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Title: A harmless diversion, but unsatisfying
Review: I am not familiar enough with the history of the Punic Wars or Hannibal and Scipio to pass judgment on the historical accuracy of this book. The most distracting part of Lecke's style is his insistence on cramming so many latin phrases and translations into his text. Do the characters really need to say "Romanus sum. I am a Roman" all the time? The author should have spent more time fleshing out his characters than providing a grade-school primer on Latin vocabulary and Roman society. I thought the description of Scipio's first experience of war was entertaining, but Lecke could have been a little more subtle in his portrayal of Scipio's development. How boring to have the future general constanly think or say, "So, this Hannibal is crafty! Perhaps we Romans can learn from him!" Ugh.
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