Tros of Samothrace
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 Picture of dust-cover from the first edition. | |
| Author | Talbot Mundy |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | Tros |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Publisher | Appleton-Century |
Publication date | 1934 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 949 |
| OCLC | 592466 |
| Followed by | Queen Cleopatra |
Tros of Samothrace is a fantasy historical novel by American writer Talbot Mundy. The story was composed of several novellas which were published originally in the American magazine Adventure during 1925 and 1926. It was published first together as a book during 1934 by Appleton-Century company.
Mundy dedicated Tros of Samothrace to his friend Rose Wilder Lane, who had funded its book publication.[1]
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. Over the course of the novel, Tros travels from Britain to Spain, and finally the city of Rome itself.[2]
The novel contains minor fantasy 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 Druids and the followers of the Greek Samothracian Mysteries.[2]
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) [3]
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".