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Empires don’t endure the ages

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Empires have come and gone throughout human history — some lasting more than a millennium, others less than a century. Contemporary historians keep analysing the reasons for their rise and fall. They peruse the same documents and works of earlier historians and eyewitnesses, yet often arrive at differing conclusions.

Like critics watching a play, they come away with contrary impressions. Not that one is right and the other wrong — they both give honest opinions.

British historian David Gibbins focuses his historical novels on the ancient world — Egypt, Troy, Rome, and Atlantis, too, which he believes existed. Historical novels are by definition a mating of history and imagination. He makes clear in his author’s notes that he takes his historical research as far as it will go before taking poetic license.

Historians weren’t always on the scene of major events. Scribes who were didn’t know what was important. Generally, history is written a hundred years or more later, by people with their own agendas, and important first-person observations are often lost to time.

In The Sword Of Attila, Gibbins contrasts the Rome that defeated Hannibal, laid waste to Carthage and held North Africa — the Empire’s breadbasket — with Rome’s sacking by the Vandals six centuries later. He considers this the fatal blow to the Empire.

Then again, unlike the ethnic early-Roman legions, the latter ones largely consisted of men with barbarian forebears. And the roving tribes — Goths, Visigoths, Ostrogoths, etc — were overwhelming in number. All were fierce, none more so than the Huns from beyond the Danube.

Even the warlike tribes feared them and their chieftain Attila, the “Scourge of Mankind”. The Vandals sacked Rome. Attila was bought off, emptying the Empire’s coffers — the Western Roman Empire, that is.

The author details a Legion-vs-Hun battle in France which, surprisingly, Attila lost. It was Rome’s last and perhaps greatest victory. The Ostrogoths took the Eternal City and installed their own king. The Western Roman Empire breathed its last in 476 AD.

David Gibbins offers us an object lesson: Empires don’t endure.

Unlikely Ulster thriller entertains

During World War II, authors of actioners had ready-made heavies in Nazi Germany and the Gestapo; during the Cold War in the USSR and the KGB; and during the Troubles in Ulster and the IRA. All of which ended in one way or another.

Where to set a subsequent thriller? China? Somalia? The Middle East? Colombia? They have been venues, but only half-heartedly accepted by the readers. The scriveners have felt there’s nothing for it but to return to the once-popular villains. In Vagabond, UK television journalist-turned-author Gerald Seymour has opted for Ulster.

To be sure, the Peace Process has been settled and in place for years. Was he reduced to kicking a dead horse, as it were, in his latest novel? Alas, it appears so. The plot is set now, 15 years after the end of that volatile period. No one is happier about that than the author’s literary protagonist.

Time was when Danny Curow was London’s top operative in Northern Ireland. Vagabond was his call sign. In flashback we read how he ran agents and informers while on the ground himself. Lying was the order of the day.

Betrayal was commonplace. A single mistake led to a painful death.

Danny was the best, but was human and had a conscience. His decisions weren’t infallible, and he took it personally when one or more went wrong. Stress kept mounting until, unable to take it any more, he turned his back on his job and walked away. His superiors held it against him. He shrugged them off.

To earn a living, Danny becomes a tour guide at the D-Day Normandy beaches and monument, leading a sedentary existence — until he is summoned back to duty. The word is, arms are being sent to Northern Ireland.

A Russian is the dealer. Another war has to be averted.

Gaby Davies is put in charge of the MI5 team sent to nip the plot, Danny to assist. Personality difference overcome, they develop a grudging admiration for each other. Clearly familiar with the ins and outs of British Intelligence, the author shares them with us.

What would a Gerald Seymour thriller be without fights and shoot-outs, and there are a satisfactory number. Weapons dealer Timofey is GRU (military intelligence). He is presented as a family man, doing his duty for his country, not a diehard villain. Vagabond is a good read, though not quite believable.

 

This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.


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