Hannibal

I’ve heard a lot of people ask the question ‘why did the Romans do what they did? Why was Rome so violent and weird?’ To me, this question is very easy: why wouldn’t they do what they did? Why would they not be violent and weird? All you need to understand Rome is to understand people and the situations they are in. I’m Luke Beverley, and my creative dissertation is Hannibal, a historical fiction novel that aims to discuss these people and situations. It is set in Italy during the Second Punic War, and centres around two characters: Hannibal and Scipio, legendary rivals. Through these characters and the situations they’re in, I seek to contextualise Roman exceptionalism in the terms of the modern world, phrasing the strange and distant civilisations of antiquity in ways a modern audience can both comprehend and even relate to. Carthage, as a coded metaphor for Britain, speaks to empires of the past; Rome, as a coded metaphor for America, speaks to empires of the present. The crux of my project is thinking about people in history. Travelling to Rome and speaking to local scholars helped me realise that people in history do what we do, but in very different situations and cultures. I believe the best histories come when we understand the cultures that created a series of events, and being in Rome gave me a lot of that culture. I look forward to sharing my work.

Scipio (saluting): *Salve amici*! I am Publius Cornelius Scipio, and I’m here on—

Hannibal: I AM HANNIBAL BARCA, THE BLOOD-SWORN CONQUEROR OF ROME!

Scipio: He’s just cranky because he lost his last elephant.

Hannibal (looking around): WHERE DID YOU GO, BIG TUSK?

Scipio: I’m here on Luke Beverley’s behalf to tell you a little about his exciting novel *Hannibal*, a story about—

Hannibal: WHAT? Did you say the name of the dreaded scourge of Italy HANNIBAL BAR—

Scipio: *A story about* the Second Punic War, and the rise of my beautiful, messed-up country, (hand over heart) the Roman Republic. *Hannibal* is full of gripping historical characters, heartbreaking emotional moments, epic battles—

Hannibal (elephant in his hand): AND ELEPHANTS! Oh there you are, Big Tusk. (kisses elephant)

Scipio: And elephants, (bashfully) and a little bit of romance, too. Look out for a sweetie-pie named Felix. (winks)

Hannibal (stroking beard): Yes, it is a most excellent biography, befitting my strategic genius.

Scipio: Mmm, I’m pretty sure it’s about other people, too.

Hannibal: WHAT?! How could something with my name be about ANYTHING ELSE THAN ME?

Scipio: Well, Luke wanted to add some pathos to the ordinary people living in this period of time, so he included perspectives from foot soldiers, lowly farmers, grief-stricken citizens of Rome, and so on, all in his quest to portray this tumultuous period of war.

Hannibal: Hmmph, he should’ve written more about how I tumultuously kicked your butt. Four times in a row. After crossing the Alps. With an army.

Scipio: Oh hush, I defeat you in the Battle of Zama.

Hannibal (gaping): What the hell, man, I didn’t get to that part yet!

Scipio: Okay, okay, sorry!

(hard cut) Scipio: Anyway, Luke explores complex themes in *Hannibal*, such as imperialism, militarism, history, and the terrible cost of one man’s revenge. Looking at you, Hanny.

Hannibal: Grrr, I only took that blood-oath to destroy your civilisation because my father wanted me to.

Scipio: We do a lot of things we don’t like to honour our families, I would know. This is also something Luke explores, the generational nature of martial duty and the impact it has on young men like me. The scars that trauma leaves on soldiers just trying to serve their families and societies. I love Rome, but a lot of what we did wasn’t pretty, and I struggled for a long time to try and figure out where I belonged in that cruel, messed-up world.

Hannibal: Read *Hannibal*, and see how I crossed the Alps to kick 900,000 Roman asses at Cannae!

Scipio: Well, come for the battles, but stay for the feels. It’s an ambitious story of war and pain and family, all pulled together with rich characters and drama. I hope you guys enjoy it. (waving goodbye) *Vale, amici*!