The Romans Who Shaped Britain

Roman Britain was created not by impersonal historical forces, but by men and women, each driven by ambition, aspiration and passion. Vivid and compelling, The Romans Who Shaped Britain sets out the story as a single narrative, and reminds us of the truly epic nature of the history of Britannia. It explores the story of this Roman province through the lives of its emperors, commanders, governors, officials and rebels. This rich cast of characters includes some, such as Caesar, Agricola and Boudica, who may be familiar; and others, such as Carausius, Magnentius or Valentinus, who deserve to be more so. Their lives and actions are set against the backdrop of an evolving landscape, in which Iron Age shrines were being replaced by marble temples, industrial-scale factories and granaries were springing up across the countryside and a triumphal arch towered into the Kent sky to mark Rome’s domination.