Set at the beginning of the fourth century the story follows events that took place during the withdrawal of the Roman legions from Britain. The Count of the Saxon Shore was a military title of the officer whose task was to protect the coasts of Roman Provinces from the attacks of the Saxon pirates. As Count Aelius prepares his troops for movement, a young pretendent Constantine usurps position of Roman Emperor. The story follows trials and tribulations of Aelius and Constantine as one has to deal with Saxon pirates while other fights to stay in power.

Alfred J. Church (1829 -1912) was an English classical scholar. He translated Tacitus and edited Pliny's Letters. Church also wrote a number of stories in English re-telling of classical tales and legends for young people (Stories from Virgil, Stories from Homer, etc.).