Pride of Carthage (Hardcover)

Carthage (Carthage Trilogy 3) by Ross Leckie 3.8 out of 5 stars (4)  £5.99

The Lost Army by Valerio Massimo Manfredi 3.6 out of 5 stars (8)  £3.99

Centurion (Eagle) by Simon Scarrow 4.0 out of 5 stars (28)  £5.49

Azincourt by Bernard Cornwell 3.7 out of 5 stars (65)  £3.00

Bones of the Hills (Conqueror 3) by Conn Iggulden 4.8 out of 5 stars (45)  £3.77

› Explore similar items

Review
Durham's novel is the story of Hannibal, commander of the Carthaginians, the main adversaries of Rome in the Second Punic War (3rd century BC), whose destruction led directly to the triumph of the Roman Empire. It's a magnificent and dauntingly complicated subject, well brought to life by Durham, whose previous books, like this one, deal with racial as well as historical conflicts (in this case: African Carthage v. European Rome). He's done a remarkably good job in re-imagining a culture whose historical records were all but wiped out. The figure of the hero comes over vividly: Hannibal is fighting against an incipient Empire already swallowing up its smaller neighbours ('It is Rome's actions I hate. It is the way Rome seeks to make slaves of all the world'). The plot is well-paced, with some gripping battles, and a well-drilled and enormously varied cast of characters. But here the book does fall down a little: historical novels written in the third person don't tend to succeed as well as those narrated by their own heroes, perhaps because there is simply so much more for the author to imagine and describe. The Rome of I Claudius comes alive with such lurid intensity because we follow all the book's unspeakable events from the appalled perspective of its Emperor. Instead, Durham attempts the method of Mary Renault's wonderful Alexander Trilogy, whose action is reflected through the eyes of minor characters depicted with almost Shakespearean vividness. But here we see everyone, from Scipio and Hannibal to footsoldiers and senators, through a veil of slightly-past-its-sell-by language, which you can't imagine anyone actually saying: (from a conversation between Hannibal and his wife: 'As ever, Imilce, I feel the nagging of neglect.' 'What can you tell me of the campaign?' But one shouldn't overestimate this side of the book - as an old-fashioned historical yarn, it could hardly be bettered. (Kirkus UK)

Product Description
There is a Latin saying, 'Hannibal ad Portas'(Hannibal is at the door) and it was said Roman parents used it to threaten their misbehaving children: if a child was bad, the parent would tell them that Hannibal was coming for them - the modern equivalent is the 'bogeyman'. Such was the fear Hannibal Barca instilled in mighty Rome...A panoramic novel, told in arcing, epic technicolour, of the story of one of the ancient world's most celebrated figures and the Second Punic War (218-202BC) - a long, bloody conflict between the two 'super powers' of the times that hinged on the genius, the ambition and the personal tragedies of two towering individuals: Hannibal Barca of Carthage, whose military genius became the stuff of legend, and Publius Scipio of Rome. History, of course, records us the outcome - that Rome would be the victor, surviving to become the colossal Empire we know of, while Carthage was burned to the ground and all but erased from history. But it was a close run thing and the world might have been a very different place had Hannibal succeeded in stifling the might of Rome. PRIDE OF CARTHAGE is an epic, sweeping, thrilling story of ancient warfare, of armies traversing frozen snow-covered mountains, of battles won or lost by brilliant generals fighting in ingenious, cunning ways, of a time when elephants were employed in much the same way as we now use tanks. And it's a novel teeming with superbly drawn, memorable characters and multi-national players, both historical and imagined - from the Numidian horsemen of North Africa to the naked, sword-swinging Celts of Northern Spain, from the ranks of Roman legions to slaves and freemen of all colours and from all corners of the ancient Mediterranean world.

See all Product Description

Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt

Search inside this book:

7 Reviews 5 star:  (4) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:  (1) 2 star:  (2) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 3.9 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   12 of 12 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars The story Hollywood should make..., 14 Jan 2005 By  Jamie Johnston (Kuraburi, Thailand) - See all my reviews There's been recent hype over the historical epic films with first Gladiator, then Troy and now Alexander. This is the story they should have waited for to make into film. It has the grand battles to compete visually but also a multi-layered narrative that shows us the action from various viewpoints so as to break up the monotony of the many battles that Hannibal brings about in his conquest to defeat Rome. A vital piece of history - had Hannibal succeeded modern civilisation could have been African rather than white European - David Durham's compelling book takes you into a world rich with different races and peoples. There is a human element with stories told from characters far removed from the ruling world. A roman foot soldier, a stranded peasant woman. They all combine to bring the past vividly to life. The story is full of startling set-pieces - not least the army's crossing over the Alps with elephants - and once you finish you wonder how this story would look on screen. This is literary historical fiction. Not a dry account of facts but an engrossing, powerful slice of drama that teaches as it goes. It's Durham's 3rd novel, and they keep getting better. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   15 of 16 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Very Rewarding, Big and Bold Novel, 27 Jun 2005 By  Ondre (Chicago) - See all my reviews This is the type of book that you have to settle in with for a while. A quick read it is NOT, but a worthwhile one it definitely is. You have to pay attention and get to know the characters, though. There are a lot of characters beyond Hannibal and his family, but they're not extraneous. They all add to the larger story and by the end almost all of them have had an impact on the main plot motion. They provide some the key moments that I think I'll always remember: when Imco finally comes face to face with Aradna, when Tusselo tosses away his cloak and reveals himself in the Roman Forum, when Masinissa discovers that his love affair is doomed... Great stuff. It's complex, but there really is an order to it all - a structure - that's impressive. If you're a Pressfield fan you may or may not like this. You may like it because the action is great and the big battle scenes are spectacular. Durham writes them like there meant directly for the big screen. But on the other hand this isn't exactly a pro-war novel. It's kind of anti-war when it comes down to it. It's got depth of characterization and deals a lot with the fatigue and emotional misery of war. Unusually good. Not really the genre novel that the cover would make you think it is. It's hard to believe this stuff actually happened. These people walked the earth. Our world has been effected by their deeds ever since. You can learn from what's in the pages of this book - although don't go thinking it's trying to be a history book. It's not, but he does get most of the important stuff right. And you can also loose yourself for days in a fantastic story. Either way, that's what I look for in a book. This time the author delivered. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   6 of 7 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Does Hannibal justice, 17 Mar 2005 By  "wassim1980" - See all my reviews I saw this book on the shelf in the local bookstore, and was apprehensive that it wouldn't do him justice. I was pleasantly surprised as I started to read this book, and indeed the portrayal is everything I myself would have imagined that period to be like. Very well written, and highly charged! I strongly recommend it to people who want to know what Hannibal the man might have been like, as well as the epic events that were occurring at the time. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 7 customer reviews...		Most Recent Customer Reviews 3.0 out of 5 stars Ponderous and biased Well written, but ponderous and somewhat biased. The Carthaginians were as interested in power, both economical and political as were the Romans. Read more Published 13 months ago by Ventura Angelo 5.0 out of 5 stars An Insight Into Ancient Warfare I have not read any of Mr. Durham's previous books, but thank God for new authors, or at least new authors to me. Read more Published on 17 Mar 2007 by J. Chippindale 2.0 out of 5 stars Too many pieces ? It is hard to put my finger on exactly what I do not like about David Durham's book. The story is one which should interest me, the length of the book seems at first to be... Read more Published on 16 Aug 2005 by Michael Wilson 2.0 out of 5 stars Literature? Mr Durham's style of writing pretends towards literature rather than plain honest storytelling. To be honest, I have only reached page 147 before I put this book down to read... Read more Published on 23 Jun 2005 by sspinrad Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 7 customer reviews...

Highlights of recent fiction: A list by Heather "HF"   Fantasy book, to read or not to read?: A list by S. Arnold   Best Ancient Historical Novels Of All Time: A list by "ollyandpaul" Create a Listmania! list

Search Listmania!

• Books > Children's Books
• Books > Fiction > Genre > Historical
• Books > Fiction > Historical

• Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
• I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
• I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.