2019-02-25
As a general overview of the latest in British Roman archaeology, this book is superb. Guy de la Bédoyère lays out such a rich spread of information that on this point the book should have 5 stars. Where it falls down is the author’s almost total refusal to speculate. On the other hand, he does point out that multiple interpretations of a particular site may be possible – the frustration is that he rarely ever throws his hand in with any one theory.
A case in point: Fishbourne Palace, the most magnificent, biggest, and earliest significant Roman structure found in Britain is mentioned repeatedly through the book, along with the mystery of who its owner might be. Meanwhile, he also happens to mention – repeatedly – that we’ve no idea where the Roman governor of Britain lived, other than it should be the most magnificent, biggest, and earliest significant Roman structure found in Britain. It’s only toward the end of the book that he even dares suggesta connection, and even then it’s with the greatest hesitation.
Juxtaposing his caution in interpreting the archaeology is his general acceptance that any Roman document must be true – a general bias within the discipline of Classical Studies that is really underlined here.
Overall, a wonderful book of information, but frustrating in that the author repeatedly hesitates to connect that information into anything more than the most generic narrative.
Rating: 4/5