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Many have declared this the most fascinating Henty ever written. The invasion of Britain by the Roman legionaries is the setting for this story. Beric, a boy-chief of a British tribe, takes a prominent part in the insurrection against Rome under Boadicea. These efforts are useless against the might Roman army. For a short time, Beric and his companions continue the fight but are ultimately defeated and taken prisoners to Rome.
Through the eyes of Beric, the reader will learn of life in Rome, the gladitorial schools, the great fire and life in Nero's court. This classic work of Henty's masterful pen sheds much light upon an era much neglected in history studies today.
Note: The Preston Speed cloth edition of this book is out of print. Grace and Truth Books is offering the alternative hardcover published by Robinson Books.
Ancient Rome surpassed all other nations as conquerors and rulers of Europe and the Middle East. Their military legions, their efficient political organization, their cultural hegemony overcame all before them. The armies of the tribes of Briton were among those who fell before the legionnaires' cohesive tactics and irresistible engines of war. Local victories by the barbarians were short-lived and reprisals for violation of the Pax Romana were swift and fierce. The subjugated people who conformed to Roman law could live peaceable lives and serve in the Roman system, sometimes rising to citizenship and position in the empire.
This is the story of Beric, a boy-chief of a British tribe which joins in the insurrection led by the indomitable Queen Boadicea in A.D. 62. Leading the survivors, Beric continues the war against the Romans in the fen-country until he and some of his men are captured and sent to Rome. He is trained in the school of the gladiators and achieves fame by defeating a lion which was set upon a Christian girl in the coliseum. The Briton is rewarded by appointment to librarian in the palace of the morally depraved Emperor Nero. Beric escapes and leads a band of outlaws in the mountains of Calabria, defies the power of Rome, and eventually returns to Britain after the death of Nero. He becomes a Christian, marries a Roman girl, and assumes his Roman-approved role as the trusted chief of his tribe.