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    Dr. Philip Matyszak holds a degree from St. John's College, Oxford. He teaches an e-learning course on Ancient Rome at Cambridge University. "Maty" has authored numerous books, many of which have been reviewed at UNRV. He is a "patrician" on the UNRV forums and regularly interacts with its members.He graciously agreed to be interviewed in reference to his newest book, The Greek and Roman Myths. Jeremy Baer ("Ursus") conducted the interview for UNRV...

     

    ...to the interview with Dr. Philip Matyszak

     

     

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    I have done a lot of reviews for Philip "Maty" Matyszak, Cambridge lecturer and fellow UNRV member. I hate to sound like a paid publicist, but the simple truth is I enjoy the many books of his I have read. With Greco-Roman mythology being one of my favorite areas of inquiry, I was intrigued how one of my favorite authors would approach the subject, and I was not disappointed. The Greek and Roman Myths is an enjoyable overview of the subject...
     
    ...read the full review of The Greek and Roman Myths: A Guide to the Classical Stories by Philip Matyszak
     
     
     
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    It is sometimes said that everyone has one book in them. However the real test is more often than not how well or otherwise a novice novelist follows up on their initial efforts and even if their second novel is half as good as their first. I am happy to report that in Arrows of Fury (Empire: volume two) Anthony Riches has more than succeeded in again writing a well researched, fast paced and understandably somewhat bloody military novel set on the rebellious northern Frontiers of the Roman Empire...
     
    ...read the full review of Arrows of Fury by Anthony Riches
     
     
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    We are very excited to announce that Osprey Publishing is giving away two copies of Gladiator: Rome's Bloody Spectacle by Konstantin Nossov!
    If you would like to win, reply to newsletter@unrv.com that you'd like to enter the lucky draw and don't forget to include your shipping address!!
     
    Premium members have an exclusive extra chance to get a third copy that will be signed by the author Konstantin Nossov!
     
    Two winners will be chosen randomly from all replies, and the author signed copy from all premium members entries, deadline is the 21th of October 2010. The winner will be notified by e-mail.
     
    About the Book:
    This is a big glossy book full of great pictures, artist`s impressions, archaeological evidence and a good glossary at the back translating all the Latin gladiatorial terms. The author cites his sources throughout the book and these can also be found at the back in the notes section. Gladiator is an extremely informative and well written account of the phenomenon that whipped the Roman world into a frenzy for the better part of seven centuries. This book is a detailed account of everything related to the ultra violent world of the premier sporting event and icons of the ancient world...
    you can read our full review here.
     
    About the Author:
    Konstantin Nossov is from Moscow and is a researcher in and advisor on ancient and medieval arms, armour and warfare, as well as the author of numerous books and articles on the subject. This book was originally published in Russian in 2005 but has thankfully been translated into English.
     
    Viggen
    Gladiator is an extremely informative and well written account of the phenomenon that whipped the Roman world into a frenzy for the better part of seven centuries. This book is a detailed account of everything related to the ultra violent world of the premier sporting event and icons of the ancient world. Konstantin Nossov is from Moscow and is a researcher in and advisor on ancient and medieval arms, armour and warfare, as well as the author of numerous books and articles on the subject. This book was originally published in Russian in 2005 but has thankfully been translated into English...
     
    ...read the full review of Gladiator: Rome's Bloody Spectacle by Konstantin Nossov
     
     
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    We are very excited to announce that Prometheus Books is giving away two copies of Tiberius Julius Alexander: A Historical Novel by Daniel M. Friedenberg! If you would like to win, reply to newsletter@unrv.com that you'd like to enter the lucky draw and don't forget to include your shipping address!!
     
    Premium members have an additional chance to get a third copy that will be signed by the author Daniel M. Friedenberg himself! !
     
    Two winners will be chosen randomly from all replies, and the author signed copy from all premium members entries, deadline is the 17th of October 2010. The winner will be notified by e-mail.
     
    About the Book:
    In this vividly told historical novel, Friedenberg reconstructs the conflicted life of one of the most paradoxical figures of ancient Jewish history—Tiberius Julius Alexander, an apostate who helped lead the Roman army that laid siege to Jerusalem in 70 CE. He was the nephew of the renowned philosopher Philo Judaeus and the son of the wealthiest man in Alexandria. Piecing together the historical evidence for the life of Tiberius, Friedenberg creates a fascinating fictional memoir based on the facts known about the real historical figure. He skillfully brings to life Roman society in the Near East of the first century, with all its luxurious refinements, brutal realities, competing religious cults, and social unrest...
     
    About the Author:
    Daniel M. Friedenberg is the president of John-Platt Enterprises. A recipient of the Heath Literary Award for Distinguished Numismatic Achievement, he is the former curator of coins and medals for the Jewish Museum, New York. His books include Great Jewish Portraits in Metal and Medieval Jewish Seals from Europe.
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    This ain't your grandfather's Spartacus! What happens when HBO:Rome meets The 300? Some ass kicking action, that's what. Everyone remembers Kubrick's 1960 masterpiece starring Kirk Douglas as an impossibly idealistic proto-Communist leading a proletarian uprising against the establishment. And almost no one, fortunately, remembers a god awful made-for-TV-movie that aired on the USA network a few years back. Blood and Sand is neither of these things. It is adventurous and gritty, a tour de force of pretty people and special effects acted with raw talent and written with savvy...
     
    ...read the full review of Spartacus: Blood and Sand - The Complete First Season
     
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    "Oh no! Not another book about Hadrian's Wall" - I was given The Wall: Rome`s Greatest Frontier by Alistair Moffat by my wife as a birthday present and, through slightly gritted teeth I thanked her, trying desperately to inject some degree of sincerity that I didn`t particularly feel. Just what I needed, yet another book on Hadrian`s Wall. So I squeezed it onto my "Hadrian`s Wall" bookshelf (along with all the others), and for a couple of weeks, forgot all about it. But, as the days passed, guilt started to get the better of me, and eventually I decided to let it jump to the front of my long, long queue of unread books, and give it a go. How glad I am that I did...
     
    ...read the full book review of The Wall - Rome`s Greatest Frontier by Alistair Moffat
     
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    The basic story line involves his hero being sent to Britain immediately prior to both the murder of his family in Rome at the orders of the, newly sole, Emperor Commodus and an incipient rebellion by the native population. There are all the usual ingredients with agents of his enemies in Rome hunting for him and friends of his family acting to keep him hidden from discovery all in a teeth of a gathering storm which could sweep the Romans from Britain for ever. As the blurb says...
     
    ...read the full book review of Wounds of Honour by Anthony Riches
     
     
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