Osprey Roman Republican Legionary 298–105 BC

[Prof.Witchheimer]

Coming soon (April,17). I will have to get it.

http://www.ospreypublishing.com/store/large_image.aspx?ID=3235

Warrior 162
Author: Nic Fields
Illustrator: Seán Ó’Brógáin
About this book
Soon after the Caudine Forks fiasco in 321 BC, the tactical formation adopted by the Roman Army underwent a radical change. Introduced as part of the Servian reforms, the legion had originally operated as a Greek-style phalanx. Now, however, the Romans adopted the manipular system, whereby the legion was split into distinct battle lines, each consisting of tactical subunits, the maniples. Even though still a citizen militia, recruited from property owners supplying their own war gear, it was the manipular legion that faced Pyrrhus and his elephants, the Gauls and their long swords, Hannibal and his tactical genius and the Macedonians and their pikes to name but a few of its formidable opponents. This book looks at the recruitment, training, weapons, equipment and experiences of the legionary at the epoch of the middle Republic, which opens with the last great war with the Samnites (Third Samnite War, 298–290 BC) and closes with the Republic at the height of its imperial glory after the victory in North Africa (Iugurthine War 112–105 BC).

[Poiter50]

Just send them pics of your Romans for their colour plates? 

[Gibby]

I will be getting this book I think. I'm really interested in the Republican period of Roman history. Imperial Rome doesn't get me as excited, though I still love it!

[VonMoltke]

My favorite period is the time of Caesar to Marcus Aurelius

In my opinion, are the Osprey books quite ok, as an introduction for those who want to get a glimpse of the uniformity of a historical era, but nothing more.

Fortunately, they are not as bad as that, what  the neutral observer get, in the so-called "historically, scholarly film" on TV.
No I dont mean the movies
Often the producers of this films, show completely the wrong equipment and armament of the fighting .
Unfortunately, these representations is that picture, that the lay gets of the respective event.

[Little Odo]

I agree VonMoltke - the historical programmes on TV these days are what I class as docu-dramas. They include far too many cut-to-scenes of bad actors in the wrong gear for that period; but they 'look good' to the producers of these shows. Give me a dry Open University lecture with photos of actual artifacts or archaeologists reproducing them in the field any day of the week. Real history, not pseudo-history.

[Maple leaf]

 Like or dislike his works, Nic Fields is a nice guy.

This book has some very reallistic illustrations. Less colour and more grit.

Theres a selection of helmets covered as well.

Now if my Pen and Sword books would only arrive!

[Prof.Witchheimer]

thanks for updating this thread, now I've ordered it

Amazon shows another cover, btw, more colourful. Like it.

[Arthur]

I purchased it a couple of weeks ago and it's okay as a primer, no more and no less : good for beginners but if you're mildly familar with the subject you won't find anything in the book that hasn't been written a hundred times already, including in previous Ospreys - cue a distinct feeling of déjà lu here  

Fields also focuses on the Polybian legion at the expense of the earlier Roman army (i.e the period spanning the years 300-241 BC, until the end of the first Punic War). There's admittedly precious little in terms of reliable evidence and sources regarding the Roman army of the Samnite Wars and Pyrrhic war (save Dyonisos of Halicarnassus for the latter), but it would have been nice to see Fields opt for the road less travelled instead of providing his readers with the umpteenth summary of Polybios' Histories.  

That said, the text is sound and competent if unoriginal, and the colour plates are rather nice. You pays your money...