This short book is the updated version of an MA thesis submitted to the University of Waterloo in 2013. It is unusual for an MA thesis to be published, but in this case it is justified. Three main chapters make up the volume. The first is an introduction to previous scholarship on the cursus publicus; this effectively, though briefly, sets the research context for what follows. Also presented is a brief discussion of new evidence, and an attempt to justify the work through its treatment of recent scholarship on imperial bureaucracy omitted by Anne Kolb (2000) in her admirable study. Just how this might strengthen Kolb's work or change her conclusions is questionable. Where Lemcke seeks to move on from previous scholarship is in his attempt to assess the transition from the system of vehiculatio, the basis of which was established by Augustus, into the fully-fledged cursus publicus. This is the main focus of the second chapter. L. identifies a number of factors encouraging this transition, namely: the increased mobility of the emperor and his court; legal and structural changes resulting from the constitutio Antoniniana; increased need for effective communication in the third century; and the reforms of Diocletian and Constantine, which further increased these demands.

The third and largest chapter considers the cursus publicus in the fourth century. The relevant sources are introduced and discussed quite well. Logistical, financial and structural organization is treated, before L. turns to those officers of state entitled to use the system. Matters covered include the capacity of the system in terms of what animals and vehicles were used, the technical terms (principally from the Theodosian Code) for a variety of organizational structures, the administration of the system, and its rules and regulations. The Egyptian evidence is not mined enough, and a good deal is missing. The transport of goods needs more unpacking. Abuses of the system receive very little treatment (one short paragraph at 108), despite the fact that it is these, and for various reasons, for which we have the most evidence outside the law codes. There is a discussion of ‘control duties’ of officials in this respect, but much more could have been done here to link this with abuse. The final two, short, chapters present the conclusions of the study and an outlook into the developments of the system in the fifth century.

Overall, the volume does provide a useful and well researched discussion. How far it departs from previous work is debatable. It is, however, unreasonable to expect (as if it was ever possible) a fully comprehensive work. What we have here is an accessible and reliable treatment of an important aspect of imperial government that will be useful for scholars and students who may not want to engage with the more substantial and technical work of German and Italian scholars. This is a piece of work by a young scholar with promise.