The Romans (novelisation)

Novelisation

 * This novelisation is based on the original television serial usually called TV: The Romans which included individual episode titles. It was written by Dennis Spooner and shown from 16 January 1965.
 * The cover and information on the right are for the original Target edition. It featured the artwork of Tony Masero. (See below for information on editions with different covers).

Publisher's summary
The TARDIS crew members have taken a break from their adventures and are enjoying a well-deserved rest in a luxury villa on the outskirts of Imperial Rome.

But in the gory grandeur that is Rome, things don’t stay quiet for long. If the time-travellers can save themselves from being sold as slaves, assassinated by classical hit-men, poisoned by the evil Locusta, thrown to the lions, maimed in the arena and drowned in a shipwreck, they still have to face the diabolical might of the mad Emperor Nero.

As if that isn’t enough, they also discover that, although Rome wasn’t built in a day, it was burnt down in considerably less time...

Deviations from televised story

 * Rather than write a straightforward narrative, Cotton chose to write this novelisation in the form of letters and journal entries.

Writing and publishing notes

 * No photgraphic reference material was available at the time and cover artist Tony Masero, instead took his inspiration from a picture of Peter Ustinov as Nero in the film Quo Vadis.

Additional cover images
To be added

British publication history

 * Hardback (April 1987)


 * W.H.Allen & Co. Ltd. UK ISBN:049103833X, copies priced £7.50 (UK))
 * Paperback (September 1987)


 * Target / W.H. Allen & Co. Ltd. Single paperback edition, estimated print run: 30,000, priced £1.95 (UK).