Anthony Mockler's immensely readable epic history is divided into three parts. First the scene is set in Ethiopia, still feudal, and in Italy, newly fascist. The second part, 'The War of the Negus', describes in vivid and compelling detail the Italian invasion and the great battles in the north; it ends with the invaders in undisputed control of their new Roman Empire and with Haile Selassie living in apparent hopeless exile near Bath.