'Not many scholars can describe 2000 years with authority - witty, entertaining.' Ian Mortimer, Guardian 'Up-to-date scholarship and panache - the best available.' Prof Patrick Sims-Williams, TLS Fascinating well, well paced - a book that will entertain, inform, and inspire.' G Gasper, Church Times 'A writer with the enviable ability to make even the obscurest periods of history accessible and interesting... rare that such evident learning is work with such lightness and sprezzatura... a wonderfully written book.' Tom Holland, Sunday Telegraph 'Diverting - refreshingly contentious.' David Musgrove, BBC History Magazine 'Extrardinarily ambitious.' Byron Rogers, Spectator 'Lively, well-written.' Fortean Times 'A terrific story - with agreeably eye-watering detail.' Peter Jones, Evening Standard Best Books 'Racy' Daily Mail Lead Review 'Riveting' Halifax Courier 'Witty, informative and enthralling.' Western Mail