Eagle in the Snow: The Classic Bestseller

Wallace Breem

Nov 2012 · Sold by Weidenfeld & Nicolson

About this ebook

A classic historical novel about General Maximus, one of the inspirations behind Ridley Scott's massively successful film GLADIATOR.

'Behind me I left my youth, my middle age, my wife and my happiness. I was a general now and I had only defeat or victory to look forward to. There was no middle way any longer, and I did not care.'

In the year AD 406 Rome was on the defensive everywhere, and a single Roman legion stood desperate guard on the Empire's Rhine frontier. Maximus, the legion's commander, is urged to proclaim himself emperor, but he stands by his concept of duty and holds the frontier for longer than seems possible. Then chance plays a cruel trick.

Ratings and reviews

At times the story line is disjointed and confusing. I had hoped for more. The main character is well thought out, but a bit over done. Seconday character development needed a lot of work and just didnt seem real. It is overall a good story though loosely based on historical events with a lot of fiction sewn in.

Slow. Deep. Heavy. Hard to start. When it hooks you it will stick with you.

Fantastic book.

About the author

Wallace Breem was born in 1926 and educated at Westminster School. In 1944 he entered the Indian Army Officers' Training School and later joined a crack regiment of the North West Frontier Force. After the war he took a number of temporary jobs, eventually joining the library staff of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.

By 1965 he had become the 11th Chief Librarian and Keeper of Manuscripts. He was a founder member of the British and Irish Association of Law Librarians. He served the organisation in a number of senior capacities from 1969 until his death in 1990, when the Association and the Inner Temple jointly set up a Memorial Award in his honour.