DNF on 50%

As much as I appreciate the author’s dedication to this book and ability to write in details about topics he talks about in a very clear way, which really helps when you have a very limited knowledge about Roman Empire, I have to admit this book just wasn’t for me.

I’m taking the blame here. I genuinely thought this book was perfect for me but I was wrong. I love history but the over detailing in this case just made me feel more confused. Don’t get me wrong, this book is amazing, just not for people with no knowledge about anything the author mentions. It’s not a brief overview, so be aware of that if you want to try reading ‘Roman Britain’s Pirate King’.

Thank you, NetGalley for giving me this arc❤️

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy!
This is a very interesting read and I am always interested in ancient Roman history. Many forget pirates did exist in the ancient world. This book shows how they were both enemies and heroes during a turbulent era!

An interesting book that has you hooked up to the end. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes ancient history.

Imagine the Roman Empire in the crisis of the Third Century. Over-run by wars, plague, banditry, and Germanic tribes becoming more bolder to raid Roman lands, as the Roman bueacracy or the political administration becomes increasingly aware that the Empire has grown too big to rule under one Emperor. The old system of the Principate, i.e that was the old structure of the Empire from Augustus is not fit for purpose anymore. This book consistently sheds light on what numerous Roman Emperors tried to do to solve the crisis of the Third Century, which in effect was a massive civil war across the entirety of the Roman Empire, and contained pockets of mini wild west scenarios. Britain would in effect, become one of those provinces. Simon goes into great effort to detail the effects of the economy something that’s not often taught or learned about. The Roman Empire was massive, its army massive, but to run it needed effective military leaders and an effective civilian administration – something which the Third Century crisis almost weakened Rome because of this.

At this age, we are somewhere around the 280s-290s when Emperor Maximian restored rule to Gaul. Imperial Gaul had become a trove of banditry ever since it had seceded from Rome, and former Roman citizens, dispossessed and disillusioned with the Empire, began to raid their own lands. Very much as to what was happening in Roman Britain. Carasusis of course was appointed to restore the rule in Britain from the Germanic incursions and he did it. Suffice to say, this then lead to Carausis putting on his big boy hat, and he became the so-called Emperor of Britannia for a time, being a very strategically cunning commander until Maximian brought in Constantine Chlorus, the father of Constantine the Great, who would go onto take control of Britain and defeat Carausis’s holding in Gaul. Constantine Chlorus was one of the most monumental figures of Roman history that in my opinion is often ignored. Suffice it to say, this is the best way I can summarise this book: Lands are in revolt, and a new Emperor comes and restores order. An island is under raid, so the new Emperor appoints a cunning general who restores order on the island and usurps his rule. Then the Emperor brings in another cunning general who is making the way to power, and then that cunning general who was once ruling that island gets killed by his own subordinate. You can’t make this stuff up, half of it is especially brilliant for a Hollywood series adaptation or Netflix TV show. And half of it resembles Monty Python. That's Roman History for you!

I think Simon did a brilliant job in showcasing just how fragmented this world was. That being said, he does cover the origins of the Roman Military and how it changed. I would have wanted more images illustrating this, and I would have preferred less of detail on the military and more on the story of the Pirate King because I feel, this could be the subject of much discussion itself. Pen and Sword are doing an excellent job in showcasing the history and I wish their books were longer. Thank you to Rosie at Pen and Sword for providing me with a review copy of this book. I think this is a great novel and it’s a 10/10 from me!

This is a thoroughly researched tome that provides information on an interesting chapter of Roman Britain history that probably many do not know much or anything about. It also provides context of these happenings to the greater Roman Empire at this time which was going through its own major tremors.

The audience for this is people very interested in history, particularly Roman or British history. You don’t need to know anything about the Roman Empire in the 300s A.D. The author gives a comprehensive history of what was going on the Empire and how that influenced Britain. However, the amount of detail here is not for someone who wants a brief overview. While there are scare sources for this time, the author does make the most of what is there and provides a coherent narrative. At times, I think he went into a little too much detail about the types of weapons Roman legions used. I don’t think that it added to the narrative of the Pirate King and his exploits in particular.

Overall, I found it an interesting read. I found out a lot of information about the last century of Roman Britain that I didn’t not know.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I have been a student of Roman History for a long time. This well written and extremely interesting story of the Northern reaches of Rome and its intrigues is new reading for me. The amount of history known about the people who lead the empire in the late 200s onward is very surprising to me. The thousands of lives involved in this story and the battles and unheard of struggles discussed make this book important reading because of the fact its not well known and its real history that can be corroborated with many remaining records and histories that have survived, Roman Britain is a fascinating subject and this book adds a new level to those who learn from the past.