An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List

500. The Roman Conquest of Britain: The Empire Strikes Back (Part 2)

October 02, 2024

Description

Viewed as an idiot by those around him, Claudius felt the need to prove himself. In the century since Caesar had invaded Britain, the mythology surrounding the island had taken hold in Roman...
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Books Referenced

I, Claudius

Author: Robert Graves

Context:

Referenced when discussing Emperor Claudius and his background, mentioned alongside the TV adaptation as a way listeners might be familiar with Claudius's story

Echo Lands

Author: Duncan McKay

Context:

Described as 'a superb book on Boudicca' that came out the previous year, called 'the best book on Roman Britain I've read in ages.' Tom quotes McKay's description of British coins as 'little tabs of hallucinatory braille'

Pagan Britain

Author: Ronald Hutton

Context:

Referenced when discussing Druids and human sacrifice, described as 'brilliant' on these topics. Hutton is also mentioned as having done episodes with the podcast and being 'a friend of the show'

Britannia: A History of Roman Britain

Author: Sheppard Frere

Context:

Referenced as 'his great history of Britain, which he wrote several decades ago' when discussing the nature of Camelodonum (Colchester), describing it as having 'habitations... for the most part small huts of prehistoric character'