The Bottom Line
Pros
- Fascinating subject matter.
- Suitable for the beginner.
- Large canvas.
Cons
- Not very detailed.
- Little for the 'expert'.
Description
- Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2003. 480 Pages.
- Maps, diagrams and glossary.
- Covers: Fabius, Marcellus, Scipio Africanus, Aemilius Paullus, Scipio Aemilianus, Caius Marius,
- Sertorius, Pompey, Caesar, Germanicus, Corbulo, Titus, Trajan, Julian the Apostate and Belisarius.
Guide Review - In The Name Of Rome by Adrian Goldsworthy
Adrian Goldsworthy is swiftly making himself the standard authority on the Roman military, partly by the quality of his work and partly by its quantity. 'In The Name Of Rome' examines fifteen military commanders selected, as Goldsworthy admits, by balancing their impact with whether we know sufficient to fill a chapter. You therefore find sections straining to summarise the careers of Caesar and Scipio alongside lesser known men like Fabius and Sertorius. There is also a chapter on Caesar versus Pompey.Each biography provides a general introduction to the man and often a brief look at one of his major battles. However, as the biographies are frequently bookended by summaries of other generations 'In The Name Of Rome' also provides a swift history of Rome’s military activity and rulers, finishing with a study of those influenced by Rome. This is frustrating when the context is allotted almost as much space as the commander, but it enables light conclusions to be drawn about Empire.
The writing is clear and easy on the brain, never packed with masses of ancient terminology, while Goldsworthy is open to psychological and human actions; this isn't a dry tome full of orders of battle. If you're interested in one particular commander the depth won't satisfy you; if you're already well read there's little new, but for newcomers this is an excellent place to start. These few men should intrigue.
