The turbulent history of ancient Rome has become a popular subject of late, with books, TV shows and films popping up consistently. Ben Kane’s The Forgotten Legion takes a slightly different tune than most.
Set in the latter years of the Republic, as the First Triumvirate of Caesar, Pompey and Crassus struggled for power, it centres on four main characters whose stories weave together in a fascinating way.
Romulus is a fiery young slave, sold to the Ludus (a gladiator school) at fourteen by his harsh master, who becomes disgusted by the practice of slavery in Rome and, inspired by the tale of Sparatacus, harbours a deep desire to lead a similar slave revolt. His twin-sister, Fabiola, is at the same time sold to a brothel, though her quest is more personal- discover the identity of the noble who raped her mother years ago, and exact revenge.
In his time at the Ludus, Romulus becomes close friends with Brennus, a fearsome Gaulish fighter and sole survivor of the Allobroges tribe, haunted by the Roman destruction of his people, and the killing of his younger brother, his wife and his child.
Finally, Traquinius, an Etruscan haruspex (or soothsayer) is introduced early on, but only about halfway through the story does he encounter Romulus and Brennus. He is driven by the need to preserve the legacy of his race and vocation, which have been all but subsumed into the Roman culture.
There is some feeling of stock character types to them- the fiery, noble youngster; the proud old warrior and mentor; the wizened mystic and the beautiful, tragic young woman. However, Kane weaves their stories together in a compelling fashion that overrides these concerns easily. Of course, readers of Bahktin will probably see the connection to his concept of how all folk tales- the source of our modern stories- are made up of the same set of character types, but that’s a question for another day.
One of the interesting things about this novel is that, though it begins in Rome, by the end of the book, the three male characters are half the world away, on the furthest fringes of the Parthian empire. I won’t spoil how they got there, but suffice to say that they are swept up in the disastrous invasion of Parthia by Crassus.
Fabiola, meanwhile, keeps us updated with events in Rome and provides an anchor to the adventures of Romulus, Brennus and Tarquinius, reminding the reader of where this story truly centres. By acquiring Brutus, Caesar’s closest friend and ally, as a lover, Fabiola gives the reader a glimpse into the goings on at the highest echelons of Roman politics and society. Also, by forming a relationship between a fictional character and a historical figure, Kane adds a sense of realism and involvement that might otherwise have been missing.
Now, it is clear from the outset that this is going to be a long and involved tale. Standing at some 500 pages, this is just the first in a series. As the final sentence comes to a close, you realise the story has only just begun, leaving the reader with a deep desire to simply go out and buy the next book so one can continue reading with barely a pause. Job done there then.
Some reviewers have picked up on a few historical inaccuracies, however, though I am usually a stickler for detail and realism in my historical fiction, here this doesn’t overly bother me. The story is compelling enough and the backdrop- Crassus’ invasion and the struggles of the Triumvirate- are accurate enough to avoid grating.
However, there were two things that did jar slightly. Firstly, the consistent and startling accuracy of Tarquinius’ prophecies, made from examining weather patterns and animal guts. This asks for a suspension of belief that may be a little too much, and seems to direct the flow of the story. However, this small bugbear does little to detract from the quality of the novel.
Secondly, Fabiola’s quest for information regarding the noble who raped her mother- and who therefore, we are told, is father to herself and Romulus- leads to suspicion falling on Julius Caesar, yet to make an actual appearance in the tale (something I have a feeling will be coming later on). Of course, I cannot truly know what kind of man Gaius Julius Caesar was, but nothing I have read about him implies he was a rapist. Having said that, the Roman culture was far removed from our own, and a young patrician raping a slave wouldn’t be considered worthy of a mention.
Overall, this is an intriguing and compelling opening to what promises to be a truly epic saga- I look forward to reading the next instalment.
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