Gods And Legions: A Novel Of The Roman Empire (2003) - Plot & Excerpts
I like historical novels that develop the individual characters rather than focus on just a series of events. I am presently close to finishing “Gods and Legions” by Michael Curtis Ford and appreciated his very personal portrayal of the Roman Emperor Julian. I do wish his narrative character, Caesarius, a Christian physician and longtime friend of Julian, had been more understanding of the followers of the ancient religions rather than behave as the typically intolerant believer of the period but I guess that personification was more historically accurate.I felt much more sympathy for the local priest of 5th century Noviodonum, depicted in John Gorman’s “The King of the Romans”, who compassionately helped the aged local priestess remember the steps of her rituals when her mind would wander.Overall, however, I have found this to be an excellent novel and would agree wholeheartedly with reviewer Paolo Villasenor, who writes: "...the second novel by Michael Curtis Ford, has an uncanny ability to draw in modern readers with its vivid imagery, fascinating characters, and well written dialogue that would appeal to even those who lack any prior background to the era. Although the story of Emperor Julian is well chronicled in history, it is not necessarily well known. The tale of the unlikely heir, banished to await his execution, and rising unexpectedly to the throne would be fascinating enough. Yet the story that Ford tells progresses towards even more surprising and compelling twists beyond the ascension of the young Emperor. Ford exhibits a fantastic ability to paint a picture of ancient warfare, and adeptly contrasts different armies' strategies, techniques, and dispositions, creating a graphic description of ancient times. Just as easily, Ford shifts gears to provide wonderful dialogue between the protagonists, influenced by classical authors and philosophers. The complex character that is Julian will confuse and dumbfound readers as his bizarre behavior leads to his demise. What motivates his actions? That is left for the reader to interpret. Although it would be easy to summarize the plot, the true art is found in Ford's writing. Overall, Ford's second book is a must read for those who enjoy a well-told story lush with action, imagery, and intellect. One need not be a classical scholar to enjoy this fine tale."Ford himself attributes his realistic depictions of ancient warfare to two books by Victor Davis Hanson, The Soul of Battle & Carnage and Culture. Hanson is Professor of Classics and Coordinator of the Classical Studies Program at Fresno State.Ford is working on his third book entitled The Last King of Greece. "It takes us back to the 1st century B.C. & recounts the life of Mithridates, again a man little known in our times, but who was a brilliant barbarian king & general whom Rome considered its most fearsome enemy ever -- even greater than Hannibal, " says Ford.
Poor history, weaker fiction, esp. the 2nd halfThis book is rife with problems, most importantly the narrator. Ford admits in his intro that Julian is one of history's most fascinating characters yet saddles Julian and the readers with a vitriolic, unsympathetic narrator which makes much of the book, especially the latter half, an unpleasant read.Perhaps that was Ford's intention; by making the narrator, his cause and his viewpoint so vile that the reader would naturally feel empathy for Julian and his cause. If that is his intention it doesn`t work well as the narrator becomes tedious and the reader is left wondering why Julian bothers keeping him alive, let alone in his presence. The narrator is more than a foil, he is annoying. If Ford's intention was to vilify Julian, and that is possible, he again fell flat because of the weak device of the narrator. He makes the Christian position a caricature. It reads like a shallow polemic from the 19th century.All the characters ended up being painted with a cartoonist's touch: Christian zealot narrator; a tortured Julian in first half of book, insane Julian in the second half simply because he reverts to the religious beliefs of the majority of his subjects and ancestors. They are stock characters all of them. Maximus especially comes across as a caricature; he is depicted as an evil little dwarf, simply because he opposes the Christian position.The world Ford creates does not feel like the 4th century, it feels like the 9th or 10th. He does not understand the ancient world-he might have a better go at the Middle Ages in future fiction because this isn`t his forte. The Christianity of the 4th century was divided and turbulent and did not have the "Church is eternal" aura of the Middle Ages but that is the canvas Ford paints. Christianity was still a new, novel belief system to most Romans in East and West. It had only been in power 30 or 40 years and it was not evident to most people of the time whether it would remain in power. One doesn`t get that sense from Ford, rather it seems as if Julian has disrupted the longstanding natural order of things, which in fact it was not.The first half of this book is its real strength and flies along as a real page-turner. While it suffers from many of the problems already mentioned, they are more in the background. The battle scenes are the strongest, most well written parts of the book. They really come to life, as do many of the scenes in Gaul. That first half of the book is what earns this work its two stars rather than one. Overall this is poor history and weaker fiction with some exciting moments in the first half.Comment
What do You think about Gods And Legions: A Novel Of The Roman Empire (2003)?
This is technically brilliant historical fiction. Like Ford's earlier novel, The Ten Thousand, it was a laborious but ultimately worthwhile read. It is crowded with actual historical figures who are brought to life in vivid detail. The dialogue, much of which is derived from classical sources, rings true. The details of daily life, travel, politics, warfare and religious rituals are also given painstaking attention.From the point of view of a trusted court physician, this novel narrates the reversion of the Emperor Julian from Christianity to a fervent and fanatical paganism. But in spite of this he emerges as a likeable and serious soul pulled in different ways by opposing forces and finally dominated by a sort of frenzy.
—Richard
A great book that puts you in the time when the Roman Empire was divided into the western and eastern empire. Ford chronicles the brief stint of Emperor Julian, the ruler of the western empire while he was constantly watched and suspected by his rival Constantius II, ruler of the eastern empire in Constantinople. Ford puts us beside Julian as he campaigns against the Franks in western Europe and later against the Sassanid (Persian) Empire in the East. We see how the Caesar of the western empire strives to bring Rome back to her former glory as he tries to reunite the eastern and western parts of the empire, midst the clashes of the roman pagan and newly formed christian sects, conspiracy within the senate, and barbarians threatening roman peace.
—Josh Hale
Η γνωστή ιστορία του Ιουλιανού του Αποστάτη, πώς γλύτωσε από το μίσος του Κωνστάντιου, πώς μορφώθηκε από τον Μαρδόνιο, πώς αγάπησε το αρχαίο ελληνικό πνεύμα, η προσπάθειά του να γυρίσει την Ρωμαική Αυτοκρατορία στην ειδωλολατρία,η στρατιωτική του εκπαίδευση από τον Σαλλούστιο, οι νίκες του στην Γαλατία και το άτυχο τέλος του στον πόλεμο με τους Πέρσες. Η ιστορία είναι από μόνη της μυθιστορηματική και άκρως ενδιαφέρουσα αλλά δεν με ενθουσίασε η μονότονη και σχεδόν ανιερή γραφή του Μάικλ Κέρτις Φόρντ. Το συνιστώ μόνο στους λάτρεις της ιστορίας.
—Evi Routoula
