Book description
Emperor Nero's grip on power is weakening. In every shadow he sees an
enemy and like a cornered animal he lashes out at every perceived
threat. His paranoia settles on the figure of Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo,
Rome's greatest General who leads the imperial legions in the East.
So popular is Corbulo with his men that he effective presides over
an Empire within an Empire. Is Corbulo preparing to march against Rome
and take the purple?
Gaius Valerius Verrens, Hero of Rome, is ordered to Antioch with the
power of life and death over Corbulo, a soldier he worships. There he
finds word of his mission has preceded him and every man's hand is
turned against him. But Corbulo's eyes are not on Rome, but on a new
threat to the Empire's border. The Parthian King of Kings, Vologases,
is marching to war and with such an army that if not stopped he might
overwhelm the entire Roman east.
Valerius marches at Corbulo's side. Outnumbered they make a stand in
the barren wastes beyond the Tigris to meet Vologases in an epic
contest of military might and ingenuity that will decide the fate of
the Empire. And while he fights for the Empire, and for his own
survival on the battlefield, Valerius must decide whether to complete
his mission, or risk incurring his Emperor's dangerous wrath.
Douglas Jackson is rapidly developing a reputation as one of the best
historical novelists writing today. He turned a lifelong fascination for
Rome and the Romans into his first two novels,
Caligula
and
Claudius
. Avenger of Rome is the third title in his series featuring Gaius
Valerius Verrens; the first two,
Hero of Rome
and
Defender of Rome
, are available in Corgi paperback.
