Conquest

A History of Roman Britain

Ferdinand Addis

The epic, monumental story of the Roman conquest of Britain, from Caesar's first invasion attempt in 55 BC to the fall of the Roman Empire.

When Caesar's legions embarked for Britain in 55 BC, they thought they were sailing off the edge of the world. In a sense they were right. Through five long centuries of peace and war, Britannia kept its place among the empire's wildest frontiers—a rain-swept, rebel-haunted island where the Romans, though always conquering, could never truly say that they had conquered.

Combining the latest findings of archaeology with a sensitive reading of the ancient sources, Ferdinand Addis paints a vivid portrait of Britain's beginnings, from Celtic prehistory to the final retreat of the legions and its bloody and mysterious aftermath.

With astonishing narrative flair, Addis moves between sweeping history and human-scale drama, from imperial grand strategy to stolen bathrobes and birthday parties on Hadrian's Wall. What emerges is a richly complex story that defies familiar clichés—a story of domination and resistance, of cultures colliding and entwining, and the slow transformation of the landscapes and peoples of Roman Britain.

Ferdinand Addis has been fascinated by Rome since reading Livy as a teenager. He studied Classics at Oxford, then worked in film and journalism before giving it up to write history. He lives in East London with his wife and daughter.

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Endorsements & Reviews

“This is a wonderful book, packed full of marvels but grounded in earth, fire and blood. Addis writes beautifully, evoking the mysteriousness of this half-millennium of British history while using the shards of evidence available to construct a picture of life under Roman rule. It's a magnificent achievement.” Lucy Lethbridge, author of Servants: A Downstairs History of Britain from the Nineteenth Century to Modern Times

"Roman Britain is largely a blank canvas. There is plenty of opportunity for a gifted writer to craft a good story. Ferdinand Addis is a very gifted writer. His exuberant panache befits a big topic like Rome. Addis makes a virtue of uncertainty. Blank areas are colored in with beautiful prose and vivid imagination. A rich feast full of fascinating details brought together with superb storytelling.” Gerard deGroot, The Times (London)

"This bravura, multifaceted new history of the Roman conquest of Britain brings it to life with such detail and cinematic vividness that it's impossible not to call it epic." Christopher Hart, Daily Mail

“Epic and visceral, this is a richly satisfying portrait of the island Rome set out to tame.” This England

“Readers of Conquest will end Addis's cleverly assembled book with a renewed appreciation of this vital phase in our island story.” Unseen Histories

Praise for Ferdinand Addis’s The Eternal City:

"Addis breathes new life into nearly 3,000 years of tumultuous Roman history, citing the elusive nature of Rome’s historical meaning as the impetus for this sweeping chronicle. The tale of Rome’s many incarnations is one of splendor and death, impressively told with passion, analytical expertise, and wit." Publishers Weekly (starrred)

"As he moves through the centuries, Addis casts a keen eye over not just the big figures of history but also its crowds, mess, and detritus. He appreciates that the multilayered, 'palimpsestic' quality of Rome is both a cliche and a profound truth. He encourages an approach to the city’s myths that is properly skeptical but still open-mouthed." The Guardian

"Written with pace and panache. By juxtaposing the personal with the public, the particular with the general, almost every chapter becomes a tour de force, and the energy scarcely fades.” Nigel Spivey, The New Criterion

"Addis writes clearly and effectively. Those enthralled by Rome will find this a worthy companion, if one that might prompt nostalgia for golden ages of yore." Kirkus Reviews

"This book reminds us about past greatness. It is impossible not to be moved, inspired, incensed and outraged by some of the messages." Tribune Magazine