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Eagle in the Snow
Banished to the Empire's farthest outpost, veteran warrior Paulinus Maximus defends The Wall of Britannia from the constant onslaught of belligerent barbarian tribes. Bravery, loyalty, experience, and success lead to Maximus' appointment as "General of the West" by the Roman emperor, the ambition of a lifetime. But with the title comes a caveat: Maximus needs to muster and command a single legion to defend the perilous Rhine frontier. On the opposite side of the Rhine River, tribal nations are uniting; hundreds of thousands mass in preparation for the conquest of Gaul, and from there, a sweep down into Rome itself. Only a wide river and a wily general keep them in check.
With discipline, deception, persuasion, and surprise, Maximus holds the line against an increasingly desperate and innumerable foe. Friends, allies, and even enemies urge Maximus to proclaim himself emperor. He refuses, bound by an oath of duty, honor, and sacrifice to Rome, a city he has never seen. But then circumstance intervenes. Now, Maximus will accept the purple robe of emperor, if his scrappy legion can deliver this last crucial victory against insurmountable odds. The very fate of Rome hangs in the balance. Combining the brilliantly realized battle action of Gates of Fire and the masterful characterization of Mary Renault's The Last of the Wine, Eagle in the Snow is nothing less than the novel of the fall of the Roman empire.
With discipline, deception, persuasion, and surprise, Maximus holds the line against an increasingly desperate and innumerable foe. Friends, allies, and even enemies urge Maximus to proclaim himself emperor. He refuses, bound by an oath of duty, honor, and sacrifice to Rome, a city he has never seen. But then circumstance intervenes. Now, Maximus will accept the purple robe of emperor, if his scrappy legion can deliver this last crucial victory against insurmountable odds. The very fate of Rome hangs in the balance. Combining the brilliantly realized battle action of Gates of Fire and the masterful characterization of Mary Renault's The Last of the Wine, Eagle in the Snow is nothing less than the novel of the fall of the Roman empire.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
199 people are currently reading
5,200 people want to read
About the author
Wallace Breem
10Ìýbooks40ÌýfollowersWallace Wilfred Swinburne Breem was a British librarian and author, the Librarian and Keeper of Manuscripts of the Inner Temple Law Library at his death, but perhaps more widely known for his historical novels, including the classic Eagle in the Snow (1970).
At the age of 18, Breem entered the Indian Army's Officers Training School, and in 1945 was commissioned as an officer of the Corps of Guides, an elite Cavalry detachment of the North West Frontier Force.
After the Partition of India in 1947, Breem returned to England and held a variety of jobs which included labourer in a tannery, assistant to a veterinary surgeon, and rent-collector in the East End of London. He eventually joined the library staff of the Inner Temple in London, in 1950.
Breem was a founder member of BIALL (British and Irish Association of Law Librarians), and at various times held the offices of Secretary, Treasurer, Chairman, Vice-President, and President in that organization.
At the age of 18, Breem entered the Indian Army's Officers Training School, and in 1945 was commissioned as an officer of the Corps of Guides, an elite Cavalry detachment of the North West Frontier Force.
After the Partition of India in 1947, Breem returned to England and held a variety of jobs which included labourer in a tannery, assistant to a veterinary surgeon, and rent-collector in the East End of London. He eventually joined the library staff of the Inner Temple in London, in 1950.
Breem was a founder member of BIALL (British and Irish Association of Law Librarians), and at various times held the offices of Secretary, Treasurer, Chairman, Vice-President, and President in that organization.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
March 4, 2022
Tengo sentimientos encontrados con este libro, por un lado hasta la mitad del libro no me estaba gustado casi nada ritmo lento demasiados personajes que apenas aportaban nada y no volvÃan a aparecer, desplazamientos de lugar, paso rápido del tiempo... en fin que no me estaba metiendo para nada en la historia de nuestro protagonista Máximo. Pero he aquà que ya, por fin llega a su destino, a la alta Germania, para defender las fronteras de un imperio en decadencia y ay madre desde ese momento, la historia no para de ir cuesta arriba mejorando y llegando a las batallas finales que son memorables.
Nota: he echado de menos un mapa con los movimientos de las tropas par visualizarlo mejor.
Pues eso, no sé si castigarlo mucho por esa primera mitad o levantar la mano por esa magnifica 2ª parte.
Bueno los mimbres son los siguientes:
El otrora todopoderoso Imperio romano se encuentra en sus años finales. Perdida la virtud y la potencia militar que lo hicieron grande, gobernado por meras sombras de los gigantes de antaño y acosado en todas las fronteras por hordas de feroces bárbaros, tan sólo un hombre se interpone entre Roma y su casi segura destrucción: el veterano general Paulino Gayo Máximo. Curtido en las duras batallas ante el Muro de Adriano, Máximo comanda la legión encargada de defender la peligrosa frontera del Rin. Más allá del rÃo, naciones enteras afilan sus armas, acuciadas por el hambre y los sueños de la riqueza del Imperio. La esperanza de la victoria hace mucho tiempo que se perdió y a Máximo sólo le queda retrasar la inevitable derrota; sólo le queda vivir con honor y morir con la espada en la mano.
7/10 (como veis he levantado la mano, jajaja, soy un blando).
Nota: he echado de menos un mapa con los movimientos de las tropas par visualizarlo mejor.
Pues eso, no sé si castigarlo mucho por esa primera mitad o levantar la mano por esa magnifica 2ª parte.
Bueno los mimbres son los siguientes:
El otrora todopoderoso Imperio romano se encuentra en sus años finales. Perdida la virtud y la potencia militar que lo hicieron grande, gobernado por meras sombras de los gigantes de antaño y acosado en todas las fronteras por hordas de feroces bárbaros, tan sólo un hombre se interpone entre Roma y su casi segura destrucción: el veterano general Paulino Gayo Máximo. Curtido en las duras batallas ante el Muro de Adriano, Máximo comanda la legión encargada de defender la peligrosa frontera del Rin. Más allá del rÃo, naciones enteras afilan sus armas, acuciadas por el hambre y los sueños de la riqueza del Imperio. La esperanza de la victoria hace mucho tiempo que se perdió y a Máximo sólo le queda retrasar la inevitable derrota; sólo le queda vivir con honor y morir con la espada en la mano.
7/10 (como veis he levantado la mano, jajaja, soy un blando).
March 4, 2022
4,25/5 o lo que es lo mismo, que está MUY bien pero con alguna reserva.
Se desarrolla durante los últimos años del imperio romano de Occidente, cuando las tribus bárbaras invadieron la Galia atravesando la frontera del Rin. El protagonista es Máximo, el general romano a cargo de la defensa de esa frontera.
Por lo que he trastead por la red creo que es un personaje más o menos real pero con muchas licencias del escrito (vamos, que no es tan real como los que suele traernos Posteguillo).
Ya sabéis cómo acaba la cosa, ¿no? Entonces nos queda disfrutar de la ambientación, de la forma de narrar y de los personajes.
La ambientación soberbia. Lo grueso de la trama se desarrolla en diciembre, con nieve y frio para aburrir (el tÃtulo del libro ya lo dice) y realmente nos mete el libro en faena. La angustia de la defensa en inferioridad de condiciones, el sufrimiento, el orgullo, el valor o la cobardÃa, las lealtades y las traiciones, las penalidades y los sentimientos de los personajes, de la legión XX en su conjunto …eso es lo que más vale, ahà se lleva las cinco estrellas y eso es lo que hace a este libro algo digno de ser leÃdo.
Es fácil escribir sobre héroes o victorias o finales felices. Es mas jodido lo contrario, lo que vemos aquÃ.
Personajes : creo que alguien los ensalza en sus crÃticas pero a mà sólo me han parecido reales dos : Máximo y Quito. Algo el obispo y el curator, pero poco más (creo que esta opinión es minoritaria, pero ahà queda) Además, hay muchos, muchos, muchos, y te pierdes en ocasiones.
Agilidad narrativa : …pse!... bien pero no para tirar cohetes. Te mete en la ambientación y el ritmo es bueno pero no llega al enganche que nos mete el autor español ese que he dicho antes.
RESUMEN : que sÃ, que merece la pena pero no borda el 5. He dudado mucho en dejarle con las cuatro estrellas pero al final el regusto ha prevalecido sobre los aspectos individuales.
Se desarrolla durante los últimos años del imperio romano de Occidente, cuando las tribus bárbaras invadieron la Galia atravesando la frontera del Rin. El protagonista es Máximo, el general romano a cargo de la defensa de esa frontera.
Por lo que he trastead por la red creo que es un personaje más o menos real pero con muchas licencias del escrito (vamos, que no es tan real como los que suele traernos Posteguillo).
Ya sabéis cómo acaba la cosa, ¿no? Entonces nos queda disfrutar de la ambientación, de la forma de narrar y de los personajes.
La ambientación soberbia. Lo grueso de la trama se desarrolla en diciembre, con nieve y frio para aburrir (el tÃtulo del libro ya lo dice) y realmente nos mete el libro en faena. La angustia de la defensa en inferioridad de condiciones, el sufrimiento, el orgullo, el valor o la cobardÃa, las lealtades y las traiciones, las penalidades y los sentimientos de los personajes, de la legión XX en su conjunto …eso es lo que más vale, ahà se lleva las cinco estrellas y eso es lo que hace a este libro algo digno de ser leÃdo.
Es fácil escribir sobre héroes o victorias o finales felices. Es mas jodido lo contrario, lo que vemos aquÃ.
Personajes : creo que alguien los ensalza en sus crÃticas pero a mà sólo me han parecido reales dos : Máximo y Quito. Algo el obispo y el curator, pero poco más (creo que esta opinión es minoritaria, pero ahà queda) Además, hay muchos, muchos, muchos, y te pierdes en ocasiones.
Agilidad narrativa : …pse!... bien pero no para tirar cohetes. Te mete en la ambientación y el ritmo es bueno pero no llega al enganche que nos mete el autor español ese que he dicho antes.
RESUMEN : que sÃ, que merece la pena pero no borda el 5. He dudado mucho en dejarle con las cuatro estrellas pero al final el regusto ha prevalecido sobre los aspectos individuales.
September 19, 2014
A splendid novel: an absolute masterpiece!!! I loved the author's style and descriptions of the bleak landscape, forts, and towns; I could feel every sword thrust, the ice and snow, every emotion of the protagonist! The mood of foreboding permeated the whole novel. Set in the 4th and 5th centuries, the time of Honorius, Stilicho, and Galla Placidia, the story is told in the first person in flashback by the dour Roman General Maximus, to a group of tribesmen in Segontium (modern-day Caernarfon, Wales). The general holds to the stoic manly virtues of the earlier Rome. Due to a quirk of fate, the Rhine freezes over and the barbarians cross on the ice to the west bank, overwhelming the Romans at the 30th milestone between Augusta Treverorum (Trier) and Moguntiacum (Mainz).
In history, this Rhine battle actually did contribute to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire not many years hence. The ending, in an epilogue, was heart-breaking. The author has clearly done his historical research. Possibly for heightened dramatic effect, the author blended the forced suicide of Martinus, Vicarius of Britannia, with those of Arria and Paetus, all three of them historical figures.
In history, this Rhine battle actually did contribute to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire not many years hence. The ending, in an epilogue, was heart-breaking. The author has clearly done his historical research. Possibly for heightened dramatic effect, the author blended the forced suicide of Martinus, Vicarius of Britannia, with those of Arria and Paetus, all three of them historical figures.
June 12, 2021
6,75/10
Aunque he terminado con buen sabor de boca esta novela, la primera parte me ha costado bastante pillarle el ritmo e incluso he llegado a plantearme el abandonarla, pero como soy cabezón, le he dado una oportunidad y lo cierto es que a partir de la mitad mejora bastante y termina siendo bastante entretenida.
A su favor, lo comentado, un último tercio repleto de acción y con mucho ritmo que hará las delicias de aquellos que gusten de una batalla bien narrada. El desenlace cumple de forma notable en todos los aspectos.
En su contra, cuesta arrancar y adaptarse al estilo de Breem, el primer tercio se nos cuenta parte del camino del protagonista, necesario hasta cierto punto para conocerle mejor, pero creo que se invierten demasiadas páginas en una historia que no es demasiado interesante hasta que no alcanza las fronteras del Rin.
Resumiendo, novela de legiones romanas con dos partes bien diferenciadas, una más calmada y pausada, en exceso dirÃa yo, y una segunda trepidante y que si eres como yo, disfrutarás muchÃsimo más.
PD: Edito para decir que mis expectativas eran muy altas y quizás por ese motivo no haya valorado esta novela como merece, pero claro, cuando varios amigos tuyos, cuyas valoraciones respetas le dan 5 estrellas, pues te esperas algo espectacular, y no ha sido el caso.
Aunque he terminado con buen sabor de boca esta novela, la primera parte me ha costado bastante pillarle el ritmo e incluso he llegado a plantearme el abandonarla, pero como soy cabezón, le he dado una oportunidad y lo cierto es que a partir de la mitad mejora bastante y termina siendo bastante entretenida.
A su favor, lo comentado, un último tercio repleto de acción y con mucho ritmo que hará las delicias de aquellos que gusten de una batalla bien narrada. El desenlace cumple de forma notable en todos los aspectos.
En su contra, cuesta arrancar y adaptarse al estilo de Breem, el primer tercio se nos cuenta parte del camino del protagonista, necesario hasta cierto punto para conocerle mejor, pero creo que se invierten demasiadas páginas en una historia que no es demasiado interesante hasta que no alcanza las fronteras del Rin.
Resumiendo, novela de legiones romanas con dos partes bien diferenciadas, una más calmada y pausada, en exceso dirÃa yo, y una segunda trepidante y que si eres como yo, disfrutarás muchÃsimo más.
PD: Edito para decir que mis expectativas eran muy altas y quizás por ese motivo no haya valorado esta novela como merece, pero claro, cuando varios amigos tuyos, cuyas valoraciones respetas le dan 5 estrellas, pues te esperas algo espectacular, y no ha sido el caso.
June 8, 2018
While I was reading this, by happenstance my uncle (a naval man) began a blog post with a quote: "Amateurs talk tactics; professionals talk logistics." And that sums up the consummately professional Eagle in the Snow in a nutshell: it is a book about logistics. If you are looking for Hollywood-style speechifying, swordfights and fanfare, look elsewhere. If you want to experience alongside the main character what it's like to be a Roman general just before the fall of the Empire, trying to raise an army and get them equipped before the German tribes overrun your frontier - which we, as readers, know they eventually will - then this is the book for you. Not for everybody, but if you like realistic military history, delay not: get a copy. I knew what was going to happen at the end, and I still cried. Tragic and perfect. This will be on my best-of-the-year list.
Review from my blog,
Two days later I rode southwest in the spring sunshine. Behind me I left my youth, my middle age, my wife, and my happiness. I was a general now and I had only defeat or victory to look forward to. There was no middle way any longer, and I did not care.
Review from my blog,
January 5, 2015
"Eagle In The Snow" by Wallace Breem centers on the years 405 AD to early 407, capturing a key moment in the Roman Empire's death throes as hundreds of thousands of mostly Germanic peoples mass on the east bank of the Rhine waiting for the river to freeze and to walk into Gaul. The tale is an epitaph for the Roman Empire with General Paulinus Gaius Maximus serving as the lone pall bearer, carrying the weight of an empire marching inexorably toward its grave.
Compared to the action adventures of Scarrow, Igguldon or Duffy, the writing style of "Eagle in the Snow" is stark, abrupt and subtle. "Eagle" is deep and the prose and exposition are very genuine. Think of Scarrow and Duffy as TV movies, and Breem as an Oscar-worthy film. It's no surprise that the book was a Bestseller, and in the realm of Roman historical fiction, "Eagle" justifies its praise as a classic. For those less interested in Roman military fiction, like the Rhine itself, "Eagle" runs much deeper.
Breem paints a very detailed and accurate picture of life in Maximus' world. This historical novel is as solid in its history as documentation and archaeology allowed in the late `60s, and the liberties taken seem to be few and forgivable. He draws a very vivid exposition of existence at the ends of the Roman earth. He elicits emotion through the subtle interplay between characters and through Maximus' monologue.
The story is structured from Maximus' point of view, who narrates all but the prologue and epilogue. He is the consummate Roman - born in Gaul to Roman ancestry, raised to be a soldier. He loves Rome with every thread of his being, and despite never having been there, he loves what the city is and what it represents. Breem's Maximus is the Roman ideal.
His cousin Julian was brought up by his own parents as Julian's were forced to commit suicide by a usurping Roman Emperor. Julian also grows up to be a soldier, but at this point the cousins' paths diverge. Maximus and Julian represent two sides of a Roman coin - on one side is Maximus: the Empire, staunch, disciplined, loyal and forever Roman. On the other side is Julian: the Empire in decline, resentful, living-on-the-fringe, and consumed by hatred.
Maximus is pushed to break away from the Empire and lead his frontier legions as a new emperor. He declines both times, once to his Roman legion and once to the Germanic tribes. Julian intercedes on the tribes' behalf and Maximus explains why he can't accept: "My Empire has had more usurping Emperors than I can count...all weakened the empire they thought to strengthen. I shall not add to their number." Julian responds: "The Empire is dying, Maximus. It is weaker than when you were a boy..."
Maximus ultimately receives no support from any other Roman legion, reflecting the fractured, disaggregated and self-interested nature of the Empire's far-flung nations. The ending is inevitable - though such is the emotive monologue by Maximus that one can't help but feel hope and optimism at each turn in the ultimate series of battles.
The Rugged Land edition of the book (published in 2004) provides a detailed list of characters, historical timeline, Roman and modern place names, and glossaries of tribes and 5th century terms. It's particularly helpful that historical figures are distinguished from those that are purely fictional. Maximus, while perhaps loosely based on Generals of the time, is fictional. A more detailed map also would've been helpful.
Compared to the action adventures of Scarrow, Igguldon or Duffy, the writing style of "Eagle in the Snow" is stark, abrupt and subtle. "Eagle" is deep and the prose and exposition are very genuine. Think of Scarrow and Duffy as TV movies, and Breem as an Oscar-worthy film. It's no surprise that the book was a Bestseller, and in the realm of Roman historical fiction, "Eagle" justifies its praise as a classic. For those less interested in Roman military fiction, like the Rhine itself, "Eagle" runs much deeper.
Breem paints a very detailed and accurate picture of life in Maximus' world. This historical novel is as solid in its history as documentation and archaeology allowed in the late `60s, and the liberties taken seem to be few and forgivable. He draws a very vivid exposition of existence at the ends of the Roman earth. He elicits emotion through the subtle interplay between characters and through Maximus' monologue.
The story is structured from Maximus' point of view, who narrates all but the prologue and epilogue. He is the consummate Roman - born in Gaul to Roman ancestry, raised to be a soldier. He loves Rome with every thread of his being, and despite never having been there, he loves what the city is and what it represents. Breem's Maximus is the Roman ideal.
His cousin Julian was brought up by his own parents as Julian's were forced to commit suicide by a usurping Roman Emperor. Julian also grows up to be a soldier, but at this point the cousins' paths diverge. Maximus and Julian represent two sides of a Roman coin - on one side is Maximus: the Empire, staunch, disciplined, loyal and forever Roman. On the other side is Julian: the Empire in decline, resentful, living-on-the-fringe, and consumed by hatred.
Maximus is pushed to break away from the Empire and lead his frontier legions as a new emperor. He declines both times, once to his Roman legion and once to the Germanic tribes. Julian intercedes on the tribes' behalf and Maximus explains why he can't accept: "My Empire has had more usurping Emperors than I can count...all weakened the empire they thought to strengthen. I shall not add to their number." Julian responds: "The Empire is dying, Maximus. It is weaker than when you were a boy..."
Maximus ultimately receives no support from any other Roman legion, reflecting the fractured, disaggregated and self-interested nature of the Empire's far-flung nations. The ending is inevitable - though such is the emotive monologue by Maximus that one can't help but feel hope and optimism at each turn in the ultimate series of battles.
The Rugged Land edition of the book (published in 2004) provides a detailed list of characters, historical timeline, Roman and modern place names, and glossaries of tribes and 5th century terms. It's particularly helpful that historical figures are distinguished from those that are purely fictional. Maximus, while perhaps loosely based on Generals of the time, is fictional. A more detailed map also would've been helpful.
May 22, 2023
The Eagle in the Snow by Wallace Beem really is The Little Book That Could. This is a historical “last stand� sort of novel taking place in the Waning years of the Western Roman Empire. The book revolves around General Maxiumus, a Roman General around the year 400 AD stationed high along Hadrian’s Wall in Brittania. Maximus is a true Roman who has never seen Rome, but he remains true to the Emperor of this period, Honorius (a despicable Emperor that played no small role in the weakening of Rome around this period), and his General Stilicho (one of the absolute greatest figures from Roman history). Despite growing reality of major barbarian incursion along the Wall, Maximus gets news from Stilicho that he is being moved to an area of even more importance: the Rhine River, where Germanic tribesman are amassing on the East bank of the River in terrifying strength, and they plan on crossing into Gaul and carving out some of Rome’s land for themselves. For now, the mighty Rhine keeps them at bay, but winter is coming and what will happen if it freezes over?
As it turns out, nothing good if you’re a Roman. But Maximus is a true believer, and refuses to negotiate with this enormous horde of Vandal, Marcomanni, Alemanni, etc. tribesman.
With this setup, the book switches into high gear and proceeds to leave the reader with a crushing feeling of impending doom; every page you turn coming closer and closer to the inevitable. This book also contains one of the absolute greatest battle scenes in any novel I have ever read, and it’s a long one with unbelievable research and care given.
Wallace Breem is clearly a knowledgeable person with great writing ability. This story was absolutely gripping. I loved the feel throughout the whole thing, as the dread built and built before finally breaking. Breem is a great writer, and I wish more people knew about this book. It should absolutely be a classic in the genre. I had just come off reading Colleen McCullough’s wonderful First Man In Rome, thinking this was going to be an entertaining little book, but not imagining I would love it nearly just as much. The books are totally different, but about equally as good.
Some knowledge of Roman history isn’t necessary to read and enjoy this book, but surely it helps. This took place at a time when the western empire was beginning to fall apart, and we get a microcosm of the whole situation beautifully summed up in Maximus’s struggle with the barbarians at the door. I highly recommend this book to you, your brother, and your grandma.
May 10, 2013
-Del heroÃsmo y la irracionalidad, que tantas veces caminan de la mano hacia el campo donde crecen las phalerae y los torquex-.
Género. Novela ³ó¾±²õ³Ùó°ù¾±³¦²¹
Lo que nos cuenta. Paulino Gayo Máximo, antiguo general romano con mucha experiencia entre los limitanei y comitatenses, echa la vista atrás al final de sus dÃas y nos cuenta su vida, marcada por sus duras experiencias personales y castrenses, centrándose en su participación dentro de los acontecimientos que desembocaron en el estallido del violento conflicto que tuvo lugar entre las tribus germánicas y el Imperio Romano de Occidente a orillas del Rin al finalizar el año 406.
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Género. Novela ³ó¾±²õ³Ùó°ù¾±³¦²¹
Lo que nos cuenta. Paulino Gayo Máximo, antiguo general romano con mucha experiencia entre los limitanei y comitatenses, echa la vista atrás al final de sus dÃas y nos cuenta su vida, marcada por sus duras experiencias personales y castrenses, centrándose en su participación dentro de los acontecimientos que desembocaron en el estallido del violento conflicto que tuvo lugar entre las tribus germánicas y el Imperio Romano de Occidente a orillas del Rin al finalizar el año 406.
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December 19, 2013I am by no means a regular reader of historical fiction, but whatever genre you want to file EAGLE IN THE SNOW under, it's an absolute masterpiece: a gripping and terrifying story told in prose that is literary and beautiful but never flowery. As the Roman Empire is crumbling in the early Fifth Century, a Legion is sent to try to hold the Rhine during a bitter winter, and keep the massing barbarian tribes from crossing. The tribes are waiting for the Rhine to freeze over. As Stephen Pressfield's Introduction points out, this book doesn't read like a historical novel, it reads like an account written at the time: the details and sense of place are fantastic but never take the reader out of the story, and the interior monologues are shot through with the beauty and stoicism of Marcus Aurelius's MEDITATIONS. Count me now among the raving fans of this book. Incredible.
A taste of the prose style:
The sun shone strongly upon the red and grey of the buildings, and the entrance to the temple was shadowed in darkness. No-one came here now and I had the whole square to myself. The sky was very blue, I remember, and the trees stood silent, their once dark leaves already turned a rich brown. Once it had seemed as though they would live for ever; now they were dying after so short a life, and would soon crumble into dust. A lizard ran across the paving and concealed itself in the tufts of grass that thrust themselves upwards between the cracks, its small body heaving, as though it found the heat too much at that time of the year. I unpinned my cloak and shut my eyes, and felt the sun upon my face. I thought, for a moment or two, of the bustle in the offices of the Basilica, and of the legion in its earth and timber forts, and of all the work that awaited me when I returned. Suddenly, I felt very old and very tired. I thought of the villa at Arelate and of the pool in which I had swum as a boy. I thought of the plans we had made, my wife and I. There had been that winter when it was very cold and we had spent the evenings planning a new and proper home in the forest of Anderida. She had sat by the fire, spinning, while I drew the outlines of the new house with a stick of charcoal upon the back of a duty list. We had argued about the size of the rooms and how many we should need. Quintus had joined us, one night, and we had laughed and joked over the wine. That was the night she had washed her hair, and she sat by the fire, drying it and listening to our talk. There had to be a special room for him, I insisted, so that he would come to visit us often; and Quintus had agreed, and they had looked at each other and smiled.
I opened my eyes and stared up at the sky. There were so many questions that I had wanted to ask; so many that I had never dared to ask. I never would ask them now. I shut them from my mind. They were the bad things, about which I could do nothing. It was better, I thought, to remember the happy times instead. Perhaps, when all this was over, we would buy a villa still, and farm it, and Quintus would breed horses, and I would write that military history that had been in my mind all these years. And in the evenings we would sit before the fire and drink wine and remind ourselves of the old days. So I sat there, blinking in the sun, and I was just an old man, dreaming foolish dreams.
A taste of the prose style:
The sun shone strongly upon the red and grey of the buildings, and the entrance to the temple was shadowed in darkness. No-one came here now and I had the whole square to myself. The sky was very blue, I remember, and the trees stood silent, their once dark leaves already turned a rich brown. Once it had seemed as though they would live for ever; now they were dying after so short a life, and would soon crumble into dust. A lizard ran across the paving and concealed itself in the tufts of grass that thrust themselves upwards between the cracks, its small body heaving, as though it found the heat too much at that time of the year. I unpinned my cloak and shut my eyes, and felt the sun upon my face. I thought, for a moment or two, of the bustle in the offices of the Basilica, and of the legion in its earth and timber forts, and of all the work that awaited me when I returned. Suddenly, I felt very old and very tired. I thought of the villa at Arelate and of the pool in which I had swum as a boy. I thought of the plans we had made, my wife and I. There had been that winter when it was very cold and we had spent the evenings planning a new and proper home in the forest of Anderida. She had sat by the fire, spinning, while I drew the outlines of the new house with a stick of charcoal upon the back of a duty list. We had argued about the size of the rooms and how many we should need. Quintus had joined us, one night, and we had laughed and joked over the wine. That was the night she had washed her hair, and she sat by the fire, drying it and listening to our talk. There had to be a special room for him, I insisted, so that he would come to visit us often; and Quintus had agreed, and they had looked at each other and smiled.
I opened my eyes and stared up at the sky. There were so many questions that I had wanted to ask; so many that I had never dared to ask. I never would ask them now. I shut them from my mind. They were the bad things, about which I could do nothing. It was better, I thought, to remember the happy times instead. Perhaps, when all this was over, we would buy a villa still, and farm it, and Quintus would breed horses, and I would write that military history that had been in my mind all these years. And in the evenings we would sit before the fire and drink wine and remind ourselves of the old days. So I sat there, blinking in the sun, and I was just an old man, dreaming foolish dreams.
April 3, 2015
This is a very sad book, but in the end an uplifting one if You know what I mean for this.
The story of a detachment of people, their leader and how they had to follow orders until the very end. Now We know exactly what book was reading when He wrote .
A great empire about to fall is the perfect background to tell the story of honor, bravery and the sense of duty that It is lacking today in our lives.
Loving this book and I know You'll too.
The story of a detachment of people, their leader and how they had to follow orders until the very end. Now We know exactly what book was reading when He wrote .
A great empire about to fall is the perfect background to tell the story of honor, bravery and the sense of duty that It is lacking today in our lives.
Loving this book and I know You'll too.
January 21, 2018
Story: 3 (Melodramatic to the extreme)
Characters: 2 (Basic archetypes with poor dialogue)
Accuracy: 1 (Outdated and polemic)
I can't understand this book's popularity. I enjoy reading about the later empire so I was thrilled to see a novel set in that time. But boy does it not get the feel of it. First off, the entire writing style is ponderous and overdramatic, like a soap opera combined with a Victorian novel. It constantly reminds you that THIS IS AN IMPORTANT BOOK in such loud cries that it seemed vaguely insecure. Secondly, all of the characters are wooden cutouts. The lead might as well be called Semper Fidelis Militaris because he is exactly like every other noble warrior in literary history: proud and loyal to a fault. Other characters don't even benefit from that depth. Thirdly, despite being fairly unique in covering the military fall of the Roman Empire the book is filled with cliches, many of them outdated even at the time of writing. Corrupt emperors, eternally correct soldiers who nobody listens to, barbarian hordes... They even rely on the old racist Western cliche of the civilized man going over to the barbarians where he is immediately appointed their leader due to his superior nature. Ugh. And speaking of outdated, the fourth big issue is that it's woefully innacurate both in fact and tone. There was never a Roman Empire like this, and if its fall could be solved by the simple expedient of listening to one practical soldier then it would have been. The late Empire is full of perfectly competent soldiers who became emperors or warlords. That was part of the problem. And the grating wistfullness that seems to capture people's imagination is never actually justified by the events of the novel. All in all a major disappointment.
Characters: 2 (Basic archetypes with poor dialogue)
Accuracy: 1 (Outdated and polemic)
I can't understand this book's popularity. I enjoy reading about the later empire so I was thrilled to see a novel set in that time. But boy does it not get the feel of it. First off, the entire writing style is ponderous and overdramatic, like a soap opera combined with a Victorian novel. It constantly reminds you that THIS IS AN IMPORTANT BOOK in such loud cries that it seemed vaguely insecure. Secondly, all of the characters are wooden cutouts. The lead might as well be called Semper Fidelis Militaris because he is exactly like every other noble warrior in literary history: proud and loyal to a fault. Other characters don't even benefit from that depth. Thirdly, despite being fairly unique in covering the military fall of the Roman Empire the book is filled with cliches, many of them outdated even at the time of writing. Corrupt emperors, eternally correct soldiers who nobody listens to, barbarian hordes... They even rely on the old racist Western cliche of the civilized man going over to the barbarians where he is immediately appointed their leader due to his superior nature. Ugh. And speaking of outdated, the fourth big issue is that it's woefully innacurate both in fact and tone. There was never a Roman Empire like this, and if its fall could be solved by the simple expedient of listening to one practical soldier then it would have been. The late Empire is full of perfectly competent soldiers who became emperors or warlords. That was part of the problem. And the grating wistfullness that seems to capture people's imagination is never actually justified by the events of the novel. All in all a major disappointment.
September 29, 2014
I loved it all, the writing, the story and the characters. I thought the battle scenes were very well done and the setting at the end of the empire was new for me so I found it very interesting.
February 3, 2021
Book 2 of the lunar challenge, read a book with snow in the title.
Alright so I may have been a little quick on the trigger with this one. My bad. I read Quintus and Maximus were the main characters and my first thought was oh shit yeah I get to see Maximus before he was Gladiator. Come to find out no, no that's not the story. This book came out about 30 years before Gladiator with ole Russell Crowe. But that's okay because I came for battles and somehow walked away feeling more bored than when I started... balls.
I am not a fan of war novels being in the first person. Not even a little bit, not even at all. Because everything that takes place is either viewed through the lens of the main and if that main character has the optics of a naked mole rat you get eff all for battle descriptions, or you get the battle descriptions via word of mouth from the grape vine. And let's face it the grape vine is garbage when it comes to details, I'd give better details if my foot was crushed by a camel while I was having a wee and giving directions to the local bakery. And I have no idea why in the hell a camel was in NM of all places, or why it stepped on me while I was having a wee.
Resolution is an important thing to me. I like closure, if a woman had ever left me the way we lose sight of some of these characters I don't think I'd realize we had a relationship in the first place. I would just be confused, and I am. The only relationship I cared about in this book is between Quintus and Maximus and even that is shoddy, there's no resolution to the problem that put a wedge in their friendship and that's frustrating. It's tragic and it's really the only thing I cared about being resolved, and it doesn't bloody happen. Or it does happen and its such a crap resolution it makes me want to scream you decide.
Research, whoa loads of that going on around here. I can imagine the work that went into framing this novel bit by bit and I'm sure Mr Breem pulled out a fair amount of hairs in his writing of it. He did a great job in that regard and I applaud him for it.
There are some good one liners here and there for the most part the banter is good. Especially between the bishop and Maximus I really enjoyed their discussions. I just wanted more. I wanted more resolution.
This book clearly inspires a lot of love from other readers and I can see how. It just wasn't for me and that's okay, I like bizarro which is definitely not for everyone. This one will be better suited to the next person I'm sure.
There it is and there you have it.
Alright so I may have been a little quick on the trigger with this one. My bad. I read Quintus and Maximus were the main characters and my first thought was oh shit yeah I get to see Maximus before he was Gladiator. Come to find out no, no that's not the story. This book came out about 30 years before Gladiator with ole Russell Crowe. But that's okay because I came for battles and somehow walked away feeling more bored than when I started... balls.
I am not a fan of war novels being in the first person. Not even a little bit, not even at all. Because everything that takes place is either viewed through the lens of the main and if that main character has the optics of a naked mole rat you get eff all for battle descriptions, or you get the battle descriptions via word of mouth from the grape vine. And let's face it the grape vine is garbage when it comes to details, I'd give better details if my foot was crushed by a camel while I was having a wee and giving directions to the local bakery. And I have no idea why in the hell a camel was in NM of all places, or why it stepped on me while I was having a wee.
Resolution is an important thing to me. I like closure, if a woman had ever left me the way we lose sight of some of these characters I don't think I'd realize we had a relationship in the first place. I would just be confused, and I am. The only relationship I cared about in this book is between Quintus and Maximus and even that is shoddy, there's no resolution to the problem that put a wedge in their friendship and that's frustrating. It's tragic and it's really the only thing I cared about being resolved, and it doesn't bloody happen. Or it does happen and its such a crap resolution it makes me want to scream you decide.
Research, whoa loads of that going on around here. I can imagine the work that went into framing this novel bit by bit and I'm sure Mr Breem pulled out a fair amount of hairs in his writing of it. He did a great job in that regard and I applaud him for it.
There are some good one liners here and there for the most part the banter is good. Especially between the bishop and Maximus I really enjoyed their discussions. I just wanted more. I wanted more resolution.
This book clearly inspires a lot of love from other readers and I can see how. It just wasn't for me and that's okay, I like bizarro which is definitely not for everyone. This one will be better suited to the next person I'm sure.
There it is and there you have it.
April 17, 2017
Among writers of historical fiction, Eagle in the Snow has achieved semi-legendary status. It was first published in 1970 and, largely through recommendation, has remained in print ever since (no small feat in itself when the author, Wallace Breem, died in 1990).
It's the subtlety and mood of the book that gives it its power and creates its status. It's the story of the dying of things: empires, men, armies, a civilisation. It's the story of a man born out of time, fighting against the dying of the light. It's a story of the end of Rome suffused with the nostalgia for fallen things that is a legacy of the northern tribes that defeated the Empire and replaced it on this island. That's the unspoken, because never acknowledged, paradox at the heart of this book. While there were elements of nostalgia for a lost golden age in Roman civilisation, the twilight mood of Eagle in the Snow is a product of a people and a writer whose civilisation rests upon three supports: the Classical tradition of Rome and Greece, the Judeo-Christian and the foreshadowing of ultimate loss that results from the Ragnarok of the Anglo-Saxons. So this is a book of the defeat of a civilisation that is made into the work of art that it is by the worldview of the civilisations that defeated and supplanted it.
It's the subtlety and mood of the book that gives it its power and creates its status. It's the story of the dying of things: empires, men, armies, a civilisation. It's the story of a man born out of time, fighting against the dying of the light. It's a story of the end of Rome suffused with the nostalgia for fallen things that is a legacy of the northern tribes that defeated the Empire and replaced it on this island. That's the unspoken, because never acknowledged, paradox at the heart of this book. While there were elements of nostalgia for a lost golden age in Roman civilisation, the twilight mood of Eagle in the Snow is a product of a people and a writer whose civilisation rests upon three supports: the Classical tradition of Rome and Greece, the Judeo-Christian and the foreshadowing of ultimate loss that results from the Ragnarok of the Anglo-Saxons. So this is a book of the defeat of a civilisation that is made into the work of art that it is by the worldview of the civilisations that defeated and supplanted it.
November 4, 2012
He has a great plot to work with but what isn't history is contrived. Thinly written, even the battles can be flatly written - or sentimental.
I can see why this might have been a milestone, why people who came early might be attached to it. Perhaps it's aged poorly; it seemed a tissue of cliches to me.
I can see why this might have been a milestone, why people who came early might be attached to it. Perhaps it's aged poorly; it seemed a tissue of cliches to me.
April 22, 2020
One of several HF-Roman novels I wanted to re-read. And that re-read was depressing. Tragic tale too well told.
June 27, 2021
Maximus is a loyal soldier of Rome, though he has never seen the great city himself. He has served the emperor well in Britain, and now he is being sent to Gaul to protect an important city there. When he arrives, he meets with corruption and apathy at every turn. What he doesn't know � and the reader does � is that his civilization is self-destructing from the inside out. Several times his subordinates, as well as various barbarian tribes, attempt to make him emperor because they see him as the only honest and reasonable official of their acquaintance. Maximus' patriotism is great, but will it be enough to overcome a collapsing system, as well as his personal failings? Or, perhaps, has his unquestioning loyalty become a personal failing in itself?
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
March 28, 2019
I really enjoyed this novel. Biggest strength of the novel compared to books that they publish today is how accurate and rich this book is in depicting atmosphere that preceded fall of Western Roman Empire.
One of the greatest Roman figures of later times Stilicho, Vandal by birth but more Roman than any emperor or general of Rome, he is doing everything to prevent Fall of the Empire. In order to defend Rome from Barbarian invasion Stilicho sends Maximus "Honorable Pagan Roman General" and main character of this book, on the mission to do impossible. To prevent Barbarian invasion with one legion of 6000 man.
He is a Pagan and he has to fight with bureaucracy, local nobles and Christian Bishop in order to get any help needed to avoid unavoidable.
Really great bleak, dark and gritty novel that puts you in the first row of the great tragedy that will hit Europe in couple of the decades and bring the end to the Western Roman Empire to make room for dark ages.
One of the greatest Roman figures of later times Stilicho, Vandal by birth but more Roman than any emperor or general of Rome, he is doing everything to prevent Fall of the Empire. In order to defend Rome from Barbarian invasion Stilicho sends Maximus "Honorable Pagan Roman General" and main character of this book, on the mission to do impossible. To prevent Barbarian invasion with one legion of 6000 man.
He is a Pagan and he has to fight with bureaucracy, local nobles and Christian Bishop in order to get any help needed to avoid unavoidable.
Really great bleak, dark and gritty novel that puts you in the first row of the great tragedy that will hit Europe in couple of the decades and bring the end to the Western Roman Empire to make room for dark ages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2012
This one started off slow for me and didn't really grab my full attention until really towards the end. Throughout the book, I felt disconnected with the characters and felt they were not developed well. They felt flat and unemotional. I found myself struggling to remember names, places and events. At times, I felt like this might end up being a 2.5 star read and at others a solid 3 stars. The end really picked up during the last battle scene and it was here, finally, that I felt I could really feel emotionally connected to the characters and drawn in to the battle scene. Looking back, I think as a writer, Breem improved as the story moved along so what felt choppy and cold initially, felt more smooth and connected later on. Overall, a generally good read.
February 11, 2016
I just finished reading Eagle in the Snow. It held me spellbound from cover to cover. The portrayal of the actions and the characters was so strong to me that I still feel, painfully, a sense of loss. This is not one book you can jump from carelessly to another waiting on you shelf. It needs to be savored.
January 3, 2018
I love this book, one of the few I have read more than once. The characters are real and brought to life in a beautifully layered Roman world.
The mark of a great author is when they can get you shivering in the cold, sweating in the heat of battle, Wallace Breem does this with ease.
An absolute must for anyone with even a vague interest in the Roman world
The mark of a great author is when they can get you shivering in the cold, sweating in the heat of battle, Wallace Breem does this with ease.
An absolute must for anyone with even a vague interest in the Roman world
November 5, 2019
If you like a good Roman military read, then this is for you. It is set in the later Roman Empire on the German frontier. It is well written and researched. Recommended.
November 24, 2018
Me faltan conocimientos para haberla disfrutado del todo. La última parte del libro es rápida e intrépida.
May 1, 2012
I finished this fairly recently after having had it recommended to me by several different people and heard it called the 'seminal work of Roman fiction'.
The thing that stopped it from being a 5* book for me was the pace and POV. I'm not a lover of first person perspective in books and, while I can cope with that on a pacy, exciting read, I found the novel hard going at times.
That is more than made up for really by the main character and the general feel of the book. It is almost possible to feel the world as we know it ending as the plot moves on. The loss, hopelessness and sadness of the subject really come through. They make it an unhappy book, for certain, but if you want happy, the end of the empire is not a subject to choose.
The thing that stopped it from being a 5* book for me was the pace and POV. I'm not a lover of first person perspective in books and, while I can cope with that on a pacy, exciting read, I found the novel hard going at times.
That is more than made up for really by the main character and the general feel of the book. It is almost possible to feel the world as we know it ending as the plot moves on. The loss, hopelessness and sadness of the subject really come through. They make it an unhappy book, for certain, but if you want happy, the end of the empire is not a subject to choose.
August 8, 2017
It reads like a bad summary of a book: no character development, just sequences of events, people explaining their motives with no subtext at all. I truly cannot understand the high rating. Read Stephen Presfield or Robert Harris instead
December 7, 2023
The End of Civilization
Eagle in the Snow made me sad. That’s not unexpected when following the life of a Roman Legate in the early 400s. Even historically-challenged readers will realize there's no happy ending. Grimdark in content and atmosphere, laden with emotional weight, there’s very little about this novel that makes one smile. If one can stomach such solemn content, then this will be a rewarding read.
The last days of the Western Roman Empire are vividly depicted through the eyes of a hereditary legionnaire whose humble beginnings in Britannia lead to the gravest of responsibilities along the Rhine. The author’s willingness to explore all forty years of Maximus’s active service is the only indication of this novel’s age, as a newer rendition of this story would only cover the latter two acts defending Gaul. The extra investment made me feel that Maximus’s lifelong friends and ambitions were my own, but that also served to intensify the pain as the tale headed toward disaster.
Stilicho’s defence of Italy culminates with Germanic tribes crossing the Rhine. It’s a grand strategic narrative concerning the logistics and economics of Roman warfare, from raising and training a legion to keeping them supplied with food and ammunition. As an amateur historian, the novel passes the sniff test, though I decline to comment on its accuracy in describing the dilectus, auxiliaries, and the relationship between civil and military services. The tale could even be true; fitting masterfully into this poorly documented era.
For all the focus on the legions, set-piece battles are often glossed over. What’s palpable is the Empire’s decline: every scene establishes that its best days are past, every combat evidence of losses Rome could ill afford. Corruption is rife and the well-intentioned are repressed. Our protagonist is constrained by the system, adding to the atmosphere of malaise. Eagle in the Snow is emotionally draining in its setting, its plot, and the fate of its characters. Such is the life of a Roman citizen.
Highly Recommended.
Eagle in the Snow made me sad. That’s not unexpected when following the life of a Roman Legate in the early 400s. Even historically-challenged readers will realize there's no happy ending. Grimdark in content and atmosphere, laden with emotional weight, there’s very little about this novel that makes one smile. If one can stomach such solemn content, then this will be a rewarding read.
The last days of the Western Roman Empire are vividly depicted through the eyes of a hereditary legionnaire whose humble beginnings in Britannia lead to the gravest of responsibilities along the Rhine. The author’s willingness to explore all forty years of Maximus’s active service is the only indication of this novel’s age, as a newer rendition of this story would only cover the latter two acts defending Gaul. The extra investment made me feel that Maximus’s lifelong friends and ambitions were my own, but that also served to intensify the pain as the tale headed toward disaster.
Stilicho’s defence of Italy culminates with Germanic tribes crossing the Rhine. It’s a grand strategic narrative concerning the logistics and economics of Roman warfare, from raising and training a legion to keeping them supplied with food and ammunition. As an amateur historian, the novel passes the sniff test, though I decline to comment on its accuracy in describing the dilectus, auxiliaries, and the relationship between civil and military services. The tale could even be true; fitting masterfully into this poorly documented era.
For all the focus on the legions, set-piece battles are often glossed over. What’s palpable is the Empire’s decline: every scene establishes that its best days are past, every combat evidence of losses Rome could ill afford. Corruption is rife and the well-intentioned are repressed. Our protagonist is constrained by the system, adding to the atmosphere of malaise. Eagle in the Snow is emotionally draining in its setting, its plot, and the fate of its characters. Such is the life of a Roman citizen.
Highly Recommended.
April 22, 2017
This moving book giving us a front-row seat to events from 407-409 during the struggles of trying to hold walls and land whilst Germans mount their brutal offense is brilliant on all "fronts."
I purchased the kindle edition and will definitely read again.
General Maximus, never having seen Rome in his lifetime, was Rome personified in his years of determined service. He is continually called upon to work miracles with new recruits.
"By the end of three months the legion had doubled its original size and the men were getting fit. At the end of a twenty mile march in the pouring rain, their clothes sodden and their feet sore, they could erect a camp complete with defenses in the space of forty minutes and then fight a sixty minute action afterwards."
Maximus told them "It is no good learning to march fifteen miles if you are so out of breath at the end of it that you cannot kill a man first try when he is stabbing at you. He will kill you first instead, and your long walk will have been a waste of time."
I purchased the kindle edition and will definitely read again.
General Maximus, never having seen Rome in his lifetime, was Rome personified in his years of determined service. He is continually called upon to work miracles with new recruits.
"By the end of three months the legion had doubled its original size and the men were getting fit. At the end of a twenty mile march in the pouring rain, their clothes sodden and their feet sore, they could erect a camp complete with defenses in the space of forty minutes and then fight a sixty minute action afterwards."
Maximus told them "It is no good learning to march fifteen miles if you are so out of breath at the end of it that you cannot kill a man first try when he is stabbing at you. He will kill you first instead, and your long walk will have been a waste of time."
December 9, 2022
I have enjoyed several works of historical fiction set in Roman-era Britain and Europe this year—including this one. It’s an outstanding, heartbreaking story of General Maximus and his struggle to dutifully protect his Empire on the border of Belgica and Germania along the Rhenus (Rhine) against the invading barbarians. Beautifully written, dark, gritty, bloody, and inspiring.
October 20, 2014
This book gets excellent reviews from other readers. I can see why. The writing is basically sound and - more importantly - the gritty detail of army life and intense appreciation of logistics are certainly impressive. But I confess that I have not finished and doubt by now that I will return to it. The story begins with the Romans in Britain but the main action - where I left things - is with the Roman defense of the Rhine against an inevitable barbarian invasion. The inevitability is the problem in that (and of course, not having reached the end, I could be quite wrong) the book as a whole seems to be a prolonged account of hopeless days leading up to the defeat and death of the hero, and after a while the sense of suspense sort of goes.
On my favorite topic of anachronism: I wish I had a little time to research the biography of Wallace Breem, the author. He seems to be a late representative of an imperial Britain and of an English officer class educated to govern the empire. So while Breem's knowledge of Roman history is deep and wide (as one would expect from the Classical education of his generation) there is an interesting implicit - and ultimately suspicious - one-to-one correlation between the perspective of a early 20th century British officer of the old school and his Roman counterpart. Breem's vision combines a sense of the army maintaining the old standards of virtue and service with a civil society rank with corrupt and short-sighted politicians and (worst of all) bureaucrats who follow orders but lack imagination and initiative and so are unable to deal with actual crisis. In other words, Breem seems to project his disgust with the new post-War Britain onto the last days of the Roman Empire.
On my favorite topic of anachronism: I wish I had a little time to research the biography of Wallace Breem, the author. He seems to be a late representative of an imperial Britain and of an English officer class educated to govern the empire. So while Breem's knowledge of Roman history is deep and wide (as one would expect from the Classical education of his generation) there is an interesting implicit - and ultimately suspicious - one-to-one correlation between the perspective of a early 20th century British officer of the old school and his Roman counterpart. Breem's vision combines a sense of the army maintaining the old standards of virtue and service with a civil society rank with corrupt and short-sighted politicians and (worst of all) bureaucrats who follow orders but lack imagination and initiative and so are unable to deal with actual crisis. In other words, Breem seems to project his disgust with the new post-War Britain onto the last days of the Roman Empire.
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