Wow! This book was really fun to read. It successfully argues that what we thought we knew, about Britain's Roman past, is codswallop! Even writing this, Elephants in Essex, Boudicca's spiked chariot and Agricola's record-braking romp all around the island, all sound ridiculous in hindsight.
O'Gorman writes convincingly that Tacitus, and subsequently Cassius Dio, convenient appearance as the Tudors strove to be the new renaissance dynasty of Europe, before arrogantly and successfully tearing away from papal authority, was a cynical fabrication designed to hold the country within the Catholic church's authority. These traditional sources disappeared, just as quickly as they were 'discovered, after allegedly laying unmolested and unknown in a monastery's cellar for 1500 years, they served their purpose and vanished in odd circumstances - like fires.
O'Gorman provides an abundance of evidence and footnotes, clear points and chronological signposting as to what actually happened - this kept me confidently engaged throughout the book. As a fan of all history, especially well-presented, heavily evidenced, and thought provoking alternative analysis, this book ticks all the boxes. I give it an unflinching 5/5
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Reviews with images
An important book on British history
Wow! This book was really fun to read. It successfully argues that what we thought we knew, about Britain's Roman past, is codswallop! Even writing this, Elephants in Essex, Boudicca's spiked chariot and Agricola's record-braking romp all around the island, all sound ridiculous in hindsight.O'Gorman writes convincingly that Tacitus, and subsequently Cassius Dio, convenient appearance as the Tudors strove to be the new renaissance dynasty of Europe, before arrogantly and successfully tearing away from papal authority, was a cynical fabrication designed to hold the country within the Catholic church's authority. These traditional sources disappeared, just as quickly as they were 'discovered, after allegedly laying unmolested and unknown in a monastery's cellar for 1500 years, they served their purpose and vanished in odd circumstances - like fires.O'Gorman provides an abundance of evidence and footnotes, clear points and chronological signposting as to what actually happened - this kept me confidently engaged throughout the book. As a fan of all history, especially well-presented, heavily evidenced, and thought provoking alternative analysis, this book ticks all the boxes. I give it an unflinching 5/5
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Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2024
Wow! This book was really fun to read. It successfully argues that what we thought we knew, about Britain's Roman past, is codswallop! Even writing this, Elephants in Essex, Boudicca's spiked chariot and Agricola's record-braking romp all around the island, all sound ridiculous in hindsight.
O'Gorman writes convincingly that Tacitus, and subsequently Cassius Dio, convenient appearance as the Tudors strove to be the new renaissance dynasty of Europe, before arrogantly and successfully tearing away from papal authority, was a cynical fabrication designed to hold the country within the Catholic church's authority. These traditional sources disappeared, just as quickly as they were 'discovered, after allegedly laying unmolested and unknown in a monastery's cellar for 1500 years, they served their purpose and vanished in odd circumstances - like fires.
O'Gorman provides an abundance of evidence and footnotes, clear points and chronological signposting as to what actually happened - this kept me confidently engaged throughout the book. As a fan of all history, especially well-presented, heavily evidenced, and thought provoking alternative analysis, this book ticks all the boxes. I give it an unflinching 5/5
O'Gorman writes convincingly that Tacitus, and subsequently Cassius Dio, convenient appearance as the Tudors strove to be the new renaissance dynasty of Europe, before arrogantly and successfully tearing away from papal authority, was a cynical fabrication designed to hold the country within the Catholic church's authority. These traditional sources disappeared, just as quickly as they were 'discovered, after allegedly laying unmolested and unknown in a monastery's cellar for 1500 years, they served their purpose and vanished in odd circumstances - like fires.
O'Gorman provides an abundance of evidence and footnotes, clear points and chronological signposting as to what actually happened - this kept me confidently engaged throughout the book. As a fan of all history, especially well-presented, heavily evidenced, and thought provoking alternative analysis, this book ticks all the boxes. I give it an unflinching 5/5
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