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Rome #1
Legion
Legion is a stunning recreation of the life of Roman soldiers at a fort on the Gallic frontier in the late First Century B.C. Centurion Quintus Flavius Rufio returns to Gaul near the Rhine to finish his career with the Twenty-fifth Legion. An invasion by the Germans is imminent, and the veteran Rufio takes command of a century with many recruits whom he must train on the eve of the German onslaught. Rufio's return to Gaul has a wider significance as well. Twenty years earlier, he accidentally killed a young Gallic woman in battle. Still haunted by this, he is confronted by her daughter, orphaned as an infant and now an adult, and his search for redemption takes an unexpected turn in his relationship with her. Legion climaxes with the outnumbered Romans attacking the Germans in a savage battle as the barbarians storm into Gaul in a war of annihilation.
296 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2003
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50 people want to read
About the author
William Altimari
8 books3 followersWilliam Altimari was born and raised in Philadelphia, where he attended Catholic school and received a degree in Anthropology/Archeology from the University of Pennsylvania. He has worked for the Philadelphia Zoological Garden, has excavated fossils in the Canadian badlands for the Provincial Museum of Alberta, and has helped to design and construct a dinosaur exhibit for the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. He is a herpetologist for the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and has written numerous articles and essays on herpetology and paleontology and is a member of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. He and his wife, Barbara live in Pima County, Arizona.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 15, 2017
This novel was certainly a very pleasant surprise! Fairly recent but obscure [to me at least], this was the first Roman military novel that brought home so clearly the role of the Roman army in maintaining the Pax Romana with the help of their civilian allies and such close friendships developing with the indigenous people, not in conquering new lands this time.
The story takes place in Gaul about forty years more or less after Caesar's conquest. A Roman citizen of Greek background, Diocles, travels to a legion based in Gaul at the request of its legate, Sabinus. Diocles is tutor to Sabinus' sons. Sabinus asks him to write a history of the legion's deeds, so people will always remember the XXVth Rapax. Diocles agrees and he and Sabinus think it best he live in a tent group [contubernium] among the soldiers under a centurion and participate in their day-to-day life. He will not take the sacramentum but will be trained with the recruits. A most unusual centurion, Rufio, takes him on. Rufio's century feels it is under an unlucky star. Morale is at a low ebb. As well as training them to fight, Rufio seeks to revive self-confidence, honor, and pride among his men.
The novel consists of excerpts from Diocles' writings and descriptions of how 'basic training' proceeds. We find out much information from Diocles' and the recruits' questions. We see friendships form among the soldiers and the Sequani townspeople, even a sweet love affair between Rufio and a village girl. Rufio is on the eve of retirement, and has returned to Gaul, where he had served as a young man. A complex man, he seeks expiation of guilt for something he had done years before among the Gauls. We see how the Romans keep the peace, and we see deep bonds form among the soldiers themselves and among the soldiers and townspeople. Finally, there is the requisite set-piece battle between the Romans and Sequani against the Suebi, a German tribe. The conflict is as good as other battle scenes I've read elsewhere. With Diocles we atttend the meetings to plan tactics and take part in the final battle. The explanations given for why certain actions are decided upon was clearly spelled out for me. A speech beforehand to the soldiers stresses the importance of fighting for Rome and for their native allies. Heavy rain and fog hamper the forces in the 'Battle of Scorpion Hill' as Diocles terms it.
The novel was well written and was never boring. Style was clipped and terse. Expressions of soldiers' crude humor was never written in a vulgar manner, if that makes any sense. When I got most of the way through I slowed down to make the novel last and was sorry it finally ended. Sometimes the dialogue did become banal. I really liked most of the characters; they were endearing. I didn't like that that the Gauls were all 'white' and the Suebi all 'black'. [The author must have read his [author:Tacitus|2936846] on Germania about the Suebi.]
Centurion Rufio has become a favorite male fictional character. He is an enigma, but a sagacious and omniscient leader. He knows how to inspire loyalty. Had I been a legionary back then, I would have wanted to serve under a Rufio. Years of experience had taught him when to be hard, not harsh, and more important, when to be gentle and compassionate. He seemed to me a father figure like Col. Potter of M*A*S*H. The novel took me right there to 15 BC in Gaul. I will always picture Rufio teaching village children kindness to the weak by example .
Although I regretted the lack of maps or other supplementary material and I assumed the names of the fort and legion were fictitious, good explanations were given in the text. I recommend this as a good introduction to Roman military life.
The story takes place in Gaul about forty years more or less after Caesar's conquest. A Roman citizen of Greek background, Diocles, travels to a legion based in Gaul at the request of its legate, Sabinus. Diocles is tutor to Sabinus' sons. Sabinus asks him to write a history of the legion's deeds, so people will always remember the XXVth Rapax. Diocles agrees and he and Sabinus think it best he live in a tent group [contubernium] among the soldiers under a centurion and participate in their day-to-day life. He will not take the sacramentum but will be trained with the recruits. A most unusual centurion, Rufio, takes him on. Rufio's century feels it is under an unlucky star. Morale is at a low ebb. As well as training them to fight, Rufio seeks to revive self-confidence, honor, and pride among his men.
The novel consists of excerpts from Diocles' writings and descriptions of how 'basic training' proceeds. We find out much information from Diocles' and the recruits' questions. We see friendships form among the soldiers and the Sequani townspeople, even a sweet love affair between Rufio and a village girl. Rufio is on the eve of retirement, and has returned to Gaul, where he had served as a young man. A complex man, he seeks expiation of guilt for something he had done years before among the Gauls. We see how the Romans keep the peace, and we see deep bonds form among the soldiers themselves and among the soldiers and townspeople. Finally, there is the requisite set-piece battle between the Romans and Sequani against the Suebi, a German tribe. The conflict is as good as other battle scenes I've read elsewhere. With Diocles we atttend the meetings to plan tactics and take part in the final battle. The explanations given for why certain actions are decided upon was clearly spelled out for me. A speech beforehand to the soldiers stresses the importance of fighting for Rome and for their native allies. Heavy rain and fog hamper the forces in the 'Battle of Scorpion Hill' as Diocles terms it.
The novel was well written and was never boring. Style was clipped and terse. Expressions of soldiers' crude humor was never written in a vulgar manner, if that makes any sense. When I got most of the way through I slowed down to make the novel last and was sorry it finally ended. Sometimes the dialogue did become banal. I really liked most of the characters; they were endearing. I didn't like that that the Gauls were all 'white' and the Suebi all 'black'. [The author must have read his [author:Tacitus|2936846] on Germania about the Suebi.]
Centurion Rufio has become a favorite male fictional character. He is an enigma, but a sagacious and omniscient leader. He knows how to inspire loyalty. Had I been a legionary back then, I would have wanted to serve under a Rufio. Years of experience had taught him when to be hard, not harsh, and more important, when to be gentle and compassionate. He seemed to me a father figure like Col. Potter of M*A*S*H. The novel took me right there to 15 BC in Gaul. I will always picture Rufio teaching village children kindness to the weak by example .
Although I regretted the lack of maps or other supplementary material and I assumed the names of the fort and legion were fictitious, good explanations were given in the text. I recommend this as a good introduction to Roman military life.
March 4, 2016
Can't recall ever reading a more interesting tale about the army of Rome. More about daily life and less to battle scenes than others. The book ending massive attack by Germans on a well selected and prepared site chosen by the featured senior Centurion was exceptionally well developed.
Almost like the author took his time machine back to be with the Roman Greek recruit story teller.
Days after finishing, some of the images remain clear in memory. Altimari evokes Shipway?
Almost like the author took his time machine back to be with the Roman Greek recruit story teller.
Days after finishing, some of the images remain clear in memory. Altimari evokes Shipway?
March 23, 2016
Instructed to "give these men immortality," a writer learns not just how a Roman legion fights, but why.
William Altimari has clearly done his homework about serving in a Roman legion during the Augustan era—not just the day-to-day duties and occasional clashes with foes, but the inner life of the average grunt. In LEGION, Mr. Altimari tells an engaging and suspenseful story about a legion based in the imagined fortress of Aquabona facing a massive German uprising across the Rhine.
At the outset we’re introduced to Diocles, a Greek writer summoned from Rome by his patron Sabinus, commander of the Twenty-fifth Legion. Although relatively young and new to his post, Sabinus is so impressed by his troops that he asks Diocles to record for posterity what they are doing for Rome: “Give these men immortality,” he urges. Diocles agrees to join a group of recruits and follow them through their training, an experience that will culminate in battle against the ferocious Germans.
Mr. Altimari’s device of an outsider on the inside helps readers see the discipline and dedication that awed Rome’s allies and enemies. Eventually LEGION shifts away from Diocles to become the story of Quintus Rufio, a centurion newly returned to Aquabona who had transferred out years earlier after an accident that killed a local woman.
What endears Rufio to Diocles and his other men is his determination not just to teach them to survive in battle, but to make them worthy of their role in Rome’s destiny. “In order to win, a man has to know why he’s fighting,” Rufio tells his standardbearer. He continues,
"Did you know that the word freedom exists only in Latin and Greek? I mean political freedom—the liberty to speak and argue with praetors and senators and consuls. The freedom to go before courts of law and seek justice. To write or sculpt or sing whatever songs please us. You won’t find that word in Egyptian or Celtic or Syriac. Mention liberty to those people and they won’t even know what you mean…. And we’re fighting for even more than that—we’re fighting for Rome. Not the wealth of Rome but the idea of Rome. Civilization instead of barbarism…. Rome is an idea that exists beyond our own short lives. Beyond time itself."
Considering the barbarians we face today, this view of cultural exceptionalism may make the hairs on the nape of your neck stand up.
LEGION isn’t a polemic, though. It’s a good read, with even a romance woven in. Mr. Altimari, a literate and fluent writer, deserves kudos for the outstanding polish of what appears to have been an independently published book (in 2008). His occasional characterization of the Romans as “Italians” did grate a bit, because the troops were certainly not all from Italy and would not have thought of themselves as Italian. But that’s just a little glitch in what’s otherwise a terrific novel by the gifted signore.
William Altimari has clearly done his homework about serving in a Roman legion during the Augustan era—not just the day-to-day duties and occasional clashes with foes, but the inner life of the average grunt. In LEGION, Mr. Altimari tells an engaging and suspenseful story about a legion based in the imagined fortress of Aquabona facing a massive German uprising across the Rhine.
At the outset we’re introduced to Diocles, a Greek writer summoned from Rome by his patron Sabinus, commander of the Twenty-fifth Legion. Although relatively young and new to his post, Sabinus is so impressed by his troops that he asks Diocles to record for posterity what they are doing for Rome: “Give these men immortality,” he urges. Diocles agrees to join a group of recruits and follow them through their training, an experience that will culminate in battle against the ferocious Germans.
Mr. Altimari’s device of an outsider on the inside helps readers see the discipline and dedication that awed Rome’s allies and enemies. Eventually LEGION shifts away from Diocles to become the story of Quintus Rufio, a centurion newly returned to Aquabona who had transferred out years earlier after an accident that killed a local woman.
What endears Rufio to Diocles and his other men is his determination not just to teach them to survive in battle, but to make them worthy of their role in Rome’s destiny. “In order to win, a man has to know why he’s fighting,” Rufio tells his standardbearer. He continues,
"Did you know that the word freedom exists only in Latin and Greek? I mean political freedom—the liberty to speak and argue with praetors and senators and consuls. The freedom to go before courts of law and seek justice. To write or sculpt or sing whatever songs please us. You won’t find that word in Egyptian or Celtic or Syriac. Mention liberty to those people and they won’t even know what you mean…. And we’re fighting for even more than that—we’re fighting for Rome. Not the wealth of Rome but the idea of Rome. Civilization instead of barbarism…. Rome is an idea that exists beyond our own short lives. Beyond time itself."
Considering the barbarians we face today, this view of cultural exceptionalism may make the hairs on the nape of your neck stand up.
LEGION isn’t a polemic, though. It’s a good read, with even a romance woven in. Mr. Altimari, a literate and fluent writer, deserves kudos for the outstanding polish of what appears to have been an independently published book (in 2008). His occasional characterization of the Romans as “Italians” did grate a bit, because the troops were certainly not all from Italy and would not have thought of themselves as Italian. But that’s just a little glitch in what’s otherwise a terrific novel by the gifted signore.
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February 8, 2017THis is one of the few novels about Roman military life that actually felt real. The characters were well drawn and always seemed human and also they did not seem like modern people put into tunics and togas. This book was certainly worth the rread and ended way too soon.....I highly recommend it.
June 2, 2018
As an author of Roman fiction myself, I tend to be fairly critical of works in my genre.
But “Legion” is one of the good ones.
One of the best in fact. I have to applaud Mr. Altimari for the research that went into this, but the historical detail wasn’t what made me fall in love with the story. It was the characterization, it was the sharp dialogue and beautiful descriptions. Every once in a while you read a book that you can just FEEL how special the story is to the author, and I think this is one of those stories.
Are there things I would change about the pacing and story structure? Sure. There was a few times I was tempted to give up along the way because I didn’t know where it was all going. But if you are one of the wannabe quitters like myself, I implore you to stick with it and give it your best shot. You won’t regret it. Even if there are things you dislike about the book, take it for what it is: a beautiful look at what the camaraderie of military life entails (its rare to find such an accurate depiction, but Altimari’s Centurions remind me so much of some of the NCOs I’ve served with that it’s scary) and the bravery of forgotten men who lived long ago.
I hope Mr. Altimari’s story inspires such bravery in myself, and I hope it inspires such courage in you. This world needs Centurions, now more than ever.
But “Legion” is one of the good ones.
One of the best in fact. I have to applaud Mr. Altimari for the research that went into this, but the historical detail wasn’t what made me fall in love with the story. It was the characterization, it was the sharp dialogue and beautiful descriptions. Every once in a while you read a book that you can just FEEL how special the story is to the author, and I think this is one of those stories.
Are there things I would change about the pacing and story structure? Sure. There was a few times I was tempted to give up along the way because I didn’t know where it was all going. But if you are one of the wannabe quitters like myself, I implore you to stick with it and give it your best shot. You won’t regret it. Even if there are things you dislike about the book, take it for what it is: a beautiful look at what the camaraderie of military life entails (its rare to find such an accurate depiction, but Altimari’s Centurions remind me so much of some of the NCOs I’ve served with that it’s scary) and the bravery of forgotten men who lived long ago.
I hope Mr. Altimari’s story inspires such bravery in myself, and I hope it inspires such courage in you. This world needs Centurions, now more than ever.
March 20, 2024
One of the best books on Rome I have read.
The book is not about Rome but of the men who made Rome great.
Really an instructive look at the leadership and inspiration of the Centurian.
The book is not about Rome but of the men who made Rome great.
Really an instructive look at the leadership and inspiration of the Centurian.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews