Immergetevi nell'era turbolenta dell'Impero Romano, dove un giovane e ambizioso tribuno, all'inizio della sua carriera, affronta conflitti brutali ai confini dell'impero. Questa saga narra il suo viaggio attraverso ribellioni, intrighi politici e battaglie feroci, fondendo accuratezza storica con una narrazione avvincente. Esplorate come coraggio e strategia resistono a probabilità schiaccianti e se la volontà individuale può alterare il corso della storia.
The first book in an action-packed and rigorously researched new Roman historical series by the acclaimed author of Caligula and ClaudiusThe Roman grip on Britain is weakening. Hero of Rome is the first novel in a major new Roman historical action series.
Gaius Valerius Verrens returns to Rome from the successful campaign against Boudicca in Britain. Now hailed a 'Hero of Rome', Valerius is not the man he once was - scarred both physically and emotionally by the battles he has fought, his sister is mortally ill, his father in self-imposed exile.
Douglas Jackson confirms his reputation as 'one of the best historical novelists writing today' (Daily Express) with the third action-packed adventure featuring his on-time gladiator hero, Gaius Valerius Verrens... the first two, Hero of Rome and Defender of Rome, are available in paperback and ebook editions.
Originally published: London: Bantam Press, an imprint of Transworld Publishers, 2013.
Summer, AD 69. Rome and its empire are in turmoil, caught in the coils of a desperate and destructive civil war. The emperor Otho is dead by his own hand and his rival, Aulus Vitellius, occupies the imperial throne. However, a new challenge has arisen in the East – the legions of Titus Flavius Vespasian have declared him their Emperor. In the dry heat of an August morning, Gaius Valerius Verrens prepares for his last day on earth. Wrongly accused of deserting his legion on the field of Bedriacum, it seems he is destined to die a coward’s death. Then the executioner’s hand is stayed. Vitellius' enemies will spare the life of the man who was once Hero of Rome if he pledges allegiance to Vespasian and his cause. Valerius – tired of the endless slaughter and hoping that he might be reunited with his lost love – agrees. And so he must battle his way south to Rome in order to persuade his friend Vitellius to stand down for the greater good of the city, its people and the Empire. But this is civil war and this is Rome, and Valerius – his loyalties divided and branded an enemy of the people – is trapped in a maze of distrust, corruption, betrayal and blood-letting.
Soon, Valerius finds himself at the centre of a web of intrigue spun by Titus's lover, Queen Berenice of Cilicia, and her sometime ally, the general's turncoat adviser, Flavius Josephus, who have an ulterior motive for ending the siege quickly.
Titus Flavius Vespasianus, known as Vespasian, is Emperor of Rome - but his grip on power is weakening. But he is summoned by the Emperor to do one last favour for Rome: he must journey to the remote, mountainous region of Asturica Augusta and investigate claims that a bandit called `The Ghost' is raiding the Empire's gold convoys.
But Britannia is where Valerius cut his military teeth and whetted his sword - and he will soon discover that the ghosts of his past are never far away and are more dangerous perhaps than Domitian.
AD 80 Gaius Valerius Verrens is back where he belongs, at the head of a legion. Valerius leads his men to a devastating victory against the recalcitrant Brigantes, infuriating Agricola in the process.