Douglas Jackson is a Scottish historical novelist and former journalist whose fiction explores the military, political, and social pressures of the Roman world, as well as later periods of conflict. Born in Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders, he developed a longstanding interest in history that became the basis of his fiction.
Jackson spent 36 years in local and national newspaper journalism, ultimately serving as assistant editor of The Scotsman, before becoming a full-time writer. His early Roman novels include Claudius, which follows Rufus, keeper of the emperor’s elephant, during the Roman invasion of Britain. Avenger of Rome is the third novel centred on Gaius Valerius Verrens, a Roman officer sent east on a dangerous imperial mission. His official bibliography places both books within a broader body of Roman historical fiction.
He also writes thrillers under the name James Douglas. Jackson’s author profile with Scottish Book Trust identifies journalism and writing as his professional fields and notes his talks, readings, and workshops on fiction and historical subjects. His stated central theme is the effect of Roman military power and culture on Britain and Scotland. Further information and his bibliography are available at his official website.
This profile is awaiting source review; collected books are already linked below.
