Publius Quinctillus Varus, a Roman politician, is summoned by the emperor, Augustus Caesar.  Given three elgions and sent to the Roman frontier east of the Rhine, his mission is to subdue the barbarous German tribes where others have failed and bring their land fully under Rome's control.

9 cd's 12 hours UNABRIDGED.  

"Turtledove's searing account clears the cobwebs off this ancien and nearly forgotten disaster, and brings it to vivid and startling life for a modern audience." MICHAEL CURTIS FORD