The Scourge of God

Have read books by Dietrich previously and enjoyed every one.This was no exception an interesting story and could not put it down.oughly

Generally speaking I have a policy about epic books and that is they have to be long. After all if you're telling a tale of an epic battle, or generations in a family life, or about two civilizations clashing together (or crumbling) shouldn't it be long? Shouldn't there be hundreds and hundreds of pages to mull over, to fit every detail into it and every perspective? Most of the time, it suits an epic to be long. But occasionally there comes around an author who manages to cram an epic into about 300 pages-and does it brilliantly with nothing lacking from the novel."The Scourge of God" by William Dietrich is one such novel. It is the story of the time leading up to and including the huge clash that was the battle of nations- the great battle where the Western Roman empire briefly united with the Visigoth's, Franks and many others in order to beat back Attila and his allies and keep them from conquering the West. Even though it's only 338 pages long it is an amazing novel of war, love and the beginning of the end from the Roman Empire. I loved it!It's also an amazing education into the massive effect that Attila and his Huns had on the world. Considering that the same time they were ravaging the Eastern Roman Empire (which was functioning completely on its own) and the West was crumbling (Rome was essentially abandoned as the capital in favor of Venice) and all kinds of Barbarians were preparing to swoop down and end the empire for good-well people must have thought that Attila hailed the end of the world!In fact they did. I believe that's how he got the title the scourge of god.Unlike Dietrich's previous historical novel, Hadrian's Wall: A Novel  "The Scourge of God" is told in first person by Jonas, a young man from the eastern Roman Empire whose life is forever changed when he becomes part of a failed embassy to the Hun encampment, with some scenes Jonas isn't involved in written in third person (but still, the whole story is being told by an older Jonas, so it's all first.) I liked Jonas quite a lot as a narrator-he's engaging, funny, and smart and doesn't mess around with his motives for doing things, but the fact that the novel was told exclusively in first person kind of led onto the fact that certain people must have survived in order to tell Jonas their part of the story, which cut down the suspense a little.Still this was an amazing novel, about twice as good as "Hadrian's Wall" (which I still recommend) I loved and recommend it to everyone (though I should warn you-there is a lot of violence in this book) and I fully plan on reading Dietrich's other historical books. And anything else on Attila the Hun I can find.But because of the little suspense downing problem mentioned above I have to dock a few points. Four point five stars. Hadrian's Wall: A Novel

Heroes of Rome resisting the end they knew was imminent. Roman general Aetius prolongs the inevitable fall of Rome with guile and military strategy. Appreciated the love affair inclusion which I usually do not but author worked this in well as story evolved. Insights into daily routines of the people of this era well researched. Includes passion, honor, Roman and Hun cultural insights, bloody Battle of Chalons graphic violence but gives realistic sense of war in the era. Characters vibrant and intriguing.

I was disappointed and bored with this novel. I think a major part of the problem was the writing, which I found clumsy and awkward. It could also have been the female protagonist, Ilana, whom I wanted to kick very soon after finding out more about her. However, even more than these, the problem was Dietrich's portrayal of the Huns, and the Huns here are important: we're dealing with the clash of two civilizations in decline, and Huns are one of these two civilizations. If you mess up The Scourge, there goes half the novel, and you've got a problem on your hands.The Huns are too contradictory to be effective villains or heroes. One minute they are truly the demonic, inhuman horsemen of the Apocalypse, destroying everything and killing everyone in their path. Next minute they are jovial, good natured, sensual creatures who worship the earth mother and enjoy long drunken orgies. One chapter they are killing every unarmed civilian in a city; another chapter they prevent a fellow Hun from killing an unarmed civilian (who happens to be our male protagonist, of course) since killing unarmed civilians is, in this case, so very conveniently dishonorable. Though the Huns rape every enemy woman in their path, somehow they allow Ilana her unassailable virginity after keeping her captive for months at a time, and when her Mongol admirer finally gives in to his urges during a time of orgy, then his fellow Huns are shocked at his actions. I realize all this is convenient for the novelist who wants to keep his protagonists intact after all, but does any of this make any sense for the reader looking for sense in the novel she paid good money for?As far as the clunkiness of the writing: the siege at the end of the novel was a pale, PALE echo of the two great sieges in The Lord of the Rings--I'd almost be tempted to say that this was plagiarism pure and simple, but sadly, it was not effective enough to be called that, and I don't want to insult Tolkien.I would say, frankly, that if you are into adventure and battles, then go and read LOTR, or try the siege of Byzantium in John Julius Norwich's Short History of Byzantium, which is infinitely more moving than this.

Just awful. I give it two stars because I did manage to finish it, but only because it was my daily commute reading.Dietrich takes an outline of one of our few sources about Attila the Hun, a diplomatic mission to his court by the Eastern Roman Empire, and uses it as a template to create a very dull, predictable, and uninspired story about the fictional 22 yr old "Jonas Alabanda." Young Jonas is a Greek/Roman scholar who is enlisted to accompany the embassy to Attila as translator and historian. He's really smart, but he's also handsome and a good fighter. (Oh, brother.) Once he meets Attila and his various Snidely Whiplash lieutenants then things go downhill for both Jonas and the Roman Empire. However, he also falls in love with a character even more bland and unbelievable than himself- "Illana" who is the unfortunate Perils of Penelope-esque Roman prisoner in the hands of the dastardly Huns.Illana is the daughter of Roman merchant who was betrayed and murdered in a most foul manner by the Huns. She was taken prisoner, but somehow manages to retain her stunning good looks, life, and virginity despite getting caught plotting against Attila. Her virginity apparently must be kept intact for a dull love triangle subplot with noble Jonas having to contend against the young hot-blooded Hun, Skilla, for Illana's maidenhead. Ilana is an absurd tease so she plays off both men against the other. (Hey, a gal has to do something in a Hunnish encampment to keep herself entertained even when the whole world is collapsing into barbarity.)Anyway, we have to endure various "cunning" plots, "daring" escapes, several combats, and then a big battle when the Dudley Do-Right character, Aetius, shows up to stop King Baddie Attila. It's all told in an absurdly purplish prose that had me rolling my eyes virtually every page. An example: "We clung to each other afterwards like limpets holding fast to a rock against a raging sea, until our lovemaking left us sated and exhausted."This is just bad historical fiction. Yes, Dietrich did some research, but he populated his fifth century world with cardboard cut-outs and hoary old romantic/action clichés. Years ago, I read a review for another book that contained a passage that is fitting towards this one: "[a] good book is retained for my library, the mediocre passed onto charity shops, ["Scourge of God"] was thrown on the fire."