Scipio Africanus: The Man Who Defeated Hannibal [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Ross Leckie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 25, 1998

Now, from the author of the highly-acclaimed novel Hannibal (a History Book Club Selection), comes the second installment in an epic trilogy on the rise of Carthage and the rise of Rome.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is the second novel in Leckie's proposed trilogy about ancient Carthage, after the highly praised Hannibal (Regnery, 1996). Here the focus is on ancient Rome's greatest general, Scipio Africanus, the man who defeated one of the world's legendary military leaders. The story is told in Scipio's own words, near the end of his life, as he is dictating his memoirs to his secretary, Bostar, who once, unbeknownst to Scipio, served as geographer to Hannibal. The narrative is interspersed with bits of Bostar's own story, and this often adds a poignant counterpoint to the story of the great general. Scipio seems to be a rather stiff character in many ways, ever conscious of his duty as a scion of one of Rome's most important military families and unable to give in to his true desires, forcing himself to become the man and hero his father has trained him to be. Leckie writes vivid battle scenes and makes Scipio and Bostar believably humanAand flawedAcharacters. Readers of historical fiction will find much to enjoy here. Recommended for large fiction collections.ADean James, Murder by the Book, Houston
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The vividly re-created battle scenes and painstaking attention to historical detail that characterized Leckie's critically acclaimed novel Hannibal, are also hallmarks of the second installment in his epic trilogy on the Punic Wars and the political, economic, and military rivalry between Carthage and Rome. Credited with being the general who outmaneuvered and eventually defeated Hannibal, Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus won decisive victories against the Carthaginians at Zama, the Seleucids at Magnesia, and the Macedonian's at Cynoscephalae. Back in Rome, Scipio was publicly accused by his bitter enemy, Cato, of pilfering enemy treasure, accepting bribes, granting clemency to enemies of the republic, promoting Hellenism in Rome, and "setting himself above the will of the Senate and the people of Rome." Dictating his memoirs to Bostar, his devoted servant and companion, Scipio stoically awaits the verdict of his peers, knowing that a condemnation from the Senate requires a penalty of death by strangulation. Sweeping in scope, this outstanding fictional biography parallels the fortunes of a military genius with the rise of the Roman empire. Margaret Flanagan

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Regnery Publishing, Inc.; illustrated edition edition (February 25, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895264129
• ISBN-13: 978-0895264121
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,374,814 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good read, October 4, 2000

By 

Gregory Francis "Therabdus" (Denver, CO, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scipio Africanus: The Man Who Defeated Hannibal (Hardcover)

Ross Leckie has written a Roman historical novel in the tradition of Robert Graves. Although he does not quite reach the overall level of "I, Claudius", "Claudius, the God" or "Bellisarius," the work is definitely quite good. Like Graves, he brings ancient Rome to life. Like Graves, he deals with Rome's political intrigues, but, perhaps because the politics of Scipio's day were less complicated than those of Claudius', the political element is less satisfying. On the other hand, Leckie's descriptions of battles and tactics outdo anything in Graves. It does have flaws, however. The first lies in the early part of the book, where Leckie moves back and forth between Scipio's account of his childhood and Bostar's account of his travels in Italy after Hannibal. The problem is that each section is too short. Often he goes on for only a few paragraph on Bostar (for example) before jumping back to Scipio for a few paragraphs. This may work well in an action novel moving toward a climax, but here it is jarring and confusing. Another drawback is that the reader never knows exactly what Bostar's relationship with Hannibal was. Still, all in all, it's worth the price and the time to read, and I learned a lot about a different period in Roman history.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hmm, well, aah, it's an okay read for resting the mind, March 30, 2006

By 

Simon Cleveland "Author of 'Descent: The R. C... (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scipio Africanus: The Man Who Defeated Hannibal (Hardcover)

"Scipio Africanus: The Man Who Defeated Hannibal" by Ross Leckie is an interesting account of what may have happened with the Roman leader before and after he defeated Hannibal. If you like the show "Rome", you'd definitely like this book. The descriptions of the roman legions, the senate, the Latin, the ancient lusts for gold, glory and power, it's all well packaged and would make you reminisce about those ancient times and what it might have been like... In the beginning of the book parallel narratives of both Scipio and Bostar (his servant) amuse and hasten the pace of the story. Then slowly the book sinks into one of those `I did this, he said that, we attacked him, they got killed...' type of an account and interest meanders a bit. However, the narrative is easy enough and does captures the attention, at times even excites the imagination. But after all, like most sequels, this one doesn't live up to the glory of `Hannibal'. If you are a fan of good ancient action novels, pick up a copy of "Hannibal". If you've already read it and just feel like figuring out what went on with Scipio pre/post Hannibal's defeat, then this novel can be an 'okay' continuation of your trip.

-by Simon Cleveland

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Did Mr Leckie read Polybius or Livy when reading Classics?, October 18, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Leeds, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scipio Africanus: The Man Who Defeated Hannibal (Hardcover)

Even worse than Hannibal, if you can believe. Where to begin... Scipio's mother did not die in childbirth of Scipio's brother Lucius (she'd have had a damned hard time making togas for the pair 20 years on if she had). Lucius did not commit suicide and Scipio hear of it, Lucius announced Scipio's death in the Senate at his trial. Can a man who was "known by his troops to have a fondness for beautiful women" and who committed adultery with his serving maid be gay? Or in denial of his gayness? Bloody unlikely.So many historical innacuracies,so little fact. Mr Leckie's artistic license should be revoked. Doesn't cover historical events until Pg 280 and then at such a speed any sense of accomplishment is lost. Tosh of the first order, avoid if a serious scholar of history, along with the prequel Hannibal.Can I give it less than one star please?