"De la Bedoyere, a British historian and broadcaster, has quite properly set this very detailed account, backed with excellent appendices and extensive notes, in the full context of contemporary history. Any future researcher into the subject will certainly begin here."--Peter Jones, The Times "This is a fast paced and engaging history of the Praetorian Guard."--Harry Sidebottom, Sunday Telegraph "[ Praetorian] shows that even popular histories can illustrate the complexity of imperial power. Conveying complexity, without subjecting the reader to the dozens of triple-barreled Roman names that make up the finer grain of imperial politics, has long been de la Bedoyere's metier, as has been the easy charm with which good popular history distinguishes itself."-- Michael Kulikowski, London Review of Books "A definitive and highly readable account of a key institution of the Roman Empire."-- Tom Holland, author of Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic 'The dramatic story of the soldiers at the heart of the Roman empire. Lively and full of insight, de la Bedoyere traces the history of the praetorians and the emperors they served, murdered and made, through three hundred years of intrigue and drama.

' - Adrian Goldsworthy.