AGENT OF ROME: THE SIEGE. by Brown, Nick - 2011

London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2011. 390 pp, 9 1/2" H. B&w map, plan. "270 AD. Rome has ruled Syria for over three centuries. But now the weakened empire faces a desperate threat: Queen Zenobia of Palmyra has turned her Roman-trained army against her former masters and the once invincible legions have been crushed. Arabia, Palestine and Egypt have fallen and now Antioch, Syria's capital, stands exposed. Cassius Corbulo is a young intelligence agent fresh from officer training. He has been assigned the menial task of rounding up wounded legionaries but then urgent new orders arrive. He is the only ranking Roman officer left in the line of the Palmyran advance. He must take command of the fort of Alauran, the last stronghold still in Roman hands, and hold it against the enemy until reinforcements arrive. What he finds at Alauran would daunt the most seasoned veteran, let alone a nineteen year old with no experience of war. A mere scattering of divided and demoralized legionaries remain, backed up by some fractious Syrian auxiliaries and a drunken Praetorian Guardsman. With the Palmyrans just days away, Cassius must somehow find the discipline, resourcefulness and courage to organize the garrison, save Alauran and secure Rome's eastern frontier." Light wrinkling at the bottom of the spine. Dust jacket has minor wrinkling at the top/bottom of the spine and flap-folds, a crease at the top edge of the rear flap.. Not Signed. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good+/Very Good. Illus. by Larry Rostant, cover illustration..