- The Iron Hand of Mars
infobox Book |
name = The Iron Hand of Mars
orig title =
translator =
author =Lindsey Davis
cover_artist =
country =United Kingdom
language = English
series =Marcus Didius Falco
genre = HistoricalCrime novel
publisher = Hutchinson
release_date =1992
media_type = Print (Hardback &Paperback )
pages = 305 pp
isbn = ISBN 0091753333
preceded_by =Venus in Copper
followed_by =Poseidon's Gold "The Iron Hand of Mars" is a crime novel by
Lindsey Davis .Plot introduction
Set in
Rome andGermania during AD 71, "The Iron Hand of Mars" starsMarcus Didius Falco , Informer and Imperial Agent. It is the fourth in her Falco series.Explanation of the novel's title
The title refers to the standard, shaped like a giant hand made of iron, which Falco is required to deliver to the imperial legions in Germany.
Plot summary
In "The Iron Hand of Mars", Falco is sent to
Germania Liberi in the aftermath of a rebellion. He is dispatched byVespasian to deliver a new standard, give a report on the Legio XIV Germania, and to discover what happened to their Legate. He also searches for the rebel leaderJulius Civilis .Characters in "The Iron Hand of Mars"
In Rome
* "Arria Silvia" - Wife of Petronius Longus (friend of Falco's)
* "Balbillus" - Ex-legionary
* "Canidius" - A clerk of censored archives
* "Decimus Camillus Verus" - Senatorial father of Helena Justina.
* "Helena Justina" - Daughter of theSenator Decimus Camillus Verus
* "Marcus Didius Falco" - Informer and Imperial Agent from the Aventine.
* "Titus Caesar" - Eldest son of the Emperor.
* "Xanthus" - Barber
* "Vespasian Augustus" - Emperor of Rome.In Germany
* "Arminia" - Friend of Augustinilla
* "Augustinilla" - Falco's niece
* "Dubnus" - Pedlar
* "Julius Mordanticus" - Potter
* "Regina" - Barmaid at the MeduaBelonging to the Fourteenth Legion
* "A Macrinus" - Senior Tribune
* "Cornicularis" - Commissariat Clerk
* "Florius Gracilis" - Legate, missing.
* "Julia Fortunata" - Mistress of Florius.
* "Maenia Priscilla" - Wife of Florius.
* "Primipilus" - Chief Centurion
* "Rusticus" - Slave, missing.
* "S. Juvenalis" - Camp PrefectBelonging to the First Legion
* "Dama" - Centurion
* "Lentullus" - Recruit
* "Q. Camillis Justinus Helveticus" - Brother of Helena Justina, Tribune.Major themes
* Investigation into the disappearance of an imperial legate and the whereabouts of a rebel leader.
* Developing relationship of Marcus Didius Falco and Helena Justina.Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science
* Set in
Rome andGermania in AD 71, during the reign of EmperorVespasian . The story takes place in the aftermath of a real rebellion by theBatavians and other Germanic tribes in AD 69-70. This is described byTacitus in his "Histories". However, much of this Tacitus' work has been lost and the Histories breaks off in the middle of the Batavian rebellion.Release details
* 1992, UK, Hutchinson, Hardback (out of print)
* 1993, UK, Arrow, Paperback ISBN 0-09-920091-0
* 1994, US, Crown/Ballantine ISBN 0-345-38024-X
* 1999, UK, Arrow, Paperback ISBN 0-7126-8018-7 (as part of single-volume omnibus edition, "Falco on his Metal", withVenus in Copper andPoseidon's Gold )Film, TV, Radio or theatrical adaptations
* BBC World: Radio 4 starring
Anton Lesser andAnna Madeley , first broadcast from 6th April 2007 in 6 parts. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/falco/ Falco on Radio 4] ]References
External links and quotations
[http://www.lindseydavis.co.uk/ Author's Official Website]
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