- Paperback: 448 pages
- Publisher: Headline; paperback / softback edition (5 Jun 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0747266301
- ISBN-13: 978-0747266303
- Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 2.9 x 17.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 25,794 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Eagle's Conquest: (Roman Legion 2)
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Product Description
Review
'All the hallmarks of Bernard Cornwell at his best' -- Oxford Times 'A rip-roaring page-turner... Sturdy elegance and incisive wit' -- Steven Saylor
Review
'All the hallmarks of Bernard Cornwell at his best' (Oxford Times )
'A rip-roaring page-turner... Sturdy elegance and incisive wit' (Steven Saylor )
'A rip-roaring page-turner... Sturdy elegance and incisive wit' (Steven Saylor )
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 42 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you thought Under The Eagle was a good read, you're in for a real treat. The Eagles Conquest follows directly on from the first book without breaking stride. Macro, Cato, the rest of the sixth century, second legion and their commander Vespasian are hurled into battles and confrontations both with the sword and with political intrigue. The Britons proove formidable opponents to the might of Rome while the eminently hissable villain Vitellius plots and schemes towards his own ambitious ends. Along the way is murder, deception and even an attempt on the life of the Emperor himself. The book carries off the gritty feel of Roman military life with great aplomb, the established characters are human enough to almost be real, and the story flows effortlessly on both the action and political levels. When most follow up books are mere shadows of the original, this one outshines it's predecessor. It's an exciting page turner that I could not put down until the very last page.
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I've got a bone to pick with Simon Scarrow. Having settled down to read the book on a Saturday lunch-time, I read the whole damn thing through in one go and could not put it down for more time than it took to grab a bite or go to the loo. Which meant that my wife gave me a right ear-bashing for not cutting the grass as I had promised to do.
The book is possibly better than the first Macro and Cato adventure, and that's saying something. Wonderful brisk pace, great characters, snappy dialogue and nail-biting action. Almost felt I was there in the very thick of battle with the Second Legion.
Can't wait for the next book, whatever my wife might think.
The book is possibly better than the first Macro and Cato adventure, and that's saying something. Wonderful brisk pace, great characters, snappy dialogue and nail-biting action. Almost felt I was there in the very thick of battle with the Second Legion.
Can't wait for the next book, whatever my wife might think.
28 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The second in the series follows the legions of Claudius from their beachhead near Rutupiae to the battles on the Medway, Thames and before Camulodunum (Colchester). It moves at a great pace making use of several plot threads to keep tension high. As before, the main characters, Cato and Centurion Macro, unify all the threads from the terror and exultation of battle through the politics of military strategy to the machinations of conspiracy.
Scarrow does battles extremely well, if always at the service of plot. Confusion never lasts long; the reader always knows what part the detail plays in the whole picture. The fight is not clean, but it is clear, and Scarrow is able to draw out the action so that every battle has its own arc and could be extracted and read for itself.
Cato is seen to grow in this book. The action in the first was dominated by his need to prove himself; here, though his part is often heroic, he must also come to terms with helplessness and the aftermath of slaughter. His infatuation with the slavegirl, Lavinia, continues and plays a part in the machinations of Vitellius to assassinate the Emperor. Cato is decisive at the denouement of this conspiracy, but Scarrow does not allow him to take the hero's palm - a sign that the book is a little more than a boys' own adventure.
There is, as well, another point of view for Cato to understand and absorb: that of the conquered. Nisus is a surgeon and from North Africa, not only Carthaginian but a direct descendent of Hannibal! He voices the opinion that some might not be grateful for the benefits of Roman civilisation, that they might have been happier as they were. We're not told what Cato makes of this, and Nisus is soon involved in grand conspiracy. It is not clear if the seditious sentiments he uttered were merely a ploy by the author to justify the character's eventual treachery, or if they portend an important theme for the other books. I was a little surprised by the inclusion of these thoughts; they interrupted the flow of the narrative in what might have been an interesting way.
The prose does not hold you up. Nouns have immediate call on their tabloid adjective: "crush the enemy in an iron vice; deadly efficiency; an icy dread; bleak despair; the ruthless efficiency of vigorous training; the grim reality of their predicament". At times he feels the need to make use of every note taken during research - as a boat moors, who throws every rope to whom for it to be tied to every mooring post. However, these are small faults in a fast-moving narrative set in an exotic Britain.
Scarrow does battles extremely well, if always at the service of plot. Confusion never lasts long; the reader always knows what part the detail plays in the whole picture. The fight is not clean, but it is clear, and Scarrow is able to draw out the action so that every battle has its own arc and could be extracted and read for itself.
Cato is seen to grow in this book. The action in the first was dominated by his need to prove himself; here, though his part is often heroic, he must also come to terms with helplessness and the aftermath of slaughter. His infatuation with the slavegirl, Lavinia, continues and plays a part in the machinations of Vitellius to assassinate the Emperor. Cato is decisive at the denouement of this conspiracy, but Scarrow does not allow him to take the hero's palm - a sign that the book is a little more than a boys' own adventure.
There is, as well, another point of view for Cato to understand and absorb: that of the conquered. Nisus is a surgeon and from North Africa, not only Carthaginian but a direct descendent of Hannibal! He voices the opinion that some might not be grateful for the benefits of Roman civilisation, that they might have been happier as they were. We're not told what Cato makes of this, and Nisus is soon involved in grand conspiracy. It is not clear if the seditious sentiments he uttered were merely a ploy by the author to justify the character's eventual treachery, or if they portend an important theme for the other books. I was a little surprised by the inclusion of these thoughts; they interrupted the flow of the narrative in what might have been an interesting way.
The prose does not hold you up. Nouns have immediate call on their tabloid adjective: "crush the enemy in an iron vice; deadly efficiency; an icy dread; bleak despair; the ruthless efficiency of vigorous training; the grim reality of their predicament". At times he feels the need to make use of every note taken during research - as a boat moors, who throws every rope to whom for it to be tied to every mooring post. However, these are small faults in a fast-moving narrative set in an exotic Britain.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Historical fiction
Another gripping page turner from Simon Scarrow. This book follows the adventures of centurions Macro and Cato as they are caught up in the drama of the Roman conquest of Britain. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Maz
Not as good as the first one
I thoroughly enjoyed the first in this series, Under The Eagle, but this one doesn't quite measure up. It's still good in the most important area, the battle scenes. Read more
Published 1 month ago by nicolocin
Boring and unoriginal
I am afraid that I found this book difficult going. The plot was unoriginal and I couldn't build any rapport with any of the characters. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Phil4379
The Eagle has conquered me!
The Eagle's Conquest has proved that Simon is definitely no flash in the pan, in fact he is the chief protagonist of this genre of writers. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mike Reed
The Eagles Conquest
Once again Simon Scarrow has produced a exciting readeable
adventure. I have read all the books up to this instalment and have not been disappointed. Read more
adventure. I have read all the books up to this instalment and have not been disappointed. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Augustus
Macro and Cato march on under the Eagle
BRIEF STORY DETAILS - SLIGHT SPOILERS
The Britons prove worthy opponents to the sixth century's second legion. Read more
The Britons prove worthy opponents to the sixth century's second legion. Read more
Published 9 months ago by RR Waller
A Great Writer
This was even better than Simon Scarrow's first book - and that's some achievement!
This time around Cato and Macro are ranged against the Britons, desperately defending their... Read more
This time around Cato and Macro are ranged against the Britons, desperately defending their... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Parm
The Eagle Conquest
Only read half way through but as usual a fantastic read. This is the third in the series that I have reah and will buy the remainder as they are so factual and exciting books.
Published 13 months ago by Mr. A. D. Chaplin
The Eagles conquest
I am now starting to read the Eagles Prey and have found this book and the whole Eagles series a gripping read that makes you want to follow the story through the following titles
Published 14 months ago by Roger
The Eagles Conquest!
If you enjoy historical novels that move at pace, with interesting and intriguing storlines, with humour, adventure and realism, based on historical fact, that make it easy for you... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Je Salter
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