''Tros of Samothrace'' is a

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...

historical novel Historical fiction is a literary genre in which the plot takes place in a setting related to the past events, but is fictional. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literature, it can also be applied to other ty ...

by American writer

Talbot Mundy Talbot Mundy (born William Lancaster Gribbon, 23 April 1879 – 5 August 1940) was an English writer of adventure fiction. Based for most of his life in the United States, he also wrote under the pseudonym of Walter Galt. Best known as the ...

. The story was composed of several novellas which were published originally in the American magazine ''

Adventure An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme spo ...

'' during 1925 and 1926. It was published first together as a book during

1934 Events January–February * January 1 – The International Telecommunication Union, a specialist agency of the League of Nations, is established. * January 15 – The 8.0 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake, Nepal–Bihar earthquake strik ...

Appleton-Century D. Appleton & Company was an American publishing company founded by Daniel Appleton, who opened a general store which included books. He published his first book in 1831. The company's publications gradually extended over the entire field of li ...

company. Mundy dedicated ''Tros of Samothrace'' to his friend

Rose Wilder Lane Rose Wilder Lane (December 5, 1886 – October 30, 1968) was an American journalist, travel writer, novelist, political theorist and daughter of American writer Laura Ingalls Wilder. Along with two other female writers, Ayn Rand and Isabel Pa ...

, who had funded its book publication.

Plot introduction

The novel concerns the courageous adventures of the title character (a Greek from Samothrace) as he helps pre-Roman Britons fight the invading forces of

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, and ...

. Over the course of the novel, Tros travels from Britain to Spain, and finally the city of Rome itself.Hulse, Ed. ''Blood 'n' Thunder Presents: Pride of the Pulps: The Great All-Fiction Magazines.'' 2017. DE : Murania Press, (p.16) The novel contains minor

elements. One of the characters, Fflur, has the power of "second sight". The novel also imagines a benevolent secret society of mystics which includes the British

Druid A druid was a member of the high-ranking class in ancient Celtic cultures. Druids were religious leaders as well as legal authorities, adjudicators, lorekeepers, medical professionals and political advisors. Druids left no written accounts. Whi ...

s and the followers of the Greek Samothracian Mysteries.

Publishing history

The original sequence of novellas was published as follows: # "Tros of Samothrace", 10 February 1925 (later became chapters 1..14 of the novel) # "The Enemy of Rome", 10 April 1925 (chapters 15..26) # "Prisoners of War", 10 June 1925 (chapters 27..37) # "Hostages to Luck", 20 August 1925 (chapters 38..51) # "Admiral of Caesar's Fleet", 10 October 1925 (chapters 52..66) # "The Dancing Girl of Gades", 10 December 1925 (chapters 67..81) # "Messenger of Destiny", part 1, 10 February 1926 (chapters 82..87) # "Messenger of Destiny", part 2, 20 February 1926 (chapters 88..92) # "Messenger of Destiny", part 3, 28 February 1926 (chapters 93..96) Taves, Brian, ''Talbot Mundy, Philosopher of Adventure'', McFarland, 2006 (pgs. 288-9). When ''Tros of Samothrace'' was published as four paperback volumes during 1967 and 1971, the divisions between volumes coincided with Mundy's own divisions: *''Tros'' contains "Tros of Samothrace" and "The Enemy of Rome". *''Helma'' contains "Prisoners of War" and "Hostages to Luck". *''Liafail'' contains "Admiral of Caesar's Fleet" and "The Dancing Girl of Gades". *''Helene'' contains all three parts of "Messenger of Destiny". When ''Tros of Samothrace'' was reissued as three paperback volumes during 1976, the divisions between volumes was partway through "Prisoners of War" and "Admiral of Caesar's Fleet".

Reception

Although the stories were popular with ''Adventure's'' readers, they also aroused debate due to the fact that Mundy described

and

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...

civilization as imperialistic and tyrannical; ''Adventure'' editor

Arthur Sullivant Hoffman Arthur Sullivant Hoffman (September 28, 1876 – March 15, 1966) was an American magazine editor. Hoffman is best known for editing the acclaimed pulp magazine ''Adventure'' from 1912 to 1927, Bleiler, Richard. "A History of Adventure Magazine", in ...

later stated that the Tros stories were the most controversial the magazine had ever published. Grant, Donald M., ''Talbot Mundy: Messenger of Destiny''. Donald M. Grant publishers, 1983. (p. 152). Mundy's negative depiction of Caesar resulted in controversy in ''Adventure's'' letters section, "the Camp-Fire". Server, Lee, ''Danger is my business: an illustrated history of the Fabulous Pulp Magazines''. Chronicle Books, 1993. (pp. 55–6) The debate on ''Tros of Samothraces depiction of Caesar in the magazine featured contributions by writers such as

Elmer Davis Elmer Holmes Davis (January 13, 1890 – May 18, 1958) was an American news reporter, author, the Director of the United States Office of War Information during World War II and a Peabody Award recipient. Early life and career Davis was born ...

Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur (September 18, 1888 – September 9, 1971) was a scholar of early English, German, and Old Norse literature at the University of California, Berkeley. He is known primarily for his scholarly work on ''Beowulf'' and his ...

Hugh Pendexter Hugh Pendexter (1875–1940) was an American journalist, novelist, and screenwriter. Biography For much of his life, Pendexter lived in Norway, Maine.Stotter, Mike, "Pendexter, Hugh" in Sadler, Geoff (ed.), ''Twentieth Century Western Writers' ...

and

Arthur D. Howden Smith Arthur D. Howden Smith (; 1887–1945) was an American historian and novelist.Robert Sampson, ''Yesterday's Faces: Violent Lives'', Bowling Green State University, 1993, , pp. 177–78. Life Arthur Douglas Howden Smith was born in New York. In ...

Fritz Leiber Fritz Reuter Leiber Jr. ( ; December 24, 1910 – September 5, 1992) was an American writer of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He was also a poet, actor in theater and films, playwright, and chess expert. With writers such as Robert ...

praised ''Tros of Samothrace'', saying: "The Tros stories made a great impression on me as a young man. I read and re-read them...it was wonderful, imaginative writing".

Floyd C. Gale ''Galaxy Science Fiction'' was an American digest-size science fiction magazine, published in Boston from 1950 to 1980. It was founded by a French-Italian company, World Editions, which was looking to break into the American market. World Edit ...

wrote during 1959 when reviewing a new edition of the book that it was "Out of print far too long, here is one classic that still reads as if written yesterday ... An absolute ''Must Buy'' at this price".

References

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External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tros Of Samothrace 1934 American novels Novels set in the 1st century BC American fantasy novels Novels set in Roman Britain Fictional depictions of Julius Caesar in literature Samothrace Appleton-Century books