Give Me Back My Legions! [Hardcover]

Harry Turtledove (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 14, 2009

Bestselling author Turtledove turns his attention to an epic battle that pits three Roman legions against Teutonic barbarians in a thrilling novel of Ancient Rome

Publius Quinctilius Varus, a Roman politician, is summoned by the Emperor, Augustus Caesar. Given three legions and sent to the Roman frontier east of the Rhine, his mission is to subdue the barbarous German tribes where others have failed, and bring their land fully under Rome’s control.
Arminius, a prince of the Cherusci, is playing a deadly game. He serves in the Roman army, gaining Roman citizenship and officer’s rank, and learning the arts of war and policy as practiced by the Romans. What he learns is essential for the survival of Germany, for he must unite his people against Rome before they become enslaved by the Empire and lose their way of life forever.
An epic battle is brewing, and these two men stand on opposite sides of what will forever be known as The Battle of the Teutoberg Forest—a ferocious, bloody clash that will change the course of history.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Alternate history icon Turtledove probes the intrigues and battles surrounding Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar's attempts to control uprisings in Germanic lands circa A.D. 9. Caesar appoints Publius Quinctilius Varus, formerly a successful governor of Syria, to become the new governor of Germany, and Varus sets off bolstered by three legions from the overextended Roman army. Sure that he is headed for further glory, Varus is unaware that crafty Prince Armenius, who serves in the Roman army but secretly seethes in indignation at Rome's plans to make Germany another conquered territory, is planning a massive revolt. Turtledove rotates through many points-of-view, from Caesar to slaves and soldiers, to give a panoramic look at the epic battle of Teutoburg Forest, laced with telling details of ancient military life and strategy and lightened with humorous interludes. The fantastic action scenes and taut narrative make this a fine addition to the ancient Roman battles canon. (Apr.)
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Review

“A compelling story about one of Rome’s greatest military disasters.” —Newt Gingrich, New York Times bestselling author of Days of Infamy

“Turtledove’s searing account clears the cobwebs off this ancient and nearly forgotten disaster, and brings it to vivid and startling life for modern readers.”—Michael Curtis Ford, bestselling author of The Ten Thousand

“Turtledove rotates through many points of view, from Caesar to slaves and soldiers, to  give a panoramic look at the epic battle of Teutoburg Forest, laced with telling details of ancient military life and strategy and lightened with humorous interludes. The fantastic action scenes and taut narrative make this a fine addition to the ancient Roman battles canon.” —Publishers Weekly

“Harry Turtledove has brought to life the actors in a pivotal event that altered the fate of both Rome and Germany. A good read, filled with history writ both large and small.” —H. A. Drake, Roman Historian, University of California, Santa Barbara, and author of Constantine and the Bishops

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; First Edition edition (April 14, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312371063
• ISBN-13: 978-0312371067
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #884,266 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Harry Turtledove is the award-winning author of the alternate-history works The Man with the Iron Heart; The Guns of the South; How Few Remain (winner of the Sidewise Award for Best Novel); the Worldwar saga: In the Balance, Tilting the Balance, Upsetting the Balance, and Striking the Balance; the Colonization books: Second Contact, Down to Earth, and Aftershocks; the Great War epics: American Front, Walk in Hell, and Breakthroughs; the American Empire novels: Blood & Iron, The Center Cannot Hold, and Victorious Opposition; and the Settling Accounts series: Return Engagement, Drive to the East, The Grapple, and In at the Death. Turtledove is married to fellow novelist Laura Frankos. They have three daughters: Alison, Rachel, and Rebecca.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid, but not perfect, April 23, 2009

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Chris Swanson "I'm just this guy, you know?" (Phoenix) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Give Me Back My Legions! (Hardcover)

I've always enjoyed reading Turtledove's historical fiction, even those that he wrote under the name of H N Turteltaub. With his grasp of history and his talents as a writer, he's generally managed to make everything from the reign of Justinian II to the massacre at Ft Pillow interesting and compelling.


He doesn't quite reach up the same standard with his newest work, but to be fair, that's at least in part due to the subject matter. While the slaughter of three Roman legions at the hands of German barbarians is an impressive story, it's by its nature a short one. This therefore requires a great deal of, for lack of a better word, filler and background. While this is helpful, it can't help but feel somewhat tacked-on.

Still, Turtledove's filler is at least more interesting that some other writer's main course, and this is no exception. You do get a good feel for why Varus might've been stupid enough to ignore reality and lead his troops into an ambush. You see how the internal politics of Germany might have influenced his choices. It's all speculation on the part of Turtledove, but it's speculation that, rather like Justinian's Crimean nose-job in "Justinian", makes sense.

This isn't a novel I'd really recommend to the casual fan. You do have to have an interest in Roman history to find this story... well, interesting. I do, so I did. Whether or not you will is something I leave for you to decide.

38 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Boring Romans, boring Barbarians, May 15, 2009

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Reader in the Caribbean (Bahamas) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Give Me Back My Legions! (Hardcover)

I had hopes after the first 12 pages that this would be a real page turner. However, things settled into several hundred pages of dialogue that lent very little to the plot or the feeling of the 1st century northern borders of Rome. The book is scarce on history or setting. I was very dissapointed. Life is short, there are better books to read.

49 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars "GIVE ME BACK MY MONEY!", April 26, 2009

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G. OCHOA (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Give Me Back My Legions! (Hardcover)

This mind numbingly boring diatribe never develops any of its characters and consequently you cannot, try as you might, care about any of the personalities. You can skip to page 250 and all you will need to know is that Arminius hates Rome and Varus likes Arminius despite everyone telling him not to trust him. Turtledove constantly repeats this theme over and over and over and over. There is no character developement beyond that mantra. No sense of suspense is built for the reader only a longing for a quick end. Turtledove delivers as the battle is short and unimaginative. Save yourself and your money. It's too late for me. "TURTLEDOVE, GIVE ME BACK MY MONEY!"