Adrian Goldsworthy Books in Order

Where to Start with Adrian Goldsworthy

Adrian Goldsworthy is unique among historical fiction authors because he is first and foremost an accomplished, Oxford-educated military historian. This means his fiction doesn't just feel realistic; it is grounded in deep, rigorous scholarship. If you are new to his writing, your starting point will depend on whether you want a gripping fictional narrative or narrative-driven historical facts.

• For Ancient Roman Fiction: Start with Vindolanda (2017). This introduces his most famous fictional protagonist, Flavius Ferox, a Roman centurion of British Celtic origin, navigating the dangerous northern frontier around AD 100.
• For Napoleonic Wars Fiction: Start with True Soldier Gentlemen (2008), the opening volume of his series following the fictional 106th Regiment of Foot during the Peninsular War.
• For Narrative Non-Fiction: Start with Caesar: Life of a Colossus (2006) or Augustus: First Emperor of Rome (2014). These are widely considered some of the most accessible and detailed biographies of Rome's greatest leaders.

The Flavius Ferox Roman Saga: Vindolanda & City of Victory

Adrian Goldsworthy's primary contribution to Roman historical fiction is the story of Flavius Ferox. Ferox is a prince of the Silures tribe from South Wales who has chosen to serve as a centurion in the Roman army. This dual identity makes him a fascinating lens through which to view the Roman occupation of Britain and its expansionist campaigns elsewhere.

The saga is split into two distinct trilogies that share a continuous storyline, a central cast of characters, and a chronological flow. For the best experience, you should read these six books in publication order, which also matches the chronological sequence of Ferox's military career.

Phase 1: The Vindolanda Trilogy

The first three novels are set on the wild, wet northern frontier of Roman Britain, shortly before the construction of Hadrian's Wall. The story focuses on local tribal unrest, frontier policing, and Roman political intrigue.

1. Vindolanda (2017) – Centurion Flavius Ferox is tasked with keeping the peace at the frontier outpost of Vindolanda, where local tribes are beginning to gather under a charismatic leader.
2. The Encircling Sea (2018) – Ferox is promoted to regional command, dealing with threats from across the Irish Sea and the shifting loyalties of coastal tribes.
3. Brigantia (2020) – The trilogy concludes with a massive clash in the native kingdom of Brigantia, where internal tribal civil wars threaten to pull the entire Roman province into chaos.

Phase 2: The City of Victory Trilogy

Following the events of the Vindolanda books, Ferox's adventures expand to other borders of the Roman Empire, where he encounters the future Emperor Hadrian and becomes involved in larger imperial strategies.

1. The Fort (2021) – Set during Emperor Trajan's Dacian Wars on the Danube. Ferox must hold a vital fort against overwhelming barbarian forces.
2. The City (2022) – The action moves to the heat of the Roman East, where Ferox is sent on a diplomatic and espionage mission to the city of Antioch, navigating a web of spies and impending war with Parthia.
3. The Wall (2023) – Ferox returns to Britain years later as the empire begins building the monumental Hadrian's Wall, facing a final reckoning with old allies and new enemies.

The Napoleonic Wars Series: Billy Pringle & the 106th Foot

For readers who prefer the age of muskets, black powder, and redcoats, Goldsworthy's Napoleonic Wars series is a fantastic alternative. Often compared to Bernard Cornwell's Richard Sharpe series, Goldsworthy's books follow a group of young officers and soldiers in the fictional 106th Regiment of Foot during the Peninsular War in Spain and Portugal.

The series is driven by the perspectives of several key characters: Hamish Williams, a gentleman volunteer trying to win a commission; William Hanley, a pragmatic officer; and Billy Pringle, a charismatic but troubled soldier whose vices lead him into constant trouble. The books should be read in chronological publication order:

1. True Soldier Gentlemen (2008) – The regiment arrives in Portugal in 1808, facing their first taste of French opposition at the Battle of Vimeiro.
2. Beat the Drums Slowly (2011) – The 106th is swept up in the harrowing retreat to Corunna during the freezing winter of 1808-1809.
3. Send Me Safely Back Again (2012) – Returning to the Peninsula under Sir Arthur Wellesley, the characters face the grueling assault on Oporto and the bloody clash at Talavera.
4. All in Scarlet Uniform (2013) – Focuses heavily on Billy Pringle, who is posted to Spain after a duel, as Wellington's army defends the Lines of Torres Vedras.
5. Run Them Ashore (2014) – The campaign turns offensive as the British chase the retreating French forces, culminating in amphibious operations.
6. Whose Business is to Die (2015) – The saga reaches its climax during the desperate siege and storming of the fortress cities of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz.

World War II Standalone Fiction

In 2024, Goldsworthy released his first standalone novel, branching out into 20th-century warfare.

• Hill 112 (2024) – Set during the Normandy campaign of World War II. It follows three childhood friends from South Wales—James (a Sherman tank commander), Mark (an infantry lieutenant), and Bill (a private and machine gunner)—as they are thrown into the terrifying and bloody struggle for a strategic hill outside Caen.

The Non-Fiction Masterworks

Goldsworthy's non-fiction is highly recommended for fiction readers because it provides the historical reality behind his novels. Rather than dry textbooks, these are engaging, narrative-driven histories that read like political thrillers. They can be read in any order depending on your historical interests, but they are categorized below by their major subjects.

Biographies of Ancient Rome's Giants

• Caesar: Life of a Colossus (2006) – The definitive one-volume biography detailing Julius Caesar's military genius and political ambition.
• Antony and Cleopatra (2010) – A dual biography that strips away the Shakespearean myth to reveal the complex political alliance of Marc Antony and Cleopatra VII.
• Augustus: First Emperor of Rome (2014) – A masterful look at how Caesar's young heir consolidated absolute power and established the Pax Romana.
• Philip and Alexander: Kings and Conquerors (2020) – An expansive study of the father-and-son duo from Macedon who conquered the known world.

Thematic Roman History & Warfare

• The Roman Army at War: 100 BC – AD 200 (1996) – Goldsworthy's academic debut, explaining how the Roman legions functioned on the battlefield.
• The Punic Wars (2000) (also published as The Fall of Carthage) – A detailed chronicle of Rome's existential struggle against Hannibal and Carthage.
• In the Name of Rome: The Men Who Won the Roman Empire (2003) – Profiles of Rome's most successful generals, from Scipio Africanus to Belisarius.
• The Fall of the West: The Death of the Roman Superpower (2009) (published in the US as How Rome Fell) – An analysis of the slow internal rot and external pressures that brought down the Western Roman Empire.
• Pax Romana: War, Peace and Conquest in the Roman World (2016) – An exploration of the reality of Roman peace and how the empire maintained control over its subjects.
• Hadrian's Wall (2018) – A short, highly readable history of the frontier wall that serves as the setting for the end of the Flavius Ferox fiction series.
• Rome and Persia: The Seven Hundred Year Rivalry (2023) – A sweeping look at the long-running conflict between Rome and the eastern empires of Parthia and Sasanian Persia.