kay, I have to mention that this book came to me in a strange way, and nearly left in another strange way.

I became aware of this while driving home from Tampa, listening to NPR (because, God Sakes, what else is there to listen to at Plant City). They had a story about how books get selected by “Book Buyers”, people who represent chains of bookstores and consider books based on dimensions, cover art, content and market appeal. The interviewer was talking to one Book Buyer about all this, and asked for an example. The buyer said something like, “Well, let’s see what I’m currently considering…” and proceeded to mention Carthage – A New History.

Well, you can imagine how my ears perked up. If you don’t know why, check out my own books at the link below and you’ll see.

Anyway, I grabbed out a pencil and pad from my side pocket (in case someone hits me and runs, I suppose). Wrote down all the info they mentioned, including the author, Eve MacDonald. Got it. When I got into Orlando, I hit the local B&N and guess what – they actually had a copy. And now, so do I.

As to how I nearly lost it: Carthage had fallen (spoiler alert, if you don’t know history). The author was explaining the fallow years, where it lay abandoned (and off-limits by the Romans). Then they start shipping colonists there. And then, suddenly, I couldn’t find it.

I’d had it Sunday night and read it in bed. The next day, I had back to back appointments (man, getting old!). Went to both places and checked – nobody had it. It just pissed me off – I only had a couple of pages to go. And I’d been planning on putting this into my history shelves. But it couldn’t be found.

Two days later, I’m taking a shower and the wife crashes in – she’d found it. As usual, she’d tossed newspapers on it and when she finally got around to cleaning up the table, the book had gone into the recycling basket with everything else. It was only that she saw a corner sticking out that the book was saved. I mean, the hell? It’s lucky she hasn’t tossed out one of the cats.

Anyway, man, let’s get to the review. Okay, great book. It really goes into great detail on the founding of Carthage and the endless (and escalating) conflict with Rome. I really liked that part. There were even some details of the movements in Spain as the Carthaginians started their amazing end run, the whole Elephants over the Alps bit. In fact, I’ll mention that her attention to detail on ship construction would have come in handy on my own novels.

I’d say the only faint complaint I have is that Hannibal got a bit of a short shift in the book. We know about his entry into the Po valley, his first victory, losing an eye to infection, all that. But his whole nineteen year campaign in Italy is a bit glossed over. I do know that Ms. MacDonald has another book dealing specifically with Hannibal so maybe that’s why it was sparse. I mean, he’s really the guy who turned me onto the whole interest into Carthage. Seems a shame that the most famous Carthaginian of all is a bit diluted.

That’s not to say that this isn’t a great book. I really did love it (and it really torqued me to nearly lose it). So yes, if you are a fan of that “other ancient power” in the Mediterranean or have just listed to me yammer and write about it, well, here’s a solid stone in the ruins of that specific empire.

>>>MY OWN BOOKS, INCLUDING FIRE AND BRONZE (ABOUT THE FOUNDING OF CARTHAGE) DOWN THIS LINK<<<