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Calgaich the Swordsman
Son of a barbarian chieftain and a Roman noblewoman, Calgaich mac Lellan is exiled from his beloved country after slaying his cousin in a sword duel over the beautiful but vain Morar, "The Golden One."
When his father is betrayed into the hands of the Romans, Calgaich vows to overthrow his treacherous uncle and to take his rightful place as chief of the Novantae.
"The gods do not mean to let you return home." Recalling the prophecy of Cairenn, the bewitching slave woman, Calgaich is captured and condemned to the arena in Rome, from which few gladiators emerge alice.
When his father is betrayed into the hands of the Romans, Calgaich vows to overthrow his treacherous uncle and to take his rightful place as chief of the Novantae.
"The gods do not mean to let you return home." Recalling the prophecy of Cairenn, the bewitching slave woman, Calgaich is captured and condemned to the arena in Rome, from which few gladiators emerge alice.
415 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1980
18 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Gordon D. Shirreffs
179 books9 followersGordon Donald Shirreffs was an American author of Western and young adult novels.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 26, 2008
I read this book 13 years ago when I found it in a used bookstore. I was not expecting much but was very surprised. Calgaich is a Caledonian Celt fighting agains the Romans in the 4th Century A.D. Plenty of action keeps this novel moving along. I am convinced that Shirreffs wrote this as an homage to Robert E. Howard.
April 25, 2021
This review previously appeared on the DMR Books Blog.
Did you know Playboy used to publish novels? Don’t get the wrong idea; this isn’t like Demon Bitch’s Punishment or The Man From S.T.U.D. in the Orgy at Madame Dracula’s. This is an excellent historical novel dealing with the clash between Celtic barbarians and Roman civilization during the fourth century A.D.
Calgaich mac Lellan, son of the chief of the Novantae clan, was driven from his homeland Albu (Scotland) after slaying his cousin over a matter of honor. Three years later, he returns to set matters right, as his uncle Bruidge of the Battle-Axe has betrayed Calgaich’s father to the Romans. Calgaich’s rescue attempt goes awry, and the Romans capture him. The second (and even more exciting) half of the book takes place in Rome, where Calgaich is forced to fight for his life in the arena.
There’s quite a bit of profanity in this book, but only spoken by the Roman characters, never the barbarians. I assume Shirreffs did this to make a point on the theme of civilization vs. barbarism. With such a philosophical perspective and numerous suspenseful battle scenes, I would think that Calgaich would satisfy any fan of Robert E. Howard.
Did you know Playboy used to publish novels? Don’t get the wrong idea; this isn’t like Demon Bitch’s Punishment or The Man From S.T.U.D. in the Orgy at Madame Dracula’s. This is an excellent historical novel dealing with the clash between Celtic barbarians and Roman civilization during the fourth century A.D.
Calgaich mac Lellan, son of the chief of the Novantae clan, was driven from his homeland Albu (Scotland) after slaying his cousin over a matter of honor. Three years later, he returns to set matters right, as his uncle Bruidge of the Battle-Axe has betrayed Calgaich’s father to the Romans. Calgaich’s rescue attempt goes awry, and the Romans capture him. The second (and even more exciting) half of the book takes place in Rome, where Calgaich is forced to fight for his life in the arena.
There’s quite a bit of profanity in this book, but only spoken by the Roman characters, never the barbarians. I assume Shirreffs did this to make a point on the theme of civilization vs. barbarism. With such a philosophical perspective and numerous suspenseful battle scenes, I would think that Calgaich would satisfy any fan of Robert E. Howard.
October 18, 2012
Wow, I didn't expect to find this book here. I read it when I was 14, over 30 years ago. I bought it expecting Sword and Sorcery but wound up loving the adventure in a historic setting. This book may have been the hinge point of my transition from pure genre to more literary tastes.
April 14, 2016
This book was a treat from start to finish--one of the best I've read in a while. Excellent!!
February 25, 2022
I'd grown up reading Rosemary Sutcliff's excellent novels about Roman-occupied Britain in our school library, so when I saw a copy of Calgaich the Swordsman in a used bookshop and read a few pages, I had to buy it. I would later find out that Calgaich was based on the historical Calgacus, who led a Caledonian tribe against the Romans at the Battle of Mons Graupius (and probably died there.)
This novel turned out to be a pulse-pounding tale of a dispossessed Celtic prince who finds himself on a tortuous road to save then avenge his father Lellan from Roman captivity, taking him from ancient Scotland through the Roman outposts on Hadrian's Wall all the way to Rome itself. And where else would an ass-kicking Celtic swordsman find himself in Rome but in the Colosseum?
Calgaich is borderline sword and sorcery for me: it has the requisite outsider warrior protagonist, the brutal combat narrated so clearly you can see it as a movie in your mind's eye, hints of the supernatural in the seeming prescience of the character Cairenn, and a solid grounding in history with its backdrop of the Roman struggle to hold the Caledonian frontier and the decadence of Rome itself.
Good stuff!
This novel turned out to be a pulse-pounding tale of a dispossessed Celtic prince who finds himself on a tortuous road to save then avenge his father Lellan from Roman captivity, taking him from ancient Scotland through the Roman outposts on Hadrian's Wall all the way to Rome itself. And where else would an ass-kicking Celtic swordsman find himself in Rome but in the Colosseum?
Calgaich is borderline sword and sorcery for me: it has the requisite outsider warrior protagonist, the brutal combat narrated so clearly you can see it as a movie in your mind's eye, hints of the supernatural in the seeming prescience of the character Cairenn, and a solid grounding in history with its backdrop of the Roman struggle to hold the Caledonian frontier and the decadence of Rome itself.
Good stuff!
December 30, 2023
I've known Gordon Shirreffs for his western stories but this historical novel of Roman Britain tops any of his westerns in my opinion. Calgaich is a warrior exiled from his home land in Britain. He's the son of a chieftain and grandson of a Roman general and senator. In an attempt to return home, he is betrayed and taken prisoner. First he's taken to Rome and the gladiatorial games, where he must fight for his freedom and those of others who follow him. Along the way he finds the love of two beautiful women and the hatred of a third. A brilliant and brutal tale.
January 30, 2024
Hello, fellow bibliophiles! Are you ready for a thrilling adventure in ancient Rome?
If so, you won’t want to miss this historical fiction novel by Gordon D Shirreffs: ‘Calgaich the Swordsman!’ This book tells the story of Calgaich, a brave and loyal warrior exiled from his country after slaying his cousin, from then to his capture, forcing him to join the gladiators in the arena. The place where most Romans indulged in their bloodlust but where most of the gladiators met their doom. Can he survive? Will he be able to escape? Can he survive the treacherous journey to his homeland, or will the Gods stop him? Will he be able to save his father, and will he be able to fight for his people against the mighty Roman Empire? You’ll be spellbound by the powerful and vivid descriptions of battles, intrigues, and romance in this epic saga. Whether you’re a history, action, or drama fan, you’ll find something to love in ‘Calgaich the Swordsman!’ Please don’t wait; grab your copy today and join Calgaich on his quest for freedom and glory!
• ASIN: B0CQRTFPVG
• Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing
• Publication Date: 1/30/2024
• File Size: 4678 KB
• Print Length: 505 pages
• Genre: Classic Roman Literature, Classic Greek Literature, Ancient Historical Fiction
If so, you won’t want to miss this historical fiction novel by Gordon D Shirreffs: ‘Calgaich the Swordsman!’ This book tells the story of Calgaich, a brave and loyal warrior exiled from his country after slaying his cousin, from then to his capture, forcing him to join the gladiators in the arena. The place where most Romans indulged in their bloodlust but where most of the gladiators met their doom. Can he survive? Will he be able to escape? Can he survive the treacherous journey to his homeland, or will the Gods stop him? Will he be able to save his father, and will he be able to fight for his people against the mighty Roman Empire? You’ll be spellbound by the powerful and vivid descriptions of battles, intrigues, and romance in this epic saga. Whether you’re a history, action, or drama fan, you’ll find something to love in ‘Calgaich the Swordsman!’ Please don’t wait; grab your copy today and join Calgaich on his quest for freedom and glory!
• ASIN: B0CQRTFPVG
• Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing
• Publication Date: 1/30/2024
• File Size: 4678 KB
• Print Length: 505 pages
• Genre: Classic Roman Literature, Classic Greek Literature, Ancient Historical Fiction
January 11, 2011
Great story about sncient Rome, the Celts, and those who hated Rome. I was actually suprised about how historically accurate the setting of ancient Britian and Rome was. Lots of beautiful women. It seemed a bit like Conan though, with the un-killable and perfect hero which gets a bit boring after a while.
February 14, 2024
Bravo For Writing Such A Great Book Gordon D. Shirreffs
The title says it all. I bought this book because I enjoyed Mr. Sheriff’s westerns, and I have to tell you Sherriffs knocked it out of the park. If you’re looking for a page turner, look no further. Get this book. You won’t be disappointed.
Joe Corso
Author of The Starlight Club series
The title says it all. I bought this book because I enjoyed Mr. Sheriff’s westerns, and I have to tell you Sherriffs knocked it out of the park. If you’re looking for a page turner, look no further. Get this book. You won’t be disappointed.
Joe Corso
Author of The Starlight Club series
October 27, 2015
Read this back in high school; the class was reading Beowulf, and I was reading this.
But it turned me on to the swords and sorcery genre, which I've enjoyed ever since.
But it turned me on to the swords and sorcery genre, which I've enjoyed ever since.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews