Synopses & Reviews
Set in the late Roman Republic, in the first century B.C.E., The Forgotten Legion is a tale of the greatest empire of the ancient world from the perspective of those on the lowest rungs of its society. Romulus and Fabiola are twins, born into slavery to a enslaved mother who is much beloved by them, and much abused by their owner. At 13 years old, they and their mother are sold: Romulus to gladiator school, Fabiola into prostitution, where she will catch the eye of one of the most powerful men in Rome, and their mother into obscurity and death in the salt mines.
Tarquinius is an Etruscan, a warrior and soothsayer, born enemy of Rome and trained by the last haruspex in the forgotten arts of divination. A runaway slave, then an AWOL Legionaire, he has a long foretold destiny that will take him to the very ends of the known world.
Brennus is a Gaul from the Allobreges tribe. In the battle against the Roman army, his entire family, perhaps his entire tribe, is slaughtered, and only he survives to be sold as a slave to be trained as a gladiator. He rises to become one of the most famous and feared gladiators of his day - and mentor to the boy slave, Romulus, who dreams night and day of escape and of revenge.
The lives of these four characters are bound and interwoven in a marvellous story which begins in a Rome riven by corruption, violence and political enmities, but ends far away, where Romulus, Brennus and Tarquinius find themselves fighting against the Parthians and overwhelming odds - survivors of one of the most legendary battles in Roman military history and destined to become part of one of the most compelling, enduring legends: The Forgotten Legion.
Review
"I thoroughly enjoyed The Forgotten Legion - so much so that I stayed up until 2 A.M. to finish it. Where others play in the rarefied world of senators, legates, and upper class merchants, Kane delves into the grim underbelly of slavery, prostitution and gladitorial carnage...His weaving of the many character strands is deftly done. I was very impressed."--Manda Scott, author of The Crystal Skull and Boudica: Dreaming the Eagle
Synopsis
Told from the perspective of four people at the margins of the Roman world and Roman society - slaves, gladiators, runaway soldiers - comes this epic tale of the late Roman Republic and the legendary Forgotten Legion that went beyond the furthest boundaries of the Roman world.
Synopsis
Romulus and Fabiola are twins, born into slavery, and then later sold: Romulus to gladiator school, and Fabiola into prostitution, where she will catch the eye of one of the most powerful men in Rome.
Tarquinius is an Etruscan, a warrior, born enemy of Rome and trained by the last haruspex in the forgotten arts of divination. A runaway slave, then an AWOL Legionaire, he has a long foretold destiny that will take him to the ends of the known world.
Brennus is a Gaul who lost his entire clain in a battle against the Roman Army. After being sold as a slave he rises to bcome one of the most famous and feared gladiators of his day.
The lives of these four are interwoven in story that ranges from a Rome riven by corruption, violence and political enmities to ends of the empire, where Romulus, Brennus and Tarquinius find themselves fighting against the Parthians and overwhelming odds - members of The Forgotten Legion.
About the Author
BEN KANE was born in Kenya, and raised there and in Ireland. After college, he traveled the world extensively, indulging his passion for ancient history. He now lives in North Somerset, England. A lifelong student of military history and, specifically, Roman history, The Forgotten Legion is his first novel. He is currently working at work on the sequel.