Hannibal

by Ross Leckie

Overview

The third century BCE: One man will bring an empire to its knees.

The wars between Rome and Carthage will see some of the most bloody and savage battles of all time. Hundreds of thousands will die, and Rome will win mastery of the known world.

Amid this, a figure will emerge who has become the stuff of myth and legend: Hannibal Barca.

In this breathtaking chronicle of love and hate, heroism and cruelty, one of history’s greatest generals returns to life. Hannibal learns, through suffering, that man is but a shadow of a dream.

A scintillating, blood-soaked tale of loss and victory, this is a masterful piece of historical fiction, perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow, Conn Iggulden and Ian Ross.

Praise for Hannibal

‘Wonderful … what was once cold history becomes full-bodied adventure’ The Times

‘Leckie writes unflinchingly of this world of blood, battle and atrocity’ Sunday Telegraph

‘Its triumph is to bring the world of Carthage to life again’ Spectator

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781788638623
Publisher:	Canelo
Publication date:	12/06/2023
Series:	The Punic Wars , #1
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	302
Sales rank:	508,341
File size:	751 KB

About the Author

Ross Leckie is a Scottish author of historical novels, best known for his critically acclaimed Carthage trilogy.

He attended Corpus Christi College at Oxford University, and has worked variously as a farm labourer, roughneck, schoolmaster and insurance broker.

He has ten children, and now lives in Edinburgh

Editorial Reviews

"A battle is like lust. The frenzy passes. Consequence remains." So reflects the 65-year-old Hannibal as he recounts the trials of a battle commander's life in British writer's Leckie's first novel. Readers may already be somewhat acquainted with the warlord's record: how the Carthaginian was born and bred to become the leader of a great army, how he marched toward Rome in the company of thousands of mercenaries and elephants, crossing the Alps in a legendary winter of privation. Less familiar will be the portrait of Hannibal as a lover (of Similce, a Spanish woman whom he marries) or as an introspective man well-versed in the Greek philosophers. Published to fine reviews in England, Leckie's fictional memoir is written in a simple, visceral style that brings a raw immediacy to descriptions of ancient battle. The Oxford-trained author, who drew on many classical sources, is as authoritative about crucifixions and the torture of pregnant women as he is about the details of the great warrior's brilliant military strategies. Leckie seeks not to bury Hannibal in analysis but to portray him. He gives readers a taste of an outsized man whose obsession to conquer Rome made him as bloodthirsty as he was bold. This is a ripping good read whose lesson in ancient history is yet another reward. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

A tremendous story told with great verve and gusto. Compelling and convincing, this is a truly remarkable novel in the class of I, Claudius.

Allan Massie

Its triumph is to bring the world of Carthage to life again.

Spectator - James Michie

In Leckie's descriptions it's possible to smell the stench of sweat and fear, hear the roars of warhorses and elephants, see the blood-stained armour. Informative and utterly compelling.

The Times

The great Carthaginian hated ancient Rome. Having brought elephants over the Alps, broken the fabled legions, and reached the gates of Rome, Hannibal Barca vies with Robert E. Lee for the title of the most brilliant general ever to lose a war. "There is so much blood. Blood and hate," Hannibal writes in this, his novel. And this was gore before there were special effects. Right away somebody has his nose cut off. Leckie has reached back over 2,000 years and brought the brutality of those times vividly to life. Matthews has a fine, erudite voice and reads with force and feeling. B.H.C. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine

DEC/JAN 01 - AudioFile