The year is 43AD ...In Southern England, Caratacus, war chief of the Britons, 聽watches from a hilltop as the scarlet cloaks of the Roman legions spread across 聽his lands like blood. In Rome, Emperor Claudius, newly risen to the imperial 聽throne, dreams of taking his place in history alongside his illustrious 聽forebears Caesar and Augustus. Among the legions marches Rufus, keeper of the 聽Emperor's elephant. War is coming and the united tribes of Britain will make a 聽desperate stand against the might of Rome. The Emperor has a very special place 聽for Rufus and his elephant in the midst of the battle - as a secret weapon to 聽cow the Britons with the visible manifestation of Rome's power. "Claudius" is a 聽masterful telling of one of the greatest stories from Roman history, the 聽conquest of Britain. It is an epic story of ambition, courage, conspiracy, 聽battle and bloodshed, and confirms Douglas Jackson as one of the best historical 聽novelists writing today.