The Book

I don’t want to give too much away about it, but what I can say is that it’s set in the final years of Augustus’ reign and centres on the theme of a trust betrayed and its devastating consequences. It is a new telling of a real event.

The action moves between Rome and Germany, with a backstory taking place in Pannonia, Syria and Judaea. In the style of action thrillers I enjoy, the story will take an expansive ‘meanwhile in …’ approach. The reader will sense the scale of the Roman Empire, and because of it the difficulties in communicating news of critical events. Unlike the modern world, where news can take seconds to flash from source to audience, in the Roman world news took days to reach key decision makers. This changes the dynamic of the story, placing great responsibility on the central protagonists to make important and impactful decisions on the spot.

I have been conducting the research for the historical background to the story for the last couple of years. I have identified the protagonists and many of the minor characters. Next comes the outline and, once I have that in the shape I feel most comfortable with, then I will begin writing the book in earnest. Most professional authors seem to take two years to write a novel, so I anticipate it will take at least that. I hope to be done in 2009. I plan to keep a blog in which I record my progress. Read the blog at http://blog.lindsay-powell.com/

Published Articles

Book Reviews (A Companion to the Roman Army, Rome's Greatest Defeat), Exercitus, Autumn 2007, Vol. 3, No. 6, pp153-154 

The Coinage and the Roman Army of the Early Empire, Exercitus, Autumn 2007, Vol. 3, No. 6, pp145-149 

For the Record: Administration in the Roman Army During the First to Third Centuries AD, Exercitus, Summer 1990, Vol. 2, No. 8, Supplement (22 pages)

Upholding the Law: The Roman Army and the Administration of Justice, Exercitus, Winter 1989, Vol. 2, No. 7, pp124-131

Leaving the Service: Retiring from the Roman Army During the Empire, Exercitus, Autumn 1988, Vol. 2, No. 5, pp78-83

The Mood of the Armies: Morale and Mutiny in the Roman Army of the First Century AD, Exercitus, Spring 1988, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp61-64

Bar Kokhba: The Roman Army in the Second Jewish Revolt AD132-5, Exercitus, Summer 1987, Vol. 2, No. 3, pp40-45

Omens, Oracles and Prophecies in the Roman World, Exercitus, Winter 1986, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp11-17 – winner of The Classical Association (Cardiff and District Branch) Competition 1978

If you are unable to find Exercitus in your library, please contact me by e-mail about getting copies of the articles.