The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine+Late Roman Army

[Caracalla]

Hello everybody,

I'm interested in ordering these 2 books, both written by Pat Southern, from Amazon.uk.

Does anyone have read them already?
If so, how are they? Are they worth their money?


Thanks,

Eve

[Robert Vermaat]

Ah, yet another one who made it here (it's quite lonely at times, you know!).

I have the second book (written with Karen Dixon); it's good enough as a start-off, after you read the Osprey book. However, it contains some errors (read Hugh Elton's exellent review in Bryn Mawr Classical Review 97.2.16), so realise it's not the main book for the period.

[Caracalla]

Ah, yet another one who made it here (it's quite lonely at times, you know!).

I have the second book (written with Karen Dixon); it's good enough as a start-off, after you read the Osprey book. However, it contains some errors (read Hugh Elton's exellent review in Bryn Mawr Classical Review 97.2.16), so realise it's not the main book for the period.

Thanks Robert, for the input.

About the main book, which can you recommend?

Best,
Eve

[jsantell]

I am also interested in what you feel is the main book. I am considering the late Roman army.

[Jeroen Pelgrom]

IMHO a good book about the late roman army is:

[amazon]Warfare in Roman Europe, AD 350-425[/amazon] by Hugh Elton.

[Robert Vermaat]

Southern & Dixon is surely one to have, and certainly Elton.

If I would have to name a 'main book', I would say Nicasie, Martijn (1997): Twilight of Empire, the Roman Army from the Reign of Diocletian until the Battle of Adrianople, (Thesis Publishers Amsterdam).

But all these books cover fields that the other don't, so they really complement one another. However, Nicasie stands out where it comes to details, references, notes and bibliography.

[Caracalla]

Thanks Jeroen and Robert!

I ordered the 'Elton' book together with 'The Roman Empire from Severus to Constantine'. They are dispatched today, so when I'm on holiday, I can catch up some reading.

Best,