‘Deeply felt and expertly researched, “Beyond the Black Gate” is animmersive, heart-racing story of love and survival in a fracturing, vividlyrealised, end of empire world.’   HowardCunnell, author of The Painter'sFriend Inthe year 409 the Roman Empire is collapsing. A young woman called Nehtan hidesher enslaved status when she is rescued in Gaul by a resentful Patrician. Thrown together on a dangerous odyssey through a land devastated by invadingbarbarians, the two start to fall in love, despite the vast gulf between them. However, a brutalised member of the cavalry escort has recognised the fugitiveslave and will do anything to possess her in body and soul.  ‘Beyond the Black Gate’ is a compelling story of journeys fromtrauma towards spiritual healing, set during a time of disintegrating identityand authority, with echoes of contemporary social crisis and migrantsuffering.   ‘Uniqueand intriguing ... with a terrific richness of description. It’s quite shockingin places and Nehtan makes for a strong and memorable protagonist.’ Gabriel Gbademosi, author of ‘Vauxhall’  ‘Mark Hudson’s book conjures up with uncanny intensity thecollapsing world of the Roman Empire to fashion a story that is by turns deeplystrange, gripping and moving.’   RogerCrowley, author of ‘Empires ofthe Sea’ ‘Thecharacters leap from the page. Mark Hudson pulls off the difficult trick ofmaking his dramatis personae both true to their historical context andappealing for the modern reader. I was enthralled by them, and the dramatic arcof the story, from start to finish.’  Simon Acland, author of ‘The Waste Land’ ‘Iwas gripped… A fascinating and vivid depiction of the Empire crumbling underinternal and external stress, when Christianity offers the only rock for thepoor to cling to.’   Peter Popham, authorof ‘India Be Damned’