The ‘Vindolanda’ series is set in early second century Britain and is based on characters whose existence is known from records recovered from the Roman fort of Vindolanda near Hadrian’s Wall in northern England. In

The Encircling Sea, historian Adrian Goldsworthy extrapolates from an incident reported by Tacitus where some German auxiliaries based in Britain mutinied and highjacked a small fleet.

Enter Ferox, Goldsworthy’s fictional centurion protagonist. Ferox has the potential to be a fascinating vehicle to explore the complexities of Roman identity. He is born in Britain but is a citizen by virtue of patronage and, like so many Roman subjects, joined the legions and won advancement.

Goldsworthy knows a lot about the Roman army, and the best aspect of the book is its realistic descriptions of fort life and military actions. But Ferox lets the team down because he cannot escape from the Brit squaddie meme – think of Cornwall’s ‘Sharpe’ novels – and acts and thinks like a cross between a British Regular Army sergeant and captain (which is indeed what the role of a centurion resembled). In this regard, The Encircling Sea resembles the novels of Harry Sidebottom.

Having said that, this is an entertaining read, and if you liked the first ‘Vindolanda’ novel you will enjoy the same combination of strict historical accuracy and strong storytelling in this sequel.

Reviewed by Grant Hansen