... it appears that both authors are more shoulder-to-shoulder than in opposition. Still, a most enjoyable interview of two well-qualified authors. It is hard to choose a favourite, though I am inclined, by a personal interest in Roman daily life, towards Bryan Ward-Perkin's archaeological interpretations of the catastrophic effects of the invasions of the fifth century on the well-established Roman economy.

It is quite exciting to have such good material to interpret the fall of the Western Empire!