In this provocative book, Peter Heather proposes a new solution to one of history's greatest mysteries: the strange death of the mighty Roman Empire.

From the magnificent triumph of the imperial Roman court to the dark, swampy forests of Barbaricum, the author sheds light on the remarkable success of the Roman Empire as well as its panoramic end through a highly engaging and revealing narrative.

The fall of the world's greatest empire, due to the storming invasions of barbarian peoples from northern Europe, marked its fragmentation, the forced relocation to Byzantium, and the shaping of a new era… An amazing story, full of triumphs and defeats, as well as unforgettable heroes…

Spectator: The best, most recent, and thought-provoking achievement that provides abundant food for thought.

BBC History Magazine: The reader witnesses the unfolding drama of the collapse of an empire that was destined to shape all of Europe.