Ursus Posted April 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2008 My only problem with Holland as a writer is that his books try too obviously to capitalize on recent headlines. "Rubicon" had hints that the loss of power from a Republican Senate to an imperial chief executive has a parallel in modern American foreign policy. In "Persian Fire" the author in his introduction made no bones about trying to find the genesis of the Western vs Islam conflict in the Greco-Persian wars. And now this latest book seems like an attempt to overlay modern events with Christian Europe's responses to its Islamic neighbors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-Manicus Posted April 18, 2008 Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 I'm about 1/2 way through and so far, so good. There was one really funny moment in the book though. It's at the point where Crassus has Spartacus penned up in Southern Italy after two separate attempts to break through Crassus' lines. Holland states: "Both were repulsed, to Crassus' immense relief, for he, like his quarry, was starting to grow desperate. Time was running out. An enemy far more threatening than Spartacus was looming on the horizon. After five years in Spain, Pompey was on his way home." LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DecimusCaesar Posted April 21, 2008 Report Share Posted April 21, 2008 Rubicon is a good book, I just wish that it had been a little bit longer. The final section on the wars between Octavian and Antony and Cleopatra was a bit too short. I'm looking forward to Mr. Holland's next book, although I think he's now turned his attention towards Medieval Europe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Neil Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 Rubicon was great, and I read it cover to cover in two days. I am currently reading his 'Persian Fire'. I must say, in comparison I am finding it quite dull so far... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-Manicus Posted April 22, 2008 Report Share Posted April 22, 2008 Rubicon was great, and I read it cover to cover in two days. I am currently reading his 'Persian Fire'. I must say, in comparison I am finding it quite dull so far... I'm really enjoying Rubicon. I'm a little leery of Persian Fire since I won't be familiar with 99% of the names/events discussed, but we'll see .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fulvia Posted May 17, 2008 Report Share Posted May 17, 2008 I read Rubicon last year and absolutely loved it. Holland's style was easy to read but didn't sacrifice scholarly seriousness. I found that he put it just enough "fun facts" to keep interest always at a high without getting carried away on a did- you- know rabbit trail. I was quite engaged throughout the whole reading and learned quite a bit of things that no doubt would have slipped by me. The book certainly put Holland into my growing retinue of scholars to pay attention to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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