Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
This topic is about
Hero of Rome
Monthly Group Reads
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NOVEMBER 2013 (Group Read 1) Hero of Rome by Douglas Jackson
I don't remember this book as well as the more recent ones, but I'm surprised at the suggestion the author prioritises characters. I don't see it - I love the books but I don't think the characters are particularly developed. Funny how opinions differ! ;-)
Terri wrote: "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 ..."*blushes*
Well, I aim to help any one unfamiliar with some of this stuff. I like it when other people do it for books on subjects I'm completely ignorant about. Plus, mate they're Celts...they are to me much like Vikings are to you ;-)
Darcy wrote: " Plus, mate they're Celts...they are to me much like Vikings are to you ;-) .."haha. well that is a good way to explain it. :)
Steven wrote: "I don't remember this book as well as the more recent ones, but I'm surprised at the suggestion the author prioritises characters. I don't see it - I love the books but I don't think the characters..."I do agree the characters aren't overly developed, but I was comparing this book to the one alluded to by Terri, and in that sense, the characters are far more developed, so in that I should have probably been more clear :)
I probably should have said that Jackson priorities the story over battle scenes.
I have added a video to the group's videos to coincide with this group read.*NB I apologise in advance for the bad acting by the woman playing Boudica. :)
https://www.goodreads.com/videos/5412...
Chapter FourteenJackson mentions a mansio and I'd thought I'd post some links for that too. For definition and history a wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansio
For those who like models:
http://www.pustertal.org/en/highlight...
Darcy wrote: "Chapter FourteenJackson mentions a mansio and I'd thought I'd post some links for that too. For definition and history a wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansio
For those who like models:
http..."
I like models. :)
Seen many a Mansio being dug on Time Team....or at least a Mansio, next day, unknown high status building, ritual building, next day its a balneae. :)
hahah, yeah!Just like temples, often ended up being bath houses by end of day 2.
I can see Francis Prior now..."Just look at the deposits. Rituals and worship have been done here. This is a temple, Tony, it just has to be!"
And then John Gater and Stewart Ainsworthy are looking at the geophys and the historical documentation and scratch their heads in disagreement.
Yes, I can definitely see them doing that. :D
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 ..."I'm always interested in fully-fleshed characters. Battle scenes, etc. to my mind, get a bit redundant.
I've had some awful group read bad luck.As many of you know, I can't get to my library anymore (at least I thought I couldn't....I have just discovered - this very hour - that my library is open Saturday mornings!!!! :D...which means I can now get there)...anyway, that bit in brackets is not part of this story...
The reason I couldn't get to my library was because it is a goodly distance away and my hubby used to go there for me on his way to work. Hubby changed his job and no longer went passed the library.
This has been my sad library story for months.
This afternoon, hubby rings up, says "I'm going passed the library, you want anything?" I said "heck yeah" I jumped online to the library database all excited to see if my library had a copy of hero of Rome available, only to find..*sniff*..that they did have a copy and it was transferred to a different library this very day.
So no hero of Rome for me.
Douglas Jackson tried to comment to reply to your Colonia musings, Darcy, but he had trouble commenting. I think I have worked out why...In the meantime, this message was passed onto me.
From the author;
Roman name for Camulodunum was Colonia Claudia Victricensis. Must have had a shorter version, thus Colonia.
For those wondering which of Darcy's posts referred to Colonia..Message 45.
Now I am wondering why Colonia Claudia Victricensis.What is the meaning and were there any other areas of Britain or towns with such lengthy names?
I am not as far along within the discussion as it seems of you are as I was not able to start reading until last night, but thus far I am enjoying the book. The mention of Boudicca in the books description is one of the things which peeked my interest as she is a personal favorite of mine but there do not seem to be many books featuring her or written about her. Of course books like this always make me a bit frustrated when reading, because even though I know what the outcome will be, I tend to be very pro Celt, though I admire the Romans for what they were able to accomplish, even if I do not in fact agree with many of the things they did.
I really liked how this book jumped right into the action from the start.
Terri wrote: "I've had some awful group read bad luck.As many of you know, I can't get to my library anymore (at least I thought I couldn't....I have just discovered - this very hour - that my library is open ..."
Shoot, shucks and other assorted comments :)
Silver wrote: "I am not as far along within the discussion as it seems of you are as I was not able to start reading until last night, but thus far I am enjoying the book. The mention of Boudicca in the books des..."This is what has piqued my interest too. That the Celts and Boudica are mentioned in a way that makes them sound like they are more than just 'savages' in the book. That they feature as a nation warring with Romans.
Terri wrote: "I've had some awful group read bad luck.As many of you know, I can't get to my library anymore (at least I thought I couldn't....I have just discovered - this very hour - that my library is open ..."
I - as a fan of Battlestar Galactica - would add my "frak"! It is very sad to see all the trouble you dead tree lovers have to go through to get your books... ;)
Anyway, Wyrd bið ful aræd!
Just to update my last post. Colonia Claudia Victricensis means Claudius's City of Victory. An Emperor would create a colonia (colony) for retiring legionaries, who were sometimes guaranteed a plot of land as well as a pension after their twenty five years of service. In this case the land was taken from Trinovante lords defeated during the invasion. The former soldiers would create a militia of reservists ready to pick up their swords in times of crisis. Cologne on the Rhine is another example of a colonia.
Doug wrote: "Just to update my last post. Colonia Claudia Victricensis means Claudius's City of Victory. An Emperor would create a colonia (colony) for retiring legionaries, who were sometimes guaranteed a plot..."I knew there had to be something! Thanks for the information Doug. :)
Terri wrote: "I've had some awful group read bad luck.As many of you know, I can't get to my library anymore (at least I thought I couldn't....I have just discovered - this very hour - that my library is open ..."
Personally, I think they should prioritise your needs. You know, check with you before they transfer stuff :)
Doug wrote: "Just to update my last post. Colonia Claudia Victricensis means Claudius's City of Victory. An Emperor would create a colonia (colony) for retiring legionaries, who were sometimes guaranteed a plot..."Doggone, you beat me to it. I knew the first word and the 'plot of land' and 'pension' etc. I could figure out the rest from Latin in high school years ago. That double genitive is tricky. I believe Cologne in Germany was once a city for retired veterans if I'm not mistaken.
12% in and enjoying this story so far.
Terri wrote: "I've had some awful group read bad luck.As many of you know, I can't get to my library anymore (at least I thought I couldn't....I have just discovered - this very hour - that my library is open ..."
Just a thought: put your name on the waiting list anyway. The borrower who has it now might be like me--sometimes I read a book in a couple of days then get it back to the library. Keep checking back. You might get lucky. Any other libraries in your LS have it?
Silver wrote: "I am not as far along within the discussion as it seems of you are as I was not able to start reading until last night, but thus far I am enjoying the book. The mention of Boudicca in the books des..."Gosh, I've seen and read many with her as a character. It is interesting to read different authors' portrayals.
Jane wrote: "Silver wrote: "I am not as far along within the discussion as it seems of you are as I was not able to start reading until last night, but thus far I am enjoying the book. The mention of Boudicca i..."Can you recommend some good ones? The only other books I have heard of about her is a series by Manda Scott, but I have not yet read any of them.
You might want to consider Imperial Governor: The Great Novel of Boudicca's Revolt. It is Suetonius Paulinus' story, but Boudicca is certainly a major character.
You may get some other ideas from this thread on another site:http://www.historicalfictiononline.co...
Thanks a lot, I will look into those.
mixal wrote: "I - as a fan of Battlestar Galactica - would add my "frak"! It is very sad to see all the trouble you dead tree lovers have to go through to get your books... ;)Anyway, Wyrd bið ful aræd
.."
hahaha. Smart arse. :)
Jane wrote: " I believe Cologne in Germany was once a city for retired veterans if I'm not mistaken. .."I believe Doug beat you to that one too. :)
Welcome to A&M Doug. Hope you enjoy everyone's feedback. :)
Terri wrote: "Jane wrote: " I believe Cologne in Germany was once a city for retired veterans if I'm not mistaken. .."I believe Doug beat you to that one too. :)"
Yup, you're right! I hadn't read the very last sentence, oh well... I saw it later.
Mailman brought my copy earlier today, so I've finally started it--only a few pp. in but it's looking good.
Jane, I took your advice the other day. Thinking positive I went online to reserve HoR from the library in case the person who got it was a fast reader. Alas. Someone beat me to it. There was already a reserve and I am second in line.I really don't think this group read and I were meant to be. :)
I'm a little further along. I had a question about names: In the Prologue, the character is named Gwilym--I know it's Welsh and that fits where he comes from. The leading lady: at least I think she'll be the leading lady: is named Maeve, which I know is an Irish name. This Maeve is from Eastern Britain. That name sounds odd for the location in Colonia.
Though I have rather enjoyed the way this book jumped right into the action from the start, and I am not opposed to reading about battle scenes, and at times enjoy them. I do find the way wars were fought prior to modern technology quite interesting. I love swords and ancient weaponry, but I agree with what a previous poster said about the fact that it would be nice to have a bit more character development within the book. We see it a little bit with Valerius and Crespo, but I would like to see more individual characters start to emerge within the story.
I wonder if the characters develop more in the next books?? Steve?? Or anybody who has read the rest of the series??
I'm seeing some after they enter Colonia and meet some of the people there.
Terri wrote: "I wonder if the characters develop more in the next books?? Steve?? Or anybody who has read the rest of the series??"
I am still pretty early into the reading, so it might start to happen later within the story. But the first few chapters have just been mostly battle scenes.
Terri wrote: "Jane, I took your advice the other day. Thinking positive I went online to reserve HoR from the library in case the person who got it was a fast reader. Alas. Someone beat me to it. There was alrea..."Rats!
Now you can follow this in future with other things. If you see the library has something even if someone has it checked out at that time, put your name in anyway and leave it in.
I sure have learned my lesson. :)
Jane wrote: "I'm a little further along. I had a question about names: In the Prologue, the character is named Gwilym--I know it's Welsh and that fits where he comes from. The leading lady: at least I think ..."Hi Jane, naming non-Roman people from ancient periods in Britain is one of the toughest parts of writing a novel about those times. Apart from a few kings, some of whom (Caratacus, Calgacus and the largely made up list of Geoffrey of Monmouth) have been Romanised. The only woman we have is Boudicca/Boadicea, who is unlikely to have been called that for the majority of her lifetime. Britain was made up of dozens of different tribes and sub-tribes, some of whom may have had different language roots and therefore different naming traditions. In the historical record the early people of southern Britain seem to have been driven into the mountains of Wales by waves of invaders (Welsh was even the original language of the Scottish Borders where I hail from), so our best bet is that the names had either P-Celtic (Welsh/Breton or Cornish) or Q-Celtic (Irish/Scots) roots. Maeve originally started life as Medb, who is an Irish goddess, but you also have to give your characters names that suit them. I liked Maeve so Maeve she became.
Finished! It was a great ride, thanks for this month read! The only downside was that it seemed to me that the story was a bit rushed towards the end.Do not read this spoiler unless you've finished the book:
(view spoiler)
really getting into this story (The wrath of Boudicca is about to be unleashed).
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)
So far, there hasn't been much need for anyone jumping out of trees. ;)
There was a nod at an attempt to deceive an invading force from breaching the oppidum, but that's the most battle there's been so far.
There is a lot of discussion about how the Celts feel about the Romans, so in my opinion there is a balance and respect of the local culture, especially in terms of gods, which I find quite interesting.