Hadrian's Wall
A Novel of Roman England
by William Dietrich
Published March 2004
Paperback edition, 2005
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Hadrian's Wall
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The Story Behind Hadrian's Wall
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The Wall. When the Roman
emperor Hadrian first envisioned the awesome edifice in A.D. 122, he
used stone, wood, and iron to shield Roman Britannia forever from
the unconquered Celtic barbarians. Stretching over seventy miles to
divide the island, Hadrian's Wall has maintained the security of the
Roman Empire's northern outpost for more than two hundred years. Now
a Roman bride has come who will unleash jealousy, passion, and an
epic war that will shake a tired and tottering empire to its core.
Tribune Marcus Flavius has secured
command at the Wall not through battles fought or wars won, but
through his arranged marriage to Valeria, a senator's daughter. He
replaces a brutal veteran, Galba Brassidias, an ambitious soldier
whose skill in battle is rivaled only by his Machiavellian
brilliance. But Galba will do anything it takes to regain his
position and dominate the young woman who fascinates and infuriates
him.
The intrigue on the Roman side of
the Wall is matched by the plotting of Celtic warriors determined to
rid their land of the invaders. They are led by the dynamic and
mysterious barbarian chieftain Arden Caratacus, a man who seems to
know as much about hated Rome as he does of his own people, and who
is determined to win the young woman for himself.
Theirs is a story of swirling
emotions, ancient warfare, desperate romance, and the final great
clash of Roman and Celtic cultures. All will be decided on the field
of battle, where the fate of an empire may rest in the strength of
Hadrian's Wall.
Reviews
"Award-winning author Dietrich's fourth novel is an epic historical
drama of warfare, treachery and political intrigue centered on Rome's most
remote and desolate frontier outpost...Dietrich is in top form with this rousing
tale."
--Publisher's Weekly
"Rome, 368 A.D. - slashing blades, snorting steeds, star-crossed lovers,
an Iago-like villain: page-turning stuff...Lively, authoritative and
edifying...the best yet from Dietrich."
--Kirkus Reviews
"From its evocative beginning to its shattering climax,
Hadrian's Wall is riveting, with details of the myth-shrouded past that ring
absolutely true. The characters are as sharply defined as a Roman mosaic, the
landscape as mysterious and unyielding as a Celtic runestone. No mere adventure
story, though it is that as well, Hadrian's Wall is an eloquent discourse on the
contrasts between barbarism and civilization, cruelty and selflessness, honor
and treachery. A gripping and literate work that will haunt you long after
you've put it down."
--Michael Curtis Ford, author of The Ten Thousand and Gods and Legions
"Page-turning historical fiction seething with
action, adventure and passion."
--Booklist
"A rousing historical novel brimming with
adventure, mystery and romance."
--Seattle Times
"His best fiction so far."
--Anacortes American
"Dietrich has researched the period and place
so well it seems real. If you've ever been to the wall, you'll recognize it in
this book...Hadrian's Wall is an adventure story, a love story, and a
novel of action and ideas."
--Salem, OR, Statesman-Journal.
"A wiry plot that begins with the killing of a
slave and leads to the 'Great Barbarian Uprising'...stories of centurion life,
myriad bloody battles, druid woods, newly emerging Christianity and the Celtic
leader Arden Caratacus' fort in the rugged Scottish countryside north of the
wall."
--Portland, OR, Oregonian.
"This is a sweeping and powerful historical
novel, filled with political intrigue, action and romance."
--Claire E. White,
www.writerswrite.com.
"The author captures a period on the cusp of
history when 'The world is holding its breath' and encloses in it a remarkable,
romantic tale that sets love and loyalty in opposition to ambition and envy."
--Hilary Williamson,
www.bookloons.com.
"A good read involving greed, passion and war."
--www.Fictionaddition.net.
"Hadrian's Wall is a gem among historical
romances."
--www.theflap.com.
"Readers who enjoy historical fiction,
especially stories of the Roman Empire or Celtic culture, should enjoy this
well-written novel."
--www.thecelebritycafe.com.
"The clash of cultures, the powerful subplots
and skillful story telling result in a richly told historical novel...A
remarkable read, 'Hadrian's Wall' comes highly recommended."
-- www.wordweaving.com.
"A powerful Ancient Rome tale that will elate
historical novel readers."
--Harriet Klausner,
Thebestreviews.com
hardcover / $24.95 / HarperCollins / 0060563710 / March 2004
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