Hannibal: The Novel, by Ross Leckie, is a historical fiction depicting the life of…surprise! Hannibal of Carthage, the Scourge of God, Rome’s Greatest Enemy, and most definitely not the refined cannibal that made Thomas Harris a millionaire.
Probably stemming from my own delusions of grandeur, I’ve always been fascinated by conquerors of old, and Hannibal was one of my favorites, but history books are generally pretty dry, filled with dates and lacking any kind of narrative form. Hannibal: The Novel did me a great service by turning the details and legend of the Hannibal mythos into a coherent, engaging narrative that neither vilifies it’s hero nor justifies his actions.
The story is told in retrospect from Hannibal’s perspective, giving insights into his motivations. There’s lots of emotional input and his tactical genius is prominently displayed. If I had one complaint, it would be that the battle scenes seem rushed through, often taking no more than a paragraph to describe an entire day of warfare.
While it isn’t perfect, Hannibal: The Novel made it easier for me to envision Hannibal the historical figure and motivated me to learn more about him, so I’d call the novel a success.
Posted on January 26, 2010
0