The Gold of Tolosa Philip Matyszak 9780988106611 Books
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Meet Lucius Panderius, war hero, connoisseur of fine wines and Germanic prostitutes - and the perpetrator of the biggest gold theft in history. This first novel by well-known writer and historian Philip Matyszak takes us from the mean streets of Rome to the even meaner streets of Gallic Tolosa in a journey filled with ambush, intrigue, battle and double-cross.
In 105 BC Rome is faced with extinction, both from a huge army of invading barbarians and by a dark curse that has been festering for generations. It falls to Lucius Panderius to avert both threats, and incidentally to make himself richer than Croesus. Though fiction, The Gold of Tolosa is historically accurate and explains how enough loot to recapitalize a third-world economy was taken in a theft that really did happen.
Whether Lucius is crossing swords with barbarian warriors or Roman magistrates, the pace is never less than frantic, and ancient Rome has never been more fun ...
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Philip Matyszak has a doctorate in Roman history from St John's College, Oxford University and is the author of many books on Ancient History, including the best-selling Ancient Rome on Five Denarii a Day and Legionary The Roman Soldier's (Unofficial) Manual. He teaches e-learning courses in Ancient History for the Institute of Continuing Education at Cambridge University. The Gold of Tolosa is the first historical novel in the 'Lucius Panderius' series. The Servant of Aphrodite is the sequel to The Gold of Tolosa and is the second novel in this series. For more information visit www.matyszakbooks.com
The Gold of Tolosa Philip Matyszak 9780988106611 Books
This book is an enjoyable romp, neither romance nor blood ’n’ guts, about a gold heist in first-century BC Toulouse, then part of the semi-pacified Roman province of Transalpine Gaul. Lucius Panderius, a youngish Roman of good birth but no apparent family, is abruptly rousted from his contented ownership of a high-class brothel in Rome by enemies of his patron Sulla. In company with Momina, an oddly prescient priestess of Aphrodite, and Vidnu, her Schwartzeneggeresque protector, Panderius decides to make his way to Tolosa and relieve a certain temple of a statuette stolen from Momina and Vidnu’s people, while helping himself to a quantity of temple treasure. Many picaresque adventures ensue en route; then things turn serious as the Roman army menaces the rebellious Tolosans and Panderius must decide where his duty lies.Matyszak’s scholarship is impressive; he provides a wealth of accurate detail and allows Panderius to explain things amusingly to readers unfamiliar with the era. He’s an accomplished and fluent writer who knows how to create engaging characters. However, the book’s lack of professional copyediting and proofreading will irritate many readers. I held back a star for this lapse, which is unconscionable for a professional novelist. Also, scholarly footnotes frequently interrupt the story’s flow. These should have been moved to the end of the book. Last, I would add that I was tremendously impressed by the way the author handled Panderius’s return to arms. Though only 30 pages of the book, this part of the story was related with a sure-handedness that rivals Bernard Cornwell. I would definitely enjoy reading more of Panderius’s adventures. (Disclosure: I initially posted this review on Goodreads.)
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Tags : The Gold of Tolosa [Philip Matyszak] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Meet Lucius Panderius, war hero, connoisseur of fine wines and Germanic prostitutes - and the perpetrator of the biggest gold theft in history. This first novel by well-known writer and historian Philip Matyszak takes us from the mean streets of Rome to the even meaner streets of Gallic Tolosa in a journey filled with ambush,Philip Matyszak,The Gold of Tolosa,Monashee Mountain Publishing,0988106612,FICTION Historical General,Fiction - Historical,Fiction Historical,Historical - General,Historical fiction
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The Gold of Tolosa Philip Matyszak 9780988106611 Books Reviews
Professor Matysak has taken a day off from his lesson plans to deliver this hard bitten, first person narrative from a First Century B.C. pimp so convincingly that some of his readers are probably digging holes all over the south of France as this review is being written. "Gold of Tolosa" is a fun read. It's full of the kind of inside jokes that permeate Dashiell Hammett novels while moving with action supplied by a slew off-beat characters worthy of Micky Spillane. Fair Warning! This is a well written, quick reading tale which is about as far from a Latin history lecture as we are from ever really finding the "Gold of Tolosa"!
A well-done Roman adventure, but with cynicism and humor. A bit like Steven Saylor in the old days. I have ordered the sequel.
As with so many books these days, proof-reading (lack thereof) is an issue. I think this was the book that confused populous and populace.
Wouldn't it be convenient if the had a way to mark a word as questionable, and automatically send that note to the author on the next SYNC? Other types of marking are already there; how hard could it be.
I hope my title for the review isn't too much of a good thing, but had to do it. I first encountered Dr. Matyszak's books earlier this year and they've been a trip. Legionary The Roman Soldier's Unofficial Manual was hilarious. If I had known nothing of the Legionary's life I would have thought it was just entertainment; it was but also very informative for us ancient history junkies. I've read a couple of more since but got his first novel the other day (mainly because it was on ). The Gold of Tolosa is a good time. History is so much more interesting when it's told from a less than staid style.
Our hero, Lucius Panderius is living happily in his luxurious brothel in Rome, life just clipping along under the protection of Sulla, when the action starts. A young priestess appears with a quest. She must recover a statuette that is hidden in the Gallic town of Tolosa. She's got her group of loyal tribesmen from Galatia who are cousins of the local bunch in Tolosa; they scoop up Lucius and off they go to recapture the religious statuette. But the problem is that Marius doesn't like Sulla and the Germans don't like Romans and the local Gauls don't like anybody, but they're all converging on the same targets. Think Kelly's Heroes with Clint Eastwood, Donald Sutherland, and Telly Selevas.
Things get complicated as you can imagine. Tolosa's under attack by the Legions, Lucius's mob is having to sneak in and then get out with the statuette, and the Cimbri and Teutones are headed down the pike with malicious intent of their own. Now the next part of the story starts; that nice little statuette has a house full of companions called gold ingots. How could we possibly leave them behind? That's where the Mission Impossible Team comes into play. Same bunch, new goal. Get all that dough to somewhere else, and of course everyone on the team has his own idea of the proper place for it. I.E., whose back yard to bury it in.
Now comes the hard part. How to get a wagon train load of gold past the Roman lines and on board a Roman ship. Well obviously, you get the Roman Army to carry it for you and put it on the ship! So who comes in to help? Charlie's Angels of course! Now the really good stuff starts and the genius of Lucius Panderius comes into play. Buy this book and get to know him; I have a feeling you'll see him again soon. He's fun to take a trip with.
Pat Mizell
This book is an enjoyable romp, neither romance nor blood ’n’ guts, about a gold heist in first-century BC Toulouse, then part of the semi-pacified Roman province of Transalpine Gaul. Lucius Panderius, a youngish Roman of good birth but no apparent family, is abruptly rousted from his contented ownership of a high-class brothel in Rome by enemies of his patron Sulla. In company with Momina, an oddly prescient priestess of Aphrodite, and Vidnu, her Schwartzeneggeresque protector, Panderius decides to make his way to Tolosa and relieve a certain temple of a statuette stolen from Momina and Vidnu’s people, while helping himself to a quantity of temple treasure. Many picaresque adventures ensue en route; then things turn serious as the Roman army menaces the rebellious Tolosans and Panderius must decide where his duty lies.
Matyszak’s scholarship is impressive; he provides a wealth of accurate detail and allows Panderius to explain things amusingly to readers unfamiliar with the era. He’s an accomplished and fluent writer who knows how to create engaging characters. However, the book’s lack of professional copyediting and proofreading will irritate many readers. I held back a star for this lapse, which is unconscionable for a professional novelist. Also, scholarly footnotes frequently interrupt the story’s flow. These should have been moved to the end of the book. Last, I would add that I was tremendously impressed by the way the author handled Panderius’s return to arms. Though only 30 pages of the book, this part of the story was related with a sure-handedness that rivals Bernard Cornwell. I would definitely enjoy reading more of Panderius’s adventures. (Disclosure I initially posted this review on Goodreads.)
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