Boudica, Historic Warrior Queen
Manda Scott Tells the Tale of the Celtic Warrior who Took on Rome
Jan 28, 2008
Boudica, historical warrior queen of the pre-Roman tribes, comes to life in Manda Scott's novel about the tribes who fought the Roman invasion in the 1st Century AD.
The Beginning:
Boudica is introduced as a young woman named Breaca, who is learning about the ways of the world among the tribes. At twelve years old she kills the man who murders her mother. The reader gets to know in depth the woman who is to lead her people in revolt. But, Scott does not only introduce the reader to Breaca. There is an entire tribe of people to get to know and care about. Airmid, the dreamer and best friend, Euborovic, the smith, father and warrior, and so many others with their own dreams, needs, desires and place in history. The circle of life unfolds in subtle and yet dramatic ways, in a carefully woven story.
The Middle:
This is not some kind of utopic society, where peace was shattered only by the Romans. There are betrayals among neighboring tribes, political games played by chieftains and alliances made in the name of survival. The reader is given a front row seat as relationships begin and end. Sexuality is fluid, love deep, and tribal loyalty above all. Scott masterfully details the differences in each tribe, while remaining focused on the Eceni, Boudica's tribe. The depths of conscience and complexities of emotional attachment come through clearly, as does the clash of cultures and instability of war.
The End:
Boudica, with her "flaming red hair" leads her people in to a war they know will change their lives forever. Tribes unite, tribes defect, and many die. Throughout the entire story the reader is reminded of the value of family, and love, and the devastating effect of loss to the human soul. The Eceni and various neighboring tribes fight for their lands, their way of life, and their gods.
Dreaming:
One factor throughout this book is the concept of "dreaming." Each tribal person has a dreaming that involves some kind of animal counterpart, which is attached to the person's soul. For instance, Boudica dreams of the serpent-spear, a symbol which is painted on her shield and eventually becomes the moniker for all of those fighting the Romans. This level of mysticism provides yet another layer of depth to this novel, as it allows the reader a glimpse into the concept of connection above and beyond the human level: a connection that creates a network between the planet, its inhabitants, and a deep spirituality. On her website, Scott has a page dedicated to the idea of dreaming as a spiritual path and how to go about it in our own daily lives, bringing Boudica right into the 21st century.
The Author:
Manda Scott is an accomplished author. The next books in the series are; II Boudica: Dreaming the Bull, III Boudica, Dreaming the Hound, and IV Boudica, Dreaming the Serpent Spear. She has also written several crime/mystery books, which are thrilling in an entirely different way. Her first novel, Hen's Teeth, came out in 1998, and her most recent is the first of another series, called The Crystal Skull, which came out in January 2008. She is also a member of the group "Unusual Suspects," a group of crime writers who share their talent for creating memorable plots and characters on the web.
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