Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
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Hero of Rome
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NOVEMBER 2013 (Group Read 1) Hero of Rome by Douglas Jackson
The author, Douglas Jackson, is going to be doing an interview with me on the group blog to coincide with this group read. So don't you lot start early!! Because you are surely going to want to read the interview first and I won't have that up on the blog until late October. :)
I'm ahead of you I'm afraid, just about to start his latest in this series. Looking forward to your interview with him Terri.
Hi Steve,Ah. A shame. But please feel free to join in the discussion even though you have read it.
That goes for any member who has read it. Your company on the read of Hero of Rome is welcome.
Will do! If I had time I'd read it again. :-)
Loved it that much hey. :)
Yeah, pretty much! Don't get me wrong - some books, like Fowles The Magus are so powerful that on a 5 star rating system they'd be a 6. Hero of Rome isn't quite at that life-altering level, but each book in the series is a solid 4-5 stars. Not only that, in a seriously crowded section of the histfic genre (i.e. Roman) Douglas manages to make his stories memorable and just different enough to stand out.I am a big fan :-)
Steven wrote: "Yeah, pretty much! Don't get me wrong - some books, like Fowles The Magus are so powerful that on a 5 star rating system they'd be a 6. Hero of Rome isn't quite at that life-altering level, but eac..."While I haven't yet read this book, I agree that the few Douglas Jackson books I have read are memorable and different from what others have on offer. How the people surrounding those known to us through history coped with every day life with the positions and constraints imposed by those who we do know from history. They're more personal stories I think.
Darcy wrote: "Steven wrote: "Yeah, pretty much! Don't get me wrong - some books, like Fowles The Magus are so powerful that on a 5 star rating system they'd be a 6. Hero of Rome isn't quite at that life-altering..."Thank you for your opinion; I'm debating whether to buy this one or not.
I have Douglas Jackson's answers back for the blog interview.I think you are all going to be thrilled with his answers.
Very interesting interview.
If my library wasn't so perverse as to have everything but the first book in this series I'd give it try. I do own another of the authors books though so this may be a good time to finally read that and see if it's worth trying to track down this one.
My library has nothing by him. :( At least they have the other one.
My local library has ONE copy of his new one, and at least 8 copies of Bernard Cornwell's newest. Clearly, my library has plenty of cash to spare.
Where do you live, you lucky devil? Mine is strapped for cash to buy books. One rule this year is they are not adding to series. Of course our taxes will go up, but no more money will come to the library. :(
Jane wrote: "Where do you live, you lucky devil?
Mine is strapped for cash to buy books. One rule this year is they are not adding to series. Of course our taxes will go up, but no more money will come to t..."
Same here, Jane. I feel your pain.
Mine is strapped for cash to buy books. One rule this year is they are not adding to series. Of course our taxes will go up, but no more money will come to t..."
Same here, Jane. I feel your pain.
Derek, I'm sure your situation is even more dire than mine. :(Just ordered Hero of Rome from Powell's earlier today. I hope it comes soon.
Just started
...looking good so far...will back off a little until 11/1... :-)
waiting on interlibrary...
just ordered yesterday from Powell's, so may not have exactly on 11/1.
I got curious and checked to see what my libraries situation was with the book (even though I can't get there to borrow it). They only have ONE copy and it is one of those large prints for the sight impaired. :\ So even if I could have gotten to the library i would not have borrowed it. I do not like reading those large prints. They read in my head as if I am reading a children's book and it does the story no favours.
They don't read in my head like J books but the large print gives me a headache after only a few pp. I tried one on the Raj [the Sepoy mutiny] and had to stop. I didn't even mention it on here.
I live near Glasgow, and since Doug is a Scot, the libraries here are probably more likely to stock his books. I do think buying so many copies of Bernard Cornwell's new one is overkill though, even if the series does kick ass.
They must have to buy a lot of any new Cornwell, especially a new Sharpe and Uhtred. The waiting lists for new ones in those two series' are enormous. At least they usually are in my library. They buy about 8 copies of those ones and the waiting lists will still blow out to 90 people waiting for copies.
broke down and bought it on Kobo....I will be ready to go on Nov 1
ha. :) No willpower...I understand..
Terri wrote: "ha. :) No willpower...I understand.."'Hello, my name is Daniel, and I am a bibliophile'
'Hi, Daniel'
'It has been 16 hours since I bought my last book....'
lol! 16 hours? I see we have a long way to go to help you, Daniel. You are not buying nearly enough books!
I have posted the other author interview to the blog (the James Aitcheson interview which coincides with the medieval group read).I decided I would not post the Douglas jackson interview at the same time. I will stagger the interviews by a couple days. Post the Douglas Jackson interview on the 1st.
Hope you can wait a few more hours for that one. :)
Looking forward to it, Terri. Nearly finished his latest!
I'll wait until I finish - I was thinking 4, but it's getting better. :-)
A good ending can get a book a star back. :)
The interview with Douglas Jackson is up on the group blog. Enjoy!http://ancientandmedievalmayhem.blogs...
Terri, Great interview!!!
Good one isn't it. I thoroughly enjoyed his answers. I am always so grateful when authors understand that we are history lovers as well as historical fiction lovers here and therefore, they can speak naturally about such things. Because we get it.
Oh, by the way...I still have some hyperlinking work to do on the interview. once I got the interview all formatted and some of the hyper linking done, my butt started to hurt from sitting down too long. :)I will finish the hyperlinking later.
Okay. All hyperlinks done. Readers should be able to go to a webpage whenever they see see such things as a real life person or place or battle mentioned.
Great interview Terri, shared it on FB and Twitter.
In case anyone isn't sure what oppida (singular would be oppidum are here's a definition http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OppidumHere is the wiki explaining the Battle/Siege of Alesia mentioned in Chapter II. Here is the official site for the reconstruction and museum http://www.alesia.com/english_fr_0003... (language can be changed at the top right corner where there's a wee white box with the word Francais in it).
Steven wrote: "Great interview Terri, shared it on FB and Twitter."Thanks, Steve.
I think the interview definitely needs spreadin' round, in thanks for the thought the author put into the answers. :)
I'm really regretting that I did not source the book for this read. I feel that even though I steer clear of Roman fiction, that I would like to read this one.Fingers crossed you all enjoy it.
Darcy wrote: "In case anyone isn't sure what oppida (singular would be oppidum are here's a definition http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OppidumHere is the wiki explaining the Battle/Siege of Alesia mentioned in Ch..."
This museum model is cool. I have only seen sites (via books and tv) I've never seen a model or reconstruction before. Interesting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Opp...
I think you would really enjoy this book Terri. His books really are nice reads because like M.C. Scott he prioritises characters over events. The military strategy is important and described, but no need to necessarily include details of every battle. More about the motivations.
I'm not sure why Jackson calls Camulodunum Colonia as that just means 'colony', usually attached to a larger centre. If someone has a more clear explanation, I'm interested because I got a bit confused with that.At any rate in Chapter 5 he begins to mention The Temple of the Divine Claudius - this was located on the site where the current Colchester Castle stands and that is currently under refurbishment. As a result the website isn't very comprehensive. I did manage to find another site that was created prior to the Museum's (located in the Castle). This one has a detailed virtual tour of the Castle from pre-history until the ECW.
A model of the Temple is included, as are a number of Romano-Celtic artefacts. http://www.camulos.com/virtual/castle...
Mark wrote: "Thanks for sharing.":)
Darcy wrote: "I think you would really enjoy this book Terri. His books really are nice reads because like M.C. Scott he prioritises characters over events. The military strategy is important and described, but ..."Interesting. And does he show respect for the native tribes and their culture?
As you know there was another book we read as a group read where the local populace in Britain could have been native Americans leaping out of trees. They were completely dehumanised, devoid of culture and handled badly, in my opinion.
Darcy wrote: "I'm not sure why Jackson calls Camulodunum Colonia as that just means 'colony', usually attached to a larger centre. If someone has a more clear explanation, I'm interested because I got a bit conf..."Thanks for sharing that link, Darcy! (mate, you have handed over some cool links today..:)..).
Great pictures on the site.
Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction
Books mentioned in this topic
Defender of Rome (other topics)The Skystone (other topics)
The Winter King (other topics)
The Skystone (other topics)
The Light Bearer (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Angus Donald (other topics)M.C. Scott (other topics)
James Aitcheson (other topics)
The Roman grip on Britain is weakening. Emperor Nero has turned his face away from this far-flung outpost. The Druids are on the rise, spreading seeds of rebellion among the British tribes. Roman cruelty and exploitation has angered their British subjects. The warrior queen Boudicca will lead the tribes to war.
Standing against the rising tide of Boudicca's rebellion is Roman Tribune, Gaius Valerius Verrens, Commander of the veteran legions at Colonia. Valerius leads the veterans in a last stand against the unstoppable horde of Boudicca's rebel army. Step by step, the bloodied survivors are forced back into the Temple of Claudius. It is here that Valerius wins lifelong fame and the accolade Hero of Rome.