- Hardcover: 313 pages
- Publisher: Minerva Press (Oct 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0754110680
- ISBN-13: 978-0754110682
- Product Dimensions: 25.9 x 20.3 x 3.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,122,339 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Synopsis
It was a military disaster on a huge scale. It dealt a body blow to the might of Imperial Rome, and may have changed the course of European history. Three entire legions and support troops - 25,000 thousand men in all - were wiped out by German tribesmen in the Teutoburger Wald in AD 9. It was a savage running battle lasting four days, and where Varus' surviving legionaries made their last stand is the subject of this book. The author claims to have established Kalkriese as the last point of attack, the bottleneck where the six to seven thousand were trapped and died. Here we have a gripping story of field detection, buried treasures, local legends and archaeological research, persistence and reward. The fruits of many years are here in this vivid record of one man's mission of discovery - into the fate of so many men all those centuries ago.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
"In Quest Of The Lost Legions: The Varusschlacht" by Major Tony Clunn is one of those rare gems of a book. You don't realise just how good it is until you start. I purchased this book based on the reviews at Amazon.com in the United States and the United Kingdom. After I received my copy I had a quick flick through it and decided that I would read it at a later date. Over the last few months I picked up the book a few times, flicked through and decided 'next time'. I am so disappointed in myself for not reading this book as soon as I received it in the mail.
This is a great story, packed full of interesting information and a great narrative of the demise of the 17th, 18th & 19th Roman Legions under command of Publius Quinctilius Varus in Germany during the year 9 A.D. The author tells two interesting and interconnected stories in this book. One covers his archeological hunt for the site of the final demise of the Roman Legions. The other story that parallels this quest is a fictional account, which is based on the early Roman Histories, later German historians and the archeological evidence, offering the reader the most likely scenario to explain the destruction of three Roman Legions of over 20,000 men in a dark German forest so many years ago.
Both stories are well told. Initially I enjoyed the author's account of his quest in locating Roman artifacts whilst based in Germany with the British Army. However, after awhile into the book I became hooked on the story about the Roman Legions, the men and their commanders. Towards the end of the book I found it hard to put down as the narrative speed towards the final battle. I knew what was coming but the story had me enthralled, I couldn't put the book away, I had to keep reading. In the end I was quite caught up in the fate of Marcus Aius and one of the Signifers (Standard Bearers) of the Roman Legions.
This is an exceptional book told with a knack for great story telling. How accurate is the authors telling of the final battle between the German warriors and the Roman Legions under Varus? Who knows, maybe the future will confirm Major Clunn's theory but either way this is a well told story and I am sure anyone who enjoys ancient history or accounts of the glory days of the Roman Empire will love this book.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Anyone who has the slightest interest in Roman history and archaeology could'nt fail to be amazed by this double narrative account of a Roman massacre, and of one man's total dedication to discover the truth about the destiny of three Roman Legions in a German forest in the year 9AD.The accounts of the battles are so vivid you feel that you are right in there with the troops.The locations of the stunning archaeological finds and Major Clunn's skillfull interpretation of the landscape are proof of the carnage which took place in the German forest all these centuries ago. Find a place to lock yourself away and enjoy this book.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Like many others I was fascinated by a book which promised to shed some light on the movements and demise of Varus and his three legions and I read it from cover to cover in one sitting.HOWEVER......I would have liked to have seen a bit more archaeology in a wider area before attaching such major importance to this particular site, and the surmise that this was where the Romans had their 'last stand' The battle took place in a massive area and this could be just one of many sites. This is not to denigrate what Major Clunn has achieved,I just feel that several finds in one locality does not necessarily mean that the decisive battle happened here.
I thought the intertwining of the factual search and the 'factional account' of the campaign was an excellent idea, although Rosemary Sutcliffe may be spinning in her grave at some similarities with the frontier fort siege from 'The Eagle of the Ninth'and the attack on Varus'marching camp towards the end of this book.
I look forward to a further book, or a revised edition with more information from the digs as they progress.
I thought the intertwining of the factual search and the 'factional account' of the campaign was an excellent idea, although Rosemary Sutcliffe may be spinning in her grave at some similarities with the frontier fort siege from 'The Eagle of the Ninth'and the attack on Varus'marching camp towards the end of this book.
I look forward to a further book, or a revised edition with more information from the digs as they progress.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Soldier and a Historian
I have always felt a special solidity emanating from Roman remains, whether from the town wall and earth amphitheatre at Durnovaria or from the well excavated remains of the villas... Read more
Published on 22 Jan 2002
Exellant reading
This was one of the most intresting and well presented books i have read this year. The mixture of fact, history and some intresting fiction throw in, only helps to keep your eyes... Read more
Published on 9 July 2001
A rivetting account of the solving of a hsitorical mystery
It is many years since I read a book from cover to cover in a couple of sittings. I found Tony Clunn's description of his search for the route taken by Varus and his... Read more
Published on 25 Mar 2001 by C G Callow
An Amazing Find
An amazing find in an unlikely place. For hundreds of years, scholars have searched for, but it took amateur archaeologist British Major Tony Clunn to find it in the late 1980's. Read more
Published on 11 Nov 2000
One person can indeed change history
In Quest of the Lost Legions by Major J A S Clunn, MBE (Ret)
As a military historian with absolutely =no= interest in ancient history, I nevertheless succumbed to extreme... Read more
Published on 29 Jun 2000
Change the roots itself
How did he know that discovering a cold iron mask in an obscure field would blow to oblivion the previous interpretation of German National folk lore. Read more
Published on 29 May 2000
Two stories in one book.
Rethink your pre-conceptions of the seemingly lonely individuals occasionally seen wandering the countryside concentrating hard on the ground and hovering a metal detector inches... Read more
Published on 29 Mar 2000 by John Bailey
A true, exciting and absorbing book!
What are the elements of a good book? I am sure most people would say an absorbing story well written with a beginning, middle and end, containing excitement, drama, love, hate,... Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2000
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- 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.
