The Eagle Has Fallen

For nearly 2,000 years the secret of Rome's missing Ninth Legion has been shrouded in mystery, its ultimate fate argued over by generations of historians. The loss of an entire Legion - numbering around 5000 men - has been spun variously from a catastrophic defeat to an almost supernatural "mass vanishing". "The Eagle Has Fallen" is an unravelling of that mystery. We reveal how the loss of the Ninth Legion was a truly catastrophic event: the devastating news was suppressed by Hadrian to safeguard his reign in a classic conspiracy cover up. It was the first in a chain reaction of disasters which forced Rome to halt expansion and to create the largest frontier wall ever built in the Roman Empire. Written sources and new archaeology indicate where the Ninth met its end in the tribal lands of northern Britain. Author Brian Young has spent some six years researching and writing about this incredible mystery. Following on from two recent movies, "The Eagle" and "Centurion", there is enormous fresh interest in the disappearance of the Ninth Legion. This is the story of Romes most mysterious vanished Legion. The might of Rome was waning - the annihilation of the Ninth was the writing on the wall. This was the beginning of the end.

About the Author :
Several years ago Young read Rosemary Sutcliffes' "The Eagle of the Ninth" and became enthralled. He contacted the Curator of Archaeology at Reading Museum and asked them if the Eagle that was found was a real Roman Eagle. She said yes it was Roman but not a Legionary one. His heart sank and he decided to read up more and more about the Ninth Legion anyway and soon discovered a huge amount of new information. Previous historians and researchers had no great evidence of what actually happened to the Ninth Legion. Young spent some 6 years researching the topic and even walking Dere Street through the firing range of the British Army camp. (Don't try this, he warns!). Eventually he discussed his findings with colleagues and soon realised that there was so much happening not just within Britain but within the Roman Empire as a whole, that they had a bearing on the events which were to happen later, when Hadrian built the wall. *** "Upwards of 80% of this novel is based on factual characters and events. (An Appendix containing a wealth of background historical detail should enable the reader to gauge the accuracy of this percentage). My novel eschews international politics, military stability, global economics and, indeed the day-to-day flashpoints of the Roman Empire. That empire was a sprawling institution, frequently consumed with bitter power struggles far removed from the diplomacy we take for granted in today's political climate. During the First Century A.D., disputes tended to be settled at the point of a sword; or, if more tact was required, a wine goblet liberally laced with hemlock. But it is the very rowdiness of Ancient Rome, a paradoxical civilization where philosophy, chivalry and democratic ideals existed alongside slavery, corruption and brutal violence, where larger-than-life characters lived incredibly colourful - and often extremely short - lives that drew me to such a richly inspirational setting in the first place." Brian Young

Review :
"A finely balanced mixture of intrigue, drama, tragedy and humour, wrapped up in historical fact- captivating and controversial- an absolute must read" Glasgow Historical Society