Trevor Bloom's Blog

  Scientists using infrared technology have rediscovered the former Roman city of Altinum, destroyed and abandoned 1500 years ago. In the early summer of 452 AD Attila led the army of the Huns into Italy. They came down the road that led from Emona (Ljubliana) to Aquileia. One report said the Hunnish host covered the [...]

Chariot racing Chariot racing was one of the most popular sports in Ancient Rome. The Romans loved to race and races were an important part of the Games. Two-horse chariots (bigae) and four-horse chariots (quadrigae) were the most popular, but there were also 3, 6, 7, and even ten horse chariots. The full race was [...]

We've got two major events coming up !! WATERSTONES IN WINDSOR On Saturday 16th April I will be handing out bookmarks and signing copies of The Half-Slave at Waterstones in Windsor from 10 am onwards. If you're interested in Roman-era historical fiction, why not drop in for a chat? BOOKSTOCK at the BLUE POSTS in [...]

Visiting Lyon by Eurostar for a few grey, February days, we took the opportunity to see the excellent Roman museums and theatres in Fourviere and Vienne, a short train ride to the south of Lyon. Roman theatres served a different purpose to amphitheatres which were used for gladiators and wild animals. Theatres were used to [...]

I'm reading a lot about the 5th century Hunnic invasion of Gaul and Italy at the moment. It's a fascinating campaign because the outcome would decide who controlled the western empire. It is also a story rich in ironies. The Roman commander, Flavius Aetius recruited as allies the Germanic tribes settled within the empire. Many [...]

Went down to Dorchester for a couple of days for Emma's birthday and took the opportunity to pay a visit to Maiden Castle, the Iron Age hill fort south west of the town. (Image: Geo. Allen – Ashmolean) MC was built around 600 BC and is probably the largest hill fort in Europe. It was [...]

How many slaves were there? photo © 2010 Jun | more info (via: Wylio)As the Roman empire expanded, slavery grew and became a vital part of the imperial economy. Most slaves were acquired through military conquest, although poor people occasionally sold their children into slavery and creditors could claim insolvent debtors as slaves. When Caesar [...]

Researching Roman food at the moment for my second novel. It's fascinating stuff. Most Romans ate simply. Bread or porridge (puls) made from ground wheat was the staple food, flavoured with salt or olive oil and eaten with cheese, eggs, home grown vegetables and whatever cooked meat, fish or shellfish could be afforded. Food varied [...]

Up to Manchester, UK yesterday for the 2010 Historical Novel Society conference. Two literary agents, Marcy Posner (Folio Literary Management) and Jim Gill (United Agents), spoke on the future of historical fiction publishing. Their views were thought-provoking, if gloomy. Here's a summary of the key points. What does an agent look for? So many agents [...]

Had to go to Lancing on some family business, so took the opportunity to nip over to Portchester Castle. Saxon raids on Britain increased in the 3rd century and the response was to establish a naval command under the Count of the Saxon Shore based on the 'system' of fortified ports and installations which had [...]