Verey Books, Ullswater’s independent bookshop, located in Pooley Bridge, continues its popular events programme on Wednesday 16 November by welcoming writer Bronwen Riley to discuss her latest book, Journey to Britannia: From the Heart of Rome to Hadrian’s Wall, AD 130.
It is AD 130. Rome is the dazzling heart of a vast empire and Hadrian its most complex and compelling ruler. Faraway Britannia is one of the Romans’ most troublesome provinces: here the sun is seldom seen and ‘the atmosphere in the country is always gloomy’.
What awaits the traveller to Britannia? How will you get there? What do you need to pack? What language will you speak? How does London compare to Rome? Are there any tourist attractions? And what dangers lurk-behind Hadrian’s new Wall?
Combining an extensive range of Greek and Latin sources with a sound understanding of archaeology, Bronwen Riley describes an epic journey from Rome to Hadrian’s Wall at Britannia’s – and the empire’s – north-western frontier. In this strikingly original snapshot of Roman Britain, she brings vividly to life the smells, sounds, colours and textures of travel in the second century AD.
Lake District-based Bronwen says:
‘I am fascinated by how and why people travelled to Hadrian’s Wall in Roman times and about what their experiences and perceptions would have been of this region – then the north-western most frontier of the Roman Empire. But I’m also interested in what draws people to this area today. In May this year I launched an exciting new Heritage Lottery funded project, working with Romanian people living in the north of England to explore through creative writing their own lives in parallel with their Dacian ancestors who were stationed on Hadrian’s Wall.’
‘As the nights draw in, I’ve also just started #writethroughwinter – 120 days of writing to take us through the winter months to 1 March with free weekly online write-along sessions for anyone interested. I look forward to meeting you all in Pooley Bridge on 16th to discuss writing and Roman and Romania!’
Described both as ‘an erudite and fascinating work’ (Jan Morris, New York Times) and ‘an artful combination of history, archaeology and the imagination’ (Mary Beard, New York Review of Books), Riley brings multi-faceted, polygot and multi-cultural Roman Britain to vibrant life for specialists and generalists’ Country Life)
Verey Books’ owner, Al said:
“I’m absolutely delighted that Bronwen will be bringing the spirit of Roman Britain to us here at Verey Books this month. Hadrian’s Wall is such a physical presence, a direct link to the past in our county – to have an expert like Bronwen bring it to life with colour, shade and culture will no doubt be a fascinating evening.”
Tickets costs £10 and include a welcome drink – to book visit www.vereybooks.co.uk. Verey Books is located in Pooley Bridge on the shores of Ullswater. The book shop is open daily seven days a week from 10am – 5pm. Walking boots, bikes and book-curious children and dogs welcome. For further information, to book for forthcoming events or to buy gift vouchers or book subscriptions, visit www.vereybooks.co.uk