Libertas [Paperback]

Alistair Forrest (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 30, 2009

Set in southern Spain in the First Century BC, Libertas introduces the people who live in the idyllic mountain community of Munda and the ancient Kemeletoi people who thrive in the surrounding countryside. But the world is ruled by Rome, whose generals have a score to settle - Julius Caesar has force-marched eight crack legions from Italy to subdue the sons of Pompey, and two huge armies will clash in the wide upland valley that stretches before Munda. The final, savage battle of a remorseless struggle for world dominance. A battle that will leave 30,000 dead and a community devastated. But there's an unlikely hero who refuses to give in to the despair and horror of war, who believes his family can be rescued from slavery, who refuses to accept that Roman cruelty and greed has changed his beloved Munda forever. This is a story of bravery, love, invention and hope.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Forrest has the gift of the true story-teller the ability to engage his readers interest from the very first sentence. --Sir Patrick Cormack FSA, MP Alistair Forrest's Libertas is a fast-moving tale of fortitude, survival and eventual retribution told against the background of Rome's bloody civil war. In the mountains of southern Spain Melqart grows up unaware of the unseen forces which are drawing the armies of Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great's sons towards an explosive collision in a valley close to his beloved village of Munda. As the action sweeps dramatically between Spain, Sicily and the shores of Africa Melqart is drawn ever deeper into the conspiracy by his friendship with Sextus. The young Spaniard must fight for his life and his family's freedom and Forrest vividly recreates the epic battle that gave Caesar the prize he sought so avidly. --Doug Jackson, best-selling author of Caligula

About the Author

Alistair Forrest decided to be a writer on the day his English teacher ticked him off in front of his classmates for being too descriptive in his essay on Macbeth. Quietly defiant, he embarked on a career in journalism with the South Wales Echo, always endeavouring to report the facts without resorting to the sin of flowery wordiness. His career took him through court and political reporting for several newspapers, specialist PR and magazine editing for the photographic, natural health and cruise ship markets. Two momentous events then enabled him to fulfil his dream. In 2004 he met and married his second wife, Lynda, and the following year they moved to a small mountain community in southern Spain, the very spot where Julius Caesar fought the last great battle of his civil war against the sons of Pompey. Gradually running down his magazine editing workload, Alistair began to write Libertas. The book took almost a year to write, and then months of re-writing following reviews by friends and fellow members of the Arts Council-funded YouWriteOn.com, the website from which it was selected by the publisher Quaestor2000. The English teacher whose rebuke inspired Alistair was the Parliamentarian Sir Patrick Cormack, in the days when he was a schoolmaster. I've sent him a copy, says Alistair. 'I'm hoping I'll get a decent mark this time'.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Quaestor2000 Ltd (January 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1906836078
• ISBN-13: 978-1906836078
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,052,992 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars Aren't Enough..., May 7, 2009

By 

Joseph Perrone Jr. "Joe Perrone Jr." - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Libertas (Paperback)

More than just an historical novel, "Libertas" explores the nature of people of First Century BC Spain, and the effect of Roman rule on their lives. Told through the eyes of a youth, living in an idyllic mountain community (where Julius Caesar will soon bring his legions to finish off the Pompeian residents), it appears well researched. There are some surprises. The hero, Melqart aka "Pito," is not your typical muscle-bound freedom fighter; he's a thoughtful and intelligent humanitarian, not opposed to the "best bits" of what Rome has to offer. He's also inventive. One useful contribution is the "sea spear," the forerunner of no less than the torpedo. The war scenes are cleverly written, rather than being page after page of blood and gore. It is from Melqart's point of view that we see his beloved town devastated by Caesar's brutality. His family members are sold into slavery, and it's up to Melqart to do what he can to rescue them, in an intriguing adventure that takes him to North Africa and Sicily. Let's hope that there will be more from Alistair Forrest, a new author who could easily rank among the likes of Cornwell and Scarrow, albeit with an added emotional and spiritual appeal. I highly recommend this book.As the Twig is Bent

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excitement as high as the eagle flies, October 1, 2009

By 

Dan McNeil (Ottawa, ON CANADA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Libertas (Paperback)

If you like your fiction mixed with a little history, read on. ..

Alistair Forrest's "Libertas" is the thoroughly engrossing tale of Melqart, a young Spaniard whose life in the ancient town of Munda is about to change in a profound way. Melqart, or Pito as he also known, finds that he has to grow up quickly when he gets caught up in Rome's bloody civil war in the First Century B.C. He makes an unlikely ally in the son of one of Rome's greatest generals and when his family is enslaved, he begins a journey of spiritual discovery that will bring him face to face with an old enemy.

Melqart is not your average protagonist - he's young, but he's wise beyond his years and tends to use brains rather than brawn. This is what makes the story is so compelling - he is not your average action hero, but rather someone whose circumstances compel him to step up and take action. The cast of characters, both real and fictional, is fascinating. Mr. Forrest peppers the book with individuals from the time period and it's what makes the book really shine. Breathing life into these historical characters is where Forrest excels. These are no mere cardboard cut outs - rather, they leap off the page into the imagination. It's a knockout combination.

The writing is detailed without being superfluous and the dialogue is crisp and authentic. Mr. Forrest has created an extremely engaging and thrilling read about an important time in world history that you'll find very hard to put down.

If you're looking for something for the reader on your Christmas list, you may want to pick up a copy of Alistair Forrest's "Libertas." Or two - you'll want to keep a copy for yourself.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Libertas, May 29, 2009

By 

Carrie Johnson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Libertas (Paperback)

I am not usually a historical novel fan but I really enjoyed Alistair Forrest's book. It was educational, full of adventure and fun. An overall great read!