O'Gorman, P. J. Britain & Rome. The Exposure of a Renaissance Fraud

This is a bold reassessment of one of the pivotal points in British history. P. J. OGorman analyses the sources for the period from Julius Caesars first forays into these islands to the invasion under the Emperor Claudius and the conclusions he reaches are nothing short of radical and call into question much of the accepted narrative of Roman invasion and conquest. The author starts by showing that Caesars initial cross-Channel adventures were motivated not so much by seeking the glory of taming primitive savages but to gain control of an economic powerhouse. His treatment of the period leading up to the Claudian invasion and the invasion itself is even more shocking. Most significantly he argues convincingly that two of the most important Roman sources underpinning the conventional narrative are in fact Renaissance fakes and that their acceptance has distorted the interpretation of modern archaeological evidence. Meanwhile he reinstates a discounted British source. The result is a startlingly different version of Britains early history.

The author begins by showing that Caesar's first moves across the English Channel were motivated not so much by the glorious taming of primitive savages, but rather by control over an economic powerhouse. Even more shocking are his accounts of the period before the Claudian invasion and the invasion itself. In particular, he argues convincingly that two of the main Roman sources underpinning the conventional narrative are in fact Renaissance forgeries and that their acceptance has distorted the interpretation of modern archaeological evidence. Meanwhile, he restores a rejected British source. The result is a startlingly different version of Britain's early history.