Your Opinions: Books I Need

[Q Rutilius]

I won the Christmas present lottery and have a gift certificate for Barnes & Noble! So, conscript fathers, what books will I not be able to live without? What unknown rhetorical glories describing the march of our invincible legions do really desperately need to own? Political and general history stuff is ok too.

[FAVENTIANVS]

Which ones do you already have?

[Neuraleanus]

many of the desirable books. Many are out of print. Check out:

www.abebooks.com/

another good source is:

www.oxbowbooks.com

The next question to ask is what period do you reenact?

[Q Rutilius]

What I'd really like is a book that describes the tactical evolution of the Roman army and gets inot the tactical organization - already have the Roaman Way of War, by Goldsworthy. Also have The Begininngs of Rome by Cornell, which is fascinating. Have the Penguin translations of Caesar, Livy etc. Also have Dodge: Alexander, Caesar and Hannibal - the Coloenl did nice work. Something that describes the evolution of the Roamn army would be ideal - is there such a thing?

[Praefectusclassis]

[amazon]Keppie, The Making of the Roman Army : From Republic to Empire[/amazon] goes into the development of the Roman army.

[arklore70]

As was recommended to me. The Legionary, The Cavalryman and the Fort all by Peter Connolly. Good Illustrations and very quick easy reads.

In addition, I personally like G.R. Watson's book the Roman Soldier. Goes into recruitment, training, equipment, pay, etc...

v/r
Mike

[Aaron Larsen]

For another book by Connolly that goes into much detail on the evolution of the legion and legionary tactics, look for his Greece and Rome at War. I myself picked up my own copy at a Barnes and Noble store, oh, about 10 years ago and I've seen it Borders and Barnes and Noble stores many times since then, so it might be a good bet for one you have a good chance of finding there, if you don't already own it. It is a bit on the old side, and most other scholars seem to put less stock in Livy's account of the evolution of manipular warfare than he does, but whether he's right on this particular sub-topic or not, that particular work is a must have imho, if you don't already.

For a very different theory on the origins of legionary tactics, check out Nicholas Sekunda's Osprey book Early Roman Armies. He takes the rather different (controversial?) position that the Romans switched from phalanx-oriented to manipular tactics as a result of Samnite influence and gives an approximate date for this transition considerably later than traditional accounts.

The whole "evolution of the legion" question is a very difficult and interesting one that I wish more books put a good, solid focus on. Most seem to zip over it and rush straight to a discussion of the mature legion. I suppose it's much easier to explain the mature legion's nature and structure than to try to uncover its origins in the misty past; still, I think it's a topic worthy of more study. I myself would be interested in hearing more about books that zero in on this question, not to mention hear about opinions that others in this community (which has an incredible amount of pooled knowledge) have formed concerning the origins of manipular warfare and the legionary system.

Sincerely,

A.

[Q Rutilius]

You guys are on the right track. Those are the kind of titles I am looking for. I knew I should post here before I ordered any books.

Aaron, I agree completely. Most authors do skip over the subject. Hopefully, with all the talent we have around here someone will start a thread on the topic, and if some one here need a Phd thesis - well there it is.

[FAVENTIANVS]

Try John Warry's WARFARE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD.

[Aaron Larsen]

Do you mean Warfare in the Classical World? If so, then I agree that it's a "must-have" title for the dedicated Romophile. (If not, then there's a Warry title out there that I just have to find.... )

Sincerely,

A.

[FAVENTIANVS]

Sorry! It's, indeed, the warfare in the classical world. :oops:

[Robert Vermaat]

Yes, a great book, but very generalistic and sometimes it's good to realise that it was written soem time ago.. (although right now I'm staring at a one-metre tall blow-up from one of his plates...).

[FAVENTIANVS]

although right now I'm staring at a one-metre tall blow-up from one of his plates...

Say What :?: :!:

[Robert Vermaat]

although right now I'm staring at a one-metre tall blow-up from one of his plates...

Say What :?: :!:

Actually it's a little smaller than that, just 82 cm. But in the room next to me, where I keep most of the Roman stuff, I have an even bigger blow-up of that picture, it's about 118 cm high. lol:

[FAVENTIANVS]

Have a pic of it?