The Twilight’s Last Gleaming
A Novel of Dark Age Britain
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The Twilight’s Last Gleaming
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Narrated by:
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Charles Johnston
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By:
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Leonard Gill
About this listen
In a crumbling post-Roman Britain, Vitalinus, later Vortigern, rises to power through political manoeuvring and mercenary allies. He faces challenges from religious figures like St Germanus and ambitious nobles like Aurelius Ambrosius, culminating in a battle for control.
During the transition from Roman order to a fragmented, warlord-ruled society the Jutes, led by Hengist, arrive, seeking land and influence, leading to further conflict and alliances, ultimately shaping the destiny of Britain and the rise of Arthur. The last gleam of light in the twilight of Roman civilisation.
The narrative reflects the disintegration of Roman authority and the resulting chaos and power vacuums. It explores the corrupting influence of power and the lengths to which individuals will go to to achieve it.
This novel will appeal to listeners of historical fiction, particularly those interested in the post-Roman period and Arthurian legends; and listeners who enjoy complex political narratives, military strategy and character-driven stories.
This is the second book in the main historical narrative charting the contraction of the Roman Empire, its abandonment of Britannia, and other outlying regions, in an endeavor to secure the Empire’s core and its continued existence.
The first book chronicles the attempts to retain the security and prosperity enjoyed as a Roman province, but without the continued support of Rome, as other peoples, coveting the land, were emboldened to act forcibly and invade.
It ended with the narrator, in his ‘evening’ of life, witnessing the steady fragmentation and demise of Roman Britannia.
As in that first book of this (hopefully as the author asserts, a trilogy), the second book can be enjoyed as a historical novel; woven together by his imagination from the meticulous research of history, myth, people, places, food, drink, hardware, tactics, strategy and whatever else the author considered would add context, weight and color to the ‘tapestry’ of the narrative.
I will admit that I do also wonder if the author has been assisted in his storytelling by the ghosts of his ancestors, enlightening him to the daily struggle and constant fear as the collapse of a civilization sees the encroachment of ‘barbarians’ who have a contempt for all that civilization had achieved and a desire to destroy any vestige of its existence.
I am reminded of Monty Python, the Life of Brian, ‘What have the Romans ever done for us?’
I cannot but say that I see parallels in our world, today.
However, beyond a historical novel, the author again tempts the reader, as in the first book, to explore beyond the narrative by providing his source material but, be warned, it can lead you down a narrow rabbit hole into a cavernous warren.
I highly recommend this book, and its excellent audible companion, as I do the companion Novellas, which branch out from the main narrative.
Excellent continuation of ’Evening of Empire’.
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It’s remarkable how much light he has shone on this period in history and the approach to key figures, I learned about in school (Hengist, Pen Dragon). how these are placed in a seamless timeline has almost re-written my understanding of the period.
I particularly enjoyed the story arc of Sextus, a man spent travelling the expanse of the Roman Empire, returning with trinkets that seem like magic. How these stories of his exploits fall into myth and from that, a Legend is born.
I couldn’t recommend this enough and I am excited for the sequel.
5 stars from me.
Rampage through the Dark Ages of Britain
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Thoroughly enjoyable!
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