Massimiliano Colombo and his Roman heroes born on Lake Como M
assimiliano Colombo knows well how to tell stories, he is an established writer, probably the best in Italy, albeit in a niche market, that of the historical novel set in Roman times. But despite the fact that his books are best sellers translated into English and Spanish, Como and Lake Como, an area he does not fail to include in the pages of his works, have not yet given him the attention he deserves. "I write in the evenings, on my lunch break, on the train on my way from Como to work - Colombo works in logistics and security at a credit institution in Switzerland - I have had this passion for Ancient Rome since I was a child." His passion for the life of Roman legionnaires, auxiliaries, principales, aquilifers and centurions, as well as military life in the Napoleonic period was revived during his military service as a paratrooper in Pisa. He studies uniforms, devours specific books, and passionately visits museums particularly in Rome and Paris. The idea to write, however, came during a vacation in Greece 20 years ago. The character of the Aquilifero was born. A soldier who, in order not to hand over the eagle of his legion, is ready to die. Getting a
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book published, even a good book, which will eventually come out with three different titles and three editions only in Spain, is never an easy feat, however. But Massimiliano Colombo, like his Aquilifero, is not one to give up easily. In 2009 Piemme bought the rights to Aquilifero and republished the book in the fall of 2010 with the title: “La legione degli immortali” (Legion of the Immortals), which was followed in 2011 by "Il vessillo di Porpora" (The Purple Banner) and in 2012 by "Draco, l'ombra dell’Imperatore" (Draco, the Emperor's Shadow). The following year Columbus landed in Spain with all his works. To Spain and South America the author dedicates the prequel to “La legione degli immortali": "Centurio," which will arrive in Italy a year later with the new publisher Newton Compton. The same process takes place for "Lineage of Heroes." In 2021 here is "Triumphus," the story of the Gallic War relived from the pit of the Tullian prison by Vercingetorix, or “Il prigioniero di Cesare” (Caesar's prisoner). "Love your dream if it torments you," said D'Annunzio," recalls Colombo, who is just these weeks completing the English translation of one of his works.