The Thumbnail Book Reviews
by John Q McDonald --- 29 February 2008
by L. Sprague de Camp
People are always arguing about the role of classical education in this frenetic modern world. When was the last time anyone took Latin in high school? Given the scenario of this little novel, one might want to consider the Berlitz tapes for classical Latin. At any rate, some classical knowledge would help in the enjoyment of the story. Perhaps, in the late 1930s, when this book was written, the author could count on his readers having some basic understanding of ancient world history. There is no question that the author himself was extremely well-versed in the time period of which he writes. Ostensibly a time-travel tale, the time-travel itself is disposed of in one chapter. What ensues is an exercise in the alteration of world history. Martin Padway, a modern archaeologist at work in Mussolini's Rome, is magically transported by a lightning bolt to Rome in 535 AD. As an historian and archaeologist, he is well suited for this adventure. He exercises his conversational Latin and can forsee some of the events of this time, Ostrogothic Rome, on the verge of the Middle Ages. The prejudices of Sprague de Camp's time are evident in that Padway immediately sets out to avert what he knows as the Dark Ages. Beginning with a brandy distillery, he quickly anticipates the invention of movable type and Gutenberg's bible by nearly a millennium, and publishes a newspaper. His invention of a relay telegraph to connect all of Italy in the time of Justinian's invasions allows him access to high levels of power so that he can avert the fall of the Goths and implement some decidedly modern plans, including the exploration of the Americas and the emancipation of Roman slaves and serfs. Padway's plans are ambitious, and things go remarkably well for him. While the book is entertaining and often amusing, his experiences in ancient Rome lack the authenticity of time and place. Padway doesn't fall victim to the illnesses and lack of medicine and sanitation that one would likely find in reality. Everyday life goes swimmingly, though Padway is regularly arrested for his activities and occasional naivité. The thing is that anyone, even a Latin-speaking historian, would suffer from paralyzing culture-shock if given this bizarre opportunity. The resulting book is a fun but thin exercise in alternative history. What would you do to change the world?