Rating: 
Summary: Quite a book!!
Review: An excellent work. Told in the first person, this is significantly different from "Gates of Fire". The heroism is of a different variety. The tone is grim from the beginning. It is, after all, a part of the story of the end of Rome. I found Maximus, the storyteller, to be a compelling figure. The historical context seems to be accurate and the story is skillfully told, particularly the overall mood of the book and the descriptions of the battles. Might appeal more to males.
Rating:
Summary: Good read
Review: I don't think you have to necessarily love history or Roman history to like this book. It's a good story, based on historical facts and embellished (this is a fiction book). But I admit I am biased, as I do like history and Roman history in particular. Nonetheless, the story develops solidly through the book and will leave you pensive at the end, if not somewhat saddened. The writing is clear, and written from the perspective of the main character, who is a soldier. As such, the writing is direct and concise, as you would expect from a military man.
Rating: 
Summary: fighting to the finish
Review: I first read this story in 1971. I still consider this novel as the most memorable historical novel about ancient Rome that I have ever read. Wouldn't the final battle on the frozen Rhine make one of the most dramatic fight scenes if it were made into a movie?
Rating:
Summary: Predictable & a little hard to follow
Review: I have taken an interest in historical fiction recently and as this book is frequently mentioned in amazon's non-fiction "listmania" recommendations, I thought I would give it a whirl. In short, it was a good read. Written like a journal / diary, it was a little hard to follow at times. Apparently, the book is to come with maps, a glossary and timeline. As I checked mine out from the library, most of these resources were missing. As the places listed in the book are old roman provinces, a map is a must. As the book is about the fall of rome, the end is predictable. Thats right, they lose. Rome has to fall sooner or later and in this book, the fall is in the end... a bit of a long, drawn out end...
Rating:
Summary: sad, but so good
Review: I read this book and thought it was simply amazing. It's so real it feels as if you are right there with General Maximus in the cold snow. I think this is a book anyone can enjoy...women or men, young or old. (I'm a 19 year old female.) If you love books set in the Roman era...be sure to read this one.
Rating:
Summary: Orgin of Pressfield's Gates of Fire?
Review: It is quite telling that this reprinting of Wallace Breem's 1970 novel "Eagle in the Snow" has a forward by Steven Pressfield, author of the best selling novel, "Gates of Fire." Because upon reading "Eagle in the Snow," it's very evident that this is where Pressfield got the idea of his novel being narrated by the sole survivor of a lost battle retelling his story for an audience. It is little wonder that Pressfield is so praiseworthy in the forward because "borrowing" the narrative format from "Eagle in the Snow" helped make him a very wealthy man.Breem has an eye for detail in some matters, but not in others. For instance, he gives few details on how these people looked like. How are these barbarians dressed and what do they use for armor and weapons? Do these early 5th century Roman legionnaires look anything like the 1st century Legionnaires shown on the cover of the book? (The cover of this reprint was obviously designed to attract fans of the movie "Gladiator." It also helps that the main character is a Roman general named "Maximus." Did "Gladiator's" screenplay writers read this book?") I would have really appreciated more detail on arms and equipment, but Breem gives very little. Also, I was curious why Breem didn't even bother giving a name to one of the few female characters in the story- she's just "Rando's daughter" or "the girl." Where Breem does give detail is on the personalities of various characters- ruthless, opportunistic barbarian kings; cowardly, venal civilian authorities; and proud, professional Roman soldiers. (Breem, a former British Army officer, does not hide his sympathies.) Breem also goes into great detail on the tactical and operational situation facing his Roman general. With too few troops, Maximus must defend a 50 mile stretch of the Rhine River against a threatened mass migration of Germanic barbarians. How Maximus keeps these tribes ignorant as to his weakness through subterfuge and diplomacy while at the same time maximizing his own tactical abilities to keep them off-balance is the crux of the novel. Meanwhile, he must also combat apathetic and pessimistic civilian authorities for his supplies and, above all, reinforcements. It is a very tenuous situation, but Maximus does have one huge ally- the Rhine River, deep and wide, it is an almost impregnable, naturally-made barrier to invasion. But, if the upcoming winter is exceptionally cold then the Rhine could become his greatest enemy.... Overall, if one can stick through the rather weak beginning then "Eagle in the Snow" becomes a very engrossing read. How Maximus deals with the challeges of a very difficult military situation is gripping.
Rating:
Summary: Good but poor copyediting aggravating
Review: It's a very good story, which lovers of historical fiction, especially works emphasizing the Roman era, will like. However, beware! If you are a stickler for detail, the poor copyediting may mar what otherwise would be a wonderful read.
Rating:
Summary: Decent Historical Epic
Review: Originally published almost 35 years ago, this lengthy novel about a Roman officer in the early 5th century AD was allegedly the inspiration for the opening sequence of the film Gladiator. Alas, for the most part it's much more tedious than that sword and sandal epic, although perhaps equally grim in tone. Amid the tedium, however, is a pretty decent portrayal of an empire crumblingóa view of the Roman Empire not generally seen. We first meet Maximus as a junior officer manning Hadrian's Wall, holding back the Picts, Saxons, and Scotty barbarians. This initial section is very plodding, and contains a rather silly subplot concerning his cousin and brother officer who is part of a failed coup attempt and flees to live among the barbarians. Meanwhile, Maximus marries, dreams of seeing Rome, and becomes best friends with a nearby cavalry officer. An old-fashioned man, he stands for everything the Empire used to, duty, honor, the old gods, and so forth. Unfortunately for him, Christianity is taking over, and the Empire is a failing institution, rotting from the core.
After being stuck in this backwater for most of his prime years, enduring personal tragedy, and seeing all his best efforts go to waste, he is unexpectedly asked by General Stilicho to raise and train a legion. Bringing his best friend with him to be head of cavalry, Maximus manages to rise to the task and go on to fight for several years in Italia. Most of this happens "off camera", and the book really kicks into gear in the second part, when Maximus' legion is sent to the empire's northern frontier to hold the Rhine against the Germanic tribes trying to push into Gaul. The Huns have come from the East and are driving the Vandals, Goths and other tribes out of their traditional lands and toward Roman turf. Maximus is given scant resources, almost no political support, and vague promises of reinforcements to supplement his mere 6,000 men.
At this point, the book does get pretty interesting, as Maximus tries to build alliances with friendly tribes, bluffs the Germanic kings into thinking he's got a stronger force than he does, browbeats the locals into providing more men, horses, and food to his army, all the while trying to set up a network of outposts, forts, and even a small river fleet. All of this is an attempt to stall until reinforcements arrive the next year, but the prologue reveals that there will be a battle, and that Maximus will lose. When the fighting does start, the book kicks into high gear, as strategic and tactical efforts are detailed, and Maximus uses every trick in the book to offset his foe's huge numerical superiority. Not only are the battle scenes great, but great deal of emphasis is given the logistics, communications, and supply issues involved, and how critical all of these are. The final third of the book is crucial reading for anyone interested in the Roman Empire's military.
On the whole, it's worth reading for anyone really into fiction about the Roman Empire, however there's a lot of clunky plotting and fat that could be trimmed. The whole subplot about Maximus' cousin, who reemerges later, is silly and unnecessary. As is a cheesy betrayal that's not nearly the surprise to the reader that the author must have intended. And all the stuff about duty, honor, and Empire wears thin fairly quickly. Of course, Breem was an officer in the old Indian Army, and served just after WWII, as the British Empire was crumbling, so it's not hard to see the book as a little bit of projection. Bearing in mind that it was written in the late-1960s, one could also easily read this as a Cold War allegory, with Maximus standing for valiant Western military who are being betrayed by lilly-livered politicians and a soft public into not standing against the faceless hordes of Germanic barbarians, who stand for godless communists (be they Russian, Chinese, or North Vietnamese). Still, it's fine old-fashioned romantic epic about one man battling the odds and trying to live by his own code.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: Superb book - I only leant it from a friend but i might now
buy it.
It really captures the last ditch feel of a final struggle against the barbarian hordes - and regardless of revisionist tv and writing they did cause immense suffering and destruction within the late roman empire.
Just one caveat - the army described in the book is not really the late roman army - which by this time looked quite barbarian it used the spatha , not the gladius etc etc..
If you are interested by the two osprey titles on the period
late roman cavalryman and late roman infantryman.
Both in the warriors series I think.
All the other details seem correct to me as a layman.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific Historical Novel - A little-known gem
Review: This book (by far Breem's best) is just great. There are imperfections, of course, such as the awkward early Roman Britain part before the Legion is stationed on the Rhine... but overall the mood and tone are wonderful. I really feel for the Roman commander who has the nearly impossible task of stopping a giant German migration when even his local population base won't believe its real or provide meaningful support. I loved it. I took it with me on a cruise and I hardly left the deck chair.
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