This month's #HistFicThursdays have been all art-inspired, so I'm sticking with that theme! A couple of months ago, the Things to Inspire blog was about sketches . Today's is about finished pieces of artwork! Artwork has been an inspiration for millions of people across thousands of years. Just like a book, the finished product can (hopefully!) be an inspiration. Over the years, we've collected one or two pieces of old artworks, and these are a few... Religious artwork has always been used as an inspiration and, historically, this was how the majority of people interacted with biblical stories. This was a barn find - probably created for someone's own interest judging by the naive style of artwork. It looks like it might have been from a panelled wall at some point. I wonder what happened to the rest of the panels and what story they might show when they are all together... Of course, not all artworks are paintings! Here is a scrimshaw of the Battle of Flamborough
After reading Alexander the Great versus Julius Caesar, I knew I liked the way Simon Elliott writes - something which is even more important in nonfiction than fiction. Roman Britain's Pirate King focuses on a period in the Roman Empire which I have got to know rather well through my own research, but my research had all been in the east of the empire. I couldn't wait to dive into this book as it explored events in the west!
The book divides into two parts: the first half is scene-setting, taking the reader through a step-by-step explanation of the situations leading up to the usurpers' actions; the second half looks at the events surrounding Carausius and Allectus. I have to admit, this hadn't been exactly the ratio I'd expected. Out of 166 pages, our protagonist only has 46 pages between his birth and death.
But the book is a fascinating look at the legacy of the events in those ten years when Britain became a bargaining chip for control of "the imperial power". There is a thorough and broad look at both primary and secondary texts, while Elliott also puts forward theories and interpretations of his own, making this book the newest step on discovering the shrouded truths of this difficult and largely ignored chapter of the Roman Empire's history.
This is clearly a time and topic close to the author's heart, referencing his own PhD as a recurring source, while the narrative in the second half of the book is driven by a great enthusiasm. In essence, the story of Carausius is all about money. First he was accused of not handing over his booty, then of instigating his interception of the pirates. Finally, the most resounding legacy of all is set, not in stone, but in gold, silver, and copper, with the hugely significant establishing of the first British Mint (that's coins, not humbugs!). The sixteen pages of coloured plates help to visually bring to life the past detailed in the book.
On a personal - and more than a little speculative - level, I can't help but question whether Carausius was set up by Maximian, an idea Elliot explores a little in his assessment of the heavily biased contemporary commentaries. It plays out as a classic case of deputy-outshines-leader, with Carausius usurping as the lesser of two evils compared to his sentence of death issued by Maximian.
In all, this is a thoroughly readable look at the Roman Empire's turbulent years, climaxing with the decade of the double usurpation of Carausius and Allectus, and its resounding impact on the future of the empire.
Thank you to Pen & Sword Books for providing me with a review copy!
You can get a copy of Roman Britain's Pirate King via Pen & Sword, or on Amazon.
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