Starting out with Romans, advice needed.

[Phil]

Two I can recommend which might be lighter reading and give you a good grounding are these:

Imperial Rome at War. Snaffled my copy cheap on eBay. Loads of great illustrations and bite size pieces of info that gives you a flavour and lots of details on the Legions and other elements of the Roman fighting machine.

Roman Legions in colour photographs. Stacks of re-enactor pics and details of kit. Very useful book for the wargamer in terms of details and painting tips.

For inspiration look no further than Simon Scarrow's Macro & Cato books - think Sharpe in sandals with the outlook of a British squaddy. Brilliant stuff. Hmmm, trying to think who I lent my lot to now!

Feel free to pop over to Warlord HQ to have a look at them if you want...

Good advice! Much as I like Plutarch, Caesar, Tacitus, et al, (I'm a Roman nut, by the way), when I'm starting out on a new period, I prefer to start with something lighter, with plenty of colourful pictures for inspiration.

[Correus]

Lucius Vorenus & Paul have both listed books I had on my list (as well as everyone else - hey, what can I say, I collect books on the Roman Army ), so I won't repeat them here, nonetheless, as promised, here is a list - in no specific order.

Keep in mind - there are some on this list that will trash a lot of these books. However, a person needs to make up his own mind as to the quality of a work.

Those marked with an '*' are great for painting and modeling inspiration.

Primary Source Material

Add this list to Lucius Vorenus' list.

The War of the Jews by Josephus

Agricola as well as Germania by Tacitus

Epitoma rei Militari by Vegetius - this one covers the late empire, but still an interesting read.


Secondary Source Material

Add this list to all the others listed.

Legionary - the Roman Soldier's Unofficial Manual by Philip Matyszak - this is a fun little book in full of interesting things.

*Brassey's Roman Army Wars of the Empire by Graham Sumner - Brassey's is known for their quality.

*Warfare in the Classical World by John Warry - this primarily covers Greece and Rome, but most of it is about Rome. Great illustrations.

*Greece and Rome at War by Peter Connolly - this is an excellent book along the same lines as the one above.

The Roman Imperial Army of the First and Second Centuries A.D. by Graham Webster - lots of great info in this one, hardly any any illustrations though.

The Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire by Edward Luttwak - no illustrations other than maps and an organization chart of a legion and auxiliaries.

Soldiers of Rome: Praetorians and Legionnaires by Robert Evans - scant illustrations. This book deals mainly with structure and location (primary AO for them); best part is a section listing the main units with a brief history of each. The book is dated and could be phenomenal if rewritten.

The Army of the Ceasars by Michael Grant - excellent book. Other than primary sources, this was my 'go-to' book while taking college level classes on Ancient Roman when the subject turned to the Army (keep in mind, that was 20 years ago).

The Roman War Machine by John Peddie - this is a decent, concise, overview of the Roman army and concentrates on the EIR period. Some of the more interesting section deal with 'Roman Generalship' and 'Waterborne Operations'.

*Warriors of Rome: An Illustrated Military History of the Roman Legions by Michael Simkins - this is the type of book I wish Osprey would be more like. Tons of pics and illustrations with LOTS of inspiration. The book was written by the guy is was once considered the 'Armoror to the Re-enacting Stars', not sure if he is still in the business but the best of the best nowadays either trained with this guy or got their tips=n-tricks and inspiration from him.

If you are wanting more of a 'Roman Army in Britain' type list, here is a small one:

The Roman Army in Britain by P.A. Holder - excellent book; contains lists of units with a brief history as well as maps showing locations.

Invasion: the Roman Conquest of Britain by John Peddie - another good one, primarily deals with the various campaigns though. There is an interesting section about logistics. It also is well illustrated with lots of maps and fort plans.

The Roman Invasion of Britain by Graham Webster - excellent book with a bit more detail than the above two but not as many illustrations. The reference section, as well as the Appendix section, are well worth it.

On Hadrian's Wall ~ Vindolanda: Roman Fort and Settlement by Robin Birley - excellent book, heavily illustrated. Even though the army is discussed, it deals more with the fort and the day to day lives of the men.

*Hadrian's Wall in the Days of the Romans by Ronald Embleton & Frank Graham - a lot like the above book but covering the whole wall; tons, and I do mean TONS of illustration, unfortunately most are in black and white. This one would be good for terrain/building making.

The Roman Army by John Wilkes - this is the most concise book I have on the army and it covers the basics quite well. Nicely illustrated with maps and drawings as well as pics of actual armor and equipment.

The following I'm throwing in for 'grins-n-giggles'; they are childrens' books but so heavily illustrated they're just fun to have and look through. Great for painting ideas and modeling ideas.

*The Legionary by Peter Connolly

*The Cavalryman by Peter Connolly

*A Roman Fort by Fiona MacDonald and Gerald Wood

[Invisible officer]

This list is frightening.

Simply because I have them all. And a lot more. No wonder that my book shelves are .....

I would not recommend all of these with the same degree of convincement. But none is realy bad.

For someone totally new to the Romans I would recommend the good old Connolly. A lot of colourful inspiration. Osprey, easily available and cheap. But avoid the D'Amato / Sumner ones.
And Warry is still a good overview about Greek and Roman warfare.

[Lucius Vorenus]

Thanks for those suggestions Correus,

I agree with your primary source suggestions, especially Agricola. Props to any Roman who mentions Hibernia!

Also great to see a list on Roman Britain. This is an area I have not studied much (moreso politics back in Rome and war in the East and Africa for me). Those books do look interesting.

Has anyone read either of these two? I always like to see what's the latest works out there.

This I am thinking of getting Roman Britain: A New History by Guy de la Bédoyère
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roman-Britain-H ... y_b_text_b
Many will recognise the name from Time Team. Seems nicely comprehensive.
and this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roman-Britain-N ... 144560146X

Any thoughts? Cheers

[Correus]

Thanks for those suggestions Correus,

This I am thinking of getting Roman Britain: A New History by Guy de la Bédoyère
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roman-Britain-H ... y_b_text_b
Many will recognise the name from Time Team. Seems nicely comprehensive.
and this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roman-Britain-N ... 144560146X

Any thoughts? Cheers

Your more than welcome.

As to the other two you mention - I have not read them. I've heard of the second one but not the first...hmmm...need to be looking into these as well. Thanks!

[Invisible officer]

I've read the Bédoyère one. Not bad but not one I would recommend. His view of the post AD 60 years is a little blue-eyed.
Like many popular book authors Bédoyère tends to play lightly with the lack of sources. Some of the statements about the social structures are are not based on any but on speculation.

[Lucius Vorenus]

Good to know, IO. Glad you highlighted that, for me it's all about the sources/evidence. Nothing worse than an author getting carried away in excitement!! I think I'd still have a gander when next in a bookstore, just even for some nice pictures of the landscape.

What would your choice be for Britannia be then?

[Invisible officer]

The one I would recommend is unfortunately in German.
Kai Broderson, Das römische Britannien. Spuren seiner Geschichte, Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt 1998.
A very good study of the sources.

In English: Anthony Birley , The Roman Government in Britain. A very good prosopographic study of the Roman persons who ruled on the Island.
He wrote an earlier one about the Fasti of Roman Britain. (A classic about the provincial officials)

But the classic is still: Sheppard Frere, Britannia. A history of Roman Britain, London 1967

[Lucius Vorenus]

Thanks IO,

Had a look at Bédoyère's book in a store today. Whilst it may make some assumptions, it certainly is a very nice looking book! The colour photographs of Roman sites are very nice indeed. However sources are the most important I agree.

Frere's Britannia looks good, unfortunately was not in the store. I like to flick through books usually before I buy, hence I have never actually bought a book on amazon!

Has anyone read this one?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/History-Roman-B ... 856&sr=1-5
It was also in the store and seemed quite comprehensive. One thing that made me pause was the lack of referencing. I always prefer a work that includes footnotes or endnotes!!!

This thread has really expanded, I hope we haven't scared off Monkeyboy!!!

[Invisible officer]

This Salway's book was written without footnotes for the broader market. The text gives no clue to the source of the informations, so that only the specialist, who knows the source can check.

Some of his statements are based on questionable sources. And some simply wrong. Like the statement that it was from the surrender of Adminius that Caligula conceived the idea of the expedition against Britain. Suetonius stated that Caligula had already started the campaign when the surrender took place and dispatched a message describing it to Rome (Suet. Cal. 44.2).

It is a good book if you are willing to ignore the lack of footnotes. The many pictures are a reason to buy it. His 1981 book Roman Britain lacked these. But is more academic.