Customer Reviews

Pride of Carthage

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Make no mistake, there are issues with this book, but David Anthony Durham has done such an incredible job of bringing Hannibal and the Second Punic War to life that I rate "Pride of Carthage" five stars anyway. Hannibal's story of war, struggle, revenge, and hate is one of the most fascinating and evocative stories in human history, but Hannibal's story comes to us through only a couple of classical sources: the larger events of the period are known, but the details passed into antiquity after the Romans razed the city of Carthage and Carthage's entire culture during the Third Punic War. To know Hannibal, then, we must resort to fiction. Several authors have taken on Hannibal's life, including John Maddox Roberts and Ross Leckie. Their books are good reading, but Durham has taken Hannibal's story to an entirely new level, with a fully developed, multi-dimensional Hannibal character, and supporting characters who become so real we feel that they must be historical people rather than fictional characters.

Remember as you read that this is a fiction-Durham has developed his characters so well that it is hard to know what is fact and what is not. This is the first issue I have with the book. While this is a novel and should not be considered a historical reference, Durham does not include the usual pages of explanations and qualifiers: he does not tell the reader what he has invented. The reader unfamiliar with the history of the period probably will not care about this, but they risk passing on what they have read as fact. Secondly, Durham starts to run out of steam toward the end. Events that covered fifteen years are compressed into a period of time that cannot be calculated until a single sentence in which Durham mentions how long Hannibal had been separated from his son. Durham pours so much into Hannibal's early story that it seems as if Durham was just worn out by the time the story comes to an end. Read the book anyway-it is still very enjoyable-and remember that at the end of this book, Fortune and Fate were not yet done with Hannibal-he would go on to live for another nineteen years or so in a life so tragic that Shakespeare couldn't have written it more so. This later period of Hannibal's life could warrant its own book.

I was fascinated by the timeless story of Hannibal, one of the true icons of military history. I have never heard the epic of his Iberian campaigns and his quest for Rome told with such detail - be it historically accurate or provided by the author's craft.

DAD draws you into what this fascinating commander and his brothers' lives might have been like - beyond just the bloodshed and battle - by telling it through some gritty characters who have pretty fascinating stories themselves. There's all kinds in this book!

I kept thinking about how this story of military conquest gave great descriptions of the way that war *was* waged, and how politics still affects the way that wars are waged today. Rome was a superpower, and they had a certain logic to their strategies that Hannibal was able to exploit, even when out numbered. Understanding the enemy, or not understanding the enemy can mean all the difference. I found this story to be a timely look at how our military leaders today still founder in campaigns that they commit to, without the support of their governing bodies, but still fight on, even to their own demise.

I liked historical fiction aspects of this book, but I think that anyone could be drawn to the way that DAD reveals a story and keeps the pace. I found myself returning from work each day looking forward to when I could re-enter the world that was waiting there for me.

I have read two previous DAD books, this one is much more ambitious. Pride of Carthage is more complex, more lusty, more violent, and more entertaining. There is a accessibility to the way that DAD writes. He gets images across without bogging you down, and has a great way of hitting you with an unexpected nugget just when you need one.

Before I read this book all I knew about Hannibal was he attacked Rome with some elephants. Pride of Carthage is a hefty undertaking but well worth the time to read and in fact I found myself reading it every spare moment I had until I finished it. Pride of Carthage has a large cast of characters and while at first I thought the book was going to be a lot of military maneuvers (there were plenty)Durham also took the time to develop interesting characters other than Hannibal. I particularly liked the view of the common soldier rising through the ranks, the young Roman tribune and Hannibals wife and sisters. These other stories fleshed out Hannibals own deeds and gave some real insight into how it was to live during this period of history. The Punic Wars effected everyone in North Africa, Spain and Italy not just the soldiers fighting and it was a very brutal war for all involved. This book was fascinating and well written and unbeatable combination and I truly enjoyed every page of it.

Historical fiction and good fantasy have always appealed to me. I expected to like very much Durham's attempt to tell the Second Punic War from Hannibal's perspective. However, half way through I am wondering whether to finish the book. The writing is wooden (was there no serious editing?), the telling of this marvelous historical story is tedious, and Durham seems not to understand or care that people of that age were not identical with those of today. After a while, this reader felt he was reading a third rate, rather badly written fantasy tale, which merely borrows the names of great historical figures and peoples the ancient world with sensitive moderns. According to Durham, no European soldiers can match Hannibal's African, Libyan etc. infantry and cavalry, whom he seems to regard as black or at least very dark skinned people. Perhaps they will conquer the world with their prowess in another of Durham's "historical" novels. He emphasizes his book is a novel and a fiction, as though this excuses him from accuracy and care. I have rarely been as disappointed in a book.

i really wanted to like this. i'm a big fan of things roman and thought it would be great to read about the second punic war from the other side. but this book is about as dry as a text book, and far less informative. the characters are stiff, unrealistic, cardboard heros. others who recommend this talk about epic, sweeping battle scenes. uh... no.

if you read this, not only will you have to slog through over 500 pages of awkward writing and ungainly characterization, but you will gain an innaccurate understanding of the events of this war. this book has little of what makes historical fiction worth while.

David Anthony Durham's "Pride of Carthage" is a magnificent undertaking. A monumental effort to tell the story of one of history's favorite near-misses triumphs as long as it focuses on Hannibal's triumphant campaign against Rome, but loses a bit of steam as Hannibal's ultimate victory slips from his grasp.

Like many, I have a weakness for tales of the people who fall just short of their goals -- whether it be Hector, Romeo and Juliet, or the gang of doomed fishermen from "The Perfect Storm," these stories of near-triumph are exquisitely moving. Hannibal may be history's number one failed contender. Had he defeated Rome, the course of world history would have been changed forever, as the rule of the Mediterranean would have moved to the continent of Africa from Europe. As it was, Rome as the victor remained the exemplar of Western Civ for several centuries.

The novel kicks off with Hannibal itching to make war on Rome and restore Carthage to its rightful place. He assembles a delightfully exotic army of various African and European nations and commences the conquest of Spain. Success after success soon follow, and before Rome realizes it, the demon Hannibal has brought his army through the Alps and is raiding the countryside. Durham brings an excitement to these scenes that makes "Pride" a difficult novel to put down. One of the most entertaining aspects of these early chapters is Durham's depiction of Roman hubris -- several Roman leaders learn, when it is too late, that Hannibal is a commander to be feared.

More than a novel of Hannibal, "Pride" brings together several different plot lines and perspectives. These are generally healthy for the novel, as Durham fleshes out Hannibal's world and we see daily life for the "average" soldier and even the camp followers. Perhaps not all of these plot threads are tied up as well as one would like, but all in all this makes for a well-rounded novel that is more refreshing than many other novels that never leave the command tent, so intent is their focus on the hero.

As history tells us, Hannibal ultimately loses the Second Punic War, bested by the young Roman general Publius Scipio. Unfortunately, Scipio waxes as the novel wanes -- it's almost as if once Durham could not write any more about Hannibal's victories, he loses interest and wants to bring things to a rapid close. As a result, the build-up to the climactic battle at Zama and the novel's conclusion with Hannibal's heart-breaking return to Carthage feel somewhat truncated.

Still, this novel does a great job of noting that there were human beings on both sides of the Second Punic War, as well as heroes of note. Durham resists the temptation of some who tell the story of the "losing side" to demonize the ultimate victors -- see Michael Curtis Ford's "The Last King" about Mithridates for an example of this treatment. All in all, "Pride" is a well-written novel of great ambition, and the fact that the ending does not satisfy as much as the earlier chapters is no great criticism. A solid entry into the library for any fan of historical fiction.

Many of my fellow reviewers and readers of David Anthony Durham's latest work, Pride of Carthage have missed or failed to mention the dual meaning of the title. On the surface one could interpret to be a direct reference to Hannibal Barca, general of the armies of Iberia and enemy of Rome who the city and nation of Carthage hold in the highest and proudest regard. However the other, and I suspect intentional meaning by the author, is a reference to a group of lions.

The oft-referenced feline King of the Jungle is the heraldic symbol of the Barca family and is a strong metaphor for interactions of the members of the Barca bloodline. Pride of Carthage does not tell just of Hannibal, the eldest male lion, but focuses just as much if not more on his pride. We are introduced to handsome and defiant Hadrsubal, sullen Hanno, cunning and brave Mago, elder sister Saphanibal and many more. These "lesser lions" are the true heart of the tale, it is through their experiences that the story unfolds.

Hannibal is a historical figure who has been discussed at such length that almost any tale of his efforts will ever tread tediously on the footsteps of its predecessors or in attempt to be different commit the equivalent to historical heresy and throw fact to the wind.

Via his method of focusing on the pride rather than the eldest Lion Durham allows the story to unfold in a unique fashion. While there are moments and chapters purely focusing on Hannibal we learn far more of the man, his endeavors, his strengths and his follies by seeing through the eyes and thoughts of those who travel with him. It is through the comparison of these lesser lions to Hannibal that allow us to see clearly what virtues and faults made him the man he is and the terror he became.

Pride of Carthage is an ambitious work of fiction that at times plays loosely with historical fact if such a thing would benefit the story, something I think most readers of historical fiction appreciate. Within its pages you will find a tremendous tale spanning two continents, loves lost and found, vicious betrayals, backroom politics, desperation, shocking portrayal of warfare and at its core: the story of the greatest pride of Carthage, the family of Hannibal Barca.

David Anthony Durham's novel "Pride of Carthage" is fairly well written. That's all the enthusiasm I can muster for this novel, which purports to tell the story of Hannibal Barca, the man who sought to conquer Rome.

What disenchanted me about this novel is that Hannibal and his family all feel like archetypes rather than real people. Not once did I have a sense of getting to know Hannibal as a person; I might as well have stuck to reading Livy. His brothers, particularly Mago and Hasdrubal, are flat, stock characters. There's no emotional punch to any of their scenes, nothing to shock or even dismay the reader. The women don't fare much better; we know that Imilce, Sophonisba and Bayala are considered attractive, even beautiful women. But they don't live on the page. The only woman who comes close to life is Hannibal's sister Sapanibal, and unfortunately she isn't seen often enough.

Yet I could have excused all that if not for the way the novel ends. Durham has Hannibal's son meet him after Zama as a child of about 10--when, if he was born before Hannibal began his campaign, young Hamilcar would have been closer to 20. It's more than a little jarring, coming especially at the conclusion, and it ruined any enjoyment I had from the book.

If you just want a good, fast read about Hannibal, this is a likelier choice than most of what's out there. But it's no masterpiece. Aside from the quality of Durham's writing, the only thing in its favor is that it's free of anachronisms (Colleen McCullough, are you listening?).

Durham writes a sweeping, maybe too sweeping, tale of the great Hannibal Barca. The strengths of the book are obvious: intersting subject, detailed and personal accounts of major military engagements, wonderful development of character personalities. The meandering love stories, however, detract from this book's excellence. It is one thing to include a story line surrounding Hannibal's supposed wife, Imilce, but the random love story focusing on a Carthagenean soldier and a camp follower does not really add much to the story. Moreover, Durham leaves this last love story unfinished, as he fails to mention if Imco survives the battle of Zamma. Durham tacks on an epilogue to tell the reader what happens to Imco's love, but it is too little, too late. Especially given the investment in these two characters. While these sub-stories can meander, the book overall is still a very good and interesting read...just not a 5 star read!

I have a great fondness for the epic. Those expansive stories about valor and courage, the contest of wills as armies clash over open plains, this is the stuff of great literature from Homer's Illiad to the Lord of the Rings. But too much of the genre becomes embroiled in the grandiose and in the sweep of the forest we forget the beauty of the trees. Too much time is spent trying to set a scene up, make it deliberately sweeping and grand, or in the case of historical epics paying attention that every historical detail is correct (the proverbial "Holy Grail" which authors seek but NEVER find). But what makes epics profound, touching, and truly great literature is paying attention to the human details. Who could forget that scene in Book 6 of the Illiad as Hector says goodbye to his wife and son?

Durham takes what is grand in the epic and artfully combines with the attention that only a novel can give. His greatest gift in this book is a gritty depiction of the reality of the horrors of war. His description of the Battle of Cannae and its aftermath, with stinking corpes piled three and four high actually made me a bit physically ill. His other gift are his characters. Even his bit characters are eminently believable. We follow the troubled romance of Imco a Carthaginian soldier and Aradna a scavanging "camp follower."

The battle scenes contain detail from the inside out, adequitely capturing the frenzy in the narrative in a way reminiscent of camera work on Braveheart. Hannibal's family is masterfully depicted, each great in their own regard but living under Hannibal's shadow in differing ways. I was at first bothered by Hannibal's flatness as a character, he seemed more machine than human. But I realized that this was the genius of Durham, depicting Hannibal as animated some alien force gradually growing more human as the war takes its toll on him physically and emotionally. The characters bear a strange mark of reality

In short, this book combines the historical epic, the novel, with a touch of the didactic power of Greek tragedy. A great read. Bravo Mr. Durham!