What history book are you reading or planning to read?/ The history bookreview thread

[Skullheadhq]

I was looking for some books on early Byzantine history, particulary Justinian the Great. Anyone has some hints?

[Brennus]

Just finished Stephan Fichtl's "Le Ville Celtique", very informative. Started Ian Ralston's "Celtic Foritifications" a day or two ago. Spent half of the year reading through Barry Cunliffe's Magnum Opus "Iron Age communities in Britain".

Can anyone recommend any good books about the Belgae aside from Stephan Fichtl's "Le Gaulois du Nord de Gaule"?

[ayekides]

Just finished reading Xenophon's Anabasis and all I have to say is holy !!!! Why this has not been made into a movie I do not understand hahaha. Also finished The Annals by Tacitus and have been working on The Histories. (Most Emperors seem crazy, extremely paranoid, from his point of view.)

[bobbin]

It already has, well kind of....

[moonburn]

Just finished reading Xenophon's Anabasis and all I have to say is holy !!!! Why this has not been made into a movie I do not understand hahaha. Also finished The Annals by Tacitus and have been working on The Histories. (Most Emperors seem crazy, extremely paranoid, from his point of view.)

many modern movies are based on it like gangmembers trying to return to their turf trough enemy territory

sorry i hadn´t seen the youtube link but there are at least 10 others

[Skullheadhq]

many modern movies are based on it like gangmembers trying to return to their turf trough enemy territory

sorry i hadn´t seen the youtube link but there are at least 10 others

Oh come on, comparing gangs with a Greek mercenary army.

[fomalhaut]

don't be dense, the general idea remains. A group of warriors trapped in enemy territory after their connection to the region dies have to make it back home with lots of obstacles

THE WARRIORS is the best one though, easily. great film

[bobbin]

Oh come on, comparing gangs with a Greek mercenary army.

The Warriors is actually loosely based The Ten Thousand, very loosely though.

[geala]

I think I actually wouldn't like to watch a modern movie based on the Kyrou Anabasis. The real advantage and benefit of the book is that it gives a lot of informations about the peoples involved, the kind of fighting, customs and a lot of hints to human behaviour, sometimes not in favour of the Greek soldiers involved. I fear it's impossible to show the real value of the book in a commercial movie. There are no villains and no heroes (except perhaps Xenophon, but ok, it is his book...), so it may be difficult to understand by many. It would even be impossible to accept for many that Xenophon was not the leader of the soldiers, but only one of 10 strategoi and not the most important one. The story in itself is, I dare to say, rather boring, a group of people trying to march through a partly hostile country. Good opportunity to pack the movie with slow motion fighting szenes however... You see, I'm not very impressed by modern movies.
That said, of course I would watch the movie and buy a copy.