Simon Scarrow

Simon Scarrow is a UK-based author, born in Nigeria and now based in Norfolk. He completed a master's degree at the University of East Anglia after working at the Inland Revenue, and then went into teaching as a lecturer at Norwich City College.

He is best known for his "Eagle" series of Roman Military fiction set in the territories of the Roman Empire, covering the second invasion of Britain and the subsequent prolonged campaign undertaken by the rump of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. To date there are eight books in the series. He has also begun another series, "Revolution", focusing on Wellington and Napoleon, whose first title, "Young Bloods", was published in 2006. The second volume, 'The Generals', was released on the 31st May 2007.

Books

Eagle

The Eagle Series centres around two main characters, Quintus Licinius Cato and Lucius Cornelius Macro, who are both Roman soldiers. Macro, a veteran with nearly 15 years service with the Eagles has recently been appointed to the Centurionate. Cato is a young lad who grew up in the Imperial Palace, and at the start of the series joins the Eagles as Macro's Optio. The first book starts in AD 42. The books cover the experiences of the two soldiers, initially as experienced centurion and new optio, in battles in Germania and the invasion of Britain by Claudius as part of the Legio II Augusta. The latest book "Eagle in the Sand" puts them in Judea as agents of the Emperor's secretary Tiberius Claudius Narcissus.

In 2007 the publisher announced the intention to cease using the word "Eagle" in the title of books in this series, starting with "Centurion". The change was apparently because the publisher wanted to attract more new readers to the series.

It has recently been announced that an independent studio is to make 2x1 hour episodes of all the Eagle novels from "Under the Eagle" through to "The Eagle in the Sand".cite web

url=http://www.undertheeagle.co.uk/index.htm
title=Under the Eagle
date=2007-07-30Under the Eagle: (December 1, 2002) It is the year 42 AD, and Centurion Macro, battle-scarred and fearless, is in the heart of Germany with the Second Legion, the toughest in the Roman army. Cato, a new recruit and the newly appointed second-in-command to Macro, will have more to prove than most. In a bloody skirmish with local tribes, Cato gets his first chance to prove that he's more than a callow, privileged youth. As their next campaign takes them to a land of unparalleled barbarity - Britain - a special mission unfolds, thrusting Cato and Macro headlong into a conspiracy that threatens to topple the Emperor himself.]

#"Under the Eagle" (2000)
#"The Eagle's Conquest" (2001)
#"When the Eagle Hunts" (2002)
#"The Eagle and the Wolves" (2003)
#"The Eagle's Prey" (2004)
#"The Eagle's Prophecy" (2005)
#"The Eagle in the Sand" (2006)
#"Centurion" (2007)

Revolution

The Revolution Series centres around the lives of Naboleone Buona Parte, later Napoleon Bonaparte, and Arthur Wellesley, later the Duke of Wellington. The first book in the quartet starts in 1769, and follows the two young men through their youth and onto their military careers.

#"Young Bloods" (2006)
#"The Generals" (2007)

Writer in Residence

Simon Scarrow has recently (November 2006) accepted the post of Writer in Residence at Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, a position he said he is "honoured to accept". Simon will visit the school on a regular basis to hold creative writing sessions for students as well as judging the annual Scarrow Award for Fiction.

References

External links

* [http://www.scarrow.co.uk The Scarrow Brothers]