Purchase Information

Your Price:  $12.71 $14.95 (15% discount)

Select Qty:

Availability:   Usually leaves our store within 7-10 Business Days

Product Details
Author:  Format: Manufacturer: Date: Pages:	Paolo A. Belzoni Soft Cover Arx Publishing 2007 248

 Our Description

Reviews

"Arx Publishing is making a name for itself as the publisher of choice for new, carefully researched, well-written and thrilling historical fiction. Belisarius and his late Roman world are brought to life through Belzoni’s masterful blending of fact and fiction. Courageous and brilliant in battle, hardworking and devout in everyday life, young Belisarius comes across as a man whose virtues, inspired by a firm Christian faith, form the background of a novel that will keep the most reluctant of readers turning pages. Young men and those not so young will eagerly await Book II of this projected trilogy." 

 - John Moorehouse, Publisher/Editor, Catholic Men's Quarterly

"A well-researched and entertaining book that successfully evokes the 6th century Roman Empire and gets the fascinating character of Belisarius spot on. It also works as a history lesson for the Justinianic period and is well-suited to be read by young people aged 12 and up." 

- Right Rev. Constantine-Paul Michael Belisarius,
Patriarchal Archimandrite of Alexandria (Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchate)

"...The book strikes one as a conservative rallying cry to the 'Christian West' today...It presents and argues for, in an understated way, a Christian way of war, to be waged by manly men who value purity and patriotism for the sake of preserving Christian civilization. Nobiscum Deus, they cry in battle. So does this book. Not that the book deliberately carries a political message. On its own terms, it is an ambitious tale, filled with action, spectacle, and intrigues of all kinds....It is painstakingly authentic in its historical, military, and religious detail, assiduously researched and replete with facts....Not only is it driven by costumed action and Dune-like plots-within-plots, the novel exalts a youthful leader who is virtuous to a fault, is unfailingly loyal to God and country, who manages setbacks with aplomb, is handy with weapons and gets the pretty girl in the end. 

 - John J. Desjarlais, of www.catholicfiction.net

 General Description:

About the book:

The year is AD 504. The all-powerful Roman Empire lies in tatters, its western provinces dismembered into a patchwork of new kingdoms ruled by barbarians. Britain has been abandoned by the Romans for almost 100 years. Gaul, conquered by Caesar, is ruled by a Frankish king. Spain, which produced the Roman emperors Trajan and Theodosius the Great is now the seat of the Visigoths. North Africa, birthplace of St. Augustine, groans under the overlordship of the Vandals. Even Italy and the Eternal City of Rome herself are under the rule of a powerful Ostrogothic king.

In Constantinople, the New Rome, the Eastern Roman emperor is beset by problems. New and dangerous barbarian hordes appear on the frontier year after year. The powerful king of Persia demands tribute and threatens Roman Mesopotamia and Syria. Religious controversies spawn catastrophic military uprisings.

But unbeknownst to all, in that same year was born Belisarius, the greatest Roman general of them all. At a time when Roman power was thought to be practically extinct, Belisarius did what no sane Roman thought possible. He went toe-to-toe with the empire's most powerful enemies.

Belisarius: The First Shall Be Last is a historical novel that recreates the early life of this amazing hero. Filled with action and intrigue, the book is replete with historical and religious detail drawn from ancient historians like Procopius, Agathias, John Malalas, and many others. The novel is a fascinating introduction to the Justinianic period—the last gasp of the Roman Empire and the infancy of Christendom in both the East and West.

About the Author:

Paolo A. Belzoni is a writer residing in New Jersey. He has published several works of short fiction and his interests include Roman and Byzantine military history, art, architecture, and archaeology, as well as early Church history. Belisarius: The First Shall Be Last is his first novel.

 Browse For Similar Items In

• Catholic Books > Literature / Fiction Books > Historical Fiction Books

A Tiber River reviewer hasn't written a review for this book yet.
Sign up as a Tiber River reviewer and see your review here!
(Apart from fame, you can also can get free stuff and gift certificates.)

Related Articles

1. About Muriel Spark 04/22/2009

2. The Ignatius Critical Editions 11/25/2008