Boudica

[msaerfen]

I have just finished reading Manda Scotts Boudica series - Dreaming the Eagle, Dreaming the Bull, Dreaming the Hound and Dreaming the Serpent Spear. What a read!! I loved every second. Its an epic story,really well told and I honestly couldn't put it down. I have always had an interest in the ancient history of my country,especially Boudica and Manda Scott really brings it to life. Its so believable its easy to forget that it is a work of fiction based on events as we know them to be, not actual fact. I recommend it to anybody who wants a really meaty read that you can get totally lost in. Personally I cant wait to read it again!! I've looked but can't find anything else like it so if anyone has read it and has any suggestions for me I would be very grateful.

 

[Loerwyn]

I don't know anything like it, msaerfen, but have you read Robert Harris' books?

But thanks for reminding me of Boudica, I may have to give them a read.

 

[Raule]

Pauline Gedge wrote about her in The Eagle and the Raven. I believe it's a multi-generational story, so you get the backstory leading up to Boudica's generation. I have it in the TBR, but haven't read it yet.

 

[msaerfen]

Sounds interesting, I'll definately give it a go. Thanks.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

I've had those at home for ages - unread.

Thanks for the heads-up.

 

[msaerfen]

Well I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. I'm suffering now trying to find something else to read. I keep starting to read something then leaving it because I'm not feeling it. I'm hunting the forum now to find something new.

 

[Raule]

Now that I think about it...

If you are interested in fiction about Romano-Britain in general, I don't think anyone has done it better than Rosemary Sutcliff. Her Eagle of Ninth series is excellent, and the movie last year (which doesn't come close to the original) has introduced them to a new audience. I'd also recommend The Mark of the Horse Lord (2nd C, if I remember correctly), which I think is one of Sutcliff's best.

Jules Watson also wrote a trilogy about the Dalriada (though the third book takes place a generation or two later and stands apart from the first two, IMO). The first two books take place just a decade or two after Boudica, depicting Agricola's defeat of the Caledonian Confederacy led by Calgacus at the Battle of Mons Graupius. Very epic in scale with a lot of Celtic mysticism thrown in, so it feels a lot like historical fantasy.

 

[Michael B]

Its so believable its easy to forget that it is a work of fiction based on events as we know them to be, not actual fact.

Some of her research is extremely good. It is a pity that she found it suspend reality what it came to writing the battle scenes. I got tired of a few plucky little Celts slaughtering legions of Romans before running away.

Historically the Romans were outnumbered and but for their training and superior equipment would have lost. Instead they won as they frequent had in Gaul and not withstanding the Teutoburg Massacre in Germany.

Fortunately reality had to take place for the final battle. Even then I got the impression that Scott thought that Boudica and her army should really won it instead of lining themselves up for the historic thrashing that they received.

 

[Chuffalump]

Now that I think about it...

If you are interested in fiction about Romano-Britain in general, I don't think anyone has done it better than Rosemary Sutcliff. Her Eagle of Ninth series is excellent, and the movie last year (which doesn't come close to the original) has introduced them to a new audience. I'd also recommend The Mark of the Horse Lord (2nd C, if I remember correctly), which I think is one of Sutcliff's best.

Was this a series? I've had a copy of The Eagle of the Ninth from childhood but didn't know there were any more in the same series.

 

[Raule]

Sorry for the delay, Chuff. Just saw your post. I think the extended cycle of books about the descendents of Marcus Flavius Aquila in EotN is called the Dolphin Cycle, but the first three she wrote are often called the Eagle Chronicles. Those are:

The Eagle of the Ninth
The Silver Branch
The Lantern Bearers

The Dolphin Cycle in chronological order:
The Eagle of the Ninth (AD 133),
The Silver Branch (c AD 280),
Frontier Wolf (AD 343),
The Lantern Bearers (AD 450),
Sword at Sunset (Arthurian, immediately follows the events of Lantern Bearers)
Dawn Wind (AD 577)
Sword Song (c AD 900)
The Shield Ring (c AD 1070)

If you read her others, you'll recognize characters who were descended from characters in the Dophin Cycle. I recognized a few names in Mark of the Horse Lord too.

 

[algernoninc]

based on this thread, I've read The Eagle of the Ninth and I enjoyed it very much. For a young adult I say it is a solid 5 star, for a more jaded reader, an entertaining 4. The book packs a lot of adventure and an evocative depiction of early Britain in a realtive small number of pages. I appreciated also the focus on the themes of friendship, honor, duty as opposed to grittiness and foul language.

 

[CrastersBabies]

Some of her research is extremely good. It is a pity that she found it suspend reality what it came to writing the battle scenes. I got tired of a few plucky little Celts slaughtering legions of Romans before running away.

Historically the Romans were outnumbered and but for their training and superior equipment would have lost. Instead they won as they frequent had in Gaul and not withstanding the Teutoburg Massacre in Germany.

Fortunately reality had to take place for the final battle. Even then I got the impression that Scott thought that Boudica and her army should really won it instead of lining themselves up for the historic thrashing that they received.

I saw a great documentary on Boudica (History Channel, I think). And as much as I sympathized with Boudica's plight, the Romans earned that victory at the end. It was executed so precisely, so brilliantly. I'd hate to see that diminished.

 

[msaerfen]

Even then I got the impression that Scott thought that Boudica and her army should really won it instead of lining themselves up for the historic thrashing that they received.[/QUOTE] I have to say I agree with her!It would have made for a much better ending Unfortunately you can't rewrite history.

 

[Starchaser3000]

I admire how Queen Boudica organized the Celts to at least resist the Romans for awhile. Alas the Romans eventually won as they usually did in that era in ancient history. This sounds like a good read for history fans.

 

[Chuffalump]

Even then I got the impression that Scott thought that Boudica and her army should really won it instead of lining themselves up for the historic thrashing that they received. I have to say I agree with her!It would have made for a much better ending Unfortunately you can't rewrite history.

Ooooh. Tell THAT to Hollywood.

Thanks for that info Raule. Gonna look them up now.

 

[womenwithswords]

Hi msaerfen,
I just found this forum, immediately drawn to the discussion titled "Boudica". I hear you on the difficulty of finding a work that gets you as excited as what you just finished. I haven't read Boudica, so I may be waaayyyy off on this, but I found a rather large hist fiction fantasy novel a few years ago that I loved called Ash: A Secret History by Mary Gentle. The book won awards, and Ms. Gentle has a master's in medieval warfare - and it shows. It was an excellent, long, satisfying read.

And, uh, the joy of writing historical fiction fantasy? You get to rewrite history.

Happy reading!

 

[algernoninc]

I've read Ash, and you will find other fans of this book on this forum. Personally, I liked 1610: A Sundial in a Grave better, less far-fetched and a bit shorter. It is a tale inspired by Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers, with some Shogun thrown in and with some weird mathematical magic. Lighter in tone than Ash.