Hadrian's Wall: History & Guide

by Guy de la Bédoyère

Part of the Tempus History & Guide series, this book offers an in-depth look at Hadrian's Wall, which stretches for 73 miles from coast to coast and reaches a height of about 13 feet. Hadrian's Wall attracts millions of visitors every year and is a designated World Heritage site.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1998

About the author

Guy de la Bédoyère is author of a widely admired series of books on Roman history. He appeared regularly on the UK’s Channel 4 archaeology series Time Team and is well known in the United States for his volume The Romans for Dummies. His latest books are Gladius. Living, Fighting, and Dying in the Roman Army (2020), and Pharaohs of the Sun. How Egypt's Despots and Dreamers Drove the Rise and Fall of Tutankhamun's Dynasty (2022). He lives in Grantham, Lincolnshire, UK.

Reviews

[Jennifer Palmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's more of a guide book of where to find Hadrian's wall than a history and guide. Guy does a amazing job of showing the reader were it was visible in the past and parts of the wall that we cannot see anymore thanks to the industrial era of the victorian era. Photos, maps and diagrams of the forts and the wall are extremely detailed but for people who are studying about the wall may find this a good reference book to the different forts that the Romans built and facts about the wall. Plus all of the finds from the different sites will interest anyone interested in this period of history.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first chapters give the history of the region back to Neolithic times—although this area was sparsely populated, and there is little remaining evidence. Even written records related to the Hadrian’s Wall are limited. From this brief history, the rest of the chapters are a guidebook, giving directions to all the places one might “take in” on this 73-mile wonder, which incidentally had guard houses at every mile. It was noted that back in the day, George R. R. Martin visited the wall. I expect to see Vindolanda—evidently there is a recreated Roman guard house/village there.

[Michael Romo · Rating 4 out of 5]

An informative guide history that is chock full illustrations for every milecastle and fort from Newcastle to South Shields. This book is a must for serious students of the Wall and occasional visitors alike.