The Last Legion

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.

This book is an excellent read. It stunningly combines myth and legend to create a book that can relate to many people today of all ages. It explores the rise to adolescence, the thrill of adventure and the intimacy of love. Valerio Massimo Manfredi is a brilliant author who deserves to be congratulated. Obviously, the book is much better than the movie!

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 cliches but 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.

Few authors can be better equipped to write about the subject of Rome and its Legions than Manfredi. Professor of archaeology at the the university of Milan, he has carried out many excavations and expeditions in the Mediterranean region. He has produced many factual books on historical matters, mainly military and has still found the time to write several novels and this is one of the best of them. The story begins the day that the Roman Empire collapses and the eternal city itself is being over-run. In the weeks before the final collapse some British Romano soldiers have reached the city with the express task of rescuing the young son of the last Emperor Romulus Augustus, these are the men of The last Legion . . . They are there to protect and guide the last emperor on a journey that takes them across Europe to the shores of Britain and into legend. I found the book exciting and exhilarating. It was another one I did not want to end.