Customer Reviews

Black Horse Odyssey: Search for the Lost City of Rome in China

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Being a lover of all things ancient Roman, from the Latin language to the classical culture and also being a longtime student of Latin and Mandarin, I was very much looking forward to this book.

However, from the viewpoint of the anticipated content of this book, and its actual contents, I was disappointed. I was expecting a 'blow by blow' description of the search for the ancient Roman heritage of Li-Jien (the Roman influenced towns of ancient China) and its discovery; but instead it was more of a 'how to survive in China on $10 a day' book combined with social commentary and an insight into the author's lovelife. As an Australian myself (the author is Australian), I was hoping for more.

However, disregarding the above, it was still an enjoyable read; but not what I wanted when I purchased the book.

This in mind, would I buy it again: yes; hence the 3 stars.

I have mixed feelings about this book. Firstly, I hold it in some affection, because I read it when researching my first novel, The Forgotten Legion. However, while it was interesting to read about someone who has visited the area where Roman legionaries might, just might, have ended up after the battle of Carrhae in 53 BC, the book is extremely thin on archaeological or historical evidence.

So what we end up with is an account of the author's trips to western China, his difficulties with officialdom, his financial worries, his personal relationships, and some funny accounts of his socialising with the Chinese who took him in and befriended him. Hmmm. Not what I was looking for, or how the book is marketed.

It aims high, but rather falls flat on its face thanks to lack of substance. A real shame.

Ben Kane.

Looked for years to find an affordable copy of this book after being intrigued by the basic storyline.

Turns out that it's rather marginal as a description of the scientific undertaking of verifying the myth of roman soldiers in gansu.

The author makes a valiant effort at describing the events surrounding tiananmen square from his perspective in western china, although suffers in comparison to more professional authors who described the events from the center of the action.

The biggest surprise, though, is how interesting the personal story of this author is - I wish he had spent more time explaining the details. In his mid-40's, recently divorced, not very well travelled, and with absolutely no money - he suddenly gets an itch to go do something wacky in China. The project becomes a symbol for his mental recovery - which has a happy ending when he marries his new sweetheart (in China).

Would be very curious to know what has become of them....