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Gates Of Rome
From the spectacle of gladiatorial combat to the intrigue of the Senate, from the foreign wars that created an empire to the betrayals that almost tore it apart, the Emperor novels tell the remarkable story of the man who would become the greatest Roman of them all: Julius Caesar.
Brilliantly interweaving history and adventure, The Gates of Rome introduces an ambitious young man facing his first great test. In the city of Rome, a titanic power struggle is about to shake the Republic to its core. Citizen will fight citizen in a bloody conflict - and Julius Caesar will be in the thick of the action.
‘If you liked GLADIATOR, you’ll love EMPEROR.
’THE TIMES‘
Great fun … the great events and breathtaking brutality of the times are brought lavishly to life. Russell Crowe and Sean Bean’s agents are surely already jockeying for the wide-screen roles.
’GUARDIAN‘
A brilliant story – I wish I’d written it. A novel of vivid characters, stunning action and unrelenting pace. It really is a terrific read.
’BERNARD CORNWELL‘
Stunning. It begins with hints of a mystery and continues as a galvanizing historical thriller. Words like “brilliant”, “sumptuous” and “enchanting” jostle to be used but scarcely convey the way Iggulden brings the tale to life, or the compelling depictions of battle, treachery and everyday detail in a precarious world vividly re-created … exhilarating.’Los Angeles Times‘The descriptions of combat in the circus, slaves in revolt, skirmishes in Greece, amputations and street fighting are all convincing.
’TLS‘
A rich and compelling novel that draws the reader into an extraordinary time and the life of an extraordinary man.
’DAVID GEMMELL‘
How can i sum up this book? i really do not know where to start, i have been reading Historical fiction on and off for a while and some are hits and soem are major misses.
But this book captured me from the start, its the perfect series, you get to met major figures from history and grow with them almost from birth.
This book has you gripped from page 1, its a real page turner.
"Parmenion Books"
Death of Kings
The young Caesar must overcome enemies on land and at sea to become a battle-hardened leader – in the spectacular new novel from the bestselling author of The Gates of Rome.
Forced to flee Rome, Julius Caesar is serving on board a war galley in the dangerous waters of the Mediterranean and rapidly gaining a fearsome reputation. But no sooner has he had a memorable victory than his ship is captured by pirates and he is held to ransom.
Abandoned on the north African coast after hard months of captivity, he begins to gather a group of recruits that he will eventually forge into a unit powerful enough to gain vengeance on his captors and to suppress a new uprising in Greece.
Returning to Rome as a hero – and as an increasingly dangerous problem for his enemies – Caesar is reunited with his boyhood companion Brutus. But soon the friends are called upon to fight as they have never fought before, when a new crisis threatens to overwhelm the city – in the form of a rebellious gladiator named Spartacus…
Review
The tale continues, now we know for sure we are dealing with the great Julius Caeser and Brutus, persoanly im more drawn to brutus, and feel for him, he tends to be over shadowed by his past and the achievements of caeser, even though they are yet to happen.
The book left me longing for the next installment.
Field of Swords
Julius Caesar must walk a dangerous path if he is to survive the dying days of the Republic. Everything and everyone he loves will be tested in fire.
The Field of Swords begins as Caesar completes his inner circle, the men who will be his generals. When the opportunity comes to stand as Consul, he returns to a city where plots and conspiracies threaten the stability of everything he values. Together, Pompey, Crassus and Caesar form the uneasy alliance that is the first Triumvirate. For Julius Caesar, it is the chance to forge a new path that will take him to Gaul and off the edge of the map to Britain. These are the last days of the old order, shaped and torn by a man without equal in human history. This is his summer.
This is a truly epic story, part of the acclaimed Emperor series, where history and adventure, courage and ambition , friendship and rivalry combine together to stunning effect . Conn Iggulden is an outstanding new writer on the historical fiction scene.
Review
Going to keep this one short, you all know by now how good this series is, this one...WOW!! ...bring on the last installment. (Please!!!)
Gods of War
It looked as if it would be war. The strife between that great figure, Pompey, the Dictator of Rome, and the young general fresh from his triumphant conquests of Gaul and Britain, had come to a head. So Julius Caesar, with all his generals and his four veteran legions, had crossed the Rubicon and was marching towards Rome.
But in the wide-reaching Roman Empire there are many more legions, and many loyal to Pompey, and to fight against and kill your own people will never be easy. So even when Julius Caesar, accompanied by Brutus, Mark Antony and Octavian, rode into Rome, the first time they had been back in their home town for over ten years, his path to success would not be easy. His uncanny ability at picking the right notes in his speeches from the Senate steps and his brilliance at communication made him sure of his role, sure of his rightfulness for command, sure that power was his alone.
But the power he could achieve in Rome itself was not repeated across the empire - and in Spain, in Africa, in Greece, in all Asia Minor, there were officials, commanders, legions loyal to Pompey and the Roman state. And would the friends who had fought at his side for so long continue to do so, to follow his star? How could Caesar succeed against such odds?
The Gods of War is the story of ambition and loyalty, of friendship and power, of love and war. A famous tale, of truly epic dimensions, it ranges from Rome to Greece to Egypt and back to Rome; it shows how brilliant generalship can completely turn the odds, how overwhelming success can change even the best of men; it depicts brilliantly those famous names - Caesar, Marcus Brutus, Mark Antony, Pompey, Cicero, Cleopatra, Ptolemy - so that they appear anew. This is a triumphant conclusion to the outstanding Emperor series.
Review
A fitting end to an epic story about possibly the greatest general in Roman history, this book takes you on the final leg of Caesars journey from Child to idealistic young man to conquering general and finally to a man who no matter how great had his head turned by power. The Line "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely" sprang to mind as I read this book, its not quite true as Caesar seemed to be more changed by it than corrupted, there are flashes of the younger man still there, traces of the innocence all but destroyed by the realities of the harsh Roman world.
The true power of this book is the depth of treachery that all knew was coming from Brutus, but when it arrives is shocking and if you have ever been betrayed by anyone the feeling that left would only give you a fraction of an idea how Caesar must have felt.
I also agree with Conn Iggulden in his historical notes what would history have been like if Casers son had lived. Although Octavian became one of the greatest Emperors in a long line of Roman Rulers, Ptolemy Caesarion carried the blood of greatness….possibly a great loss to history but a fantastic opportunity for an alternate history author..What if…….
In my opinion Julius Caesar was a truly great man and has been portrayed by a truly great writer.
BlackWater
Paperback 96 pages (March 2, 2006)
Publisher: HarperCollins
Language: English
ISBN: 0007221665
Synopsis
A dark, chilling psychological thriller from the number one bestselling author of the "Emperor" series. "Blackwater" is being published as part of the Quick Reads initiative on World Book Day 2006. How do you know when you're in too deep? Davey has always lived in the shadow of his older brother, a smiling sociopath who will stop at nothing to protect himself and his family. But when the shadowy figure of Denis Tanter comes into Davey's life, how far will the bond of brotherhood reach?
THE DANGEROUS BOOK FOR BOYS by Conn Iggulden and Hal Iggulden
How many other books will help you thrash someone at conkers, race your own go-cart, and identify the best quotations from Shakespeare? The Dangerous Book for Boys gives you facts and figures at your fingertips swot up on the solar system, learn about famous battles and read inspiring stories of incredible courage and bravery. Teach your old dog new tricks. Make a pinhole camera. Understand the laws of cricket. There's a whole world out there: with this book, anyone can get out and explore it.
The Dangerous Book for Boys is written with the verve and passion that readers of Conn Iggulden's number one bestselling novels have come to expect. This book, his first non-fiction work, has been written with his brother as a celebration of the long summers of their youth and as a compendium of information so vital to men of all ages. Lavishly designed and fully illustrated in colour and black and white throughout, it's set to be a perfect gift for Father's Day and beyond.
Chapters in The Dangerous Book for Boys include: The Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, Conkers, Laws of Football, Dinosaurs, Fishing, Juggling, Timers and Tripwires, Kings and Queens, Famous Battles, Spies, Making Crystals, Insects and Spiders, Astronomy, Girls, The Golden Age of Piracy, Secret Inks, Patron Saints of Britain, Skimming Stones, Dog Tricks, Making a Periscope, Coin Tricks, Marbles, Artillery, The Origin of Words and The Solar System.
Format: Hardback
Pub date: 05.06.06
Imprint: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0-00-723274-8
Series: n/a
Price (RP): £18.99
Amazon price:
£11.38
Review
This is everything i have been waiting for! how many of you as parents have heard your kids whine about having "nothing to do"? "im Bored" etc...?
Well this is the book for those kids, I always had to tell my son "we did not have playstations etc as kids we made our own fun", now we have proof.
Hal , Conn Thanks you!!
Wolf of the Plains
Synopsis
This is the brand new novel from the No.1 best-selling author of "Emperor", his series on Julius Caesar. His new novel, "Wolf of the Plains", is the much anticipated beginning of the "Conqueror" series on Genghis Khan and his descendants. It is a wonderful, epic story which Conn Iggulden brings brilliantly to life. "I am the land and the bones of the hills. I am the winter." Temujin, the second son of the khan of the Wolves tribe, was only eleven when his father died in an ambush. His family were thrown out of the tribe and he was left alone, without food or shelter, to starve to death on the harsh Mongolian plains. It was a rough introduction to his life, to a sudden adult world, but Temujin survived, learning to combat natural and human threats. A man, a small family, without a tribe was always at risk but he gathered other outsiders to him, creating a new tribal identity. It was during some of his worst times that the image of uniting the warring tribes and bringing the silver people together came to him. He will become the khan of the sea of grass, Genghis.
Review:
Quite simply a great read, one of my top 5 books of this year, alongside Simon scarrows Eagle in the sand & Young Bloods,
Alex Scarrows A Thousand suns and David Gemmells Shield of Thunder.
I have enjoyed all of Conns books to differing degrees', his best until now was his debut Gates of Rome, but this new book blows that away. I suppose some of this may be due to the fact that little is known about Genghis in his early years. I do find myself making parallels with David Gemmells Nadir nation, which I think is a compliment to Conn's work (I’m A big Gemmell Fan). The book its self, follows the young life of Temujin, through the trials of growing up in the harsh inhospitable plains of the Mongol nation through ..well I’m not saying how far this book takes him, (that would just spoil it), but the journey is an amazing one, he either had more luck than any thousand people combined deserved or he was just an amazingly resourceful cunning and driven person. The book is so well written you feel the pain and suffering of the boy and later the man, you can feel the will power he exudes over himself and his people.
It Took me 2 days to polish off this book...and thats including going to work.
I have now read it twice, the 2nd time i read it slowly over a week, and if anything my enjoyment increased with the 2nd reading.
This is a must read...do not miss out on this book!
Bones of the Hills
by
Conn Iggulden
Exclusive Parmenion Books Signed Stamped Limited Edition
Limited to 30 Copies
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd (1 Sep 2008)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0007201788
ISBN-13: 978-0007201785
Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15 x 4.6 cm
The powerful and exhilarating third novel in Conn Iggulden's No. 1 bestselling Conqueror series, following the life and adventures of the mighty Genghis Khan The fatherless boy, exiled from his tribe, whom readers have been following in 'Wolf of the Plains' and 'Lords of the Bow', has grown into the great king, Genghis Khan. He has united the warring tribes and even taken his armies against the great cities of their oldest enemies. Now he finds trouble rising west of the Mongolian plains. His emissaries are mutilated or killed; his trading gestures rebuffed. So, dividing his armies, using his sons as generals of the various divisions, he sends them out simultaneously in many directions, ranging as far as modern Iran and Iraq. As well as discovering new territories, exacting tribute from conquered peoples, laying waste the cities which resist, this policy is also a way of diffusing the rivalries between his sons and heirs and working out who should succeed the khan. This, the third book in the Conqueror series, is once more an epic story. Genghis Khan is an exhilarating and heroic figure.The sense of his ambition and his power, the relationships with his wives, sons and trusted aides, the sweep of his conquests, is all brought together by a masterful storytelling.
It is a compelling read. With each book, you are left, even more, longing for the next.
Most of this exclusive stamped limited edition are sold out, the last few are being listed on here and ebay.
Click Here to buy a Signed Limited copy Exclusive to this store
Empire of Silver
(The fourth book in the Conqueror series)
(2010)
Synopsis
The eagerly awaited 4th novel in the bestselling Conqueror series, continuing the life and adventures of the mighty Khan dynasty.
Genghis Khan is dead, but his legend and his legacy live on. His son Ogedai has built a white city on a great plain and made a capital for the new nation. Now the armies have gathered to see which of Genghis' sons has the strength to be khan. The Mongol empire has been at peace for two years, but whoever survives will face the formidable might of their great enemy, China’s Song dynasty.
The great leader Tsubodai sweeps into the west: through Russia, over the Carpathian mountains and into Hungary. The Templar knights have been broken and there is no king or army to stop him reaching France. But at the moment of Tsubodai's greatest triumph, as his furthest scouts reach the northern mountains of Italy, Tsubodai must make a decision that will change the course of history forever.
Review
Book four takes the story to the next stage, Genghis is dead and the legacy must go on, i was worried that this would mean that the story would get bogged down in detail of intrigue and lose its flow. But i should know better with Conn, his story telling ability seems to grow with each passing book.
This book, though does not have the same frantic pace of empire expansion building as the others, the first three books are the birth of an empire and have that raw power and pace you expect from the creation of something new. book four is more like the patient building of something solid.
I came away at the end of the book having enjoyed the heady battles across Russia and the chin lands but also feeling educated, like i had learnt more than i had with the previous books, and that didnt mean the book lacked pace and flow, and it wasn't just the very well worded epilogue, it just felt like it was maturing.
I'm now left wondering if this isn't the best book in the series....although i did love wolf of the plains with its race pace and energy.
again 9/10 Conn.
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