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John Stack
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Publisher | Harper Collins | ||
ISBN | 9780007285235 | ||
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Reviewer
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Ann
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Synopsis
Against a backdrop of the clash of the Roman and Carthaginian empires, the battle for sovereignty takes place on the high seas Atticus, captain of one of the ships of Rome's small, coastal fleet, is from a Greek fishing family. Septimus, legionary commander, reluctantly ordered aboard ship, is from Rome, born into a traditionally army family. It could never be an easy alliance. But the arrival of a hostile fleet, larger, far more skilful and more powerful than any Atticus has encountered before, forces them to act together. So Atticus, one of Rome's few experienced sailors, finds himself propelled into the middle of a political struggle that is completely foreign to him. Rome need to build a navy fast but the obstacles are many; political animosities, legions adamant that they will only use their traditional methods; Roman prejudice even from friends, that all those not born in Rome are inferior citizens. The enemy are first class, experienced and determined to control the seas. Can Atticus, and the fledgling Roman navy, staffed with inexperienced sailors and unwilling legionaries, out-wit and out-fight his opponents? SHIP OF ROME, full of magnificent sea-battles, packed with strong characters, torn between two powerful empires, is the first book in a new series, MASTERS OF THE SEA, by a brilliant new author.
Review
Hornblower meets Falco - Atticus is the hero, a young greek choosing to make his career in the Roman coastal navy, and of course very good at his craft. The story is set at the beginning of the Punic wars when Carthage ruled the seas, and Rome was expanding its empire on the land. But Rome has only coastal ships and now needs to develop its fleet to counter the Carthagians threatening its expansion.
Atticus, as one of few experienced captains, is drawn into the preparations and develops a friendship with Septimus, an army legionary, posted with his men aboard Atticus's ship the Aquila. Their contrasting backgrounds, both as regards the empire and their career experience, mean that the relationship is beset with difficulties, not helped when Atticus falls in love at first sight with Septimus's newly widowed sister.
This is a good read, the story moves along, and although the characters are somewhat two dimensional - for example the bad guys, the Carthaginian commander Gisco, and the scheming Roman consul Scipio, are really bad - the naval and military detail is fascinating.
I found Dulius, the ambitious self-made junior consul, fighting his devious way to the top in spite of his merchant background the most interesting of the characters.
It is obvious that this is the first of a series, and the primary interest of the author is in the battles and men fighting in them. I look forward to the next instalment and hope that the characters and their relationships develop.
Note to publisher - as with all historical fiction, one wonders how much is true, and while the author does address this in his short historical note, I felt cover endorsement by an historian would help.
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