text:
<!--
  ~ Copyright 2010-2012, CloudBees Inc.
  ~
  ~ Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License" />;
  ~ you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
  ~ You may obtain a copy of the License at
  ~
  ~     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
  ~
  ~ Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
  ~ distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
  ~ WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
  ~ See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
  ~ limitations under the License.
  -->
<jmxtrans-agent>
    <queries>
        <!-- OS -->
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=OperatingSystem" attribute="SystemLoadAverage"
               resultAlias="os_system_load"/>

        <!-- MEMORY -->
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=Memory" attribute="HeapMemoryUsage" key="committed"
               resultAlias="memory_heap_committed"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=Memory" attribute="HeapMemoryUsage" key="max"
               resultAlias="memory_heap_max"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=Memory" attribute="HeapMemoryUsage" key="used"
               resultAlias="memory_heap_used"/>

        <query objectName="java.lang:type=Memory" attribute="NonHeapMemoryUsage" key="committed"
               resultAlias="memory_nonheap_committed"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=Memory" attribute="NonHeapMemoryUsage" key="max"
               resultAlias="memory_nonheap_max"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=Memory" attribute="NonHeapMemoryUsage" key="used"
               resultAlias="memory_nonheap_used"/>

        <!-- MEMORY POOLS -->
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=MemoryPool,name=Code Cache" attribute="Usage" key="used"
               resultAlias="memory_code_cache_used"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=MemoryPool,name=Code Cache" attribute="Usage" key="committed"
               resultAlias="memory_code_cache_committed"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=MemoryPool,name=Code Cache" attribute="PeakUsage" key="used"
               resultAlias="memory_code_cache_peakUsed"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=MemoryPool,name=Code Cache" attribute="PeakUsage" key="committed"
               resultAlias="memory_code_cache_peakCommitted"/>

        <query objectName="java.lang:type=MemoryPool,name=PS Eden Space" attribute="Usage" key="used"
               resultAlias="memory_ps_eden_space_used"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=MemoryPool,name=PS Eden Space" attribute="Usage" key="committed"
               resultAlias="memory_ps_eden_space_committed"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=MemoryPool,name=PS Eden Space" attribute="PeakUsage" key="used"
               resultAlias="memory_ps_eden_space_peakUsed"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=MemoryPool,name=PS Eden Space" attribute="PeakUsage" key="committed"
               resultAlias="memory_ps_eden_space_peakCommitted"/>

        <query objectName="java.lang:type=MemoryPool,name=PS Old Gen" attribute="Usage" key="used"
               resultAlias="memory_ps_old_gen_used"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=MemoryPool,name=PS Old Gen" attribute="Usage" key="committed"
               resultAlias="memory_ps_old_gen_committed"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=MemoryPool,name=PS Old Gen" attribute="PeakUsage" key="used"
               resultAlias="memory_ps_old_gen_peakUsed"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=MemoryPool,name=PS Old Gen" attribute="PeakUsage" key="committed"
               resultAlias="memory_ps_old_gen_peakCommitted"/>

        <query objectName="java.lang:type=MemoryPool,name=PS Perm Gen" attribute="Usage" key="used"
               resultAlias="memory_ps_perm_gen_used"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=MemoryPool,name=PS Perm Gen" attribute="Usage" key="committed"
               resultAlias="memory_ps_perm_gen_committed"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=MemoryPool,name=PS Perm Gen" attribute="PeakUsage" key="used"
               resultAlias="memory_ps_perm_gen_peakUsed"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=MemoryPool,name=PS Perm Gen" attribute="PeakUsage" key="committed"
               resultAlias="memory_ps_perm_gen_peakCommitted"/>

        <query objectName="java.lang:type=MemoryPool,name=PS Survivor Space" attribute="Usage" key="used"
               resultAlias="memory_ps_survivor_space_used"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=MemoryPool,name=PS Survivor Space" attribute="Usage" key="committed"
               resultAlias="memory_ps_survivor_space_committed"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=MemoryPool,name=PS Survivor Space" attribute="PeakUsage" key="used"
               resultAlias="memory_ps_survivor_space_peakUsed"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=MemoryPool,name=PS Survivor Space" attribute="PeakUsage" key="committed"
               resultAlias="memory_ps_survivor_space_peakCommitted"/>

        <!-- GARBAGE COLLECTOR -->
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=GarbageCollector,name=PS MarkSweep" attribute="CollectionCount" type="counter"
               resultAlias="gc_ps_marksweep_collection_count"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=GarbageCollector,name=PS MarkSweep" attribute="CollectionTime" type="counter"
               resultAlias="gc_ps_marksweep_collection_time"/>

        <query objectName="java.lang:type=GarbageCollector,name=PS Scavenge" attribute="CollectionCount" type="counter"
               resultAlias="gc_ps_scavenge_collection_count"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=GarbageCollector,name=PS Scavenge" attribute="CollectionTime" type="counter"
               resultAlias="gc_ps_scavenge_collection_time"/>

        <!-- THREADING -->
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=Threading" attribute="ThreadCount"
               resultAlias="threads_count"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=Threading" attribute="PeakThreadCount"
               resultAlias="threads_peakCount"/>
        <query objectName="java.lang:type=Threading" attribute="CurrentThreadCpuTime"
               resultAlias="threads_cputime"/>

        <query objectName="java.lang:type=ClassLoading" attribute="LoadedClassCount"
               resultAlias="classes_loaded"/>
    </queries>

    <outputWriter class="org.jmxtrans.agent.SummarizingFileOverwriterOutputWriter">
      <fileName>${vertx_metrics_data_file:jmxtrans-agent.data}</fileName>
    </outputWriter>

    <collectIntervalInSeconds>20</collectIntervalInSeconds>
</jmxtrans-agent>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Tag: Rome
Commodus by Simon Turney
On July 9, 2019 July 9, 2019 By The Unseen LibraryIn Drama, Five-Star Books, Historical Fiction1 Comment
Publisher: Orion (Trade Paperback – 11 June 2019)
Series: The Damned Emperors – Book 2
Acclaimed historical fiction author Simon Turney catalogues another infamous ruler of Rome in the second book of his The Damned Emperors series, Commodus.
Rome, 162 AD. The Roman Empire is in a rare period of peace and stability, with two brothers, Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, both ruling as Emperor. The future also looks bright, as for the first time in Rome's history, two male heirs have been born to a ruling Emperor. However, only one of these children is destined to become Emperor and make his own mark on history. His name is Commodus.
Raised as Rome's golden child, Commodus eventually succeeds his father as Emperor following a period of war, rebellion and disease. Beloved by the people and loathed by the Senate, Commodus styles himself as Hercules reborn, becoming a great patron and competitor of gladiatorial fights, chariot races and other feats of martial strength. However, behind the scenes, Commodus's life has been filled with tragedy and despair, and he hides a darker side beneath his golden exterior.
As Commodus succumbs more and more to his inner demons, Rome is rocked by power struggles and plots, as his family and servants attempt to control or usurp the unpredictable Emperor. Only one woman, Marcia, truly understands Commodus and can keep his mind together. Born a simple palace servant, Marcia was the love of Commodus's life and a skilled player of Roman politics. However, not even Marcia can contain Commodus's self-destructive urges forever, and eventually she must decide whether she will die at the hands of her great love or make the ultimate betrayal.
Commodus is the second book in Turney's The Damned Emperors series, which takes a look at some of the most tragic, infamous and self-destructive rulers of ancient Rome. After presenting an exciting tale of insanity and vengeance in Caligula, Turney now takes a look at one of the most intriguing emperors in Roman history, Commodus. The result is a powerful, well-written and captivating piece of historical fiction that I absolutely fell in love with and which easily earns a full five-star rating from me.
Commodus is truly one of the more fascinating figures in Roman history, which is saying a lot. While most would probably know him as the villain in the movie Gladiator, as portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, he actually had a long and controversial reign, with many events that are hard to believe. As a result, a book focusing on his life is bound to be interesting; however, Turney goes above and beyond, presenting a well-researched and deeply compelling novelisation of Commodus's life. Not only does Turney explore some of the more extraordinary aspects of Commodus's reign, such as his devotion to becoming the new Hercules, his exploits in the arena or the cult of personality he formed around himself, but Turney also attempts to explain why he may have done them. This results in a clever and thought-provoking look at the entirety of Commodus's life, including several formative events that are known, or are likely to have happened, and which may have led to some of his more extreme actions later in life. I really enjoyed the potential scenarios that Turney came up with to explain Commodus's personality, and his justifications featured towards the end of the book are really quite interesting and very compelling. There are also some interesting historical tweaks to some of Commodus's actions, but I feel that these work in the wider aspect of the story and help to create a more believable narrative. The end result is an outstanding examination of this fascinating historical figure which will allow the reader to see Commodus in a whole new light.
Turney has done an amazing job telling this story, thanks in part to the use of an excellent point-of-view character. The story is told from the perspective of Marcia, the women in love with Commodus, and is set out as a personal chronicle of Marcia's actions, which run parallel to the life of Commodus. Turney takes more historical liberties with this character and re-imagines Marcia as a close childhood friend of Commodus. The use of Marcia as the story's narrator and the subsequent re-imagining of parts of her life story are done extremely well, allowing the author to have a single, consistent narrator who is constantly close to the main character. This was the best way to tell the complete story of Commodus's life, and it was an amazing storytelling device from Turney which completely justifies historical variations in the character.
Using Marcia as the point-of-view character also allowed Turney to tell an addictive historical tale of love, revenge, ambition and tragedy. Marcia is a tragic character in this book, and her storyline is really quite powerful. The daughter of a servant in the Imperial Palace, Marcia is allowed to grow close to Commodus, becoming his childhood friend and confidant before circumstances conspire to keep them apart. However, Marcia's determination to be with Commodus results in a series of power plays, plots and other nefarious actions as she tries both to free herself and to deal with other people who wish to influence the Emperor. Despite some of the terrible actions she commits, Marcia comes across as a very sympathetic character in this book, and your heart goes out to her with some of the setbacks she encounters. Her romance with Commodus, while caring and filled with love, is also very dramatic, as Commodus's moods and the influences of others in his circle often place strains and boundaries on them being together. The final, tragic result of this story is told extremely well, as the reader gets to see the highs of their love, swiftly followed by the swift, one-sided deterioration of their relationship. This results in a devastating conclusion to the book, and the reader is left reeling at how this romance comes to an end.
In addition to the story of Commodus and Marcia, Turney also does an excellent job exploring Roman history and events during the span of Commodus's life in the second half of the second century. Some truly fascinating events occurred during this period of Roman history, including wars, plagues and the reign of proxy tyrants such as Cleander and Perennis. The author covers these events in some detail, and it is really interesting to see how some of the events unfolded, how long they lasted and what actions led up to them. Commodus is also filled with a number of intriguing depictions of Roman life, and the various ancient Roman settings proved to be an amazing background for this great story.
Commodus is a first-rate novel and easily one of my favourite pieces of historical fiction for 2019. Turney is an incredibly skilled author whose dedication to historical detail pairs well with his amazing ability to tell a dramatic and powerful story. Commodus comes highly recommended, and I cannot wait to see which flawed ruler of Rome Turney focuses on in his next instalment of The Damned Emperors series.
Emperor of Rome by Robert Fabbri
On June 2, 2019 June 2, 2019 By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction2 Comments
Publisher: Corvus (February 2019)
Series: Vespasian – Book 9
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
After eight years of being one of my favourite yearly highlights of the Roman historical fiction scene, Robert Fabbri brings his bestselling Vespasian series to an end with the ninth and final book, Emperor of Rome.
Rome, 68 AD. Vespasian started his life as the second son of a rich but rural Roman family from the Sabine Hills. Looked down upon by the older Roman families for his family's humble origins, Vespasian was never expected to obtain any major power in Rome. But after nearly 40 years of political intrigue, unusual adventures and a distinguished military career, Vespasian may actually be in a position to claim the ultimate prize: becoming Emperor of the Roman Empire.
Ever since he first arrived at the city of Rome at the young age of 16, Vespasian has lived under several unhinged or easily manipulated emperors of the Julio-Claudian line, each of whom was worse than the last. The latest of these emperors, the ruthless and insane Nero, has ordered Vespasian to put down a major rebellion in the Roman province of Judaea. However, this appointment is the ultimate no-win situation. If he fails in his task, his family's prestige and political future are over. But if he succeeds in bringing the rebellion to an end with a successful military campaign, he will incur Nero's lethal jealousy for obtaining glory that could make him more popular than the Emperor. As Vespasian debates what course of action to take, news from Rome will change everything.
The rebellion of several legions and their noble commanders has forced Nero to commit suicide, and his death results in a massive power vacuum. Vespasian, being in charge of two legions and having allies governing key provinces, is now a major contender for the throne, especially with his brother Sabinus lobbying for him back in Rome. Moreover, for years Vespasian has been gifted with signs and portents of his eventual rise to power, and he wants to claim his destiny. However, Vespasian is not the only person with dreams of imperial power, and several others are marching on Rome. The Year of the Four Emperors has begun, and only one man will be left standing.
Robert Fabbri's Vespasian series are fun and at times over-the-top novelisations of the life of one of Rome's most important emperors. The main series is made up of nine books, but there is also a related standalone novel, Arminius: The Limits of Empire, as well as the ebook-only Crossroads series. I have been a huge fan of the series for some time and have read and reviewed several of the books in the series, as well as the Arminius novel, although only my review for the previous Vespasian novel, Rome's Sacred Flame, is currently featured on my blog. This series really has been a favourite of mine for some time, and I have been looking forward to Emperor of Rome for a few months. Unfortunately, this book does mark the end of the series, as Fabbri brings his epic story to a close and finally brings his chosen Emperor to the throne.
Emperor of Rome is a fantastic new addition to this awesome series. It tackles the chaotic period following the death of Nero, known as the Year of the Four Emperors. I felt that Fabbri did a fantastic job finally showing the ascension of Vespasian to the throne and covering a number of other interesting historical events, many of which would have widespread implications in the future. The overall story is a great blend of action and politics, and it also ends the story of several important characters from the series, as well as the rise of some of the next generation of Roman politicians and rulers.
Emperor of Rome is primarily told from the point of view of its protagonist, Vespasian, as he campaigns in the east of the Roman Empire. This allows for Fabbri to tell a different story to some of the other historical fiction novels that feature the Year of the Four Emperors. Rather than get bogged down in the politics happening in Rome, the focus is instead completely on Vespasian and his companions as they observe the chaotic events occurring in Rome from afar while trying to decide the best time for Vespasian to make his move. I thought that this was a rather clever way to look at the story as it let Fabbri examine the potential political, military and personal implications of each of Vespasian's actions during this period, especially as early moves on Vespasian's part might have seen him be overthrown by some other potential candidate for the throne. Emperor of Rome also showcases the early reign of Vespasian to a degree, and it was great to finally see the character gain the throne after nine books.
In addition to the examination of Vespasian's bid to become emperor, Fabbri also focussed on Vespasian's campaign in Judea, which is a significant event in Middle Eastern history. For much of the book, the province of Judea (modern Israel/Palestine) and its Jewish population are in revolt against the Romans. Vespasian, and later his son Titus, lead a particularly vicious campaign against the population, killing or enslaving thousands. Fabbri spends quite a lot of time describing the events of this conflict, sometimes known as the First Jewish-Roman War, and mostly relies on the accounts of the Romano-Jewish historian Josephus, who wrote several works on the subject and actually appears as a character in Emperor of Rome, as a basis for this story. Fabbri does an amazing job providing an account of this conflict. A number of key events of this war are covered in this book, including several ridiculous events that apparently actually occurred around the siege of Jotapata. I was greatly intrigued by the author's novelisation of this conflict, as I had not read too much about it before in other works of historical fiction. The author brings a gritty realism to the conflict and does not hold back on the probable violence, cruelties and dehumanisation of the Jewish people that would have occurred during this war. This was a captivating but essential part of Vespasian's story, and one that was necessary to explore in order to fully understand the actions required to become Emperor.
Several of the previous books in the Vespasian series have had an enjoyable supernatural edge to them, as the protagonist encountered ancient gods, prophets and sorcerers, as well as some biblical figures from early Christianity. This is continued in Emperor of Rome, mainly in the form of omens and prophecies that Vespasian has received in the previous books that show he is destined to be a great ruler, such as his viewing of a phoenix while on a mission in Africa. In this book, many of these signs come together, encouraging Vespasian to finally make his bid for Emperor. The look at the influence of such omens and prophecies added an intriguing element to the overall story. I also liked how some of the prophecies and predictions of the some of the characters were relevant to larger historical events in the future, such as the spread of Christianity or the current conflict in modern Israel/Palestine. These supernatural elements have always been one of the things that helped distinguish the Vespasian books from other Roman historical fiction series out there, and it was great to see so many of the events from the previous books finally come together here in the final chapter of the book.
Emperor of Rome is an amazing conclusion to this outstanding and entertaining historical fiction series. Fabbri has always had the fantastic ability to turn historical fact into wild and captivating tale filled with action, intrigue and historical excesses, and in this final book he once again takes several intriguing historical events and uses them to craft another excellent story. I will miss reading the Vespasian series each year, but at the same time I am also very excited, as Fabbri's next series, The Alexander Legacies, is set to be released next year, and it sounds like it will look at some other exciting times in ancient history.
Waiting on Wednesday – The Lost Ten by Harry Sidebottom
On February 20, 2019 February 20, 2019 By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, Thriller, Waiting on Wednesday3 Comments
Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them.
This week I will be looking at an exciting new historical fiction novel that is coming out in April 2019, The Lost Ten by Harry Sidebottom. Harry Sidebottom is a well-established historical fiction author whose novels set in the Roman Empire are some of the best in the business. I have long been a huge fan of Sidebottom. I have previously mentioned how his second book, King of Kings, was one of the first books I ever reviewed, and I absolutely loved his most recent release, 2018's The Last Hour. So I am extremely eager to get my hands on The Lost Ten, which sounds like it will be quite a fantastic read.
A desperate rescue attempt deep behind enemy lines . . . this nail-biting adventure has all the hard-edged appeal of the Bravo Two Zero mission.
When Valens, a junior officer in the Roman Army, joins a crack squad of soldiers on a dangerous mission, little does he know what's in store for him. Tasked with rescuing the young Prince Sasan, who has been imprisoned in the impenetrable Castle of Silence, the troops set out across Mesopotamia and into the mountains south of the Caspian Sea.
Deep in hostile territory, inexperienced Valens finds himself in charge. And as one by one his soldiers die or disappear, he begins to suspect that there is a traitor in their midst, and that the rescue is fast becoming a suicide mission.
Valens must marshal this disparate group of men and earn their respect, before it's too late…
I love the sound of this plot synopsis, as it implies that Sidebottom will continue his winning formula from The Last Hour, where he combined pulse-pounding thriller elements with his usual detailed and intriguing historical fiction plots. This worked extremely well with The Last Hour, which was essentially 24 in Rome, and I am excited to see how a high-risk special forces mission will play out in this ancient setting.
I very intrigued by the Castle of Silence that is referenced in the synopsis, which brings a very intense and impenetrable stronghold to mind. From the other details contained within plot summary, it sounds like the Romans will have to infiltrate the Parthian Empire. I love the idea of a small force getting into this massive and sprawling empire, and I am very interested to see how the Parthians are able to insert a spy into a crack Roman unit.
Overall, I am extremely excited for this latest book from Harry Sidebottom, who has to be one of my favourite historical fiction authors. The Lost Ten sounds like it will be a thrilling and action-packed novel, and I really cannot wait for Sidebottom to once again blow my mind with his thriller/historical fiction hybrids.
Waiting on Wednesday – A Capitol Death and Shadows of Athens
On January 23, 2019 By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, Murder Mystery, Waiting on Wednesday3 Comments
Historical fiction and murder mysteries have long been blended together in order to produce some incredible and unique works of fiction over the years. I am a huge fan of this popular genre mashup, and have personally reviewed several of these books over the last year. Examples include one of my top books of the year, Tombland by C. J. Sansom; the incredible murder investigation set during Cromwell's England in Destroying Angel by S. G. MacLean; and even some more contemporary historical mysteries such as Murder Mile by Lynda La Plante. Each of these books is a lot of fun, and I find that the combination of history and mystery elements usually work together extremely well to create some incredible stories.
Some of the most intriguing examples of historical murder mysteries are set in much more ancient civilisations, such as Greece or Rome, which allow for some much more unique stories. Examples include Steven Saylor's Roma Sub Rosa series or Australian author Gary Corby's The Athenian Mysteries, which are a particular favourite of mine. With some extremely interesting releases just around the corner, this week I will be looking at two upcoming murder mystery books set in ancient times that I am extremely eager to get copies of.
The first of these books is A Capitol Death by Lindsey Davis. Davis has long been the gold standard of ancient historical murder mysteries, with books such as her long-running Marcus Didius Falco series and its follow-up, the Flavia Albia series, both of which contain amazing mysteries set in the heart of ancient Rome. I have been a huge fan of the Flavia Albia series for years, and have read all six previous books in the series. I also reviewed the sixth book in the series, Pandora's Boy, early last year, awarding it five stars. As a result, I have huge hopes for A Capitol Death, which will be the seventh book in the series, and based on Davis's previous work I already know I am going to love it.
In Rome, ruled by the erratic Emperor Domitian, Flavia Albia is dragged into the worst sort of investigation—a politically charged murder—in Lindsey Davis's next historical mystery, A Capitol Death.
A man falls to his death from the Tarpeian Rock, which overlooks the Forum in the Capitoline Hill in Ancient Rome. While it looks like a suicide, one witness swears that she saw it happen and that he was pushed. Normally, this would attract very little official notice but this man happened to be in charge of organizing the Imperial Triumphs demanded by the emperor.
The Emperor Domitian, autocratic and erratic, has decided that he deserves two Triumphs for his so-called military victories. The Triumphs are both controversial and difficult to stage because of the not-so-victorious circumstances that left them without treasure or captives to be paraded through the streets. Normally, the investigation would be under the auspices of her new(ish) husband but, worried about his stamina following a long recovery, private informer Flavia Albia, daughter of Marcus Didius Falco, steps in.
What a mistake that turns out to be. The deceased proves to have been none-too-popular, with far too many others with much to gain from his death. With the date of the Triumphs fast approaching, Flavia Albia must unravel a truly complex case of murder before danger shows up on her own doorstep.
The synopsis for the new book sounds pretty incredible, as the series' titular investigator, Flavia Albia, steps up to investigate an intriguing new mystery. It sounds like this investigation will dive into some political intrigue surrounding the unpopular Emperor Domitian. Davis has combined mysteries with ancient Roman politics before, such as in the series' fifth book, The Third Nero, and the end result was pretty spectacular. I am hoping that Davis will continue to provide the reader with her trademark blend of powerful mysteries, amazing historical elements and outrageous humorous moments, and I am looking forward to any big comedy set pieces, such as the incredible climax to The Third Nero or the big brawl sequence in Pandora's Boy. The story in the previous book also hinted at the return of an old antagonist from the original Falco series, and I am looking forward to seeing if that comes into play within A Capitol Death.
The second book that I am interested in checking out is a new mystery from debuting author J. M. Alvey. This new book, Shadow of Athens, is set to be released in March and will take place in Athens in 443 BC.
443 BC, and, after decades of war with Persia, peace has finally come to Athens. The city is being rebuilt, and commerce and culture are flourishing.
Aspiring playwright Philocles has come home to find a man with his throat cut slumped against his front gate. Is it just a robbery gone wrong? But, if so, why didn't the thieves take the dead man's valuables? With the play that could make his name just days away, he must find out who this man is, why he has been murdered – and why the corpse was left in his doorway.
But Philocles soon realises he has been caught up in something far bigger, and there are those who don't want him looking any further . . .
This sounds like it could be a really cool book read. A murder mystery set in ancient Greece has a lot of potential, and I will be interested to see if Alvey's book will fully explore the historical complexities of this ancient city while also producing a compelling mystery. I liked that the protagonist of Alvey's book will be an actual real-life Greek historical figure, in this case, the famous tragic playwright Philocles. Placing real-life historical figures in the middle of fictional murders is always a compelling story choice, and I am really hoping that Alvey will explore this protagonist's work as a playwright. It also sounds like the investigation within Shadow of Athens might play into Athenian politics and will probably have something to do with the war with Persia, both of which are incredibly appealing to me and will hopefully lead to some great story developments.
In addition to the awesome-sounding premise, I have to say that I really enjoyed the striking cover art that this new book had, and I found that its eye-catching imagery really grabbed my imagination. Shadow of Athens already has some very positive pre-reviews from some notable authors, including one of my favourite historical fiction authors at the moment, Andrew Taylor. As a result of these endorsements, combined with the intriguing plot synopsis, Shadow of Athens is probably the historical fiction debut I am most looking forward to at the moment and I am excited to see how impressive this new author is.
As a result, I think that both of these books have a lot of potential, and could prove to be some of my favourite reads of early 2019.
The Blood of Rome by Simon Scarrow
On January 8, 2019 January 8, 2019 By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction2 Comments
Publisher: Headline
Publication Date – 13 November 2018
One of the best and most prolific writers of Roman historical fiction, Simon Scarrow, returns with another outstanding adventure of his two Roman protagonists, Cato and Marco.
In AD 55, Nero has recently ascended to the throne, and the Roman Empire prepares itself for war with its great rival, the Parthian Empire, which sits to the east of Rome's territories. This recent conflict is centred on the neutral border kingdom of Armenia, which sits between the two great empires. Years earlier, the brash Iberian prince Rhadamistus conquered Armenia and declared himself king, ruling as a terrible tyrant. In response, a recent Parthian backed invasion routed Rhadamistus from Armenia and placed a Parthian prince on the throne. Unwilling to let this strategic territory fall into Parthian hands, Rome sends its greatest general, Corbulo, to the east to reclaim Armenia for Rhadamistus and meet any subsequent hostilities from the Parthians.
The recently promoted Tribune Cato and his long-time companion, Centurion Marco, desperate to escape the deadly politics of Rome, lead the escort for General Corbulo. When an early opportunity to take Armenia with minimal interference from the Parthians presents itself, the only forces that Corbulo can rely on are Cato and Marco's elite cohort of Praetorian Guards. Placed in command of an advance force, Cato must lead a mixed column of Romans and King Rhadamistus's troops through unknown and hostile terrain towards Armenia's capital. Forced to balance his orders against the desires of the unstable Rhadamistus, Cato struggles to maintain the strength of himself and his men. With traitors and enemies all around them, can Cato and Marco succeed, or will they find themselves killed in a strange land?
Scarrow is one of the leading authors of the historical fiction genre, whose work over the last 18 years is comparable to such established authors of the genre as Bernard Cornwell, Ben Kane or Conn Iggulden. The Eagles of the Empire series, which started in 2000 with Scarrow's debut, Under the Eagle, is the author's most distinctive work, and features some superb description of Roman military action. In addition to his main series, Scarrow has also written several other great pieces of historical fiction. He co-wrote the Roman Arena and Invader novella series with T. J. Andrews, which are set in the same universe as the Eagles of the Empire series. He also wrote the epic Wellington and Napoleon Quartet, also known as the Revolution Quartet, which provided an impressive examination of the opposing lives of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington. In addition to his series work, Scarrow has also written two standalone novels, The Sword and the Scimitar, which covers the siege of Malta, and Hearts of Stone, a dramatic novel set in Greece during World War II. All of Scarrow's novels are amazing pieces of historical fiction, and are really worth checking out if you are a fan of the genre.
The Blood of Rome is the 17th book in The Eagles of the Empire series, and follows the two protagonists' return to Rome's Eastern provinces for the first time since the eighth book in the series, Centurion. I have always been a massive fan of this series and consider it to be one of the best pieces of Roman military fiction series on the market today. After reading all of the previous books in The Eagles of the Empire series, I was particularly keen to get a copy of The Blood of Rome and eager to see where the protagonist's latest adventure would take them. After powering through it in a day, the result was pretty much what I expected: I loved Scarrow's latest literary offering. This latest book contains another fantastic historical fiction story, as the protagonists embark on an exciting campaign into an interesting new historical setting and it was great to see how the characters continue to evolve and progress in their lives.
Scarrow's The Eagles of the Empire series has always boasted some incredible depictions of ancient Roman military combat, with most books containing several battles of varying size used to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the Roman tactics and techniques. This is continued in the Blood of Rome, with several battles featured throughout the book. While most of these battles are small and quick skirmishes that differ from the traditional Roman battle sequences, the Roman soldier's tactics and training and the effectiveness of their equipment are on full display, creating some amazing scenes. In addition to the classic Roman legionnaires, which make up the bulk of Cato and Marco's forces, Scarrow also focuses on the more unusual forces that the Roman's used in combat, in the form of a cohort of auxiliary slingers, as well as a detachment of Roman siege equipment. Both of these distinctive units get a good showing throughout the book, and both are fascinating to see in action. The author also contains an interesting portrayal of Roman soldiers fighting side-by-side with allied troops, and it is intriguing to see the issues and advantages involved with such allies. Overall, The Blood of Rome is another excellent example of Scarrow's skill at portraying Roman military action sequences, and is one of the best parts of this book.
This book is also set in an extremely fascinating historical period and focuses on the rivalry between Rome and Parthia. The continuous conflict between Rome and Parthia has always been a great literary background for many pieces of Roman historical fiction, and Scarrow has already examined it in some of his earlier books. The conflict within The Blood of Rome continues to explore this legendary rivalry, and is an opening book in what appears to be a sequence of novels that will focus on an expanded war between the two rival nations. This first book in this sequence looks at a rather minor opening conflict, played out as a proxy war within Armenia, but it contains a great examination of the politics at the time and the differences in battle style and tactics of the two nation's militaries. I really enjoyed the examination of the role of border kingdoms and provinces, such as Armenia, stuck in the middle of these two proud and ambitious empires. The main story of The Blood of Rome, the invasion of Armenia and Rhadamistus's attempts to claim the throne, are real pieces of history, and it was really interesting to see them utilised in this story. All of the historical background for this book is incredibly fascinating and I had a great time reading about an amazing period of history.
The character of Rhadamistus was another intriguing addition to the book that added a whole new element to story. Rhadamistus is a well-known historical tyrant and brutal man of ambition, and Scarrow did a good job showcasing the character's casual cruelty and arrogance. He was a pretty despicable character as a result, and watching the protagonists attempt to placate and counter his more ruthless actions added some dramatic twists to the story. Scarrow examines certain parts of Rhadamistus's life, and it was very fascinating to see his eventual fate and the role his reign as king had on the rival empires of Rome and Parthia.
I really liked Scarrow's depiction of one of his main characters, Cato, throughout this novel. Cato has never had an easy life, having been forced into the army at an early age, but the events of the last few books have been particularly hard on him. As a result, certain incidents within The Blood of Rome finally push him over the edge, and it was a refreshing change of pace to see one of these usually indomitable characters show some real vulnerability. This was a very realistic inclusion, and I thought it added some much-needed character growth to Cato. It also served an essential story element, as his condition resulted in Cato being open to Rhadamistus's manipulation. This was a great part of The Blood of Rome that represents some intriguing adaptation within this long-running series.
Simon Scarrow once again produces an epic piece of historical fiction as he continues his outstanding The Eagles of the Empire series. His long-running protagonists, Cato and Marco, are once again thrust into a fantastic historical military fiction adventure, and there are a ton of great elements for the readers to enjoy. Another amazing outing from Scarrow, this is a highly recommended read for all fans of the historical fiction genre, as the author continues to produce some of the best Roman military fiction in the business.
The Last Hour by Harry Sidebottom
On June 17, 2018 October 21, 2018 By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, Thriller4 Comments
Publisher: Zaffre
Australian Publication Date – 1 May 2018
World Publication Date – 8 March 2018
Ballista is back, baby! One of the best writers of Roman historical fiction, Harry Sidebottom, brings back his original protagonist for an incredibly gripping and action-packed novel that perfectly combines the thriller and historical fiction genres.
In Rome, in 265 AD, Marcus Clodius Ballista, former Dux Ripae of Rome and loyal friend of Emperor Gallienus, enters the Mausoleum of Hadrian to meet with an informant who wishes to talk to him about a plot to kill the emperor and usurp his throne. But the meeting is a trap, the informant is murdered, and Ballista is forced to jump into the River Tiber to escape the horde of assassins sent to kill him.
Washed up outside of the city and pursued by killers, Ballista only has 24 hours until Gallienus is murdered. With the conspirators still unknown to him, Ballista has no idea who he can trust and who can help him, but he must find a way to warn the emperor of the plot against him. If he fails, not only will his friend will be assassinated but Ballista's family will also die in the ensuing takeover.
Now alone, unarmed, and with no money, bodyguards or friends around him, Ballista must find a way to re-enter the city and transverse the entirety of Rome to get to the emperor's side. But the city is now a very dangerous place for him. The city watch are fully mobilised and ordered to arrest Ballista at all costs. In addition, mobs of disguised killers are searching for him everywhere, and they have no intention to taking him in alive.
As Ballista makes his way through the streets of Rome, he must find a way to avoid all the people searching for him while also overcoming the other dangers that lurk throughout the city. Will Ballista be able to save his friend and his family, or will his final defeat take place in the heart of the empire he has spent his whole life protecting?
Harry Sidebottom is a renowned British historian and veteran author of Roman historical fiction, having previously written two best-selling series, Warrior of Rome and Throne of the Caesars. The Last Hour is the 10th book from Sidebottom and a spinoff off from his Warrior of Rome series, featuring his original protagonist, Ballista. Ballista is a heavily fictionalized version of a famous Roman prefect, and served as the main character of Sidebottom's first six books.
I've always had a soft spot for Sidebottom's works, as his debut novel, Fire in the East, was one of the first pieces of historical fiction that I ever read, and featured one of the best accounts of a siege that I have ever read. His second book, King of Kings, was also one of the first books that I ever reviewed, and was a fantastic sequel that featured great story elements, set in an interesting and underused period of Roman history. Sidebottom's latest book, The Last Hour, is an amazing hybrid of the thriller and historical fiction genres, featuring an intense, high-stakes journey through the ancient city of Rome.
The thriller aspects of this book are exhilarating. The protagonist is aware of a devastating assassination that is about to be committed and has only a limited time to reach and save the target. Sidebottom incorporates a ticking clock element to the story, as Ballista is constantly aware of the passing of time and how short a period he has to complete his objective to save not only his friend but his entire family as well. Needless to say, the author takes this story right down to the wire, and the reader has no idea whether Ballista will succeed or not; readers who are familiar with the previous books in the series will recall that King of Kings ended with Ballista and the previous emperor being both betrayed and captured by the enemy. The story gains a significant amount of intensity as the protagonist has no idea of who he can trust, nor who is aligned against him. Sidebottom also goes out of his way to ensure that the readers are in the dark about who the main conspirators are, even towards the end of the story. This intrigue is compounded as Sidebottom gives his audience a tantalising view of the antagonists meeting while also frustrating the readers by ensuring that these characters use codenames when talking to each other. As a result, the reader is intently drawn into the story by both the protagonist's mad dash through the city and the immense desire to work out who the conspirators are and what their full plan is.
In addition to its electrifying thriller elements, The Last Hour also features an incredible exploration of ancient Rome and the range of people the protagonist encounters during his time in the city. Sidebottom is determined to highlight several different groups of people that were a factor in the city, including the city watch, the Praetorian guards, the emperor's Germanic bodyguards and the frumentarii, who served as the emperor's secret police. Each of these groups is an essential part of the emperor's security and has a significant role to play in this novel, and the readers will be intrigued by Sidebottom's descriptions of each of them. Ballista also encounters a range of other Roman citizens, from simple shopkeepers and men of the street to members of the city's criminal underground, cults of Egyptian priests, hidden Christians and even drunk Roman nobles looking to assault people they meet on the street. Each of these adds to the rich tapestry of the historical city that Sidebottom has woven into existence. This tapestry is further enhanced by Sidebottom's determination to provide detailed examinations of several of ancient Rome's buildings and locations. These range from historically significant locations, like the coliseum, the Praetorian camp and the emperor's palace, to more mundane locations that were a unique feature of the city of Rome, such as massive bathhouses and large apartment-style buildings. All these historical elements serve as terrific background for this extraordinary thriller based story.
Readers of this book are also in for an action-packed treat as the protagonist rampages through ancient Rome, continuously fighting off either the people hunting him or the regular citizens of Rome attacking him for their own reasons. As a result, The Last Hour is filled with innumerable action sequences that are guaranteed to amuse and delight all the action fanatics out there. Readers will be gifted with sequences that include a crazy fight and flight across the rooftops of the city, and a down-and-dirty fight in the steamy and mechanical workings of a bathhouse. There is also a siege on the roof of one of the city's monuments and a large pitched battle in the streets of Rome. These fight scenes are great fun and increase in intensity throughout the book as the protagonist's countdown goes on.
Harry Sidebottom has once again produced an incredible, fast-paced and exceedingly exciting action novel that combines the very best elements of a first-rate thriller with all the research and detail of an excellent historical fiction novel. A truly unique and utterly entertaining piece of literature, The Last Hour once again shows why Sidebottom is one of the very best authors writing about ancient Rome.
Pandora's Boy by Lindsey Davis
On May 30, 2018 October 21, 2018 By The Unseen LibraryIn Five-Star Books, Historical Fiction, Murder Mystery5 Comments
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Publication Date – 5 April 2018
Ancient Rome's premier female detective returns in the latest Flavia Albia mystery from veteran historical crime author Lindsey Davis.
Rome, 89 AD. Flavia Albia, the daughter of the legendary investigator Falco, is now a proficient private investigator and informant in her own right. When the ex-wife of her husband, Tiberius, brings a case of family drama to her, Flavia is tempted to refuse, but when Tiberius disappears she needs a distraction.
The case revolves around a teenaged girl found dead in the prosperous Quirinal Hill district of Rome. The girl, Clodia, was the apparent victim of a poisoned love potion, and her parents and grandparents are blaming each other for her death. What begins as a simple investigation quickly becomes complicated when the witch accused of supplying the potion turns out to be the sister of the city's biggest crime boss. No-one is talking, and everyone in the Quirinal Hill has a secret.
Flavia is forced to seek the truth from a variety of people, including warring grannies, concerned parents, criminal lawyers, secretive slaves, a lettuce salesman with an interesting religious statue and, worst of all, the overprivileged offspring of Rome's elite. However, as Flavia's investigation continues and a friend of hers dies, it soon becomes apparent that a vicious gang war is imminent. Can Flavia solve the crime without getting caught in the crossfire, especially when she has a terrible history with one of the gangs?
Pandora's Boy is the sixth book in the Flavia Albia series, which acts as a direct sequel series to Davis' Marcus Didius Falco series. Davis is one of the most prolific authors of historical whodunits and has a particular focus on novels set in ancient Rome. For example, her Marcus Didius Falco series contains 20 books, and she has produced some stand-alone books set in the same period.
Like the previous books in the Flavia Albia series, Pandora's Boy takes a contemporary look at Roman culture and lifestyles. The inhabitants of Davis' books act in a very modern way despite their ancient surroundings, and this results in a very humorous interpretation of the ancient Roman characters. Davis also uses this book to parody a specific group in modern society: the millennials. Throughout the story, Flavia is forced to follow, interview and generally endure the victim's friends, who are the offspring of the city's rich and powerful. These friends are exceedingly selfish, have sordid love lives and get into all sorts of mischief. In other words, they act in a very similar way to how modern day millennials are often perceived and portrayed. Their appearance is quite jarring in the ancient Roman setting and leads to a lot of the books humour. In all, it is a fun, quirky addition, and an amusing examination of modern society through very ancient eyes.
The core of the book is the death of a young woman and its investigation by the main character. This is a well-done mystery that takes many twists and turns to keep the attention of the reader. Flavia's investigation is done through interviews, trickery, observations and undercover work, and, like many other parts of the book, is infused with Davis' trademark humour. The investigation is wrapped up in a final scene that is a throwback to classic murder mystery dénouements. All the interested parties are gathered together in one place and the investigator reveals their conclusions, eventually leading to their solution to the crime. Davis provides a perfect parody of this, infused with her own unique touch. As a result, there are several jokes about this well-used literary device, including discussions around the necessary prep work and tricks to keep the gathered parties' concentration of the speaker that will greatly amuse many murder mystery buffs.
One of the more diverting and memorable aspects of the Flavia Albia series is Davis' tendency to include big action sequences that devolve into near absurdity and provide some of the best laughs in the entire book. For example, in Davis' previous book, The Third Nero, the climactic scene was a battle in the heart of Rome that featured, among other things, a war elephant, Parthian cataphracts and one of the most improbable chase sequences in all of fiction. While nothing will quite top this, Davis has striven to include one such scene in Pandora's Boy, featuring an interrupted séance, an all-out brawl between legionnaires and Vigiles at a collapsing temple, all of which serves as a backdrop to a fight between two warring grannies. This is an extremely entertaining scene and definitely a highlight to watch out for.
Another notable feature of the books in the Falco universe is the deeper examination of the Roman criminal justice system. The investigators in these books often deal with the Vigiles and the Aediles, the ancient Roman equivalent of the police and magistrates, many of whom turn into key characters. This is a unique feature, as most Roman historical fiction books neglect to focus on these institutions, only mentioning them if in the context of political gain. Pandora's Boy includes a detailed look at the Vigiles who patrol the Quirinal Hill district and their investigation into the death and other serious crimes. Loaded up with a suitable modern twist, the inclusion of these characters is an intriguing addition that highlights an often-neglected side of ancient Roman life.
Pandora's Boy is a wonderful addition to one of the best ancient crime series currently on the market. Davis once again creates a fantastic murder mystery and infuses it with outrageous humour and a modernistic take on ancient Roman life. This is an exceedingly fun and deeply absorbing novel that will appeal to a very wide audience of readers.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I must say I am completely in shock that Easter is this Sunday ... time is flying faster than it normally seems to and that is fast enough. Before we know it Mother's Day will be here and then the beginning of summer and how cow, another school year will be behind us. Can time please just slow down a tiny bit? Pretty please?
I have Mother's Day on the brain today because I have ordered something for my mother that needed a monogram lead time and while I was hunting I found some darling things I felt needed to be shared with you. If you are like me shopping for Mother's Day is hard. How do you truly tell someone who gave you life and sacrificed for you thank you with a simple gift? It doesn't seem possible, yet I always want to grab something that I think she will enjoy. This year I have chosen something special from Mark + Graham and while I was shopping I spotted so many great ideas that you needed to see as well.
This post is not sponsored in any way. This is from one daughter shopping for her mother (and herself) to another. You will adore each of the items I found as much as I have. I find Mark + Graham to be a consistent source for classic monogram pieces that will never go out of style. I have a number of things from them that I love and use all the time. I love their new additions and the new pieces they introduced with designer Caitlin Wilson. I think she has amazing talent and I love seeing her work on pieces from one of my favorite companies. That is even more of a win, win.
There are so many amazing pieces I would suggest getting one for Mother's Day and another for her birthday and putting it away for later. One amazing idea would be this beautiful tray. I love to keep a tray in the center of our kitchen table and this one is a great one. I love the mix of the wicker (a favorite of my mom's) and leather. I think this charger roll up is simply brilliant. With all of the devices we all have keeping track of the cords is tough. I also like that it doesn't take up a ton of space when you added it to your luggage. And this ... I need this dual case so badly for all of the glasses I own. I am constantly misplacing my glasses or not have enough cases to carry them properly. This is truly life changing. And this bag ... so darling and such a great price for a summer bag with a monogram. Order it ASAP and order one for your best friend for her birthday. It is too good to pass up.
My name is Cindy Sammons, from Lowa, I want to express my gratitude to Mr James Richard Dyson of Jennard Investmnets Limited for assisting me with a loan, after going through a very terrible financial situation that almost made me loss my home. He is a God sent to me and he granted me a loan amount of $34,000.00. I also want to use this means to notify the general public and anyone in need of a loan assitance to contact him as well I believe he can help you out too. Their email address is Jennardinvestmentslimited@outlook.com and ontact number +1(484) 292-4513.


The British appeal to Agitius occurs at §20 in the part called Independent Britain in The Ruin of Britain by Gildas (trans. Michael Winterbottom). Traditionally, Independent Britain ranged from the death of Maximus to the third consulship of Aëtius with a possible nine year variance ending at the year that Aëtius was murdered (388-446/454). This time period is strictly based on the assumption that Agitius is Aëtius.
Various writers have debated over the Roman named Agitius, though. In Professor Christopher Snyder's book, An Age of Tyrants, he tells of the discrepancy in the identity of Agitius, stating that it could be Aëtius or even Aegidius. In the notes section of The Ruin of Britain, Dr. John Morris states that Gildas misplaced the appeal within his own narrative. Professor David Dumville has discussed the issue, also. The corruption within Gildas' text and/or the major inconsistency between the sources seems well-documented. In the section called Independent Britain, the British enemies were the Scots and the Picts. Both brought war upon the British in §14 and §19. They appeared to be the reason for the appeal to Agitius in §20. Finally in §21, the Irish pirates and the Picts returned to their homelands. During this time of truce, the British slipped further into moral decay. Nowhere in Independent Britain did Gildas portray the Saxons as a major problem for the British. In fact, Gildas does not mention the Saxons at all in Independent Britain. Though the Gallic Chronicle of 452 (trans. Alexander Callander Murray, From Roman to Merovingian Gaul) makes note of a Saxon attack in 408, Olympiodorus of Thebes ( trans. C. D. Gordon, The Age of Attila) writes that the British discontent with Rome stemmed from Stilicho removing the garrisons that defended the British from the Picts.
The Gallic Chronicle of 452 states that the Saxons subjugated the British provinces after the British had endured a variety of disasters and misfortunes. It was listed as occurring in 441 or 442. Considering this along with the details regarding the traditional time span for Independent Britain, the apparent problem between the sources can be underscored. With the Saxons subjugating the British, at least, four years before the third consulship of Aëtius, it puts the Gallic chronology at odds with the chronology implied by Gildas' writing. This conclusion is made with the assumption that the British would have appealed for help before they were completely subjugated. Based on this, Gildas could not have seen or copied any appeal specifically mentioning the words, tri-consul, if the chronology of his narrative correlates with the Gallic Chronicle of 452.
It seems more likely that Gildas would have identified the wrong man instead of misplacing a major event within his own narrative. This seems to imply that Gildas relied upon an oral source for the appeal to Agitius or personally added the tri-consul gloss to the letter he copied. Either scenario makes the imperial title appear as a corruption within the text if the general chronologies of the sources do not contradict each other or themselves.
In light of these details, the third consulship of Aëtius has not been used to date the events within the writings of Gildas. Still, it is essential to date the events of The Ruin of Britain so it can be used with other available sources. Orosius, Prosper of Aquitaine and the Gallic Chronicle of 452 document the execution of Maximus as occurring in 388 (trans. Alexander Callander Murray, From Roman to Merovingian Gaul). Gildas mentions this happening in §13 at the end of the section entitled Roman Britain. Professor David Dumville establishes this as his starting point in his work, "The Chronology of De Excidio Britanniae, Book I" (Studies in Celtic History V – Gildas: New Approaches). The event serves well as a starting point for dating this part of Gildas' narrative.
The beginning of Independent Britain at §14 seems to rehash the events that ended in §13. With this assumption, the tyrant is identified as Magnus Maximus and not as one of the three British usurpers that rose briefly to power in the beginning of the fifth century. In §18 and §19, the Romans told the British to defend themselves and gave little prospect of returning. This is interpreted as the Rescript of Honorius noted by Zosimus (trans. Green and Chaplin, New History).
When the Romans left at the beginning of §19, the Scots and Picts wreaked havoc upon the British. The citizens abandoned the towns and the Wall in §19.3 as if to avoid the grips of cannibalism that seized the cities of Spain (Hydatius/Olympiodorus). Echoing the words of Hydatius, the Gallic Chronicle of 452 tells of an enormous famine in Gaul between the years of 411 to 416. Gildas states that disasters abroad increased internal disorder on the island at the end of §19. With the British, also, suffering from food shortages, the famine ran from the Mediterranean to the western shores of the North Sea. This seems like a famine that would still be talked about in Gildas' day.
All the while, the British suffered from attacking barbarians. The British sent out a second appeal. This time it went to Agitius. Gildas mentions the event in the first sentence of §20. Effort should be made to not date this event, at this point. If taken literally, this event had to occur no earlier than 446 based on the year that Aëtius achieved his third consulship. Instead of decades elapsing as traditionally accepted, the dreadful and notorious famine still raged on as noted in §20.2. These events happened within the section entitled Independent Britain and there is no indication that any of these events went past 416 if Agitius is not considered to be Aëtius.
Though still nagged by a spelling discrepancy, during this narrow time period, there was a man of some stature in Gaul with a similar name to Agitius. Agroetius was the Head of Chancery for the usurper, Jovinus, according to Lewis Thorpe's translation of Frigeridus in The History of the Franks.
The second paragraph in fragment 26 of Olympiodorus tells of Roman rule returning to much of Gaul and possibly Britain. It further states that the imperial control remained until the death of Emperor Honorius. Based on this fragment from the Theban historian, this peace would have lasted until 423. Though maybe the conjecture of C. D. Gordon being interjected into the words of the ancient writer, the fragment still notes a small window of time where there was no warring mentioned. This lack of fighting could give the illusion that Roman authority had returned to the island. In §21 of Gildas' writings, there is a period of a truce between the British, the Irish pirates and the Picts. Still the British's every action plagued their salvation.
After §21, a plague swooped brutally upon the British people. This plague fell within the section called The Coming of the Saxons in §22.2. An independent reference to this plague can be inferred from Constantius of Lyons in section VIII of the Life of St. Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre (trans. F. R. Hoare, The Western Fathers). Gildas states that the plague laid low so many in such a short period of time that the living could not bury all of the dead. Constantius writes that the illness first struck the children and then the elders, bringing death in about three days.
The plague in section VIII occurred sometime before 429. This year is established by the ability to date section XII in Constantius' writings. Constantius tells of Bishop Germanus traveling to Britain to combat the Pelagian heresy. Prosper of Aquitaine dates this event to 429.
Though there is no known contemporary writers before Gildas that tell of the coming of the Saxons like he does at §23.3, later sources document the event. Nennius (trans. John Morris, British History and The Welsh Annals) and Geoffrey of Monmouth (trans. Lewis Thorpe, The History of the Kings of Britain) describe the event. Nennius gives 428 as the year that the English came to Britain.
In §23.5, the Saxons revolted after being hired to beat back the people of the north in §23.2. Constantius notes that the Saxons and the Picts made war on the British in section XVII while Germanus preached against the Pelagian heresy [on the east side of Britain] in 429. In §24, Gildas elaborates the destruction caused by the Saxons.
In §25.2, the cruel plunderers went home. Described more as raiders than conquerors, it seems inappropriate to assign this to the last British event in the Gallic Chronicle of 452. The famous mentioning of Ambrosius Aurelianus by Gildas appears in §25.3. All dates provided by Nennius that involve this Roman gentleman take place before 441. Upon the removal of the tri-consul reference, the dates provided by Nennius no longer conflict with the British appeal to Agitius.
In §26, Gildas states that the British and barbarians battled back and forth; both sides scored victories. This lasted right up till the siege of Badon Hill.
With a liberal view, §23.5 through §26 dates from 429 to the 470's. The revolt of the Saxons erupted in 429. If Germanus' Alleluia victory was one of the four battles of Vortimer against the Saxons, it effectively dates some of the events in Geoffrey of Monmouth, possibly leading to the dating of Uther's first trip to Ireland. A slightly adjusted version of the dates suggested by the Cistercian monk, Alberic, can be inserted here. Geoffrey Ashe mentions these dates in his book, The Discovery of King Arthur.
The last mention of British affairs in the Gallic Chronicle of 452 happens around 441 as previously noted. After enduring a variety of disasters and misfortunes, the British provinces fell under the authority of the Saxons. The Saxons held this control or maintained an upper-hand against the British to, at least, 452. Otherwise, it seems likely that the Gallic Chronicle would have used different wording in the 441/442 entry or would have noted the power shift that seems to occur later between the two sides.
In Charles C. Mierow's translation, Jordanes indicates that the British had become a force of reckoning in section XLV of The Origin and Deeds of the Goths. The Gothic writer notes that the Roman Emperor, Anthemius, requested military aid from the British king, Riotimus. The year that Anthemius rose up as the Emperor of the West is deduced from Hydatius (trans. Alexander Callander Murray, From Roman to Merovingian Gaul). The British return to power would have been recognized by the year 467 but most likely would have occurred earlier than that.
So, by dropping any concern for the third consulship of Aëtius, the sources can be synchronized into a more concise chronology. The variance in the time of the Agitius' appeal shrinks by two-thirds from nine years to three years. The events of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles and the work of Bede can be linked to the other sources, but some of the dates are null and void. These works color in the elements of the enemy of the British Romans.
Ambrosius Aureliani falls within the time period of Independent Britain and The Victory at Badon Hill.


The hospital replaced Berkeley Hospital and the Sandpits Clinic.
The Vale Community Hospital is open to both inpatients and outpatients. The hospital benefits from a large free car park and has plenty of on-site facilities.
It's services include community therapy, a range of outpatients clinics, X-ray facilities and a nurse led Minor Injury Unit. The Minor Injury Unit treats minor injuries and illnesses such as sprains, cuts, wounds, minor fractures and minor head injuries.
Bus Services: Services 35, 207, 210 and 281/211 are direct to the Vale Hospital. Use May Lane Bus Station for all other connecting bus services. Please contact Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 for up-to-date timetables.


Margie is an accomplished senior executive and dynamic leader in the region's banking industry, and has been for over thirty years. In the banking sector, she has a proven record and expertise in upper-level management, lending, operations, and executive management; all in challenging and competitive work environments.
Margie's familiarity of corporate best practices has allowed her to bring her wisdom and knowledge to Spectrum Service's Board of Trusties. Professionally, Margie is highly motivated to achieve results and exceed expectations, and she expects nothing less of herself as a Spectrum Services Board member.
Margie had been involved in both Ulster and Dutchess Counties serving on non-profit Boards and volunteering for many Community Support Services agencies. She came on the Spectrum Services board at the request of co-founder Susan Buckler, where over coffee they realized they had so much in common. It was a natural progression for Margie to join Center for Spectrum Services.
Margie is an innovative leader and team builder with proven leadership qualities. On top of serving on Spectrum Services' Board of Trustees, Margie is an active member of the community in many areas, and because of that, admired and respected by those who know her.


Today's question is from one of our readers who wishes to stay anonymous; we'll call him Bill. Read the question again. Notice how Bill is already convinced that the younger woman he seeks will not be interested in someone his age. This is a self fulfilling belief which is virtually guaranteed to come true. If you believe deep down that you're going to fail, then you will.
In short, yes, you can absolutely find a younger woman that's right for you. You just need to set your target, take action, and stay the course.
How can you get started in the right direction?
First, take a look deep down inside and figure out exactly why you want to meet a younger woman. And then think about what this perfect woman would be like. Describe her in as much detail as you possible can. Then, write it down on a piece of paper. List her age, physical appearance, personality traits, hobbies, likes and dislikes, etc. Once your have described the perfect woman for you in great detail, fold up that piece of paper and carry it with you for 1 week.
Imagine that you are already with her. What will you do? What will you talk about? Where will you go? REALLY feel it and get into the emotion of it — How will you feel when you are with her? All of this may sound silly, but do you know that by simply writing down what you want, you increase your chances of getting it by 80%!
Social stigmas and why do you care?
You don't. Our society is full of social stigmas. We're so busy being concerned about "what others will think" that we we're afraid to pursue our own dreams. Yes, many people love to pass judgment on others, but that's their choice and their right. Why they do it is a larger topic for another day, but it's really not important here. No one else can possibly know what's right for you, so why listen to them?
A wise person once said, "What someone else thinks about you is none of your business".
Is it true that most women want someone around their own age?
This is completely untrue! Fact is, each of us has different and unique wants and needs. Your goal and single focus should be finding the perfect woman for you. Period.
5 easy tips for attracting and dating younger women.
Younger women are often attracted to traits like maturity (like their daddy), more money and higher social status, masculinity, leadership abilities, confidence, and composure, so it's important for you to focus on whichever of these traits you possess.
When older guys meet a younger woman they often get nervous and start to act really weird. Don't do this — just be yourself.
2) Keep it light and fun.
Be playful. Have fun. Tease her. She hasn't forgotten what it's like to play and goof around. It'll do you some good to remember not to take life so seriously. Be a little crazy and opt for things that younger guys generally can't afford to do. Go ahead. Enjoy yourself.
3) Be the leader. Be the man.
Younger women are most likely looking for someone to take the lead. They have less experience in life and are most likely looking for someone to show them what's out there. Make your date and other plans ahead of time, but be sensitive and ask her opinion of the plans that you have already made. (She may be allergic to sushi). Be a man, yet respect her opinion. Opening doors, walking on the outside of the curb, and pulling out chairs is another way to make a big impression on younger women.
4) Don't act like a "perv".
Most attractive young women have been hit on by some lame, perverted older guy. Don't try to move in too soon or she'll think you're just a "perv" looking to get into her pants. When your alone together, it's OK to flirt, but let her pursue you for anything further. Otherwise you may scare her away.
5) Give her some space..
Younger women have probably just gotten out of their parent's house with very structured lives and zero freedom. If she's attracted to you, it's not because you're re-creating the suffocating environment that she just left… it's because you represent something different. Give her some space. Be the man that she's always dreamed about, and then don't chase her. Let her come to you.
We encourage our readers to send us their most pressing online dating or relationship questions. If you haven't told us your question yet, go to dating reviews for all and do it now.


He was always an entertainer… There was always so much drama when he was around. As a child, he loved to perform. Whether at birthday parties or competitions, he would dance at the drop of a hat. Even without an audience, he was a riot. We shared the same room for several years before I left to attend university in London, and even though we were very close, being just a few years apart, we fought like crazy. I'm talking physical WWE-style fights, where we taped the superstars of the league and actually bashed each other up! My daughter Samara, in fact, enjoys watching us fight (verbally now, of course!) even today. She loves listening to our childhood stories and all the havoc we created as kids. One of our big targets back then was our Nani, who lived with us when she was alive—we played a lot of pranks on her, one of the reasons being she was very sporting about it.
My favourite childhood memories are of us at our Chembur home. Come Friday, we would pack our bags and head straight to our grandparents' home after school with our friends and cousins in tow. Saturday we'd head to Big Splash, the water park in Vashi, followed by lunch at an Udipi joint nearby. Ranbir watched every movie under the RK banner—he was definitely inspired by our granddad to become an actor. And even though our grandad passed away fairly early, we continued to spend every weekend with our dadi [Krishna Kapoor, who passed away recently].
As an actor, he is such a natural performer. When he takes on a role, he gets totally into it. He lives, eats and breathes that character. Halfway through Sanju (2018), I forgot it was my brother playing the role and actually believed he was Sanjay Dutt. That says volumes about an actor. Once a movie is over, however, he just as easily snaps out of it. I think that's special—not many actors can do that.
Ironically, in spite of all his 'dramatics', he's taken after my mum—he doesn't get rattled easily. That being said, he is certainly not an introvert. I am, on the other hand, exactly like my father [Rishi Kapoor]. I have no filter and will say just about anything that comes to my mind.
Like most of us, he, too, has seen success and failures, but he has never let the box office make or break him. He is extremely dedicated and gives every role his all. And, while he is reserved, his mind is always active. He lives to work.
The post Ranbir Kapoor's sister shares little-known facts about his road to stardom appeared first on VOGUE India.


text:
Sesa Iron Ore
'Iron ore key to fight Naxalism in G'chiroli'
MPT may push profits with lesser focus on iron ore
Even as the mining sector in the state awaits resumption in activity after nearly a three-year hiatus, it is likely to face another predicament as Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) has appointed a consultant to study diversification of activities at its berth no. 9 and others.
Posco can't get Khandadhar mine: Centre
In a major blow to Posco, the Centre has rejected Odisha's plea to grant Khandadhar iron ore reserves in Sundargarh district to the South Korean steel major.
BJP demands CBI inquiry into stacking of iron ore at Renjada railway siding
After an on-the-spot visit, the BJP on Wednesday demanded CBI probe into stacking of large quantities of unclaimed iron ores at the Renjada railway siding in Sundargarh district.
Illegal iron-ore mining case: ED conducts searches in 3 states
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday launched simultaneous searches in three states in connection with its money laundering probe in illegal mining of iron-ore scam in Odisha and other states, pegged at about Rs 2,000 crore.
Sensex falls 261 points as markets fail to cheer Suresh Prabhu's Rail Budget
MMTC offers to market Goan iron ore at best price
Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation (MMTC) has offered its services to facilitate marketing of Goan iron ore at best possible price in the international market.
Khazan-Pale landlords to allow shifting of iron ore
Respecting the assurance by Sakhali MLA Pramod Sawant, several landlords belonging to Tari and Narvekar families at Khazan-Pale in Bicholim taluka, agreed on Thursday to allow the shifting about 12,000 tonnes of iron ore stacked in their land. The landlords had objected to the shifting of the ore as the mining company had refused to pay their rent since September 2012
Mining restriction: Iron ore production to fall sharply
The Supreme Court (SC) verdict on May 16 on closure of several iron ore mines in the state is likely to have an adverse impact on iron ore production during the current fiscal.
Ten held for illegal ore transport
Police arrested 10 persons, including two persons involved in illegal iron ore mining, for transporting iron ore from Koira, here on Wednesday.
Mines Min does not see a case for lower iron ore export duty
New Delhi, Oct 3 () After the steel ministry, it's the turn of the mines ministry to say it does not favour export duty cut on iron ore, a key ingredient in making steel.
Mining companies to get 250 per tonne for e-auctioned iron ore
Goa's directorate of mines and geology (DMG) has decided to distribute reimbursements of 250 per tonne of iron ore as extraction costs incurred by the companies and traders, whose iron ore was e-auctioned by the state government, as per Supreme Court directions after the blanket ban on iron-ore mining in Goa.
Iron ore prices slump to 5-year low
Iron ore prices have touched a 5-year low on Monday heading towards the levels last seen during the 2008 global financial crisis escalating concerns in Goa's mining industry about their future.
Iron ore e-auction causing chaos, needs review: Assocham
Apex industry body Assocham has urged the government to review e-auctioning of iron ore and provide long-term iron ore linkages to protect the interest of domestic iron and steel industry.
Iron ore mafia flourish despite police action
The authorities in the past few days have crack down on iron ore smugglers in Keonjhar district, making several seizures of illegally-extracted ore.
Ban on iron ore mining led to one million lost jobs in Karnataka, Goa
Ban on iron ore mining and exports in top producing states of Karnataka and Goa led to job loss of one million people, directly and indirectly, according to a ASSOCHAM-Yes Bank joint study.
HC order could help railways get back Rs 17,000 cr from iron ore exporters
An order of the Calcutta high court's division bench into the iron ore export scam of railways has opened up the possibility of railways getting thousands of crores from a few hundred companies that had misused its facilities.
ED freezes Rs 700 crore in iron-ore scam
Enforcement Directorate has frozen cash and fixed deposits worth Rs 700 crore in the iron ore scam-the largest ever account freezing by the central investigating agency so far.
Royalty rates for iron ore hiked to 15%
Centre has decided to increase royalty rates for iron-ore from 10% to 15% of the selling price.


text:
Great Strides 65 South Surrey-Hills 10 Jun 2017
This site uses cookies to provide you with a more personalised experience. By continuing to browse everydayhero, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
Patrick Kelly Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Patrick's page has now expired
1070 days ago, Patrick created this page in support of Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
With the help of Techy Trekkers, Patrick gave everything:
Shared their page with everyone they could.
Received 3 donations from generous family and friends.
Raised £133.12.
I've created this page because I want to make a difference. I'm inspired by the work of Cystic Fibrosis Trust and wanted to support them by raising money as part of my participation in Great Strides 65 South Surrey-Hills. Please help me help them by giving whatever you can using the 'Give Now' button. The more people that know about Cystic Fibrosis Trust, the greater their impact, so please also spread the word by sharing my page with your friends and family. Thank you in advance for your generosity, it means a lot!
Techy Trekkers
We walk 40 miles this weekend! Please give whatever you can - your support is gratefully appreciated by us and those with Cystic Fibrosis!
Great Strides 65 South Surrey-Hills is a 65km (40-mile) team walking challenge through Surrey countryside taking place on 10 June 2017, starting and finishing near Guildford, taking in such delights as the North Downs Way, Greensand Way, Devil's Punchbowl and St Martha's Hill. We need to complete the route within 17 hours.
Combined by the techies from Adapt Digital https://adaptdigital.co/ and Dogsbody Technology https://www.dogsbodytechnology.com/ the 7 Techy Trekkers shun natural daylight preferring the warming glow of computer screens. Needless to say... We aren't sure if we can do this either! ;-) :-p
We have 4 months to train for walking 40 miles in one day. For those people with Fitbit (and some of us walkers do have one so we will share the data afterwards :-) ) an average person 10,000 steps would be almost 5 miles....we need to do 8 times that!!!
Dogsbody Technology will match donations upto the maximum of £500 - meaning if we can raise at least £500 it will become £1000 :-)
What is CF?
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition affecting more than 10,800 people in the UK. You are born with cystic fibrosis and cannot catch it later in life, but one in 25 of us carries the faulty gene that causes it, usually without even knowing.
To have CF, you need to have inherited two faulty copies of the gene (one from each parent), and as there are many different gene mutations that cause cystic fibrosis, each person with the condition can have very different symptoms depending on the two genes they carry. While people with CF often look healthy on the outside, each individual is battling their own range of symptoms on a daily basis - this is why it is often called one of the invisible diseases.
The gene affected by CF controls the movement of salt and water in and out of cells. People with cystic fibrosis experience a build-up of thick sticky mucus in the lungs, digestive system and other organs, causing a wide range of challenging symptoms
affecting the entire body.
Please give what you can and thank you so much for your support.
Visit Team
£53.25 TK
£53.25 Eng Wei
£26.62 Martin Kelly
Great Strides 65 South Surrey-Hills
10 Jun 2017 Visit this campaign
Donations Summary
3 Number of donations
£44.37 Average donation
£133.12 Donated so far
£26.62 Gift Aid
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-limiting inherited condition caused by a faulty gene that controls the movement of salt and water in and out of cells. This causes mucus to gather in the lungs and digestive system and creates a range of challenging symptoms.
More than 2.5 million people in the UK carry the faulty gene, around one in 25 of us – most without knowing.
There is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis but many treatments are available to manage it, including physiotherapy, exercise, medication and nutrition.
Each week five babies are born with cystic fibrosis, and two people die.
More than half of the cystic fibrosis population in the UK will live past 41, and improved care and treatments mean that a baby born today is expected to live even longer.
We believe that the day when people with CF can live a life unlimited by their condition is within our reach
Powered by everydayhero
Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions Help


text:
Home » Ripple's Xpring has reportedly invested over $500M in several projects to date
Ripple's Xpring has reportedly invested over $500M in several projects to date
Xpring initiative by Ripple has invested more than $500 million in numerous projects since its launch in 2018.
Xpring made at least 18 investments in 2019 alone.
This year, the initiative has not been very active, with only two investments so far.
Xpring initiative by Ripple has invested over $500 million in numerous projects since its launch in 2018. According to The Block report, the initiative has contributed to more than 27 projects so far, including Compound, Dharma, Securitize, Bitso and Forte.
Last year, Xpring invested $100 million in Forte – a blockchain-based gaming platform, which uses Xpring's open-source Interledger Protocol with XRP serving as a base pair settlement. The majority of Xpring's investments are related to Ripple's core business model, focused around XRP and payments development.
Xpring made at least 18 investments in 2019. This year, the initiative has not been very active, with only two investments so far – in crypto ATM provider Coinme and a blockchain platform for decentralized applications, NEAR Protocol.
Gold Price Analysis: Sees weekly closing below $1700 – a caution for bulls
Xpring initiative by Ripple has invested more than $500 million in numerous projects since its launch in 2018. Xpring made at least 18 investments in 2019 alone. This year, the initiative has not been very active, with only two investments so far. Xpring initiative by Ripple has invested over $500 million in numerous projects since its launch in 2018. According to The Block report, the initiative has contributed to more than 27 projects so far, including Compound, Dharma, Securitize, Bitso and Forte. Last year, Xpring invested $100 million in Forte - a blockchain-based gaming platform, which uses Xpring's open-source Interledger…


Adding a crispy crunch to your roast lamb gives it a delicious new flavour while giving a really satisfying additional texture, too. Cover you lamb with a tangy lemon, olive and anchovy stuffing with this simple recipe. We love this dish when the nights begin getting a bit cooler and darker and you just want comfort food thanks to its rich, warming flavours. The meat is meltingly tender and packed full of flavour for a really satisfying meal.


Published 04/22/2019 06:31:07 am at 04/22/2019 06:31:07 am in Multi Colored Canister Set.
multi colored canister set multi colored kitchen canister set.
sistema multi-colored food storage canister set - 36pcs,multi colored canister set,multi colored kitchen canister sets,sistema multi-colored food storage canister set - 36pc rubbermaid,sistema multi-colored food storage canister set - 36pc,multi colored canister sets,sistema multi-colored food storage canister set - 36pcem48,sistema multi-colored food storage canister set - 36pc foam,multi colored kitchen canister set, amazoncom the pioneer woman country garden piece canister set the pioneer woman country garden piece canister set pack of multi, amazoncom eclectic floral loose tea leaf tins double cover tea eclectic floral loose tea leaf tins double cover tea canister set of airtight lid.


On their way to becoming the bank of the future, the Evangelische Bank now offers their institutional customers an improved digital banking platform for payments and cash management. The bank has opted for the financial platform MULTIVERSA IFP from CoCoNet.
Of the bank's 19,000 institutional customers, mainly charitable institutions such as hospitals, kindergartens, etc., around 700 will initially be migrated to the new system, which offers significantly improved usability and new functionality. In addition to a multi-bank functionality and a secure channel for the exchange of important documents, the solution also includes a mobile app, which allows signing payments and retrieving account balances conveniently while on the move.
After only a few months of integration time, the first customers have been working since March 2018 with the new solution, which is also a perfect complement to the digital transformation of Evangelische Bank.
The new financial portal of the Evangelische Bank offers institutional customers an innovative, secure and sustainable application for all banking transactions.
I would like to be informed about future updates and agree that CoCoNet stores my personal data.


text:
WOMEN'S SOCCER UNITED – HOME OF WORLDWIDE WOMEN'S FOOTBALL! PASSION. DEDICATION. BELIEF.
UEFA Women's EURO 2021 Qualifiers
UEFA Women's EURO U-19 Championship
2019 Algarve Cup
Cyprus Cup 2019
SheBelieves Cup 2019
Cup of Nations 2019
La Manga Training Camp
FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2018
FIFA U20 Women's World Cup 2018
All Women's Football Fixtures
International Friendly Fixtures 2019
Goal of the Month
FIFA Women's Football World Rankings
Women's Football Blogs
Australia Westfield W-League
Japan Nadeshiko League
Nigeria Women Premier League
CONCACAF (NORTH, CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
USA NWSL
USA UWS
Mexico LIGA MX Femenil
CONMEBOL (SOUTH AMERICA)
Brasileiro Feminino
Colombia Liga Águila Femenina
New Zealand National Women's League
England FA WSL
France Division 1 Féminine
Germany Frauen-Bundesliga
Spain Liga Iberdrola
Sweden Damallsvenskan
VIEW ALL LEAGUES
Live International Match Updates
Live Women's Football
Join / View Membership Levels
Stephanie Roche hits late winner in Slovakia
Home Stephanie Roche hits late winner in Slovakia
WSU, September 13, 2014 September 13, 2014 , News, WWC2015, WWC2015-Qualifier, 0
An injury time goal from substitute Stephanie Roche gave the Republic of Ireland Women's National Team a well-deserved victory over Slovakia in their penultimate World Cup qualifier this afternoon in Senec.
On a rain sodden pitch, the Irish girls created 20 chances during the game and hit the crossbar three times through Julie Ann Russell twice and Denise O'Sullivan, before Roche was slipped through in the second minute of injury time and she drilled a low shot to the far corner.
This win, coupled with Germany's 4-1 victory over Russia, means that Ireland go into Wednesday's final qualifier away to the Germans with a chance of taking second place in Group 1. The side have also extended their unbeaten run to four games and have now gone 407 minutes without conceding a goal.
Sue Ronan's starting XI showed three changes from the side which beat Slovenia 2-0 in Tallaght last month with Shannon Smyth, Siobhan Killeen and Ruesha Littlejohn coming in for Diane Caldwell, Stephanie Roche and Fiona O'Sullivan.
Ireland started strongly and after five minutes Julie-Ann Russell saw her long range shot come off the crossbar with the keeper well beaten. Five minutes later Siobhan Killen sent Ruesha Littlejohn clear but her shot was turned around the post by Maria Korenciova.
Then, on 18 minutes, Denise O'Sullivan had a dipping shot from the edge of the box which bounced off the top off the bar.
However, Ireland had a let off on 27 minutes when Dana Feckova beat the Irish offside trap and rounded the advancing Emma Byrne only for Louise Quinn to get back and clear her goalbound shot off the line. It was the beginning of a jittery period for the Irish as Monika Matysova smashed a shot wide from the corner and a few minutes later Feckova again went close.
Having survived that jittery spell, Ireland finished the half strongly with Niamh Fahey heading wide from an Áine O'Gorman free-kick.
Stephanie Roche was introduced for Siobhan Killeen at half-time and Ireland went on to totally dominate the second half and create numerous chances.
Denise O'Sullivan hooked the ball over the goalkeeper after 50 minutes but it just fell the wrong side of the crossbar and 10 minutes later she saw her shot saved by keeper when she latched onto a rebound as Julie-Ann Russell's free-kick came off the crossbar.
Stephanie Roche, Denise O'Sullivan and Louise Quinn all went very close to breaking the deadlock before Ireland finally found the net in the second of the five minutes added on for injury-time with a superbly worked goal.
It all began on the left with Karen Duggan who found Megan Campbell and she in turn picked out Shannon Smyth who then fed Dora Gorman and the UCD Waves midfielder split the Slovak defence with a precise pass that sent Stephanie Roche clear. The 25-year-old showed great composure in drilling a left footed shot past the advancing goalkeeper to the corner of the net.
Manager Sue Ronan admitted that she thought the goal would never come but felt her side fully deserved the win.
"The conditions were very tough. The pitch was heavy and that made it difficult but the girls worked very hard from the first whistle and created plenty of chances. Late goals have been a hallmark of our campaign and I was particularly pleased that in injury time we were still composed enough to string together four excellent passes to split the defence and put Stephanie through and she took her goal very well," said Ronan.
Republic of Ireland: Emma Byrne (Arsenal); Áine O'Gorman (UCD Waves), Louise Quinn (Eskilstuna United), Niamh Fahey (Arsenal), Karen Duggan (UCD Waves); Shannon Smyth (Amazon Grimstad). Dora Gorman (UCD Waves), Denise O'Sullivan (Glasgow City); Siobhan Killeen (Raheny United), Ruesha Littlejohn (Sandviken), Julie Ann Russell (UCD Waves). Subs: Stephanie Roche (ASPTT Albi) for Killeen (46mins). Megan Campbell (Florida State University) for Fahey (70) Fiona O'Sullivan (Notts County) for D O'Sullivan (81). Unused subs: Niamh Reid-Burke (Raheny United). Sophie Perry (Brighton & Hove Albion), Meabh de Burca (Galway WFC), Ciara Grant (UCD Waves).
Slovakia: Korenčiová (GK), Haršányová, Matysová (C), Vojteková, Bíróová, Cerovská (Kolenová 74), Ondrušová, Fatulová (Klechová 52), Šušková, Bartovičová, Fecková
Referee Simona Ghisletta (Switzerland).
The WSU Team bringing you news and updates from the world of women's football.
FC Barcelona lead Iberdrola RFEF Women's Division 1 8th December
Asa, December 8, 2016 December 9, 2016 , News, 0
FC Barcelona lead Iberdrola RFEF Women's Division 1 8th December Real Sociedad 4 – 0 Oiartzun Goals From:...
Lars Søndergaard presented as Denmark WNT's new head coach
WSU, December 20, 2017 December 20, 2017 , News, 0
Lars Søndergaard presented as Denmark WNT's new head coach Lars Søndergaard signed a contract on Monday as the new...
Lillestrøm SK Kvinner Lead Norway's Toppserien League 26th August 2018
Asa, August 26, 2018 August 27, 2018 , News, Toppserien, 0
Lillestrøm SK Kvinner Lead Norway's Toppserien League 26th August 2018 Arna-Bjørnar 2 – 1 Lyn Goals From: Maria...
Republic of Ireland Under-17 Head Coach Colin Bell names squad for Denmark double-header
WSU, February 1, 2018 February 1, 2018 , News, Under-17s, 0
Republic of Ireland Under-17 Head Coach Colin Bell names squad for Denmark double-header Republic of Ireland Women's Under-17 Head...
Houston Dash sign Brazilian internationals Rosana and Poliana
WSU, December 12, 2014 December 12, 2014 , News, NWSL, Transfers, 0
Houston Dash sign Brazilian internationals Rosana and Poliana NWSL club Houston Dash have acquired Brazilian midfielder Rosana and defender...
U.S. Soccer unveils new red 2017 National Team Kit, USWNT will debut Red Kit at SheBelieves Cup
WSU, February 15, 2017 February 15, 2017 , News, SheBelieves Cup, 0
U.S. Soccer unveils new red 2017 National Team Kit, USWNT will debut Red Kit at SheBelieves Cup U.S. Soccer...
HJK Helssinki lead the Finland's Naisten Liiga 17th June 2018
Asa, June 17, 2018 July 15, 2018 , Naisten Liiga, News, 0
HJK Helssinki lead the Finland's Naisten Liiga 17th June 2018 PK-35 Vantaa 2 – 1 TPS Goals From:...
French Feminine D1 Match Results 17th January 2016
Asa, January 17, 2016 January 17, 2016 , News, 0
French Feminine D1 Match Results 17th January 2016 Rodez 3 – 2 La Roche-sur-Yon Goals From: Audrey Cugat...
LIVE: Slovakia v Republic of Ireland | FIFA Women's World Cup 2015 QualifierUEFA Women's U19 Championship Match Results 13th September 2014
Get global women's football news direct to your inbox as well as WSU updates and promotions from our partners.
I agree to the Privacy Policy & Terms and Conditions
Canada announces squad for Concacaf Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship
Tokyo Olympics – Women's Soccer
Aston Villa lead the FA Women's Championship 20th January 2020
Barcelona lead the Spanish Primera Iberdrola 19th January 2020
Manchester City lead FA Women's Super League 19th January 2020
China Squad
WSU on VfL Wolfsburg lead FlyerAlarm Frauen Bundesliga 13th October 2019
Mark on VfL Wolfsburg lead FlyerAlarm Frauen Bundesliga 13th October 2019
Jacqueline on Live broadcast information for the UEFA Women's Champions League Final between Lyon and Barcelona
WSU on Live broadcast information for the UEFA Women's Champions League Final between Lyon and Barcelona
Women's Soccer United is a pioneer in women's football, breaking boundaries in its effort to promote the game globally.
WSU is in its 10th year! Having launched as the first dedicated platform of it's kind to worldwide women's football.
Get an insight into the story behind Women's Soccer United.
Tournaments and Leagues
Korea Republic WK League
Algarve Cup 2019
Follow @WomensSoccerUtd
©2020 WOMEN'S SOCCER UNITED. All rights reserved.