Goldsworthy has done a great job introducing a likeable yet flawed character. A great insight into the life and times of a non Roman soldier serving in the Roman Army, highlighting just how the Roman invasion of Britain integrated the locals.

the author has a detailed knowledge of roman army and history and felt the book was slightly too long but did enjoy it overall as you felt you were on the fringes of the roman empire in whats now close to the english/scottish borders.

A brilliant historic fiction.

Adrian Goldsworthy’s 2017 novel of Roman Britain set in AD 98, years before Hadrian’s Wall but also a few decades after Boudicca’s revolt, describes a time when the expanding Roman Empire had pushed far into the north of Britain, into Scotland, but was far from holding this far conquest without contest from the natives.

While this is an extraordinarily well researched and erudite novel about life in the Roman Empire, the most compelling details lay in Goldsworthy’s descriptions of the various tribes and peoples who make up the Empire, and only a few in Britain at this time were Italians.

Goldsworthy’s protagonist is Flavius Ferox, a Roman centurion, but also a Silure – from a tribe of people who lived in what is now southern Wales. Ferox’ grandfather was a tribesman who was defeated by the Roman invaders and now this ethnic group has pledged loyalty to Rome and has produced in Ferox a formidable soldier.

Calling someone Native American is like calling someone European – vaguely accurate but falling far short of the whole truth. It is more precise to say Sioux, or Cherokee, or Belgian or German. So too does Goldsworthy eschew the term Celtic and unerringly describe his characters in first century Britain as Brigantians, Caledones, Selgovae, and Iceni. The Romans are also not just Italian, but composed of soldiers from other parts of the empire and Goldsworthy likewise adds details of their tribal ancestry.

The author also spends time with social and cultural aspects of this time and place. The druids are cast as a mysterious and ancient, but still potentially powerful, sect intent on ousting the foreigners. Ferox, a British Roman soldier, is approached in one noteworthy scene by a druid and offered the chance to avenge his grandfather. Fans of such films as Gladiator, The Eagle and Antoine Fuqua’s 2004 King Arthur will like this.

Well written and informative, it is also readable and entertaining.

I will start at the end. It was my favourite part, the very well described battle and subsequent actions of Flavius Ferox (and, of course, the orders of his superiors). The battle was lively and I could not turn pages fast enough, and the unveiling of the traitor that helped the Britons was a masterpiece.

I am no expert in the period, while Goldsworthy is. However, all the details in the book occasionally made it a bit too educational and a bit dry, so that it was hard to get through those parts. The historical note, in the end, was a bit dry, but very educational and in all honesty, this is pretty much the whole point of the historical note (even though some exceptions can make it less educational and more fun to read).

All in all, I have enjoyed the book, except for those few, slightly dry parts. It is a very interesting period to write in, and I liked references to Boudicca's rebellion, even though it was quite a while ago.

Vindolanda was a Roman fort near to Hadrian's Wall (although it was built before the wall itself) with fascinating displays of what everyday life would have been like in the first century AD. It is in this area that the novel is set and where the hero, centurion Flavius Ferox, is responsible for keeping the peace between the Romans and the British tribes. His job is being made all the harder by a mysterious druidic figure known as the Stallion and the possibility of a Roman traitor. I particularly enjoyed the fact that Ferox is a bit of a maverick, with a past involving a missing woman and a drinking problem. This kind of policeman is a standard figure in crime thrillers (which this is despite its historical setting) - I can see no reason why they shouldn't have existed in Roman Britain...

Goldsworthy's detailed historical knowledge is obvious here. The military systems, the layout of forts, the life of the wives of senior officers, the politics of the relationships between the invaders and the native peoples all flow effortlessly onto the page. I never felt, however, that I was reading anything but a gripping crime thriller. Story always seemed as important as the historical facts. If you are looking for a series for fans of authors like Simon Scarrow, Conn Iggulden or Robert Fabbri from the ending of the book it seems obvious that Ferox will have further crimes and mysteries to solve in future volumes.

My edition was a kindle version from Net Gallery.

Briton at the start of the new millennium was of interest - it was the period just Boudicca led the Iceni revolt and of Cartimandua reign over the Brigantes - so I was especially interested to know how things faired in light of these event.

Vindolanda was a Roman outpost in the middle on no-man's land - between the safety of the Roman Empire and the wild and rugged domains of the native barbarians (in northern Briton). Hadrian's Wall had not been built so the outposts were small, exposed and lonely - guerilla warfare was the name of the game.

And into this we are introduced to the harsh realities of the lives of those troops on the frontline, as seen through the eyes of one Titus Flavius Ferox (a native Briton, now Roman Centurian) and Vindex, head of a band of Brigantine scouts employed by the Romans.

A new leader has emerged who is uniting the native tribes, stirred up by an equally enigmatic druid, held bent on the destruction of Rome. But not all is what it seems, and Ferox is commanded to "always search for the truth". Even today, Vindolanda is slowly giving up its truths.

A weighty read - a knowledge of Roman Briton would be an advantage - and further reading about Vindolanda is a must.

I was quickly drawn into Vindolanda by Adrian Goldsworthy, a novel set in northern frontier of Britain in 98 AD. It’s full of historical detail. Whilst some characters are based on real people about whom little is known apart from their names, most of the characters are fictional, including the main character, centurion Flavius Ferox. He is based at a small fort called Syracuse (a fictional fort) near the garrison of Vindolanda (modern Chesterholm). Vindolanda is south of Hadrian’s Wall and predates its construction.

The story begins with the arrival of Vindex, the head of the native scouts and a minor son of a chieftain of the Brigantes tribe, who announces that there is a force of at least sixty barbarians in the area planning an attack on the road to Coria (modern day Corbridge). He needs Ferox’s help in hunting these marauders. This is just the start of a series of skirmishes, ambushes and full scale battles. There is at least one traitor in the Roman army informing the tribes of the army’s movements and Ferox is charged with finding out who it is.

I enjoyed reading Vindolanda and the insight it gives into the early period of British history. Adrian Goldsworthy’s Historical Note at the end of the book is excellent, explaining just what is fictional and what is fact in his novel. After Boudicca’s defeat in AD 60 there was little resistance to the Romans in southern Britain, but it was different in northern Britain where there were frequent outbursts of violence, raids and warfare.

There are sections in the Historical Note about the Roman army describing its structure and tactics, on the period before the construction of Hadrian’s Wall, on tribes and druids. The most interesting section for me is the one on Vindolanda and the Writing Tablets found there. These are wooden tablets written in ink on thin sheets of wood. Hundreds of them have survived, most are mundane containing details of daily life, letters, accounts and give an idea about the food they ate and of the social life of the commanders and their families. Among them are details about the commanding officer around AD 98, the Prefect Flavius Cerialis and his wife, Sulpicia Lepidina, both of whom are major characters in the novel.

Vindolanda is a most enjoyable and informative book. I have just one criticism of it, which is purely personal because my eyes always glaze over during battle scenes (both in books and on screen) and in this book there is just too much detail about the battles for me interrupting the storyline, even though the scenes are graphic and fast-paced.

My thanks for the advance review copy I received courtesy of NetGalley and the publishers, Head of Zeus.

In Vindolanda, the author has created what feels like an incredibly authentic view of life on the far reaches of the Roman Empire. Adrian Goldsworthy has a terrific pedigree in this regard as a respected historian who has published numerous non-fiction books on the Roman Empire. What comes across vividly in this book is the sense of the multiplicity of different nationalities making up the Roman Empire and its army, each with their own customs, loyalties and languages and only loosely held together by their oath to serve the Emperor.

Into this mix comes Flavius Ferox, a centurion in the Roman army but a Briton by birth, tasked with keeping the peace in the northernmost part of Roman Britain where a complex structure of different tribes exist. As Ferox observes: ‘I’m on the edge of the empire, almost the edge of the world, if you like. I can see where it ends.’ Added to this, there is word of an uprising that is not just a single tribe causing difficulty but a coalition of people with ‘a mishmash of beliefs from all over the world, twisted into one message of hate and destruction’, incited by a mysterious spiritual leader to engage in a ‘holy war’ against the Roman Empire. For me, this had echoes of recent conflicts in parts of the world such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. If that wasn’t enough, there may be treachery afoot from those in the Roman nobility who wish to undermine the current emperor, Trajan and for whom such an uprising would aid their cause. In situations such as this who can you trust?

Flavius Ferox makes an ideal hero for this type of book. He’s clever, resourceful but a bit of a maverick and not afraid to challenge his superiors in order to uncover the truth. In fact, we learn this has got him into trouble in the past hence his current posting. There’s a hint of a past relationship that ended in sadness, he can be prone to periods of melancholy during which he finds solace in the wine jug and he has an eye for a beautiful lady. Really he could be a Roman Inspector Morse (but without the crosswords)!

‘Idleness did not suit Ferox, for it gave him too much time to brood and to sink into black moods, when drink seemed the only shelter.’

In the process of tackling the uprising and unravelling the mystery, Ferox gets involved in plenty of action which is vividly depicted with convincing detail about Roman military tactics and weaponry. So if you don’t know your gladius from your pilum, you soon will. Everything is satisfyingly brought together at the close of the book. The final few lines give me hope that this is not the last we’ve heard of Flavius Ferox.

This was an absolutely cracking read that will be enjoyed by any historical fiction fan, especially those with an interest in Roman history. But really, if you enjoy books with plenty of action regardless of what time period they are set in, then do give this a try.

I received an advance reader copy courtesy of NetGalley and publishers Head of Zeus in return for an honest review.

Adrian Goldsworthy's history and detailed knowledge of the Roman legions and military affairs is exemplary but the amount of accurate detail can sometimes get in the way of the story. The flow of the battle scenes, in particular, slows down and is interrupted by descriptions of exactly how many inches long each spear and sword is, whether a shield is round or square and so on. Flavius Ferox is a rough and ready hero with an obligatory troubled personal life, and his romance with Sulpicia Lepidina (famous from the Vindolanda tablets) is a bit cheesy... All the same, this gives a good account of the Romans in Britain from c.98 CE - and how nice to have a straightforward story without the need to insert a murder mystery and Roman detectives.

While browsing Net galley for historical fiction books, first I skipped "Vindolanda" second time the name of the author Adrian Goldsworthy made me to stop and requested for a copy. Some of his works include The Complete Roman Army, Caesar: The Life of a Colossus, In the Name of Rome: The Men who won the Roman Empire and Augustus: From Revolutionary to Emperor, which are in my reading list.

The author has mentioned in the end of the story that a wooden tablet, a birthday invitation written by Claudia Severa to Sulpicia Lepidina is the inspiration for the novel.

The story takes place in AD 98, Britain under the rule of Rome. The place Vindolanda, modern name Chesterholm. Vindex, a noble warrior of the Carvetti and the leader of their scouts informs Titus Flavius Ferox, centurio regionarius, seconded from Legio II Augusta (Prince of Silures) about the warring tribes plundering forts. Ferox with a small army reaches in time and saves a woman named Sulpicia Lepidina wife of Prefect Flavius Cerialis the new commander of the Ninth Batavians. Subsequently they safely takes her to Cerialis and Tribune Crispinus. Though the attack appears to be a cattle raid by the tribes Ferox had doubts.

Tribune Crispinus and Ferox undertakes journey to meet the tribes and get their goodwill and support for their new emperor Trajan. Most of the tribes showed their loyalty but Ferox was not sure about Tincommius – Land of the High King who is an intelligent leader. During the feast arranged by Tincommius one priest Stallion attends lately and criticizes the Romans. With rage Stallion tries to kill the Romans and Tincommius interferes.

Ferox and Vindex leave early and reaches Vindolanda and comes to know that Stallion and his men have kidnapped and killed a lady who they taught of royal birth. While Tribune and their army reaches Vindolanda the rebel tribes under Stallion's speech have taken their weapon to fight against the Romans. Thousands of men against 100s of Roman army.

Did Ferox plan worked? Who is behind Stallion? Did Tincommius who had collected vast amount of weapons sided with Rome or Stallion? all of these questions are answered in last chapter.

The author has mentioned that he took more freedom and did his best to reconstruct the story for the purposes in a way that the story never conflicts with any hard evidence found in the excavation of Vindolanda. Adrian has given a detailed account of the equipments of the Roman army, its organisation, its command structures, the tactics it employed, the ranks and routines involved.

All these days while reading the book I was with Ferox and Vindex traveling through the mountains of northern frontier of Britannia, the description of the land, the weather, the people and their customs made me feel as I was transported back to 1st century AD.

With vivid description of battle scenes like men yelling, swords striking the mail armour, hacking and stabbing, shields pounding on shields, sounds of swords striking over the flesh and bone, I felt I was actually taking part in the battle and looking at the horrors. I think the author narration has filled around 50 or so pages on the battle alone.

Those who like Roman history and historical fiction should never miss this book.

I like to quote some lines from the novel:

Do not waste rage. Nurture it, cherish it and use the strength it gives. Hot anger gets a man killed. Cold anger will put the other man in the earth.

Augustus described, fighting a needless war is like a man fishing with a golden hook, where no possible gain justified the risk.

A prophet cannot survive when his miracle fails.

Vindolanda arrived just at a time when my curiosity in all things Roman was starting to quest for something a little closer to home than Rome and Germany (as all the previous Roman era books I've read have been based far afield). Living close to Hadrian's Wall I was delighted to see this title and pounced on it with delight.

The novel starts well enough, and I was quite hooked from the word go but unfortunately, the author's vast knowledge on the Roman Empire and military matters, in particular, makes the novel far too complex for someone who has only newly come to Roman era historical fiction. I am sure that those who adore Roman historical fiction and non-fiction will revel in the author's painstaking details of the forces marshalled at Vindolanda and further afield, of the different cohorts and groups of men sent to fight and ensure Rome's domination, but I struggled to make any sense of what was actually happening unless the action was focused exclusively on Ferox, who I think is supposed to be the hero of the novel but who has a bit of a rough time of it as his character is never allowed to fully develop - he has potential but the author fails to evolve him as he deserved.

I also very much struggled in remembering who all the characters were. Three of the men all have names beginning with C and despite my best efforts, I utterly failed to keep the three of them clear in my mind - often what happened to them told me more about who I was reading about than anything else. There are also a whole host of British tribes to add to the conundrum of who everyone was and while I salute the attempt at authenticity and indeed believe that it should be a part of all historical fiction, I believe that a much better job could have been done of ensuring that the reader knows what's happening. There were great swathes of conversation where no indication was given as to who was speaking with who. Just a little ,'Ferox spoke" etc would have made the novel far more 'user-friendly.'

There are a number of fighting/battle scenes that I struggled to fully comprehend, although I imagine others more skilled in Roman military history may fare much better, and these are well spaced throughout the novel. I found it quite surprising how few Romans died in the battles, and also how often the Britons were naked, but perhaps this is historically accurate.

There were elements of the book that flowed very well and others that didn't. I think with a little work on pacing, and removing all the strange tense changes that occur, this novel could be much more accessible and better received by a whole host of Roman era fans - as it would appear that there is huge interest in this subject. But at the moment - it has the feel of a work in progress and one with more work still to be done. Having just read another historian's attempt at historical fiction, I feel that on this occasion, Goldsworthy fails to do his subject justice. A shame all round, compounded when I read the notes at the back and realized that the entire story was completely made up. I do like my historical fiction to have some basis in historical fact.

I will post my review on Amazon, Goodreads and Wordpress closer to the release date.

I always wonder about the current trend for historians to write historical fiction. It's become something of a fashion but it doesn't always work: good historians may tell stories with novelistic flair, and good historical fiction writers have to get their facts right, but the two genres do demand a different skill-set. Not everyone can make the transition from one to the other. So I was amused to see that Adrian Goldsworthy, the celebrated historian of the Roman Empire, has decided to try his hand at a novel. Naturally, I couldn't resist; and I'm pleased to report that Goldsworthy is one of the rare breed who can make the leap. Focusing on the men based at the forts along the northernmost frontier of Roman Britain, he tells a story full of battles, diplomacy and honour, with a very enjoyable 'odd couple' pairing at its heart.

It's 98 AD and Britannia slumbers in apparent peace. It's been almost forty years since the great uprising of the Eceni queen Boudica, and the Roman garrisons have settled into a cautious modus vivendi with their British neighbours. Up in the north, at the tiny fort of Syracuse, the centurion Flavius Ferox has allowed himself to sink into the blessed oblivion of drink in the hope of escaping his past. British by birth - and Prince of the Silures (who lived in present-day South Wales) - Ferox has long since bought in to the Roman way of life, and takes his oaths of loyalty seriously. When sober, he serves as liaison with the local tribes, giving judgements and resolving disputes. But, one morning, his scout-leader Vindex (of the Brigantes) arrives at the fort with news of a murderous skirmish. Despite his hangover, Ferox forces himself out with the scouts to track down the malefactors, but discovers that this is more than a simple cattle raid.

Things are definitely afoot. Their scouting party disturbs an ambush, and the Roman woman they rescue from a band of tribesman proves to be none other than the wife of Vindolanda's prefect. (The lovely Sulpicia Lepidina troubles Ferox's peace in more ways than one.) On the same day, a Roman tower garrison is slaughtered. Crisis meetings are immediately called for the commanders of the northern garrisons. These are unsettled times throughout the Roman world, as certain factions plot against the new Emperor Trajan, a Spanish nobody. As all eyes fix on Rome, Ferox realises that no one has much time to spare for alarmist reports from northern Britannia. The tribes are evidently uneasy, but why now? What do they want? And what of the rumours that a great druid has returned, bringing his powerful acolyte, known as the Stallion? Something is rising in the dark north and, as one of the few who can communicate with the tribes, Ferox is dragged deeper and deeper into a dangerous game. To make matters worse, there is a traitor in their midst, feeding information to the tribes. Since no one else is going to be able to find out what's going on, it's down to him.

Well, him and Vindex. The greatest joy of the book was the relationship between these two: Vindex's cheerful nonchalance set off by Ferox's half-feigned grumpiness. Their exchanges are pitch-perfect for two old friends, although Ferox would dispute that description of them ('We are not friends ... I just haven't got around to killing you yet'). And the characterisation is lovely. As the Roman citizen, the centurion, the responsible one, Ferox constantly labours under complicated feelings of duty and obligation while, as a native auxiliary, Vindex is quite happy to just go along with him, fight lots of people, have a drink and find accommodating girls somewhere along the line. My one complaint is that Goldsworthy has adopted Bernard Cornwell's pernicious use of the word 'hump' - a pet hate of mine. Damn it, gentlemen of the historical fiction world! If you are battle-hardened soldiers and you want to use a four-letter-word then for goodness sake, use one that doesn't leave you sounding like a coy schoolboy! I also wasn't convinced that the romantic subplot was strictly necessary, but that's a small thing.

Obviously Goldsworthy knows this period like the back of his hand, and it's fascinating to read the author's note at the end to find out more about how he created the novel from shreds of fact and fiction. Even tiny details turn out to have some basis in truth - Sulpicia Lepidina is mentioned in several of the Vindolanda tablets, while a child's shoe worn down in an unusual pattern was the inspiration for Cerialis' son who has a twisted spine. But the novel itself doesn't feel loaded down with knowledge; on the contrary, it felt incredibly light and lively. Occasionally I thought the battle scenes went into slightly too much detail regarding which nationality such-and-such auxiliaries were, and what arms they carried, but if Homer and Herodotus can get away with it, I suppose we can let Goldsworthy off just this once. He's especially interested in relations between the tribes and the Romans, and the need for careful diplomacy, which is where native officers like Ferox come into their own.

If you're an established fan of the Ben Kane, Bernard Cornwell, Simon Scarrow or Conn Iggulden variety, then you should definitely seek this one out. Even better, it promises to be the first in a series, so there's plenty more Romano-British goodness coming up.

For the post, due to be published on 15 April 2017, see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2017/04/15/vindolanda-adrian-goldsworthy