No. 1 in Anthony riches "Empire" series

Empire, Wounds of Honor

A good look at the auxiliary forces set up by the Romans and used to guard Hadrian's Wall.  The Auxiliaries were looked down upon by the Legions but probably wrongly so.  Perhaps it was simply because the Auxiliaries were formed of local men.  In any case they had roman officers at the top (similar to our having white officers at the top of our negro battalions in the second world war) and so we get the whiff of Roman Emperor's meddlinjg in the daily activities of the men on the fornt lines.  

One thing I noted was that the author used terms of rank for officers in  the units that I had never heard of before.  The first was Captain, which, so far as I know, was not used until the mid 1500's or so. Second was the term "Chosen Man."  Again not a term I thought to be used before the Napoleonicv wars.  But then I am not a great historian, just an avid reader of the Roman era. 

A good book, well written, smoothly eliding from point to point and keeping the reader interested.

No. 1 in Anthony riches "Empire" series

Empire, Wounds of Honor

A good look at the auxiliary forces set up by the Romans and used to guard Hadrian's Wall.  The Auxiliaries were looked down upon by the Legions but probably wrongly so.  Perhaps it was simply because the Auxiliaries were formed of local men.  In any case they had roman officers at the top (similar to our having white officers at the top of our negro battalions in the second world war) and so we get the whiff of Roman Emperor's meddlinjg in the daily activities of the men on the fornt lines.  

One thing I noted was that the author used terms of rank for officers in  the units that I had never heard of before.  The first was Captain, which, so far as I know, was not used until the mid 1500's or so. Second was the term "Chosen Man."  Again not a term I thought to be used before the Napoleonicv wars.  But then I am not a great historian, just an avid reader of the Roman era. 

A good book, well written, smoothly eliding from point to point and keeping the reader interested.

A review of "Centurion, Soldier of Rome"

This book was apparently written by a third grader.  I have read better in the Dick and Jane books.  Constant repetition, little nuance to the plot, explanations where none are needed, no explanations where thay are required, and mis-spelling by the dozens.  Finally, there are no "captains" in the Roman Legions.  When I saw that word about 15 pages in I put this travesty down and am about to give it over to immolation!

A review of POerceval and Gawain in Dark Mirrors

Perceval and Gawain in Dark Mirrors; Reflections and reflexivity in Chretien de Troyes’s Conte de Graal

To really enjoy this book you have have either just finished reading the Conte de Graal because you enjoy the Arthurian legends, just rediscovered the college book you kept for some unknown reason and it contains the Conte or you are determined to reacquaint yourself with Chretien’s unfinished masterpiece by approaching it in a sideways manner.  If none of the above apply there is always the Internet.  A quick Google of Conte de Graal revealed a number of excellent summaries.  Indeed the book itself provides an excellent review.  

The subtitle of Perceval and Gawain in Dark Mirrors is  "Reflections and Reflexivity in Chretien de Troyes’s Conte de Graal" and is much more, shall I say it, reflective of what the book examines. Exploring which portions of the tale reflect other portions, adumbrate some activity, comment on the brilliant lights that reflect off armor.

A close study of the preface and the Prologue of the book will stand you in good stead as you embark on this journey.  I leave you with the following quote from the preface: “In nearly all narrative loci in Chretien’s last romance–episodes, discrete segments of episodes–are junctures of a variety of specular, speculative, and spectacular strands that run throughout the poem’s texture.”  Have fun.