October 2023 MBR The World History Shelf

The World History Shelf

Catiline, Rebel of the Roman Republic
James T. Carney
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (US distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.penandswordbooks.com
9781399067898, $39.95, HC, 232pp

https://www.amazon.com/Catiline-Rebel-Roman-Republic-Conspiracy/dp/1399067893

Synopsis: Lucius Sergius Catilina (c. 108 BC - January 62 BC), was a Roman aristocrat from a poor but noble family. He was controversial figure both in his own times and in subsequent historical scholarship. Catiline was cast first as the Roman equivalent of Richard III and later as a left-wing revolutionary, depending on the times and historians' leanings.

Although Catiline's calls for debt relief and other measures in his second consular campaign earned him support from the poor, historian and author James T. Carney finds that Catiline was motivated by pride and ambition rather than by an interest in widespread social and economic reforms. Embittered by his failure to attain the consulship which he thought was his due given his heritage. He had his lieutenant Manlius raise armed forces in Etruria while he planned to stage a coup in Rome when these forces approached the city.

The conspiracy was betrayed to Cicero. Cicero skillfully used his knowledge of the conspiracy to force Catiline to leave Rome and join Manlius, leaving the city conspirators without effective leadership. Catiline's urban lieutenants soon blundered by seeking to enlist the support of a Gallic tribe whose emissaries were in the city. The Gauls, skeptical of the conspirators; leadership. decided report all that they had learned about the conspirators' plans to Cicero. Using the evidence obtained from the Gauls, Cicero presented a prosecutor's case against the conspirators to the Senate and rallied public opinion against the Catilinarians.

Cicero then executed five of the key conspirators without trial. When Catiline's soldiers learned of destruction of the urban conspiracy, many deserted. Cataline (finding his army trapped between two larger government forces) died fighting in a fierce but doomed battle at Pistoia.

Critique: An informative and thought-provoking historical biography and history, "Catiline, Rebel of the Roman Republic: The Life and Conspiracy of Lucius Sergius Catilina" is written by author James T. Carney with all the narrative skill of an award-winning historical novel. An inherently fascinating study that is enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of nine page Bibliography, fifty-six pages of Notes, and a seven page Index, "Catiline, Rebel of the Roman Republic: The Life and Conspiracy of Lucius Sergius Catilina" is an especially and unreservedly recommended contribution to personal, professional, community, college, and univesity library Ancient Rome History/Biography collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Catiline, Rebel of the Roman Republic: The Life and Conspiracy of Lucius Sergius Catilina" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).

Editorial Note: James T. Carney is a Yale educated historian and attorney who has been studying Catiline and the late Republic since his third year at High School and, since his semi-retirement from legal practice in 2016, has devoted much of his time to researching and writing this book.

Mapping the Great Game
Riaz Dean
Casemate Publishers
www.casematepublishers.com
Blackstone Audiobooks
https://www.blackstonelibrary.com
9781612008141, $32.95, HC, 256pp

https://www.amazon.com/Mapping-Great-Game-Explorers-19th-century/dp/1612008143

Synopsis: Although the ultimate prize of the Great Game played out between Great Britain and Imperial Russia in the 19th century was India, most of the intrigue and action took place along its northern frontier in Afghanistan, Turkestan and Tibet. Maps and knowledge of the enemy were crucial elements in Britain's struggle to defend the 'jewel in the crown.'

The Great Trigonometrical Survey of India had been founded in the 18th century with the aim of creating a detailed map of the country. While most people today are readily able to identify the world's highest mountain, few know of the man, George Everest, after whom it was named, or the accomplishment that earned him this singular honor. Under his leadership, the Survey of India mapped the Great Arc, which was then lauded as 'one of the greatest works in the whole history of science,' though it cost more in monetary terms and human lives than many contemporary Indian wars.

Much of the work of the Survey was undertaken by native Indians, known as Pundits, who were trained to explore, spy out and map Central Asia and Tibet. They did this at great personal risk and with meager resources, while traveling entirely on foot. They would be the first to reveal the mysteries of the forbidden city of Lhasa, and discover the true course of Tibet's mighty Tsangpo River. They were the greatest group of explorers the world has seen in recent history -- yet they remain the classic unsung heroes of the British Raj.

The story of these extraordinary pioneers who explored much of Asia during the 19th century to fill in large portions of its map, and spy out the region for military reasons is often forgotten, but with the publication of "Mapping the Great Game: Explorers, Spies and Maps in 19th-century Asia", author Riaz Dean's vivid account of their exploits, their adventurous spirit and their tenacity in the face of great adversity, all set within the context of the Great Game and the Survey of India, will finally bring them the attention they deserve.

Critique: A fascinating, informative, and seminal history of the British exploration of India is a welcome and unreservedly recommended contribution to community, college, and university library British/India history collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, military historians, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Mapping the Great Game: Explorers, Spies and Maps in 19th-century Asia" is also available in a paperback edition (9781636243764, $24.95), in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99), and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Blackstone Audio, 9798212292108, $41.99, CD).

Editorial Note: Riaz Dean is a member of the New Zealand Cartographical Society and an explorer himself, having travelled much of the area in Central Asia described in Mapping The Great Game.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, internet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "California Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwatch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview (dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugalmuse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publisher, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review