Last Legion Roman Nova Invicta Odacer Romulus Britain Riveting History Fiction

Description: The Last Legion: a Novel by Valerio Massimo Manfredi. NOTE: We have 75,000 books in our library, almost 10,000 different titles. Odds are we have other copies of this same title in varying conditions, some less expensive, some better condition. We might also have different editions as well (some paperback, some hardcover, oftentimes international editions). If you don’t see what you want, please contact us and ask. We’re happy to send you a summary of the differing conditions and prices we may have for the same title. DESCRIPTION: Softcover: 436 pages. Publisher: Washington Square Press; (2005). The Roman world is in the throes of death, but a new myth, destined to span the centuries, is waiting to be born. The camp was quiet. Mist shrouded the plains and the Nova Invicta Legion, the legendary warriors charged with protecting the last emperor of Rome, settled in for another cold and bitter night. Then, through the fog, the barbarians appeared. In a space of a few hours, all was lost and the Roman Empire lay in ruins. But not all the Romans are dead. From the dust of the battlefield, a band of seemingly immortal legionaries rise up. They are the Last Legion. Risking their lives, they attempt an audacious mission to free the young emperor and his enigmatic tutor from the hands of their captors. “The Last Legion” is a bewitching novel of bravery, love, myth, and magic. Valerio Massimo Manfredi has written an epic that will hold you spellbound until the very last page. CONDITION: NEW. New oversized softcover (436 pages). Washington Square Press (2005) 436 pages. Insides the pages are pristine; clean, crisp, unmarked, unmutilated, tightly bound, unambiguously unread. Outside the book is unblemished esxcept for very mild edge and corner shelfwear to the covers, AND there is a black remainder mark (a line drawn with a black marker) on the bottom edge of the closed page edges indicating that the book is unsold surplus inventory (not visible of course on individual opened pages, only to the mass of closed page edges). Condition is entirely consistent with a new (albeit "remaindered", or surplus) book from a bookstore environment wherein new books might show minor signs of shelfwear, consequence of simply being shelved and re-shelved. In stock, ready to ship. No disappointments, no excuses. PROMPT SHIPPING! HEAVILY PADDED, DAMAGE-FREE PACKAGING! #3174.1e. PLEASE SEE IMAGES BELOW FOR SAMPLE PAGES FROM INSIDE OF BOOK. PLEASE SEE PUBLISHER, PROFESSIONAL, AND READER REVIEWS BELOW. PUBLISHER REVIEW: REVIEW: The author, Valerio Massimo Manfredi, is an Italian historian, archaeologist, and journalist. He is the professor of archaeology in the “Luigi Bocconi” University in Milan, and a familiar face on European television. He has published a number of scientific articles and essays as well as nine novels. His “Alexander” trilogy was published in twenty-seven languages in forty-nine countries, and he has sold the rights for a major film production in the United States. He is married with two children, and lives in a small town near Bologna. PROFESSIONAL REVIEWS: REVIEW: Valerio Massimo Manfredi is a uniquely great writer who, like the celebrated masters of the past, can create important historical novels while still making them easy and exciting to read. READER REVIEWS: REVIEW: Mafredi knows what he is writing about. He is an Italian historian, journalist and archeologist. This is a wild and fast adventure romp and should be seen as such. It doesn't have the depth of Steven Pressfield's writing, but I don't think this was Manfredi's intention. Manfredi is best in describing the adventure, the action, the countryside he obviously knows so well but also shows good skills in developing the inevitable love affair between the two protagonists, Livia and Aurelius. The ensemble of characters is close to clichés, but nonetheless good. Aurelius, the strong and skilled soldier, Livia, a beautiful warrioress, Romulus, the boy-emperor, Ambrosinus, his enigmatic tutor and Batiatus, a giant Ethiopian. The Barbarian Wulfila is as expected: mean and filthy with a face almost split in two. It is the year 476 AD. The Roman Empire has been overrun by various tribes and Rome itself has been invaded by Barbarians. There is however a tiny sparkle of hope that with the survival of the last Emperor, the Roman culture might prevail. The odds are against him. Romulus is just a boy with his older tutor Ambrosinus by his side. The Barbarians are powerful and adaptive. In order to be accepted by the population and to keep the society from falling into chaos, Odoacer, Barbarian leader and new ruler of Rome shows first signs of diplomacy as he allows the boy to live on in captivity. Had Odoacer sensed any of the far reaching after-effects this decision would provoke, he would probably have chopped off Romulus' head the moment he caught the boy. The Barbarian doesn't know that Ambrosinus is in fact Merlin, the mage. Nor does he know about the tiny group of skilled soldiers Ambrosinus manages to persuade to help live his vision. Following the psychic manipulator's lead, the soldiers free Romulus and travel to Britannia, thus giving birth to one of our civilization's greatest legends: Excalibur, Caesar's sword buried in a stone. As I said before, if you like adventure, pace, you will have a fun and thrill ride. If though you are searching for history with literary depth, this is not for you. It is however far better than the movie they based on this book. Comparing the two would not do justice to Manfredi's talent. REVIEW: If what you're looking for is a profound, meaningful novel, with extreme depth in the characters, this is not for you. Manfredi is not (and does not try to be) Joyce, or Dickens, or García Márquez. As simply a piece of historical fiction, as is also Alexander (trilogy by Manfredi), I think this is a pretty good read. The story is mainly narrated by a druid, who, years after the action took place, wants to leave testimony of how things happened. It is the year 476 AD and a handful of legionaries, belonging to the last existing roman legion, accompanied by a couple of quite picturesque characters, embark in a very intense adventure. They continuously find themselves in life threatening situations, which they sort out in diverse and imaginative ways. This is a story full of adventure, fraternity, honor, loyalty, love, and even magic, which is difficult to put down. I consider it to be just fun, relaxing reading. At the end, you are left with a warm, satisfying feeling. You will not however, be left pondering the meaning of your own existence. What makes this novel unique is in my opinion, the amount of research that went into it. It ties up nicely to historical and common mythical events, which makes it worth your time. I guess it is to the reader's advantage that Manfredi is not only an archeologist, but a highly regarded and reknown history professor. As with other Manfredi books, the plot is interesting, and the book is very well written, even though one is to assume something is probably lost in the translation from Italian. REVIEW: I had not read any of Valerio Massimo Manfredi's books prior to “The Last Legion”, and actually I saw the film made from the book before I read it. I have read my share of historical novels, particularly those of Robert Graves. Although this book may not approach those of Mr. Graves the author knows the period and culture and weaves an arresting story of bravery, loyalty and love. Mr. Manfredi has taken a rather grim period of Roman history and concocted a marvelous story. His characters are drawn with an eye for detail and his writing (translated by his wife) is succinct and expressive. The story is a clever and exciting tale of honor and devotion to a cause that has little chance of success, namely saving the life of the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire by a small band of soldiers. Mr. Manfredi is very good in describing the action scenes of his novel and keeping the reader's attention as the barbarian Wulfila (a great villain) pursues them across Italy, up the Rhine, across Gaul to Britain. The hero of the story, Aurelius of the Nova Invicta Legion is arguably the most complex character of the story with the burden of guilt that he carries with him. He is a man who made a mistake and needs to let go of his past. Aurelius' life is saved by Livia, a latter day Amazon, who becomes his partner in the rescue of Romulus. The relationship between Aurelius and Livia is not a very smooth one and their love scenes, although well-written, seem to be after thoughts that were inserted to spice up the story. Of Aurelius' companions, Batiatus is probably the most memorable for his size and strength, and that he saves Romulus' life. I must admit that I wondered how the book would be brought to a conclusion as the pages got closer to the end and Britain was just entering the story but I think that the author covered the return of Ambrosinus to his native land well. The final battle is nicely described without lingering over details. The death of Wulfila is rather cinematic but at this point nothing but a spectacular end will do. The story is concluded in a short epilogue that is written by Ambrosinus. At this point, with Wulfila dead, the story has been concluded and the remaining threads of the story do not need a lot of explanation. This is a book that I found hard to put down, and perhaps that is its greatest recommendation. Mr. Manfredi brings the people and period to life and has caused me to focus more on what I have regarded as an uninteresting time as something more than darkness. If you like historical novels of the Roman period this story will probably be very appealing. REVIEW: Translated into English by Christine Feddersen Manfredi, “The Last Legion” by Valerio Massimo Manfredi is a fast-paced adventure story that spans all of Western Europe with plenty of fleeing, fights, and plot twists. The novel could have easily been a contemporary 21st century beach-read summer thriller. Instead the local is late 5th Century Rome during the final collapse of the Western Roman Empire. With a mix of historical accuracy, adventure, and myth, the author weaves a compelling tale that is impossible to put down. Students of history will see the conclusion a mile away but this will not take anything away from enjoyment of this book. I am a fan of fiction set in the ancient world and although this novel does not have the same literary quality of other books I have read, it makes up for it with a fast-paced exciting read. The only thing missing from this book is what should be a requirement in all historical novels, a map for those readers not familiar with the many place names mentioned in the text. This novel was recently filmed. The film version is a pale poor version of this book. Do yourself a favor and read the novel instead, or read it before you see the film. REVIEW: Excellent read on a popular subject: Arthur and the sword Excalibur. What I liked best about the book is the attempt to fill part of the gap between the "fall" of the Roman Empire and the so called "Dark Ages." The books holds the readers attention while illustrating that Rome did not "fall" through any single event but rather more likely "slid" towards a fall for the many reasons highlighted during the story. The other highlight the book brings about is how close in terms of geography the cultures of the ancient world really were. To be able to walk from Italy over the mountains and then float down the Rhine and cross the channel to England is something modern readers forget. The ancient cultures were not insulated from each other but in fact were part of a global network we experience today. Instead of the internet and the web, the ancient world's connectivity was based in part on Roman roads and shipping. For all readers interested in the history of Rome, the British Isles, Celtic traditions or the Arthurian legends, this book will fill a gap in your reading repertoire. REVIEW: I found this book at London Heathrow airport book shop while I was on a lengthy stop over. Oh my, what a find! I didn’t see it on the US book stores yet at that time, which was surprising. The first thing I would say that is that you have to allow a little bit as far as the style is concerned because it is a translation. Once past that, you are in for an adventure. The characters stick around in your mind for a long time and the twist in the tale absolutely blindsides you. At least, I never saw it coming. For any one interested in the Roman rule in Britain (before the last of the Roman Legions pulled out following fall of the Roman empire), this is a must! I always ship books Media Mail in a padded mailer. This book is shipped FOR FREE via USPS INSURED media mail (“book rate”). The shipment will include free USPS Delivery Confirmation (you might be able to update the status of your shipment on-line at the USPS Web Site and free insurance coverage). If you are concerned about a little wear and tear to the book in transit, I would suggest a boxed shipment - it is an extra $1.00. Whether via padded mailer or box, we will give discounts for multiple purchases. International orders are welcome, but shipping costs are substantially higher. Most international orders cost an additional $12.99 to $33.99 for an insuredshipment in a heavily padded mailer, and typically includes some form of rudimentary tracking and/or delivery confirmation (though for some countries, this is only available at additional cost). There is also a discount program which can cut postage costs by 50% to 75% if you’re buying about half-a-dozen books or more (5 kilos+). Rates and available services vary a bit from country to country. You can email or message me for a shipping cost quote, but I assure you they are as reasonable as USPS rates allow, and if it turns out the rate is too high for your pocketbook, we will cancel the sale at your request. ADDITIONAL PURCHASES do receive a VERY LARGE discount, typically about $5 per book (for each additional book after the first) so as to reward you for the economies of combined shipping/insurance costs. Your purchase will ordinarily be shipped within 48 hours of payment. We package as well as anyone in the business, with lots of protective padding and containers. All of our shipments are sent via insured mail so as to comply with PayPal requirements. We do NOT recommend uninsured shipments, and expressly disclaim any responsibility for the loss of an uninsured shipment. Unfortunately the contents of parcels are easily “lost” or misdelivered by postal employees – even in the USA. That’s why all of our shipments include a USPS delivery confirmation tag; or are trackable or traceable, and are insured. We do offer U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail, Registered Mail, and Express Mail for both international and domestic shipments, as well United Parcel Service (UPS) and Federal Express (Fed-Ex). Please ask for a rate quotation. We will accept whatever payment method you are most comfortable with. If upon receipt of the item you are disappointed for any reason whatever, I offer a no questions asked return policy. Send it back, I will give you a complete refund of the purchase price (less our original shipping costs). Most of the items I offer come from the collection of a family friend who was active in the field of Archaeology for over forty years. However many of the items also come from purchases I make in Eastern Europe, India, and from the Levant (Eastern Mediterranean/Near East) from various institutions and dealers. Though I have always had an interest in archaeology, my own academic background was in sociology and cultural anthropology. After my retirement however, I found myself drawn to archaeology as well. Aside from my own personal collection, I have made extensive and frequent additions of my own via purchases on Ebay (of course), as well as many purchases from both dealers and institutions throughout the world - but especially in the Near East and in Eastern Europe. I spend over half of my year out of the United States, and have spent much of my life either in India or Eastern Europe. In fact much of what we generate on Yahoo, Amazon and Ebay goes to support The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, as well as some other worthy institutions in Europe connected with Anthropology and Archaeology. I acquire some small but interesting collections overseas from time-to-time, and have as well some duplicate items within my own collection which I occasionally decide to part with. Though I have a collection of ancient coins numbering in the tens of thousands, my primary interest is in ancient jewelry. My wife also is an active participant in the "business" of antique and ancient jewelry, and is from Russia. I would be happy to provide you with a certificate/guarantee of authenticity for any item you purchase from me. There is a $2 fee for mailing under separate cover. Whenever I am overseas I have made arrangements for purchases to be shipped out via domestic mail. If I am in the field, you may have to wait for a week or two for a COA to arrive via international air mail. But you can be sure your purchase will arrive properly packaged and promptly - even if I am absent. And when I am in a remote field location with merely a notebook computer, at times I am not able to access my email for a day or two, so be patient, I will always respond to every email. Please see our "ADDITIONAL TERMS OF SALE."

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End Time: 2025-01-13T02:02:31.000Z

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