Hadrian's Wall in the Days of the Romans

by Ronald Embleton

product_description

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Roman Britain, Archaeology

320 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1984

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stuffed with information on all aspects of the Wall! Published in 1984, this book contains much that is still valid, including drawings, diagrams, etc. Archaeologists have discovered more finds since, though, e.g., the Vindolanda Tablets [only one photo of one of the Tablets--no explanation that I can see]. The 400 breath-taking full color illustrations are unusual and absolutely spectacular! These are the high point of the book; the thumbnail used by GR gives a small example. I did not read straight through, but paged where my interest took me.

[Paul LJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puzzled as according to notifications i'm supposed to have reviewed this, but I can't see the review anywhere and this is over 2 years ago now. What can I say? Mr Embleton has a deservedly top-flight reputation as an illustrator on military topics and always manages first-class work which is also historically accurate and complements the text pretty much perfectly - whatever the period or place he is depicting. I got this book to help me with a painting project - late-period Western Empire infantry - and it provided all the information I needed. i'd recomend it whole-heartedly to anyone wanting a general over-view; the final chapters and illustations overlap the hazy period in English-British history where the roman record dwindles and ends, and it is still a good two centuries prior to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles - those later Roman infantry, speculatively, would also be the Knights of King Arthur, or as near as it gets to fleshing out the myth with historical reality.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful book found at a local booksellers' fair. It charts the development of Hadrian's Wall with the aid of wonderful illustrations - sometimes on a double page spread - by Ronald Embleton, using photographs of real relics uncovered at the site, now situated in museums in the North East. It also has a handy glossary of terms such as 'milecastle' so if one were to ever walk along it, you'd be a bit more informed. Overall a very attractively presented depiction of what life was like for the soldiers stationed on this wild frontier, some of which Northumberland and northern Cumbria remain today.

[Claire Binkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking through this entire book reminded me of when I had been a more active student in general. Oh! Paging through it in reverse made more illustrations evident to me, after consulting with the Index!

I am more than sure it would do the same for you as well. There are a few tactical maps, and everything looks hand-drawn.

It Is What Everyone Talks About When They Say The Days Of The Romans (or I'm pretty sure).

[Jennifer Bohnhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

My fourth grade self would have loved this book, and my adult self does, too! Ronald Embleton's many illustrations are fabulous, and the text very informative. This book talks about the wall and what life would have been like for the men who manned it. It's organized east to west and would be a helpful guide for those who are walking the wall, but it's also a good book to curl up with on a rainy day, and it's one that can be read in bits and pieces while perusing the pictures.

[Robert Corzine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really impressive accomplishment. Embleton and Graham give a detailed survey of the entire sweep of Hadrian's Wall from East to West. They briefly relate the wall's construction and its history, but they also look at the various troops who lived there, their military organization and how it changed over time, their fortifications, camps, and roads, their living conditions, economy, family, social, and religious arrangements. All of this is painstakingly reconstructed from historical, documentary, literary, and archaeological sources and lavishly illustrated throughout. In a number of cases, they make effective use of 18th and 19th century descriptions of portions of the wall that have since disappeared. I especially appreciate how many inscriptions and artifacts they reproduce in excellent illustrations instead of just describing them. The many site maps of of the milecastles, forts, fortlets, turrets, etc. are also helpful.

It's not a book for everyone, but if you have particular interest in Roman Britain, it's a gem. I would also recommend it to folks with an interest in learning more about archaeology since the authors show their work and make a clear distinction between what can be known for sure from the available evidence and what is guesswork. With all of the examples they show, the book also serves (no doubt unintentionally) as a handy brief introduction to Roman epigraphy.

[Jane Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hadrian's Wall in the days of the Romans by Ronald Embleton and Frank Graham is chock-full of information, pictures, drawing , and diagrams that detail Roman life on the frontier. The book is worth the price just for the drawings by Ronald Embleton. These illustrations bring life to the book and helps the reader visualize what life was like on Hadrian's Wall.

If you are looking for a book about Hadrian's Wall and information about the Romans who built it, this is the book for you. I recommend it for all ages.

[Romily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tremendous companion to any visitor to the Wall. As well as detailed descriptions of each section there are many imaginative illustrations of how it was used and the lives of the soldiers stationed there. My edition was published in 1984 so many of the latest discoveries such as those at Vindolanda are not included, but nevertheless the book makes a great introduction for the interested reader.

[Bob Croft · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light reading, but a comprehensive overview, lavishly illustrated including plans and maps.