Douglas Jackson (2) (1956–)

During the waning days of the Roman Empire--5th century--Marcus Flavius Victor is the Lord of the Wall. This is a title meaning he is in charge of all Hadrian's Wall. So why does he, on ostensibly an inspection tour, gather cavalrymen from the forts to himself, stripping the forts of manpower? What is his object? Is he trying to set himself up as another usurper or does he have something else in mind? This a new Roman novel by Mr. Jackson, who has proven to be one of the masters of the genre, both in writing power and style and in research. I did wonder at the fact of Marcus's half-sister being in the story. I did not like her sexual dalliance with the medicus [which I felt could have been left out], but there were a couple of important incidents where a brother wouldn't have moved the story along and it wouldn't have had the conclusion it did without her as catalyst.… (mehr)

Rufus un joven esclavo cuyo dueño se encarga de domesticar animales para que participen en los espectáculos de gladiadores, descubre su natural talento para lograr que las bestias le obedezcan. Es en las arenas donde conoce a Cupido, un prestigioso gladiador con quien entabla una cercana amistad. Pronto su prestigio como domador trasciende las arenas y Rufus es comprado por Calígula para que se encargue del elefante imperial. Las cosas se complican cuando Rufus y Cupido se ven envueltos en una conspiración contra la vida del gobernante. ¿Podrá un esclavo decidir el destino de un emperador?… (mehr)