Rating: 
Summary: The Gathering Darkness
Review: A very good read for the sober historical novel reader. Maximus shockingly finds himself suddenly in command of the only legion Rome can manage to support on the Rhine River. His task is to hold back the Germanic tribes who are desperate to cross - to escape similar pressure behind them, to gain more productive land, to survive, to find a place always warm. Imagine a time in history close enough to the end of all the glory of Rome - a light even the non-Romans cannot imagine disappearing - that the perceptive viewer somewhere out on the fringe of that world, like Germany, can foresee it going out (which of course it will, to be followed by centuries of "darkness."). Maximus hopes that he can stop the decline, but also knows that he is quite unlikely to succeed - not with an indifferent court, rivals that prefer he fail before they act, a hostile new religion (Christianity), rule-obsessed bureaucrats, trickster tribal allies, "draft doggers" willing to avoid service even to defend their own home, and nature itself all conspiring against success. Maximus provides a gripping example of duty and loyalty (to a city he has never seen in his life), literally down to the last breath.
The book has flaws: the first fifth seems to have little purpose; with a short synopsis, a reader could drop into page 50 without any real loss. Characterization is also at times a bit shallow, particularly of the Romans (never have I had better insight into the Germanic tribes views though). Proofreading is poor in this reissued edition.
Still....as the Rhine began to freeze, the snow began to swirl, the wolves howl, and the barbarian horde prepared their onslaught, I too found myself shivering just as Maximus' legion undoubtedly once did.
Rating: 
Summary: Simply the best
Review: After having finished this gripping, touching, and historically accurate page turner I HAD to write a review to offset the previous one. Anyone who thinks this book is stale is missing the point woefully. The book is written in a terse style because its supposed to represent the bleakness of the decline of the Roman empire, but that doesn't mean it isn't at turns humorous, touching, and beautiful. This is THE definitive historical fiction regarding the fall of Rome. I only hope someone makes a movie out of it! If you love tales of Rome, particularly those which are militarily and historically accurate but still immensely moving and entertaining, buy this book today--you won't regret it.
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: 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: A genuine epic
Review: Breem's novel about the collapse of the Roman Empire's frontier on the Rhine in the early 5th century AD is a genuinely epic story. It should be reissued - especially given the market for intelligent, complex and sweeping historical drama revealed by the success of the movie 'Gladiator'. Breem delivers a grim, exciting story centred on the finely drawn character of the narrator Maximus, a Roman commander in Britain who is called to defend the Rhine frontier against increasingly desperate Germanic tribes. The historical background is accurate and is filled in deftly - no reader can fail to learn a lot while being swept along by the story. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the novel is the overwhelming sense of melancholy and foreboding that builds up as more and more details accumulate to show the decay of the Roman Empire - such as the rusty armour of the troops on Hadrian's Wall, who have neglected their military skills in favour of growing food. Breem conveys a magnificent picture of a whole civilisation, which thinks itself invincible, beginning its final slide towards a long period of fragmentation and military collapse.
Rating: 
Summary: Blah
Review: Extremely stale and old fashioned writing make this a bible-like read. Skip this one. There's a reason you couldn't find it before this reprint. Once you put it down you'll never pick it up again. Reminicent of your high school history text book.
Rating:
Summary: Gripping tale of the fall of Rome; BUT 2002 UK pb best bet
Review: His name is Maximus, the book's narrator and principled protagonist, and he may be the last of the old-style Romans whose virtues (and failings) built and maintained an empire for centuries. This exquisite book is the story of his struggle to remain true to the old values that he loves amid a world that has changed; a Roman world that is failing. He becomes the general of Legio XX after a hard apprenticeship in the backwater of imperial Britannia and is given the thankless task of holding the Rhine frontier against a sea of land-hungry barbarian tribes. His task seems hopeless, but Maximus holds to it with grim determination and through personal trials, not least of which is the temptation to proclaim himself Emperor and salvage what he can from the shifting alliances of the time. Using military strategems and cunning diplomacy, Maximus keeps Rome's foes at bay until the fates turn against him.Wallace Breem, a veteran of the Indian Army, recreates a military world that is detailed and believeable. His novel is awash in the conflict of civilization against barbarism, pagan versus Christian; it is an unsentimental story, told directly and without elaborate flourishes, but one that is still rich and deeply moving. A perfect read in the chill of winter, when the final third of the book will hold a special resonance. No one who has ever discovered this book seems to have forgotten it; what a thunderbolt from Jove, to see this book in print again! I have treasured my copy of the original US edition for years. Previously, this title was reissued in paperback in Britain in 2002 from the Phoenix Press, and this is the superior version, I have to say. The original maps are not as nice as those in this new hardback edition, but there is a poignant Latin coda in the original text, along the lines of a Roman funerary inscription, that is MISSING from this latest version -- how do these things happen? Shame on the publisher. This ties up some lingering questions about how Maximus' narrative came to be and is a fitting sign-off to this powerful story. If you miss this, as readers of this version will, you're missing a wonderful closer.
Rating: 
Summary: good....but not great
Review: I agree with the reviewer who was critical of the narration in this book. This book is written in the style of a historical narrative, but in the first person. The result is that we have a diary of one man's observations, but with precious little in the way of introspection. Nor do we get the wider perspective from multiple places or multiple characters because we are centered in that first person perspective throughout the entire story (that of Maximus). For example, there are many strategic inflection points in the story, yet it is not clear as to why Maximus makes certain decisions. However, the story itself is well done and will be liked by anyone with an interest in the history of the last years of the western roman empire, or anyone with an interest in military history. There are many interesting characters, and the scenes are well described. Near the end when the men are observing the Rhine freeze over the sense of trepidation and fear leap right off the pages into the reader's heart. As Quintus says several times in the novel, "if only we had one more cohort......."
Rating:
Summary: Puts "Gladiator" to shame!
Review: I can not help but think that "Eagle in the Snow" was used as inspiration for the movie "Gladiator"...too bad "Gladiator" borrowed some of the characters but not the entire storyline. This is a great book and I recommend it to any any who has enjoyed reading Mary Renault's historical novels. Without being boring it gives an excellent picture of life (and death) on the Roman frontier in 406 B.C. and also succeeds as a novel by building real characters. The best novel about ancient warfare since "Gates of Fire".
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.
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