New books about the Roman Legions.

Philip Matyszak just published his new book, Legionary: The Roman Soldier's 'Unofficial' Manual. So far the book has been very interesting. The author addresses the reader as if they were about to join the Legions and this is what they need to know and expect. Matyszak is a professor of roman history at St. John's College, Oxford. For roman history enthusiasts, like me, this book is a gold mine of interesting facts about the Legions written in easy, non-academic prose. Matyszak is very informative and humorous at the same time.

Take the opening page as an example, Matyszak starts with a plea to his reader to join up. Across the top of this recruitment page, in Latin, is conscribe te militem in legionibus. pervagare orbem terrarum. inveni terras externas. congnosce miros peregrinos. eveiscera eos. (JOIN THE LEGIONS, SEE THE WORLD, TRAVEL TO FOREIGN PARTS, MEET INTERESTING AND EXOTIC PEOPLE, AND DISEMBOWEL THEM.)

Also, September of this year marks the 2000 year anniversary of the Battle of Teutoburg Forest. With the interest in Roman studies on the upswing I've noticed more interest than normal in this famous battle. Harry Turtuledove has a new novel out about the battle for those interested.