The Last Legion (Film tie-in)

By: Valerio Massimo Manfredi

Narrated by: Martin Shaw

Valerio Massimo Manfredi's The Last Legion opens on the day that the Western Roman Empire collapses finally in 470AD, as the Last Emperor of Rome is encamped and protected by the Nova Invicta Legion. All is lost in the space of a few minutes as a horde of Barbarians sweep through the camp in the fog, kill the Imperial family and take the young Emperor captive. The Roman Empire is in ruins . . .

But all is not lost. From the dust of battlefields emerges a small team of invincible warriors – The Last Legion. Their task is to rescue the Emperor and his enigmatic tutor and to try and resurrect the glory of Rome. All their strength of character and bravery come into play as they guide the last Caesar in a dramatic journey of escape through a devastated Italy and Northern Europe to their ultimate destinies in the land of the Britons . . . and the beginning of a new legend.

Filled with myth, legend and gladiators, The Last Legion was made into a film starring Colin Firth and Ben Kingsley and directed by Doug Lefler.

enjoyable and interesting

I first saw the movie starring Colin Firth — The Last Legion — and noticed it was based on this book, translated from Italian, written by a historian archeologist. The movie differs only a little from the book. It’s a good read with a pace that moves along nicely, and with some aspects of the King Arthur mythology tied into the actual facts of Rome’s fall and the historical Vortigern, a self-serving northern chieftain who rose to power in Briton after Fall of Rome, 460. Historically, Vortigern is blamed for inviting the Angles (Anglo- Saxons) into Britannia to help guard the border from invading Scots and Picts after most of the Roman soldiers returned to Italy, abandoning Hadrian’s Wall. The connection to Ex Caliber was fun.
Narration was just fine, but then I do not like overly melodramatic narration.

Nothing really to do with a Roman legion

What disappointed you about The Last Legion?

I thought that it was going to be about a Roman Legion at the end of empire. It was about a guy who'd apparently been in a legion.

What was most disappointing about Valerio Massimo Manfredi’s story?

The characters are a bit thin, it's not in the least bit evocative of extraordinary times.

What does Martin Shaw bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Martin Shaw can make an 'Items for sale' listing sound interesting.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment

Any additional comments?

The book was a really good idea - there is space for another version.