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Review
'A very interesting , original and well structured work for anyone who enjoys the Roman military themes ... a fun and easy read' --Ancient Warfare
'Fact-packed, well-illustrated schoolboy romp ... a perfect present'
--The Sunday Telegraph - Seven
'Fact-packed, well-illustrated schoolboy romp ... a perfect present'
--The Sunday Telegraph - Seven
Product Description
The year is AD100 and Rome stands supreme and unconquerable, from the desert sands of Mesopotamia to the misty highlands of Caledonia. But the might of Rome rests entirely on the shoulders of the legionaries, who stand strong against the barbarian hordes, pushing back the frontiers of the empire. This book a kind of unofficial guide for the new recruit, written in the same engaging and informative style as Ancient Rome on Five Denarii a Day tells you how to get in and get on in the legions, the best places to serve, life in camp, on campaign and in battle, and such things as how to stop your armour going rusty and how to storm a city. It will have immense appeal to all those who enjoy ancient history, but who want to be entertained at the same time.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I purchased this with fairly low expectations, and was VERY pleasantly surprised. I've had an interest in the Romans for some years now, and I still managed to learn an awful lot from this little book - AND at times it made me laugh out loud in the process.
I hadn't realised it was going to be a hardback, so that was a nice bonus. The quality of the binding means it will last a long, long time.
Each chapter starts with a Latin inscription, with a translation at the bottom of the page. Some of these are wonderful. 'Try to appear unimportant - the enemy may be low on ammunition.' 'We were against the cream of the Gallic army. The odds were a thousand to one... but he was a very tough Gaul.'
The text is also peppered with relevant quotations by actual Roman writers (in English!)
Lots of illustrations, including a photo section of modern-day reenactment guys in full battle gear.
Chapter headings include:
Joining the Roman Army.
The 'Good Legion' Guide.
Alternative Military Careers.
Kit and equipment.
People who will want to kill you.
And much more.
Even if you're an expert on the subject of ancient Rome, you'll still find this a fun read. If you're not, you'll find it a fun read AND learn lots in the process.
Very highly recommended.
I hadn't realised it was going to be a hardback, so that was a nice bonus. The quality of the binding means it will last a long, long time.
Each chapter starts with a Latin inscription, with a translation at the bottom of the page. Some of these are wonderful. 'Try to appear unimportant - the enemy may be low on ammunition.' 'We were against the cream of the Gallic army. The odds were a thousand to one... but he was a very tough Gaul.'
The text is also peppered with relevant quotations by actual Roman writers (in English!)
Lots of illustrations, including a photo section of modern-day reenactment guys in full battle gear.
Chapter headings include:
Joining the Roman Army.
The 'Good Legion' Guide.
Alternative Military Careers.
Kit and equipment.
People who will want to kill you.
And much more.
Even if you're an expert on the subject of ancient Rome, you'll still find this a fun read. If you're not, you'll find it a fun read AND learn lots in the process.
Very highly recommended.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a great little book about what life was like as a Roman legionary circa 100 AD. It's written as if it's an introductory manual for potential recruits and as such is shot through with gallows humour. Don't be fooled though, the author really knows his subject and doesn't skimp over his facts just to get to the next punchline - for instance he doesn't just glibly tell you that Legionaries wielded a short sword, he goes into detail about what to look for in a sword, how to use it and even which styles were in vogue C100 AD.
In short this is a great read and manages the not inconsiderable feat of being both highly informative and great fun at the same time. If only history was taught like this in schools.
In short this is a great read and manages the not inconsiderable feat of being both highly informative and great fun at the same time. If only history was taught like this in schools.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have just been to two re-enactment weekends and I think the Ermine Street Guard and Leg II Avg groups would highly approve of this wonderful new book.
Full of fun facts, brilliant colour illustrations and little primary-source nuggets, 'Legionary' is another great achievement by Philip 'Maty' Matyszak.
Written as if it was a manual for someone considering a career in the Roman Army, it contains info on everything from enlisting to celebrating a triumph (or choosing the wording on your tomb.) Just dipping into it you can discover fascinating facts. For example, did you know the Praetorian Guard had the scorpion for their symbol and they wore togas while on duty in the imperial palace? Did you know a calvary courier carrying a despatch was recognized by a feather tied to his spear? Did you know slingers sometimes put rude messages on their almond-shaped lead 'bullets'?
I also chuckled at the drily witty captions of some illustrations, e.g.
"One advantage of Judaea being a Roman province is that you will understand most of the insults being hurled at you, of which 'Romani ite domum' is likely to be among the least cruel and hurtful."
The perfect mixture of fun and info, with a brilliant collection of colour illustrations, this is a better resource than a whole year of attending re-enactment events! I would recommend it to anybody interested in the world of ancient Rome.
Full of fun facts, brilliant colour illustrations and little primary-source nuggets, 'Legionary' is another great achievement by Philip 'Maty' Matyszak.
Written as if it was a manual for someone considering a career in the Roman Army, it contains info on everything from enlisting to celebrating a triumph (or choosing the wording on your tomb.) Just dipping into it you can discover fascinating facts. For example, did you know the Praetorian Guard had the scorpion for their symbol and they wore togas while on duty in the imperial palace? Did you know a calvary courier carrying a despatch was recognized by a feather tied to his spear? Did you know slingers sometimes put rude messages on their almond-shaped lead 'bullets'?
I also chuckled at the drily witty captions of some illustrations, e.g.
"One advantage of Judaea being a Roman province is that you will understand most of the insults being hurled at you, of which 'Romani ite domum' is likely to be among the least cruel and hurtful."
The perfect mixture of fun and info, with a brilliant collection of colour illustrations, this is a better resource than a whole year of attending re-enactment events! I would recommend it to anybody interested in the world of ancient Rome.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
excellent!!!
I'm the sort of person who only writes reviews when an item is real good of really bad. This book falls straight into the really good catagory. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. Daniel E. C. Whiston
Very Good
An excellent book that is written from a very original perspective - that of a manual for new recruits to the Roman Army. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Bingibongi
Citizens! Thinking of a military career?
The Roman army was the most efficient and deadly the world had ever seen and remains both an iconic and practical inspiration for military forces today. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Iain S. Palin
Well informed, pleasant
This is a palatable book, easy to read and enjoyable, full of informations and beautiful pictures.
It's worth the money
It's worth the money
Published 15 months ago by Zanasi Marco
poor
I bought this for my partner who is a real Roman follower.Thought he would enjoy a lighter view of the Roman Soldier life but he has been very disappointed with the way it is... Read more
Published 16 months ago by deb
ROMAN RAJ
Interesting little book this. Purporting to be the unofficial Roman soldiers manual written for anyone contemplating joining the Roman military (covers the fleets and auxiliaries)... Read more
Published 17 months ago by A. Taylor
Great Fun!
A witty book, but at the same time highly informative. If there had been a manual for the new recruit this, or something very like it, would surely have fitted the bill. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Adrian Cook
legionary;the roman soldier(unofficial) manual
Great book for the young and not so young students of Roman history. Facts presented in a fun engaging manner.
Published 19 months ago by chris m
Queens Regs 42
All you need to know about joining the Roman Army! Where to get your kit, who to bribe and so much more. Its written in a lighthearted manner but is very factual. Read more
Published 20 months ago by monkey
Legionary!
A very good book with lot's of interesting details and an excellent reference source. If you want to know more about the Roman army, this is a book for you!
Published 22 months ago by Je Salter
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