'A beautiful love story with an incredible sense of place' - The Times

'Compact and engrossing . . . a pleasure of a novel' - Daily Mail

Britain, AD 72. Quintus, a slave long exiled from his people, has travelled to far-flung places under the command of a powerful Roman. Though a citizen of nowhere, he is a man of reason, fluent in many languages. Olwen, a volatile warrior, is rooted in her native land.

Given away by her father as part of a peace treaty, Olwen flees during the night, taking Quintus with her. Hunted by an army, the two make their way across the country, living off the land, heading for the western shore . . .

'Pears is a master at making you see again landscapes that have long vanished . . . He has an unusual gift for creating characters you want to spend time with - Guardian