Anyone heard of this/these Roman novel(s)?

[parthianbow]

Apparently, it's a set of novels (or maybe just a novel) about a Roman soldier stationed at Hadrian's wall. Based on letters found at the wall, they tell of a homesick soldier and daily life as a Roman soldier, the boredom and battles etc. Does this ring a bell with anyone? They would be published at least 15 years ago, possibly earlier. Possibly for 'young adults'.
It sounds as if the book is based on the Vindolanda tablets. I have a textbook on these, but haven't heard of a novel...:confused:

[Margaret]

This is going to drive me nuts, PB, because it is definitely ringing bells, but I can't find the book at HistoricalNovels.info. I haven't read the book, but I feel sure I've read a synopsis. Maybe Annis can come up with it.

[annis]

The only thing that's coming to my mind is Rosemary Sutcliff's "Capricorn Bracelet" (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Capricorn-Bracelet-Red-Fox-Classics/dp/009943217X), which is a book of collected stories about several generations of Roman soldiers serving at Hadrian's Wall between the 1st and 4th centuries. The stories are linked by an increasingly battered family heirloom which is passed on - a bracelet awarded by Legio II (Augusta) to the protagonist of the first story for distinction in action. The bracelet is engraved with the legion's emblem- the Capricorn in its sea-goat form which was the astrological sign of the legion's patron, the Emperor Augustus.

It doesn't sound quite like the book(s) you're describing though. Carla or Cordaella might have some more ideas, perhaps? I suspect that someone who grew up in Britain would be more likely to have encountered this one.

Btw, I read Simon Young's "Farewell Britannia" on your recommendation and liked it very much. I particularly enjoyed the ironic story about the unusual gift made to Boudicca.

[Ariadne]

I don't know the book(s), but the Fictional Rome (http://intraweb.stockton.edu/eyos/page.cfm?siteID=78&pageID=1) site is pretty comprehensive for novels set in ancient Rome. If the books aren't in their searchable database, maybe the coordinator there would be able to identify them.

[parthianbow]

Thanks, guys! I was intrigued by the query, which I'd seen on an Amazon discussion, as it rang no bells with me at all. There are quite a few Sutcliff novels that I haven't read, it seems. So many books, so little time...
Ariadne, thanks, I'll check out that website, which I hadn't previously heard of.
Annis - thanks also, and really glad you liked Farewell, Britannia. Such a clever little book!

[Carla]

I wouldn't have thought it's likely to be the Rosemary Sutcliff novel if it's based on the Vindolanda Tablets, because the tablets were only discovered in the 1970s and Capricorn Bracelet was published in 1973, which would have been a remarkably fast turnaround.

I have a dim recollection of having heard of a YA novel based on the Vindolanda tablets. I had the impression at the time that it was about Claudia Severa (she of the birthday party invitation) rather than about one of the soldiers, but it's possible that there were several characters. Unfortunately it was mentioned in passing and it was a long while ago, so I haven't got a record of the title or author. Sorry I can't be more help!

[annis]

This seems to be an elusive one! I haven't come up with anything else, but now I'm stuck with Auden's Roman Wall Blues running through my brain :)

Over the heather the wet wind blows,
I've lice in my tunic and a cold in my nose.

The rain comes pattering out of the sky,
I'm a Wall soldier, I don't know why.

The mist creeps over the hard grey stone,
My girl's in Tungria; I sleep alone.

Aulus goes hanging around her place,
I don't like his manners, I don't like his face.

Piso's a Christian, he worships a fish;
There'd be no kissing if he had his wish.

She gave me a ring but I diced it away;
I want my girl and I want my pay.

When I'm a veteran with only one eye
I shall do nothing but look at the sky.

[Margaret]

This is a new one for me, Annis - what a treat!

[parthianbow]

Someone on the Amazon thread has come up with this, which sounds like the right answer:
"'I meant you, Parnesius, to live and die a Centurion of the Wall," said Maximus. "But it seems from these,"-he fumbled in his breast-"you can think as well as draw." He pulled out a roll of letters I had written to my people, full of drawings of Picts, and bears, and men I had met on the Wall. Mother and my sister always liked my pictures."

If this is it, it comes from just 3 short stories, found in "Puck of Pook's Hill" by Rudyard Kipling. You can find the text of the whole book, and a link to the first story on the Project Gutenberg site at

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/557/557-h/557-h.htm#centurion

Annis, I'd heard that poem, but thought Kipling wrote it. I now stand corrected!

[Gabriele Campbell]

Like that poem. If not for copyright issues I could add a few lines, I think.

We only have moss here, no sponge on a stick;
Our room is too small, and the optio a prick.

I don't want to dig trenches and haul any rocks.
I'll have to write mommy to send me more socks.

The prefect's on a party, but our cervisia is stale,
To hell with the Britains and what they call ale.

[parthianbow]

We only have moss here, no sponge on a stick;Our room is too small, and the optio a prick.

I don't want to dig trenches and haul any rocks.
I'll have to write mommy to send me more socks.

The prefect's on a party, but our cervisia is stale,
To hell with the Britains and what they call ale.

Excellent, Gabriele! :D:D:D

[annis]

Blow me down- I've read the "Puck of Pook's Hill" stories too, and never made the connection with the book you were looking for. The POPH stories were one of Rosemary Sutcliff's major inspirations, along with Kipling's other collection of short stories, Rewards and Fairies (http://www.telelib.com/words/authors/K/KiplingRudyard/prose/RewardsFaries/index.html).

Gabriele, I'm sure Auden would have thoroughly enjoyed your brilliant addition - classic! :)

[Gabriele Campbell]

Thank you, Ben and Annis.

My Romans are trudging through German forests, but they don't like that very much, either. :)

[annis]

Just realised, Ben - - the reason why the Puck of Pook's Hill stories didn't come to mind is because they were written long before the Vindolanda letters were discovered.

[annis]

Posted by Gabriele
My Romans are trudging through German forests, but they don't like that very much, either.

Are you writing some rude marching songs to help them on their way? Hope so :)

[parthianbow]

'Lock up your wives o men of Rome
We bring the bald-headed lecher home!'

Oh no, that was Julius Caesar's legionaries singing about him (it really was).

Annis - another recommendation for you, if you haven't already read it - the beautifully written Of Merchants and Heroes by Paul Waters. It's set in the early 2nd Century BC, near the time when Rome invaded Greece. It's excellent.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Merchants-Heroes-Paul-Waters/dp/0330452673/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272355462&sr=8-4
(Actually, I think I remember you mentioning it before. Apologies if you did.)

[annis]

Yes, I was very taken with "Of Merchants & Heroes" when I discovered it in 2008, and really looked forward to Paul Waters' next book, "Cast Not the Day". To my disappointment CNTD just didn't do it for me, and I posted a review here (http://www.historicalfictiononline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1740) explaining why. At the time I mentioned that I wondered if it might be the first in a series- and yes, it is. PW's latest novel "Philosopher Prince" features the same characters as CNTD. I'll certainly read it, because Paul Waters writes very well and certainly knows his stuff.