Product Description

Romulus and Fabiola are twins, born into slavery after their mother is raped by a drunken nobleman on his way home from a good night out. At 13 years old, they and their mother are sold: Romulus to gladiator school, Fabiola into prostitution, where she will catch the eye of one of the most powerful men in Rome, and their mother into obscurity and death in the salt mines. Tarquinius is an Etruscan, a warrior and soothsayer, born enemy of Rome, but doomed to fight for the Republic in the Forgotten Legion. Brennus is a Gaul; the Romans killed his entire family. He rises to become one of the most famous and feared gladiators of his day - and mentor to the boy slave, Romulus, who dreams night and day of escape and of revenge. The lives of these four characters are bound and interwoven in a marvellous story which begins in a Rome riven by corruption, violence and political enmities, but ends far away, where Romulus, Brennus and Tarquinius find themselves fighting against the Parthians and overwhelming odds.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4418 in Books
• Published on: 2009-04-16
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 672 pages

From the Back Cover
They will fight for honour, for freedom and for revenge
THREE MEN
Tarquinius, Etruscan warrior and soothsayer. Brennus the Gaul, one of the most feared gladiators in Rome. And Romulus, the boy slave, sold to gladiator school, but dreaming of vengeance for himself and for his twin sister, Fabiola.
ONE WOMAN
Fabiola, sold into prostition at thirteen, loved by the second most powerful man in the Republic, driven by hatred for the unknown father who raped her mother.
SLAVES OF ROME
Their destiny is bound and interwoven in an odyssey which begins in a Rome riven by political corruption and violence, but ends far away, at the very border of the known world, where the tattered remnants of a once-huge Roman army – the Forgotten Legion – will fight against overwhelming odds, and the three men will meet their destiny.

About the Author
Ben Kane was born in Kenya and raised there and in Ireland. He studied veterinary medicine at University College Dublin but after that he travelled the world extensively, indulging his passion for ancient history. Now he lives in North Somerset, where he researches, writes and practises as a small animal vet. The Forgotten Legion, born of a lifelong fascination with military history in general, and Roman history in particular, is his first novel. For more information please visit www.benkane.net. For more information please visit www.benkane.net.

Customer Reviews

Excellent first novel
This book is really outstanding, all the more so as it's the author's first book. The research is impeccable, no doubt reflecting the author's long-standing interest in Roman history. It follows an Iggulden like model of interlacing several related stories following key characters before drawing them all together. The quality of the visualisation of ancient Rome also follows Iggulden and, if anything, is better. I'd recommend this novel certainly before Scarrow's books.

Spare me the pseudo mysticism
I love Scarrow's Macro and Cato novels and am always on the look out for similar fare. I tried Napier's Atilla series and Manda Scott's Boudicca books but gave up on both because they contain a large helping of pseudo mysticism - dreams, visions, fortune telling and so on. So I was disappointed Mr Kane has followed suit.

Tarquinnus, the Etruscan is a traineer seer. His mentor examining the liver of a lamb reveals to him that he will journey to the land of his ancestors far to the east. Brennus the Gaul is told by a Druid that he will go (boldy?) where no member of his tribe has gone before. Once in Rome and now a gladiator Brennus visits an augur who examines some chicken entrails and reveals that his journey is not over yet. Different religions, different offal but same celestial travel agent it would seem.

Its a shame because the story and characters are strong enough to stand up on their own without the fortune telling sign posting the plot.

I had a nice piece of liver for my dinner last night. A quick examination before cooking revealed that I will probably give Mr Kane a second chance in his sequel but only if he significantly pulls back on the mysticism.

Outstanding debut novel
Anyone who enjoys historical fiction cannot go wrong with this book. As already mentioned there have been a number of novels published recently that have used or been based on Roman history. Up till now my favourite has been Of Merchants & Heroes by Paul Waters, and while this novel is set further along in Roman history, it is of the same quality. There is a raw energy in the description of Roman life and rule not unlike that of the mini series ROME, while the four main characters are equally engrossing. This is without a doubt one of the best debut novels I have ever read and I am greatly anticipating any further work.