical; by contrast, when I was watching The Curse of Oak Island on the History Channel, the show documented previous searchers who took a slash and dig method. The Laginas on Oak Island might not have known Clunn, but they used his methods - do as much research as possible, talk to local historians and residents who know all the local legends (even if they were later found to be fabricated), and above all, partner with the real academic experts.
I also found the historical recreation - the dramatization - intriguing. While it might be "fake", it makes the story come alive. I have read other historical fictions so I treated these portions of the book in the same veil. All in all, this is worth reading if you are interested in the early Roman Empire. Treat it as a primer, not the final scholarly work.
Nevertheless, Clunn's find was more than just impressive. For his work, he was given high honors in both Britain and Germany. I can't think of any other amateur historian and sleuth in modern times being rewarded as such. Clunn was very careful and methodical; by contrast, when I was watching The Curse of Oak Island on the History Channel, the show documented previous searchers who took a slash and dig method. The Laginas on Oak Island might not have known Clunn, but they used his methods - do as much research as possible, talk to local historians and residents who know all the local legends (even if they were later found to be fabricated), and above all, partner with the real academic experts.
I also found the historical recreation - the dramatization - intriguing. While it might be "fake", it makes the story come alive. I have read other historical fictions so I treated these portions of the book in the same veil. All in all, this is worth reading if you are interested in the early Roman Empire. Treat it as a primer, not the final scholarly work.
December 5, 2023
I loved the scientific data that this British officer accumulated with a metal detector while stationed on active duty in Germany. His careful recording and logical actions located with reasonable certainty what others had not been able to PinPoint since A.D. 9.
June 23, 2010
The epic tale of a man and his metal detector. Snore.
January 31, 2023
I really, really, really wanted to love this book. The legend of Varus's three destroyed Roman legions in the Teutoburger Wald has always interested me, and I am a total sucker for any sort of archaelogical discovery book. Unfortunately, no matter how much I wanted to love this book and ignore any of its failings, I just couldn't.
The reasons I couldn't love this book are as follows:
1. The book seriously needs maps. Tony Clunn repeatedly talks about all these hills and fields he roamed over, using relative terms to the position of houses or local terrain features (e.g. "about twenty yards from the main road"). I would love to see detailed maps of his finds so I don't have to just envision what he's describing.
2. Pictures would have been really helpful too. This is a book about archaeological discoveries, but there are very few pictures to show the discoveries, not to mention the type of terrain he had to work in.
3. There is quite a bit of repetition, especially with historical quotes. A good editor would have seen this repetition and removed it.
4. This book is more of a personal recollection, so any time the author was not present, we miss important finds on the battlefield, and he just tells us them as an aside.
5. There are many times where the author leaves a teaser like "I'd learn to regret this decision later", but then we don't read about how the bad choice affected him.
6. And finally, the one point that really threw me, was that about a third of the book is Tony Clunn giving a fictional narrative of the actual battle. Since there is no historical record of what actually happened, the author just took some of the actual characters, threw in some made-up ones, and invented a narrative of what MIGHT have occurred during the build up to the battle, and then during the battle itself. I didn't want to read historical fiction--I wanted to read actual archaeological details about the finding of the battlefield. If some of the evidence supported a certain position (E.g based on the distribution of coins and armour, the researchers surmised that the Romans were attacked from one direction and fled to another), then I'm fine with that. But I don't want a completely fictional account tossed into what is supposed to be a factual book.
The reasons I couldn't love this book are as follows:
1. The book seriously needs maps. Tony Clunn repeatedly talks about all these hills and fields he roamed over, using relative terms to the position of houses or local terrain features (e.g. "about twenty yards from the main road"). I would love to see detailed maps of his finds so I don't have to just envision what he's describing.
2. Pictures would have been really helpful too. This is a book about archaeological discoveries, but there are very few pictures to show the discoveries, not to mention the type of terrain he had to work in.
3. There is quite a bit of repetition, especially with historical quotes. A good editor would have seen this repetition and removed it.
4. This book is more of a personal recollection, so any time the author was not present, we miss important finds on the battlefield, and he just tells us them as an aside.
5. There are many times where the author leaves a teaser like "I'd learn to regret this decision later", but then we don't read about how the bad choice affected him.
6. And finally, the one point that really threw me, was that about a third of the book is Tony Clunn giving a fictional narrative of the actual battle. Since there is no historical record of what actually happened, the author just took some of the actual characters, threw in some made-up ones, and invented a narrative of what MIGHT have occurred during the build up to the battle, and then during the battle itself. I didn't want to read historical fiction--I wanted to read actual archaeological details about the finding of the battlefield. If some of the evidence supported a certain position (E.g based on the distribution of coins and armour, the researchers surmised that the Romans were attacked from one direction and fled to another), then I'm fine with that. But I don't want a completely fictional account tossed into what is supposed to be a factual book.
July 17, 2020
When you first come into contact with the book, don't let the title fool you! It has nothing to do with the samurai's and it takes places in the 1930's a very ugly time in history for both the Japanese and Chinese.
The story was achingly beautiful, humane and after turning your last pages you start to ponder more. Tsukiyama's style of writing is so filled with beautiful details of Japan and making me want to visit Tarumi very badly!
The story is centered around Stephan, a young Chinese man who was sent to his Grandfathers beach house in japan in order to recuperate from Tuberculous. Stephen feels a sense of loneliness being very far away from his life and leaving his family back in China as the war goes on, yet Stephen relationship with the only other person in the house, Matsu, the caretaker of his house, strengthens and we begin to watch their friendship blossom and Stephan steps into Matsu's world and makes close ties with two of his friends Sachi and Kenzo. As readers we find ourselves learning more about Matsu's intriguing past and present life while learning more about the Japaneses culture.
The story is filled with vivid images and poetic prose written in a journal making it feel more personal. The story brings about friendship, love and sacrifice and truly an inspirational read.
The story was achingly beautiful, humane and after turning your last pages you start to ponder more. Tsukiyama's style of writing is so filled with beautiful details of Japan and making me want to visit Tarumi very badly!
The story is centered around Stephan, a young Chinese man who was sent to his Grandfathers beach house in japan in order to recuperate from Tuberculous. Stephen feels a sense of loneliness being very far away from his life and leaving his family back in China as the war goes on, yet Stephen relationship with the only other person in the house, Matsu, the caretaker of his house, strengthens and we begin to watch their friendship blossom and Stephan steps into Matsu's world and makes close ties with two of his friends Sachi and Kenzo. As readers we find ourselves learning more about Matsu's intriguing past and present life while learning more about the Japaneses culture.
The story is filled with vivid images and poetic prose written in a journal making it feel more personal. The story brings about friendship, love and sacrifice and truly an inspirational read.
August 8, 2019
This is one of those remarkable tales that makes history make sense in such a clarifying fashion that I not only felt like I was there with the author in his remarkable discoveries, but I was there at the battle too.
Honestly, I’ve read historical novels, but nothing that captured the essence of battle quite like this one.
Told from the PoV of the author in the late 20th and early 21st Centuries, then from the historical record of the time, then in a fictional account by the author of the events his work has revealed, this was a truly inspiring in so many ways, and it continues to be inspiring even now.
‘And if you stand and listen carefully on this spot you will hear...nothing. Kalkreise is a very peaceful and somber place, a testament to, and a graveyard for, the thousands of Romans who perished and the two Eagles that were captured at the Varusschlacht of 9AD. And it is where I still seek the golden Eagle of the Seventeenth Legion in my continuing quest for the lost legions of Varus.’
And so the last line of this story hit me, and I was saddened to discover that Major Clunn passed away in 2014 without finding the Eagle.
I think of him now with Marcus Aius, who has told him much more of what actually happened in those terrible days, exactly 2010 years ago...
Honestly, I’ve read historical novels, but nothing that captured the essence of battle quite like this one.
Told from the PoV of the author in the late 20th and early 21st Centuries, then from the historical record of the time, then in a fictional account by the author of the events his work has revealed, this was a truly inspiring in so many ways, and it continues to be inspiring even now.
‘And if you stand and listen carefully on this spot you will hear...nothing. Kalkreise is a very peaceful and somber place, a testament to, and a graveyard for, the thousands of Romans who perished and the two Eagles that were captured at the Varusschlacht of 9AD. And it is where I still seek the golden Eagle of the Seventeenth Legion in my continuing quest for the lost legions of Varus.’
And so the last line of this story hit me, and I was saddened to discover that Major Clunn passed away in 2014 without finding the Eagle.
I think of him now with Marcus Aius, who has told him much more of what actually happened in those terrible days, exactly 2010 years ago...
March 9, 2021
In AD9 3 entire Roman Legions plus auxiliaries and civilians, some 30,000 people were massacred in the forests of Germany. It's the founding event of the German Nation when they most decidedly did not become part of the Roman world.
The site of the battlefield was lost in the mists of time. The author was a major in the British Army based in Germany and he was determined to solve the mystery. After a lot of research and a bit of luck, his metal detector found the first relic of the ancient battle north of Osnabruck.
The book is partly historical novel, and partly Time Team mega-dig as archaeologists uncover the relics & piece together that desperate fight. This isn't Gladiator or Spartacus versions of Rome, this is the real thing.
The site of the battlefield was lost in the mists of time. The author was a major in the British Army based in Germany and he was determined to solve the mystery. After a lot of research and a bit of luck, his metal detector found the first relic of the ancient battle north of Osnabruck.
The book is partly historical novel, and partly Time Team mega-dig as archaeologists uncover the relics & piece together that desperate fight. This isn't Gladiator or Spartacus versions of Rome, this is the real thing.
September 30, 2018
Great easy entertaining read by the man who really established where the battlefield was. A German group of fighters trapped, defeated and annihilated the 17th, 18th and 19th Roman legions in 9 AD in Saxony. This caused the Romans to change their plans and cease expanding into central Germany. They stopped at the Rhein river. The author demonstrates a wonderful way of bringing the history to life, plus his experiences while searching.
November 19, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author does an excellent job of intertwining the history of the famous lost legion, with the modern day discoveries and archeological investigative techniques to give us strong account of what happened in the Black Forest centuries ago.
September 11, 2022
A little disappointing, more a biography of his archaeological adventures in Germany interspersed with a fictionalised story about Varus' last campaign.. It really needs more maps (and better) with all the mentioned locations and more details of his finds.
June 11, 2018
Roman disaster
A very good review of the extraordinary finds that led to the discovery of the battlefield, and an exciting story of the final battle
A very good review of the extraordinary finds that led to the discovery of the battlefield, and an exciting story of the final battle
June 21, 2023
An Excellent Book
The author managed to take what would have been a boring narration and turn it into a very readable piece.
The author managed to take what would have been a boring narration and turn it into a very readable piece.
January 6, 2025
An interesting read made more fascinating by reading quickly as some of Clunn's book is overly padded and distracts from the real and better story. Tony Clunn was a UK soldier stationed in Germany during the 1980s who sought to find the actual location of the battle known Germans as the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest and to the Romans as Varus's Lost Legions. In 9 AD a German tribal prince named Arminus destroyed 3 Roman legions under Varus as they headed back to their winter fortresses along the Rhine in northern Germany and he sought to make himself king of the Germans. This staggering defeat ended Roman attempts to subjugate the lands beyond the Rhine and introduced a permanent fault line in Europe with massive consequences for the next 2,000 years.
For years German historians had believed the site of this founding event in German nationalism happened right in the Teutoberg Forest and even built a massive temple there in the 19th century during Bismarck's German unification. Trouble was no one had found any archaeological evidence of the battle within miles of the temple. Now over the years dozens of alternate locations for the fight had been put forth, but Tony Clunn believed that due to some slight misinterpretations of Roman historical records and a close read of local topography the real location was about 50-60 miles away in a series of dry track bottle necks between bogs that would have made perfect ambush points for the German hordes. At first Clunn worked alone on weekends with his metal detector, but as he turned up more and more Roman coins and artifacts, German historians and state archaeology authorities started to believe Clunn was right. This expanded effort and accompanying excavations confirmed that along those peaty and sandy tracks amongst the marshes a massive running battle had occurred.
Clunn has the core of a great story here, but he does waste time with needless worm-holing into stories peripheral to the central narrative. He also includes, in alternating chapters, a fictionalized account of how Arminus, who worked as a trusted knight for the Romans, led them into a massive trap. At first I hated the historical fiction part, but in the end it almost rivaled his tales of his own investigations. Clunn for some reason gives too much weight to all the Roman coins he found and less to the hinted at other more human artifacts. He mentions some cool stuff like a face mask and an engraved cloak clasp with the name of the Roman who died in those rainy German fields, but all the coin emphasis makes it sound like people were just running around sprinkling loose change everywhere.
For years German historians had believed the site of this founding event in German nationalism happened right in the Teutoberg Forest and even built a massive temple there in the 19th century during Bismarck's German unification. Trouble was no one had found any archaeological evidence of the battle within miles of the temple. Now over the years dozens of alternate locations for the fight had been put forth, but Tony Clunn believed that due to some slight misinterpretations of Roman historical records and a close read of local topography the real location was about 50-60 miles away in a series of dry track bottle necks between bogs that would have made perfect ambush points for the German hordes. At first Clunn worked alone on weekends with his metal detector, but as he turned up more and more Roman coins and artifacts, German historians and state archaeology authorities started to believe Clunn was right. This expanded effort and accompanying excavations confirmed that along those peaty and sandy tracks amongst the marshes a massive running battle had occurred.
Clunn has the core of a great story here, but he does waste time with needless worm-holing into stories peripheral to the central narrative. He also includes, in alternating chapters, a fictionalized account of how Arminus, who worked as a trusted knight for the Romans, led them into a massive trap. At first I hated the historical fiction part, but in the end it almost rivaled his tales of his own investigations. Clunn for some reason gives too much weight to all the Roman coins he found and less to the hinted at other more human artifacts. He mentions some cool stuff like a face mask and an engraved cloak clasp with the name of the Roman who died in those rainy German fields, but all the coin emphasis makes it sound like people were just running around sprinkling loose change everywhere.
November 6, 2014
In the fall of AD 9, Publius Varus, governor of Germania, went off across the Rhine to teach the local tribes a lesson, but he fatally misjudged the situation and lost three entire Roman legions. As a result, the Empire’s expansion came to a halt in the north and the Rhine became the de facto boundary between the Latin and Germanic worlds (and still is). But where did the great battle take place? The general area was deducible from Tacitus, who described the disaster in some detail, based on the reports of the few survivors, but two hundred years of historical and archaeological research had failed to pinpoint the site. Enter Clunn, a professional in the British army stationed in northern Germany in the mid-1980s, and an avid and intelligent amateur archaeologist armed with a high-quality metal detector. Partly by careful adherence to methodical planning, partly from unyielding doggedness, and partly from sheer luck, he began to turn up not only coins locally minted by Varus (the legionaries’ pay) but also lead sling-stones, which showed the presence of auxiliary troops. The professionals soon became involved and a full-scale historical site has now been established, including a visitors’ center. Clunn himself became so caught up in the story that when he retired from the military a dozen years later, he settled in the area, and he’s still there. As the first-hand story of his discoveries, how they can be interpreted, and what they mean for the larger story of Roman-German history, this is a fascinating book.
However, the author also made what I regard as the very poor decision to fictionalize a parallel story, imagining what happened on Varus’s march, how the battle played out on a man-to-man basis, and what supposed thoughts went through the heads of the individual soldiers and tribesmen, all of it in long stretches of rather purple italicized prose. Obviously, he’s interpreting events in the light of his own military training and experience -- which is fine. But the book would have been far more successful, I think, if he had written all that as the good amateur historian he obviously is, not as a wannabe historical novelist. For the rest of the story as it should have been written, I strongly recommend The Battle That Stopped Rome (2003), by Peter S. Wells, a well-regarded anthropologist and archaeologist specializing in the Roman period in northern Europe, and who based his own book on Clunn’s discoveries.
However, the author also made what I regard as the very poor decision to fictionalize a parallel story, imagining what happened on Varus’s march, how the battle played out on a man-to-man basis, and what supposed thoughts went through the heads of the individual soldiers and tribesmen, all of it in long stretches of rather purple italicized prose. Obviously, he’s interpreting events in the light of his own military training and experience -- which is fine. But the book would have been far more successful, I think, if he had written all that as the good amateur historian he obviously is, not as a wannabe historical novelist. For the rest of the story as it should have been written, I strongly recommend The Battle That Stopped Rome (2003), by Peter S. Wells, a well-regarded anthropologist and archaeologist specializing in the Roman period in northern Europe, and who based his own book on Clunn’s discoveries.
December 29, 2015
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the subject--the Roman General Varus's legendary defeat by the German warrior Arminius--but it probably wouldn't appeal to any casual readers.
Clunn does fairly well at describing his enthusiasm during his metal-detecting, even though this is not a naturally entertaining storyline. He also did well at presenting an object uncovered--such as a glob of gold, a cape clasp with a name on it, or a parade mask--and then present a fictional account of how that object came to rest in that place. These were the best parts, when fiction was used to complement nonfiction.
My biggest criticism is that there was no real mystery involved. The preface and foreword reveals where the lost battleground took place, removing any "quest" before the book has even properly started.
Clunn does fairly well at describing his enthusiasm during his metal-detecting, even though this is not a naturally entertaining storyline. He also did well at presenting an object uncovered--such as a glob of gold, a cape clasp with a name on it, or a parade mask--and then present a fictional account of how that object came to rest in that place. These were the best parts, when fiction was used to complement nonfiction.
My biggest criticism is that there was no real mystery involved. The preface and foreword reveals where the lost battleground took place, removing any "quest" before the book has even properly started.
September 13, 2008
The Roman general Varus lost his life, and three Roman legions in the Teutoburg forest in 9 ad. Over the course of time, the site of Varus' defeat and doomed flight have become a bit murky. Legend says where the battle took place, but there was, it appears, lively local debate about the correctness of the attribution.
Tony Clunn was stationed in Germany as a physician and developed an advanced amateur interest in the archaelogy of the battle. In his text he claims, rather persuasively, to have found the course of Varus' soldiers' rout.
The book is fascinating as a quest book and as an historical record of the battle. the only think that detracts from it, and keeps it from being rated a four, it the poor editing.
I recommend it highly for its content.
Tony Clunn was stationed in Germany as a physician and developed an advanced amateur interest in the archaelogy of the battle. In his text he claims, rather persuasively, to have found the course of Varus' soldiers' rout.
The book is fascinating as a quest book and as an historical record of the battle. the only think that detracts from it, and keeps it from being rated a four, it the poor editing.
I recommend it highly for its content.
December 27, 2013
Respectable book on the discovery of the true site of the Battle of the Teutoburger Wald where Rome suffered its greatest defeat. Tony Clunn nicely describes his discovery of coinage and artifacts near Kalkriese. The riveting account of his discovery is interspersed with a fictitious account of the events leading up to and including the battle. The historical fiction is actually better written than Clunn's description of the discovery. Most frustrating is the lack of maps. Though not quite a well written as it could be, the book does capture you with the excitement of a major archeological discovery. Well worth reading!
March 14, 2015
This book would have been more valuable if it had concentrated on the clues that led Clunn to make his discoveries or conclusions. The story was so saturated with coin finds . . . which may be exciting for the person finding them, but it makes for boring reading. Furthermore, Clunn would tease with hints about information that he overlooked at first but that revealed important information, but then never clearly specified what that information was or what finds were the result. It's understandable that the book was written by an amateur archeologist and an amateur writer, which makes it, it some ways, endearing. But the armchair archeologist needs a little more to keep her going.
December 9, 2013
Fascinating! I stumbled upon this book by accident. I was looking for books on the lost Ninth Legion, and my search popped this one up. Much like the artifacts found at the Varus battle site, this book was a treasure! The author blends a historical/semi fictional account of the ambush and running battle with the story of the actual archaeological search. He backs up his accounts of the story through the locations of various artifacts and creates a compelling vision of how the last days of those poor Roman soldiers.
January 16, 2014
Awesome blend of historical fact verse fiction in which Tony takes you not only through his explorations and excavations of what eventually ends up being one of the greatest Roman battle discoveries in history, but also keeps you begging to read more with his fictional accounts of Marcus Aius, a real Roman centurion whose own personally engraved chain mail fasteners were discovered amongst the fields of battle. Warning - not for the casual reader.
January 23, 2016
A great mystery resolved.
For anyone with even a passing interest in Roman history, this book fills in a great blank. It was a military disaster of the first magnitude and Tony Clunn makes it personal by his gift for turning historical characters into people. A remarkable achievement.
For anyone with even a passing interest in Roman history, this book fills in a great blank. It was a military disaster of the first magnitude and Tony Clunn makes it personal by his gift for turning historical characters into people. A remarkable achievement.
June 5, 2013
The story inter-mixed with the discovery of the different battle sites was done very well. It help to put into perceptive how we'll the German tribes planned for this and how argent the Roman leader were to think that they could not be put down.
October 22, 2011
Just finished and was slightly disappointed. I personally woukd have preferred the histical story retold followed by Tony's journey of discovery. The fictional account did nothing for me.
February 24, 2015
Strategic battle that echoes through history
Very good read that blends history and archeology. Clunn is an avid amateur whose techniques brought the battle to light.
Y
Very good read that blends history and archeology. Clunn is an avid amateur whose techniques brought the battle to light.
Y
February 17, 2016
While this is an interesting story, as an archaeologist it even bored me.
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