FIVE ROMAN EMPERORS. By Bernard W. Henderson. (Cambridge University Press.
21s.)—Mr. Henderson has filled the gap between his well-known monographs on Nero and on Hadrian by this valuable and uncommonly readable account of Vespasian, Titus, Domitian, Nerva and Trajan—covering the years 69-117. The period is notable for the persecution of the early Christians, for the conquest of Britain, the German frontier campaign, the wars in Dacia and Parthia, and for the social reforms, including what may be called the family endowment scheme instituted by Nerva. On all these topics Mr. Henderson has much of interest to say. As in his earlier books he has drawn largely on the scattered studies of Continental scholars ; he does a real service in making their conclusions accessible to the English student. Thus, for the Roman fortified frontier between Rhine and Danube he summarizes the results of the German " Limes-Konunission," whose wonderful monographs cover already half of the known -" camps." For Dacia he makes full use of the mass of contro- versial literature that has gathered round Trajan's column. Mr. Henderson enlivens his writing with many a personal comment, showing that he has thought out his conclusions for himself.
Previous page
