The Count of the Saxon Shore; or The Villa in Vectis. A Tale of the Departure of the Romans from Britain

In the waning days of Roman Britain, a restless legion gathers in a bustling camp overlooking the Great Harbour. Soldiers from every corner of the Empire—Gauls, Teutonic Germans, swarthy Spaniards, and men of distant eastern provinces—share cramped quarters, unpaid wages, and uneasy chatter about the new, thin‑skinned emperor whose coinage barely covers a soldier’s hunger. Amid this multicultural mix, the title of “Count of the Saxon Shore” hangs over a seasoned officer tasked with defending the coastline from relentless pirate raids, while rumors of the empire’s retreat grow louder each day.

Against this backdrop, the story follows a determined Briton caught between loyalty to the fading Roman order and the survival of his own people. When a mysterious villa on the island of Vectis becomes a focal point for both intrigue and hope, alliances shift, and the looming departure of the legions threatens to leave the island exposed. The novel paints a vivid portrait of a world on the brink, where duty, fear, and the promise of a new future collide.