Tom Holland

Context:

Tom Holland mentions his own forthcoming book about the Year of the Four Emperors in Rome, due out in July 2023, available from all bookshops. Referenced in the context of comparing British political turmoil (multiple prime ministers) with Roman political instability, noting that the Year of the Four Emperors turned out not to be indicative of wider sickness in the Roman system.

Context:

Dominic recommends Tom's children's book about the Vikings, which Tom wrote during the year. There's a humorous exchange where Dominic gets the title wrong ('Fury of the Northmen') and Tom corrects him. Dominic describes it as 'brilliant' and 'full of stirring stuff about King Alfred.'

Context:

Tom mentions his own book in passing, noting that he cited Max Mallowan (Agatha Christie's second husband and archaeologist) in it, specifically for Mallowan's article on Cyrus the Great. Dominic teases him for using the opportunity to advertise his own work.

Context:

Tom jokingly mentions that his disappointment with the Ladybird book on Julius Caesar (which focused too much on Roman Britain rather than Caesar himself) essentially led him to write his own book on the subject—Rubicon, his acclaimed narrative history of the fall of the Roman Republic.