Let down a bit by the narrator

If you could sum up Under the Eagle in three words, what would they be?

Rattling good story

What three words best describe David Thorpe’s performance?

Casual, chatty, undramatic

Any additional comments?

This the first in the 'Eagles' series, and as you'd expect the story and language isn't as polished as after Mr Scarrow gets a few under his belt and finds his stride. However, it is an entertaining story that rattles along nicely. Not quite 'Sharpe in sandals', but nearly.Unfortunately, the narrator has a chatty, casual style that doesn't vary in even the most dramatic moments, which takes the edge off somewhat. It is very easy on the ear, but just doesn't suit the words he is saying. However, I did get used to this after a few hours and move past it, except his pronounciation of 'Cato' as 'Car-to', and even, I'm certain, 'Carter' a few times. This goes against how I (and others I know) have always pronounced it, and how it is pronounced in the later books by other narrators, and never ceased to grate a bit.

14 people found this helpful

Roman squaddies on tour.

Where does Under the Eagle rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I've listened to a lot of audiobooks set in the Roman era including Lindsey Davies (Marcus Dideus Falco) and the SPQR series. If you enjoyed those, you'll probably like these. The author does a good job of inserting his characters and their story into known historical settings.

What did you like best about this story?

The main characters are likeable and I quickly became interested in their situation. The 'banter' between the soldiers is amusing, particularly Macro and his bad language. The drill sergeant character Bestio is funny as well.

What does David Thorpe bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

David Thorpe is a good narrator. He has a range of accents to bring the characters to life, and on the whole he does this very well - often with comic effect. His narration doesn't irritate or intrude, he is easy to listen to.

Any additional comments?

This was a very good audiobook if you enjoy the Roman setting and don't mind the odd expletive. The story was well paced and the characters were likeable. I enjoyed it so much, I ordered the next two in the series and immediately listened to them.

13 people found this helpful

A Brilliant Series - now complete

To me this is an excellent series of books. Simon Scarrow produces two well-developed "chalk and cheese" main characters that somehow develop an excellent chemistry as brothers in arms. Plenty of action mixed with plenty of character development is what I like in my books and here we get both aplenty. The narration is lively and positive so moves the story forwards well.

Update: The only thing that irritated me (at the time of writing) was that quite a few of the books are currently not available on audible UK at least and had been the case for a while but now the full series (to date) is available! Hurrah!

I'm stuck waiting for book four. This is such a good series I am determined to do them justice by listening in order.

12 people found this helpful

Finally

Would you listen to Under the Eagle again? Why?

I was really excited to see that Scarrow's early Macro & Cato books were finally being released as an audio version. The more recent books have had a couple of different but excellent narrators who capture the voices of the leads excellently. It's always difficult when a series has a new reader but David Thorpe handles the gruff voice of Macro and the younger Cato well. My only gripe, which is small but for me really off putting is his pronunciation of Cato. I have always read it, as previous narrators have as Kay to. Thorpe calls him Car to. For someone new to the series this is irrelevant. But after over a dozen books I just can't think of him this way. I wonder how Scarrow pronounces his name?

This aside it's a great first story with humour and fast paced gritty action that follows our two heroes across Britain in search of Caesar's lost treasure. Great fun and worth a listen.

12 people found this helpful

Great listen the start of a long journey

Mentioned by others the only minor gripe, and it is minor is how the narrator vocalises the name of Cato.

The story is a toe in the water for the great interweaved tale of the Roman Empire in the 1st Century as seen by two chalk and cheese characters thrown together by fate and circumstance.

Historically it's key moments are placed correctly it's the picture that gets painted as interpreted by our main protagonists that brings the story to life.

Having read all of the series as soon they are published it's now a new treat to listen to the books whilst commuting . The story is the same, the experience different the pleasure meeting again our two rough legionaries enhanced by our narrators interpretation, even if he can't get KAY-TOE correct.

Overall it's like having the original album on vinyl and now having gone and got the CD. I'm keeping the books and I do occasionally reread this is a new way to enjoy and old favourite.

7 people found this helpful

The business of killing and dying for Empire

This is entertaining and fast moving, full intrigue and action with a flavor of the Roman Empire to add a distinctive flavour. The characters are well drawn and the plot is also well developed if a bit formulaic.

If you are looking for some fun reading with plenty of action this is a good place to start, the period adds complications to what is a grunts indoctrination into the ways of war and the politics of the period feel closer to the battlefield than today's distant manipulations.

The reading is good but the screaming is not and there is a lot of screaming orders and commanding and that sounds a bit hysterical at times also the english accents to denote class and rank are for me out of place, on the other hand you can recognize the characters and the pace helps the story to move well.

6 people found this helpful

A great blend of fact and fiction

This was a very good story narrated well. Scarrow developed strong characters and I am looking forward to listening to the next installment. Real praise should also be given to David Thorpe whose voices made the story more memorable.

6 people found this helpful

Fantastic read had me hooked from the start

An excellent story and impressive writing had me fully immersed in the story and gripped in the tense action and intrigue moments within the book. furthermore I have now purchased more books in the series as this book and the 5 star standard continues through the series, A MUST READ/LISTEN!

Further notes the narration is of an equally impressive standard

4 people found this helpful

Superb

Bloody brilliant and David Thorpe is excellent as usual, can't wait to get stuck into the next

3 people found this helpful

enthralling tale. brilliantly put together.

I have been looking for a gripping period story and this is absorbing all the way through.
Well researched, excellently written.

3 people found this helpful