History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)

Average customer rating:

Check and see
Suprise! Suprise!
Prescient St Augustine?
Something of a disappointment
Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy..

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
Anatoly T Fomenko
Manufacturer: Delamere Resources LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621066

Product Description

`History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2` is the second volume of the most explosive and astounding tractate on history ever written - however, every theory it contains, no matter how unorthodox, is backed by rock solid scientific data. The book is easy and pleasant to read; it is well-illustrated, contains hundreds of charts, graphs and illustrations, copies of ancient manuscripts, and countless facts attesting to the falsity of the chronology used nowadays. You will be amazed to discover: - That the chronology universally accepted today and taken for granted is simply wrong; - That ALL methods of dating of ancient sources and artefacts known today are erroneous or non-exact; - That there is not a single document that could be reliably dated earlier than the XIth century; The Author refers to the Middle Ages as the Antiquity and proves mutual superimposition of the Second and the Third Roman Empire, both of which become identified as the respective kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Furthermore, he asserts that the famous reform of the Occidental Church in the XI century by Pope Gregory Hildebrand was the reflection of the XII century reforms of Byzantine emperor Andronicus who in his turn identifies with Jesus Christ. The Trojan war counted by Homer happened only as late as of the XIII century A.D. and the great poet actually lived in XIV century A.D. No stone in history of Antiquity is left unturned. Literally. This book is the beginning of a major correction to the chronology we live with.

Customer Reviews:

Check and see.......2007-06-21

I don't care what other people say of this book. Those affirmig it's fake, they hadn't ever read it. Or have some special reasons to do so. "Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see..." This book won't make you feel comfortable. It'll make you feel free. It'll make you feel you're "not the only one" to feel you'd been lied to for centuries.

Suprise! Suprise!.......2007-03-22

Here is a serie of books which turns "the whole world" upside down. I learned a lot of it and I hope that a new book from A.T. Fomenko will follow very quick. A absolute must for everybody who is interested in history or even a little bit from it.

Prescient St Augustine?.......2006-02-05

We can so far divide the New Chronology into the following three parts:

a) The verifiable theory that proves consensual chronology wrong with the aid of astronomy, statistics and mathematics;

b) The new chronology hypothesis based on a new understanding of known historical facts and the most likely logical explanation of the most obvious inconsistencies inherent in the official version of history;

c) The history conjectures, that is experimental historical reconstructions based on assumptions that the authors believe to make sense in the light of their research and linguistic parallels - void of ironclad factual support to date.

Fomenko's theory complies with the most rigid scientific standards as a whole:

It gives a coherent explanation of what we already know.

- It is consistent: independent lines of inquiry all lead to the same conclusion.

- The predictions it makes are confirmed empirically.

Fomenko goes by the following axioms:

- Chronology is the basis of history;

- Human evolution has always been linear, gradual and irreversible;

- The "cyclic" nature of human civilization is a myth, likewise all the gaps, duplicates, "dark ages" and "renaissances" that we know from consensual history;

- The accumulation of geographical knowledge as reflected in cartography is a gradual and irreversible process;

- The chronological distance between a given manuscript and the events described therein is proportional to the amount of distortions it contains;

- There is no "useless" information in authentic ancient sources.

Why the mainstream historians do not shower mathematician Academician Dr.Prof Fomenko with thanks and laurels?

The Russians:

Because Fomenko asserts that there was no such thing as the Tartar and Mongol invasion followed by three centuries of slavery, providing a formidable body of documental evidence to prove his assertion. The so-called "Tartars and Mongols" were the actual ancestors of the modern Russians, living in a bilingual state with Arabic spoken as freely as Russian. The ancient Russian state was governed by a double structure of civil and military authorities. The hordes were actually professional armies with a tradition of lifelong conscription (the recruitment being the so-called "blood tax"). Their "invasions" were punitive operations against the regions that attempted tax evasion. Fomenko proves that Russian history as we know it today is a blatant forgery concocted by a host of German scientists brought to Russia by the usurper dynasty of the Romanovs, whose ascension to the throne was the result of coup d'état, charged with the mission of making their reign look legitimate. Fomenko proves Ivan the Terrible to be a collation of four rulers, no less. They represented the two rival dynasties - the legitimate rulers and the ambitious upstarts. The winner took it all! Over some 30 years of controversy, Russian historians have made a most remarkable transition - they were initially accusing the young mathematician Fomenko of anticommunist dissident activity and attempts to deface the historical legacy of Soviet Russia; nowadays the middle-aged mathematician is accused of adhering to "pro-communist Russian nationalism" and defacing the proud historical legacy of Great Russia.

The Westerners:

Because Fomenko blows consensual Russian history to smithereens, successfully removing a crucial cornerstone from underneath the otherwise impeccable edifice of World History. Fomenko adds insult to injury, wiping out one by one the Ancient Rome (the foundation of Rome in Italy is dated to the XIV century A. D.), the Ancient Greece and its numerous poleis, which he identifies as the mediaeval crusader settlements on the territory of Greece, and the Ancient Egypt (the pyramids of Giza become dated to the XI-XV century A. D. and identified as the royal cemetery of the Global "Mongolian" Empire, no less). The civilization of the Ancient Egypt is irrefutably dated to the XII-XV century A. D. with the aid of the ancient Egyptian horoscopes cut in stone. He was the first one to decipher and date all such horoscopes, coming up with mediaeval dates in every case. English historians rage at the suggestion that the history of Ancient England was de facto a Byzantine import transplanted to the English soil by the fugitive Byzantine nobility. To reward the English historians who consider themselves the true scribes of World History, the cover of the present book portrays Tintoretto's Jesus Christ crucified on the Big Ben.

The Chinese:

Because Fomenko wipes out the Ancient History of China outright. No such thing. Full point. The compilation of the so-called Ancient Chinese History is reliably datable to the XVII-XVIII century only. It is perfectly recognizable as the Ancient European history, reworked and transcribed in hieroglyphs as yet another historical transplantation, this time performed on the Chinese soil by the loving Jesuit hands. The Chinese are the next in line to go berserk. Chinese history is inevitably bound to get both more ancient and more eventful, proportionally to the growing involvement of China in the world affairs. Chinese historians will keep on finding valid proof of prehistoric Chinese spaceflights until the Politburo orders them to shut up.

The Arabs:

Too bad. Islam with all its key figures is datable to XV-XVI century A. D. Arabic historians may find consolation in the crucial historical role of the Ottoman Empire in the XVI-XVII century. The trouble is that this empire was initially a Christian state, with Hagia Sophia identifiable as Temple of Solomon, according to Fomenko! We can only guess if the acquisition of Alexander the Great (a Macedonian and a Christian) as the founder of the Muslim World Empire will make Fomenko's theories more acceptable to the Arabic mainstream. He certainly does not spare any holy cows at all, claiming The Stone of Qa'Aba in Mecca to contain the lost Arch of the Covenant.

The Divinity:

Despite of reiterated statement that his theory is all about chronology and not Religion, Fomenko stirs up a whole condominium of wasp nests. His collection of anathemas, fatwa, and other condemnations from all parties concerned is already considerable. Little wonder, considering that the history of religions à la Fomenko looks as follows: the pre-Christian period (before the XI century and JC), Bacchic Christianity (XI-XII century, before and after JC), JC Christianity (XII-XVI century) and its subsequent mutations into Orthodox Christianity, the Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, and so on.

According to Fomenko we know strictly NOTHING about the events that predate the X century A. D.

St Augustin was prescient when he spoke unto us: "be wary of mathematicians, particularly when they speak the truth."

Something of a disappointment.......2005-09-09

After having read the first volume of this expected series of 7 volumes I was triggered by the thesis of these authors that ancient Greek and Roman history did in fact take place in the Middle Ages. So I started studying medieval history of the Middle East - also known as Islamic history - to find out if the opponents of the ancient Greeks and Romans - the Acheamenid Persians, Sassanids, Scythians, Egyptians, etc. - also have their duplicates in medieval history. My search was disappointing: none of the many medieval Islamic dynasties seemed to correspond to the ancient middle eastern rulers.

However, I did find a close correspondence between Herodotus' Persian kings and medieval events:

- the defeat and capture of an Anatolian king - the Lydian Croesus - by the Persian conqueror Cyrus is identical to the defeat and capture of another Anatolian king - sultan Bayezid - by the Asian/Mongol conqueror Tamerlane;
- the Persian conquest of Egypt by the cruel tyrant Cambyses reds almost exactly as the Ottoman conquest of Egypt by Selim the Grim (note the nickname!);
- Darius the Lawgiver of the Persian Empire looks very much alike to Sulayman the Magnificent, the Lawgiver in Islamic history;
- Xerxes, whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by the Greeks at the naval battle of Salamis, looks like Selim II (the Sot) whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by a Spanish-Italian alliance at the naval battle of Lepanto.

I should have expected Fomenko et al. to arrive at similar conclusions, however, they claim that the Persian kings are the alter egos of the Angevin kings of Sicily whose biographies do not contain the exploits of the Persian kings.

The similiarities I indicate lead to the conclusion that Herodotus must have written his Histories at the close of the 16th century. But this is extremely late, given that Herodotus is "the Father of History", so therefore all other "ancient" histories must have been fabricated even later. Yet, the founders of modern chronology - Scaliger and Petavius - laid their foundations also at the close of the 16th century and had the full corpus of ancient histories already at their disposal.

It seems to me that Fomenko has to address these inconsistencies, maybe in the forthcoming 5 volumes?

Another critique of their book is that the correspondencies between different rulers are often based on a superficial comparison of the biographies; upon a more thorough comparison many details appear that do not correspond at all.

Finally, the authors rely heavily on the works of Gregorovius (1821-1891!!) - his medieval histories of Rome and Athens - as the source of medieval history; these works are - at least in the West - hoplessly outdated and have been superceded by more up-to-date works (for instance, Julius Norwich's trilogy on Byzantine history is not even cited).

Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy.........2005-07-30

If you agree with Fomenko that Roman chronology is basically the foundation of the entire edifice of global chronology; you would also certainly agree that despite its numerous gaps and inconsistencies, Roman history is the best-documented field of ancient history, and thus a reference scale. But how well is the actual date of the Eternal City's foundation known?

Firstly, Rome is supposed to have been founded by the Trojans who had to flee after the fall of Troy. Some claim Rome to have been founded by Aeneas and Ulysses shortly after Troy had fallen; others are of the opinion that there was an entire dynasty that ruled for 500 years between the fall of Troy and the foundation of Rome.

Well, that's just an innocent 500 years long misunderstanding compared with what heretic Fomenko says, asserts, proves in his second volume: Second Roman Empire, Third Roman Empire, Biblical Kingdom of Israel, Biblical Kingdom of Judah, Holy Roman Empire are stories about basically same events, written from different points of view at different times. The underlying events have actually taken place during xii-xv cy. These histories have been written and perfected by multitude of highly talented humanist and clerical writers of xiii-xvi cy disguised as "ancients" with glorious names like Homer, Pluto, Thucydides etc..Chronology 2.0 beta..

Historians are kindly invited to report the bugs.

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A Fascinating Book
A sumptuous tale with few stops for breath
I loved it! Suspenseful, passionate, breathtaking imagery
A Book to Savor
A Really Bad Soap Opera

The Light Bearer
Donna Gillespie
Manufacturer: Berkley Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425143686

Amazon.com

Quo Vadis for our times! Well, not exactly. It's been awhile since anyone tackled the Roman Empire as entertainingly as Gillespie has done in this book, a nearly-straight historical novel which should please readers of fantasy, too. Germanic Auriane is a combination of the noble, natural savage, and the heroine marked from birth for great deeds. Roman Marcus Julianus is the personification of the highest civilized, republican Roman values. Both are typical and atypical of their societies, fighting for what each believes to be just. Their individual struggles with the clashing Roman and Teutonic cultures are carried out in the Northern forests and in the salons and arena of Rome. Strongly- drawn characters, a setting both familiar and exotic (we all know something of imperial Rome, but very few of us are well-informed about it), a whiff of New-Age ancient mysticism, and a subdued but important romance subplot drive the sweeping novel of Auriane's growth and maturity and Rome's decadence.

Book Description

On the day of her birth, Auriane received a mysterious amulet from a priestess-and a doubleedged prophecy of doom and glory. The daughter of a Germanic tribal chieftain, Auriane witnessed unspeakable horrors committed against her people by ruthless invaders. And when tragedy tore her family apart, she took the oath of a warrior, and vowed revenge. Tales of her brilliant swath of conquest carried as far as Rome, to the renowned statesman Marcus Julianus-who felt his destiny intertwined with Auriane's, and wore about his neck an identical amulet

Customer Reviews:

A Fascinating Book.......2007-10-04

This is a big book by any standards, 800 pages and is the result of years of research and study by the author into the culture, and history of Rome and the Germanic tribes. I found it fascinating, exciting and thought provoking. In fact everything that a good book should be.

The year is AD 83 and the Emperor Domitian has crossed the Rhine with four legions, approximately 24,000 men and they have not marched that far for the exercise. The German tribes have tried to maintain their independence for as long as they can, but against such might their resistance is futile. Thus begins this mammoth book that takes us from the heartlands of the Rhine back to the decadence and temptations of ancient Rome.

A young woman Auriane, daughter of a chieftain who was to become the most revered prophetess of the tribes is captured and taken to Rome as a slave. There her life is changed completely and everything that she stands for is brushed away like so much rubbish. But having known her destiny from being a child Auriane is not about to bow to the yoke of Rome without a fight . . .

A sumptuous tale with few stops for breath.......2007-09-12

There is much I could say about "The Light Bearer" which has already been said, but as I don't review all the books in McCullough's Masters of Rome series (of which I've ready each book), I don't feel I can properly do justice to the greatness of this sweeping epic, which unlike McCullough's work, spans not just from Rome, but from a not well known Germanic tribe called the Chattians.

Gillespie does an amazing job of keeping Rome and Germania separate in writing details, with an inevitable connection between the two. Much is equally known about both the Chattians and the Romans as if written by two authors with the same writing style.

Some high points I point out are the very subtle rise of Domitianus's deranged paranoia and Caligulan/Neronian style reign, though the foreshadowing was a bit too obvious for my tastes.

Other interesting bits are the use and apparent source of commonly known modern things among the Chattians, such as the Goddess of the underworld, Hel, and the Eastre celebration, involving children dressed as rabbits and the hiding of colored eggs.

Because the flaws are so few and insignificant in the face of the greater elements, I think it's easier to point them out:

The writing is very sumptuous, but often at times it can get too dense and bogged down in details. This occurs mostly the first time Auriane enters the Colisseum.

Also, the sex. I've become used to ancient historical novels writing sex scenes very metaphorically and obtusely, without using direct wording. Gillespie appears to take it to such an extreme, with the vividly flowery writing between Marcus and Auriane's lovemaking that it becomes like a dense poem jackknifing from the wonders of nature and life and the gods in an obtuse manner, you nearly forget that the two characters are having sex. So over the top is the writing, that the way Gillespie describes it, you'd think Auriane was having blinding orgasms at just Marcus's touch on her arm or chest.

With the state of Rome at this point, and the main character being a foreigner and enemy to Rome, it's inevitable that a bias against Rome would be drawn, but the male character of Marcus Arrius Julianus is so much the outcast that there is little distinction between how Auriane and Marcus view the Roman world despite their differences. Auriane views Rome as savage and barbaric, and a plague on Fria's realm, whereas Marcus views it in somewhat the same fashion, but figures it's all he has, so he may as well love it.

Aside from Julianus and some of the senators friendly to him, you'd think Rome was a festering pot of corruption, barbarity, and bloodlust the epitome of the Roman view of the barbarians, while the Chattians are viewed as pure, natural, children of the earth that can do no wrong and are victimized by everyone from Rome to their neighboring tribes. Any opposition to Baldemar, Auriane's father and chieftain of the Chattians, is viewed as petty greed and personal problems on the part of the dissenter.

Some forgiveable offenses include loose ends, which may be tied up in the sequel "Lady of the Light", or the as of yet unnamed second sequel, including both Marcus and Auriane having amulets of earth from their childhood, duplicates of one another, and Auriane's seeming mystical foresight.

All these flaws are minimal, in my view, and not much to drag the otherwise epic tale down a full star in rating.

There is one issue with both Auriane and Marcus Julianus which may detract some readers, though is apparently done in such a way that broad interpretation can explain it away as easily as it couldn't: Gillespie may be guilty of "Mary-Sue"ing with Auriane and Marcus Julianus. Both seem to be greater than their surroundings, meant for greater things not yet known to either, and with little to no flaws beyond what their separate societies have naturally imbued in them (stubborn traditionalism in Auriane, cynic realism in Marcus), and beautiful physiques. From a certain point of view, many of their actions or words appear to be Mary Sue-ish reflections of the author's own point of view (determined by the narrative) or of a sense of moral or social well-being beyond that of someone from ancient times.

Or this could simply be the tired ramblings of a fussy reader.

Either way, the over 1000 page epic was a great read, and a highly insightful view into how the Germanic tribes of the early Roman Empire, and the early Roman Empire itself may have been.

I loved it! Suspenseful, passionate, breathtaking imagery.......2007-05-18

The Lightbearer is truly an amazing read. Once I began it, I couldn't pull myself away from the spell of Auriane, woman warrior, fighting for the survival of her embattled Germanic tribe against the all powerful Roman army. The characters are so richly drawn, I had an immediate sense of our shared humanity, despite the remoteness of their times. I was captivated by the vivid descriptions of these two worlds, sometimes hauntingly beautiful, sometimes disturbingly barbarous, always artfully rendered through Gillespie's exquisite prose. This is definitely a page turner filled with passion, struggle, heroism, and intriguing myth. With this carefully crafted tale Gillespie enters the arena of master storyteller.

A Book to Savor.......2007-05-18

Every possible element of good writing comes alive in this book. Gillespie recreates a lost time with such powerful detail we can feel we're living there with her characters. Those characters are larger than life, just as they should be in an historical novel of epic scope. Who would want to read about Robin Hood if he couldn't shoot an arrow straight?
But best of all is the plot. I don't *think* I read books for plot, but without a plot, no book really succeeds. It's like the skeleton of a human. You don't want to look at someone's hipbones directly, but without them, there are no graceful dancers. Gillespie's plot is as intricate as a 3,000 piece jigsaw puzzle and that's what drew me in and got me so involved with the characters that I was disappointed to see the book end -- and it's not a short book, either.

A Really Bad Soap Opera.......2007-05-17

As a student of ancient art, archaeology, and history, this book was on my "to read" list for a long time. Sadly, I was unable to get past the first 100 pages and I tried, I really did. I have never NOT finished a book. This book is awful and tries to hard, screaming "amateur." I guess I should have judged this one by the cover...

The storyline is rambling and full of tacky feminism/mysticism. The diologue is overdone with an absurd amount of metaphors and similies (bordering on laughable). The characters have no depth, despite insight into their thoughts at every possible moment. Everyone is so dramatic and over-the-top. I felt no emotional attachement and didn't care what happened to any of them. I also took issue with the over-simplified and stereotyped "good, harmonious tribes of the north" v.s the "evil, war-mongering Romans."

However, it must be said that Gillespie did a lot of research to present historic facts in order to re-create the time period. It's just too bad the novel reads like a really bad soap opera script.

Imperial Governor: The Great Novel of Boudicca's Revolt

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Superior in its accuracy and depth of story
Excellent Novel
Thorough and fascinating
Great Fiction

Imperial Governor: The Great Novel of Boudicca's Revolt
George Shipway
Manufacturer: Cassell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0304363243

Book Description

Here is something to please those Gladiator fans! Filled with vivid battle sequences and excellent historical detail, this novel from an army officer turned writer presents the "memoirs" of the Roman General Suetonius Paulinus. Sent to Wales to capture the gold mines, Paulinus faces the fury of Queen Boudicca's tribes, all united against Nero's corrupt officials. It's a tale packed with fascinating detail of life in Roman Britain and in the Legions in particular.

Customer Reviews:

Reducing the Province to Order.......2007-04-30

Geo. Shipway's "Imperial Governor" is without question one of the finest historical novels I've ever read, and it's very much on my personal Top Ten List of favourite novels. I find it amazing and shameful that all of Shipway's historical works aren't in print. His "Free Lance" and "Knight in Anarchy" deserve to be recovered from obscurity. It's worth noting that Shipway himself was old British India Army. When his narrator in "Imperial Governor" talks about the difficulties of governing hill tribes or supplying outlying garrisons-- Shipway had first-hand experience at doing the same thing.

Shipway presents the campaign to reduce Roman Britain to order after Boudicca's revolt through the eyes of a highly-ambitious professional soldier of the early-Imperial senatorial class, and the writing is cold, spare, and with touches of chill irony. There are no concessions to modern, Christianized morality. His Suetonius Paulinus is a thorough professional who has a job to do and is willing to sacrifice-- but never needlessly --men and ships and cities to restore Roman order. Shipway manages to discuss the technical details of Roman warfare and army administration without losing the reader's interest-- his account of the Anglesey crossing and battle is a delight. The story is gripping and powerful, the end suitably melancholy.

This is very much a book I recommend to any friends or students who want to read about Rome and Roman warfare, and it gets a full five stars from me here. Now if only some publisher will reprint the rest of Shipway's novels...

Superior in its accuracy and depth of story.......2007-04-26

Robert Graves' highly popular "I, Claudius" was first introduced to me by my father many years ago, and was in fact the book that first got me interested in Roman history. I found Imperial Governor almost by accident a couple of years ago. Unable to put it down until complete, I then loaned it to my father, who came to the same conclusion that I did: While I, Claudius set the standard for historical novels on Rome, Imperial Governor surpasses it. In fact, if any one work inspired me to start writing historical novels, it was this one. And I am not ashamed to admit that Shipway's writing style is superior to my own. Anyone who is a fan of my own series, "Soldier of Rome," needs to read Imperial Governor.

I agree with one reviewer that pointed out that this book is full of military jargin, though as a military man myself I found it an easy read. However, for those not familiar with the machinations of the Imperial Roman Army, I can understand the inherant confussion. Also, anyone looking to read a novel about Boudicca herself is going to be disappointed, as she only has a small cameo and no speaking lines. But then, the story is told as an autobiography of Governor Paulinus, who would not have had any real interaction with her to write about.

Of even more interest to me was Paulinus himself, a character you cannot help but be drawn to. I researched as much as I could to find what happened to him after his recall to Rome. He was elected Consul in 66, and in the Year of the Four Emperors fought on the side of Otho. He was pardoned by Vitellius, though nothing else is known about him, and it is assumed that he retured to private life after the rise of Vespasian.

Imperial Governor is not to be missed by anyone with an interested in Roman / British history. I find it regretable that it does not share the same popularity as the works of Robert Graves.

Excellent Novel.......2005-09-24

Set in Roman Britain in the time of Boudicca's revolt, Imperial Governor is a fantastic historical novel that will be gobbled up by any with in interest in Ancient Rome.

The novel follows Suetonius Paulinus in a first person narrative, throughout his governorship of the British province. The first person perspective here really works for the story as Shipway does an excellent job of keeping the story moving while not sacrificing historical accuracy.

Shipway's characterization of Suetonius is excellent and is what I most enjoyed about the novel. He is neither infallible nor completely unlikable. More importantly Shipway's Suetonius rings true to the time period. What I hate about many historical novels, especially those set in the pre-Christian ancient world (O.K. this novel is set A.D., but just), is that they often attach modern sensibilities and morality to their characters. You will not find that here. This is no apologia for Suetonius. He is ruthlessly pragmatic. He neither shies away from torturing nor killing by the thousands. Still, Shipway does not portray Suetonius as needlessly cruel or evil, and he does manage to give the reader reasons to sympathize, and even like him. A hefty accomplishment if you ask me.

The back of the book compares this novel to I, Claudius, a fairly just comparison. While the book is not quite on par with Robert Graves' masterpiece, it is just a step below. A great read. Highly recommended.

Thorough and fascinating.......2005-06-29

I will agree with a previous review (except for the number of stars, 5 instead of 2): This book covers a fascinating period in British history. "Unfortunately, the prose is dry as toast and the characters -- arguably the most important figures in British history -- remain ciphers."

Now this is what makes this book interesting. Mr Shipway's attention to detail and historical backround accuracy are second-to-none. Simply excellent historical fiction.

It basically describes the difficulty of managing a province during the Roman Empire, and the usual dilemnas fo the manager (colelcting data, assessing options, taking decisions, planning, assigning tasks, etc) are well described. The book could have been a bit more developped (the spying opeartions are mentioned repeatedly but without details)

If you are looking for romance, story-telling and well developed characters you can empathize with, do not bother. But if you an intelligent reading that shows you how the Roman bureaucracy worked, then this is a good book.
(Do not get me wrong, sometimes I like to empathize with characters).

One weakness though regarding navy operations and battle description: No way 5,000 Legionaries can charge 50,000+ Britons and rout them without being encircled. In the real battle, the Legion first withstood the onslaught and then steadily ran down their less armored and less disciplined opponent.

One final word: the main character is human and not a hero, he makes mistakes, learns from them (not always), fights back, wins sometimes not always. This is like real life, not fantasy.

I will investigate other books by this author.

Great Fiction.......2004-12-09

I could not put this book down. It was amazing.

Although, there could be more character development. The romance with Queen Cartimandra was shallow, almost cardboard. The military jargon was thick and required many references to a dictionary and handwritten notes in the back cover.

Despite these defects, this is easily the most exciting fiction set in the Roman era I have ever read. I was hit by the same flash of excitement I picked up the book and feeling of dread when I had to put it down as when I read Steven Pressfield's "Gates of Fire".

This book is not to be missed. I was amazed by how deftly the moral issues were ambiguously addressed. The ambiguousness of the author seemed to make them more real and forces the reader to interpret them in a more objective light.

Is it wrong to exterminate a people who had months earlier just tried to exterminate you? Can timidity, if in good faith, be treasonable? Of course the answers are clearly no, but Paulinus makes a helluva good argument to the countrary.

Boudica: Dreaming the Eagle (Boudica Quadrilogy (Paperback)) (Boudica Trilogy)

Average customer rating:

Excellent Start to a Wonderful Series
Great Book
Great idea, not such great writing
Historical novels don't have to be this boring
Good Historical Fiction

Boudica: Dreaming the Eagle (Boudica Quadrilogy (Paperback)) (Boudica Trilogy)
Manda Scott
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0385337736
Release Date: 2004-03-02

Book Description

Dreaming the Eagle is the first part of the gloriously imagined epic trilogy of the life of Boudica.

Boudica means Bringer of Victory (from the early Celtic word “boudeg”). She is the last defender of the Celtic culture in Britain; the only woman openly to lead her warriors into battle and to stand successfully against the might of Imperial Rome -- and triumph.

It is 33 AD and eleven-year-old Breaca (later named Boudica), the red-haired daughter of one of the leaders of the Eceni tribe, is on the cusp between girl and womanhood. She longs to be a Dreamer, a mystical leader who can foretell the future, but having killed the man who has attacked and killed her mother, she has proven herself a warrior. Dreaming the Eagle is also the story of the two men Boudica loves most: Caradoc, outstanding warrior and inspirational leader; and Bàn, her half-brother, who longs to be a warrior, though he is manifestly a Dreamer, possibly the finest in his tribe’s history. Bàn becomes the Druid whose eventual return to the Celts is Boudica’s salvation.

Dreaming the Eagle is full of brilliantly realised, luminous scenes as the narrative sweeps effortlessly from the epic -- where battle scenes are huge, bloody, and action-packed -- to the intimate. Manda Scott plunges us into the unforgettable world of tribal Britain in the years before the Roman invasion: a world of druids and dreamers and the magic of the gods where the natural world is as much a character as any of the people who live within it, a world of warriors who fight for honour as much as victory, a world of passion, courage and spectacular heroism pitched against overwhelming odds.

Dreaming the Eagle stunningly recreates the roots of a story so powerful its impact has lasted through the ages.

Download Description

Dreaming the Eagle is the first part of the gloriously imagined epic trilogy of the life of Boudica. Boudica means Bringer of Victory (from the early Celtic word "boudeg"). She is the last defender of the Celtic culture in Britain; the only woman to lead her warriors openly into battle and to stand successfully against the might of Imperial Rome -- and triumph.

It is 33 AD and eleven-year-old Breaca (later named Boudica), the red-haired daughter of one of the leaders of the Eceni tribe, is on the cusp between girlhood and womanhood. She longs to be a Dreamer, a mystical leader who can foretell the future, but having killed the man who attacked and killed her mother, she has proven herself a warrior.

Dreaming the Eagle is also the story of the two men Boudica loves most: Caradoc, outstanding warrior and inspirational leader; and BÃƒÂ n, her half-brother, who longs to be a warrior, though he is manifestly a Dreamer, possibly the finest in his tribe's history. Bàn becomes the Druid whose eventual return to the Celts is Boudica's salvation.

Dreaming the Eagle is full of brilliantly realized, luminous scenes as the narrative sweeps effortlessly from the epic -- where battle scenes are huge, bloody, and action-packed -- to the intimate. Manda Scott plunges us into the unforgettable world of tribal Britain in the years before the Roman invasion: a world of druids and dreamers and the magic of the gods where the natural world is as much a character as any of the people who live within it, a world of warriors who fight for honor as much as victory, a world of passion, courage and spectacular heroism pitched against overwhelming odds.

Dreaming the Eagle stunningly recreates the roots of a story so powerful its impact has lasted through the ages.

“[Scott’s] characters are so true to life that they all but jump off the page, and the story is alive with the love, deceit, wisdom and heroics of humanity. Read it and enjoy!”
   JEAN M. AUEL

“Manda Scott has created a fictional universe all of her own, but close enough to our reality for it both to warm and break our hearts. Breathtakingly good, it reveals the best and worst in all of us.”
    VAL McDERMID

“A stunning feat of the imagination and an absolute must-read for lovers of historical fiction.”
    STEVEN PRESSFIELD, AUTHOR OF TIDES OF WAR AND GATES OF FIRE

“Definitely not a tired old retelling of a legend, this novel is beautifully written and lovingly told, filled with drama and passion.... Highly recommended.”
   LIBRARY JOURNAL

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Start to a Wonderful Series.......2007-08-29

Manda Scott gives us an exciting and heart-wrenching beginning to her Boudica series with "Dreaming the Eagle." These characters are real and believable and true Celts portrayed with archaeological detail and immense emotional depth. The dreamers and warriors who inhabit their world with bravery and wonder are amazing characters you won't soon forget. The whole series is as wonderful as this first book and your love for Breaca, Airmid, Ban, and Caradoc will only grow as you travel through their difficult times and uplifting relationships with them.

Great Book.......2007-06-01

I'll admit, not many 13-year-olds are going to be reading this book, especially considering that it is an adult book, but it is an amazing piece of literature!

True, the plot may be slightly difficult to understand, at least for me, but it is really, really good. It took me about three months to read, and usually a book of that size takes me a week, max, but that was because, for it to really pull me into it, i needed some time, as in an uninterupted hour or more, to read it. (Sorry for the run-on sentence!)

Some of the content may be considered "for adults only" by many people, such as when, towards the end of the book Breaca sleeps with a man to whom she is not married, but we all know enough about that by the time we turn 13, and if we don't, then we need to learn.

Altogether, I say that this is a book well worth the price and time it takes to read and I say we should all propose a toast of long life to Manda Scott for writing this beautiful series!

Great idea, not such great writing.......2005-11-07

I really loved the premise for this book. What could be better than the life story of a warrior queen who defended her people from the Romans? I expected this book to be somewhat like the Light Bearer by Donna Gillespie, and so I was excited to read it.

Unfortunately the book proved to be a disappointment.

This book, quite frankly, is boring. Nothing that happens in it is described in a way to be exciting and the culture of Breaca (Boudica of the title) is never really explained, the author just seems to expect the reader to know a lot about pre-roman British culture.

Which of course the average reader does not.

Because of this the book is confusing and vague at times and just plain boring at others. Other complaints: way too much time is spent talking about how much all the characters love their horses, and the romance is never really explored that well.

I still may read the next book in this series, but only if I can get it cheaply. Over all, if you want a good book about a warrior woman fighting back against Rome, read The Light Bearer by Donna Gillespie.

Historical novels don't have to be this boring.......2005-10-24

I was given this book for my birthday and since I like historical novels, I thought I might enjoy it. Oh, well! I was incredibly bored for the first 400 pages. The main focus seemed to be more about the attachment of Ban to his mare than anything else. The story finally got going right at the end. Maybe the author or the publisher realized they better get readers interested again or no one would buy the sequel. If you're willing to wade through four hundred pages of plodding plot, a dubious interpretation of the life and times of a celtic villager 2000 years ago, plus characters who all seem very similar and unrealistically mature for their teenage years, this is the book for you. Ms. Scott's writing itself is polished and enjoyable to read, but I think she should have written a fantasy novel, which she seems good at, instead of trying to pass this half-baked story off as historical. There are much better novels written about this period in time.

Good Historical Fiction.......2005-07-03

Many people have written reviews for this book saying that it isn't historically accurate. I personally don't know much about pre-Roman Britain. I'm pretty sure *most* people don't know much about pre-Roman Britain, and I think that's one of the things Manda Scott is trying to prove with this series of books. Much of the culture was an oral history, and has since been lost. Perhaps not everything Scott does is historically accurate, but to me, everything seems plausible.

In any case, most of what is known about pre-Roman Britain is conjecture, and Scott weaves a good story out of the assumptions and beliefs she has.

As the first book in a projected series of four, Dreaming the Eagle sets up the basis of the rest of the books. Everything that happens in this story is fiction, as no one knows much about Boudica before the Romans began writing about her. The Romans, for the most part, aren't even in this book. It's more about the tribal relations existing in Britain at the time. Yes, there is a great deal of mysticism that seems to draw a lot on a mixture of Celtic myth and Native American folklore, which may or may not be realistic.

The story itself I really like. It's slower than some and takes a while to get moving, as it is mainly an introduction. But it's very well-written and promises a great deal of character development in the future of the series. I particularly like Ban, who also has a major role in the sequel, and Caradoc, who seems to be the "typical hero" but really isn't.

Overall, the book is easy to read, and certainly holds a person's interest.

Four Comedies : The Braggart Soldier, The Brothers Menaechmus, The Haunted House, The Pot of Gold (Oxford World's Classics)

Average customer rating:

Interesting...
Four Comedies...

Four Comedies : The Braggart Soldier, The Brothers Menaechmus, The Haunted House, The Pot of Gold (Oxford World's Classics)
Plautus
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Greek & Roman | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Classical & Early | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Greek | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0192838962

Book Description

Plautus was the single greatest influence on Western comedy. Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors and Moliere's The Miser are two subsequent classics directly based on Plautine originals. Plautus himself borrowed from the Greeks, but his jokes, rapid dialogue, bawdy humour, and irreverent characterizations are the original work of an undisputed genius. The comedies printed here show him at his best, and professor Segal's translations keep their fast, rollicking pace intact, making these the most readable and actable versions available. His introduction considers Plautus' place in ancient comedy, examines his continuing influence, and celebrates his power to entertain.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting..........2003-06-27

This book makes for a good read, though it is not all that funny in today's context. I would recommend this book if you are interested in gaining a deeper understanding the minds of ancient peoples.

Four Comedies..........2000-04-24

a worthwhile read for anyone. but look into it if your taking a college course on roman comedy especially though. it's not a quick read but a good one. the "brothers Menaechmus" stays the truest to roman comedy forn with the five staple characters all in there. not for those wiht short attention spans.

The Roman Soldier (Aspects of Greek and Roman Life)

Average customer rating:

Minimal Overview
The Roman Army from the Perspective of the Soldier
great supplement for undergraduates
I hate book reports
A valuable resource.

The Roman Soldier (Aspects of Greek and Roman Life)
G. R. Watson
Manufacturer: Cornell University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Rome | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0801493129

Customer Reviews:

Minimal Overview.......2006-10-08

A very broad overview of the training, posting, and discharge. Bare mention of the religion, marriage, retirement and lifestyle. Strongest on the training of the recruit and the ongoing duties as a soldier. Exhaustive footnotes in Latin and Greek for what is a thin introductory essay.

Some interesting items:
Main duties were in peacetime.
Most soldiers had specialties, wagonwright, medical clerk, etc.
Religion was minimal, mostly personal, except for the unifying cult of the standard - the eagle.
Mithraism was elitist, mostly officers.
Provincial legions became settled, recruited locally.
Half solders' wages were held in savings banks.
Marriage was illegal, but encouraged to get the sons to enlist for the citizenship benefits.
Imperial donations on accession became expected and eventually demanded. The emperorship was "sold".

The Roman Army from the Perspective of the Soldier.......2005-03-16

Unlike other armies in antiquity, the Roman army evolved to be a formal institution with a distinctive military code, standard equipment, defined ranks and duties, as well as laws and procedures affecting the life and retirement of its soldiers. Although service was long (20 years/no family allowed) and discipline was strict (i.e. decimation), it was truly the first modern professional army with very specialized units ranging from doctors and cooks to sappers and siege engineers. Roman soldiers usually came from the poorer elements of society by the time of the Late Republic and received a thorough training as primarily infantry men: cavalry being left either to the equestrian class or mostly foreign auxilliaries. Their training, efficiency and tenacity allowed the Roman Legions to fight cohesively as flexible units to overcome superior numbers under higher attrition. It made Rome the master of the Mediterranean world and most of modern Europe for over 1500 years (counting the Byzantine.)

G.R. Watson provides a historical and sociological analysis of the Roman army from the perspective of the individual soldier as opposed to being just a general chronological summary or studying it more under a political analysis. Watson covers the subjects in the order that a new recruit would encounter them such as sign up, training, terms of service, etc. The book doesn't study the evolution of the Roman army per se as he uses the later Roman Imperial army as a model as it had pretty much fully evolved in its institutions by that time. Watson reinforces his description and summary with various examples from different periods in the Roman Empire without resorting to a chronological order.

This is overall a good book that gives the reader an idea as to what the Roman army was like from the perspective of the average soldier. Despite being a thin paperback, the book's conclusions are supported by extensive and thorough historical references and is easy to read for any level of education. I strongly recommend this book and Adrian Goldsworthy's "Roman Warfare" for a good textual foundation in learning more about the Roman army.

great supplement for undergraduates.......2000-05-18

An excellent supplement to Wilkes standard text about the Roman army. This book makes it more personal, more accessible to the reader. The major flaw is a collasping of different time periods on many occassions -- the army was a dynamic institution and should be portrayed as such.

I hate book reports.......2000-02-18

This book=chock full 'o facts. His analysis of the Roman Soldier made me cringe in delight. The illuminated intellect of Watson displays how he furrows through the sources and come up with a clear winner.

A valuable resource........1999-03-14

This book gives an complete overview of every aspect of the Roman soldier's life. Complete with loads of annotation and actual text as well as translations, this is an great resource.

Warrior Queen: The Story of Boudica, Celtic Queen

Average customer rating:

Excellent read!
Oh, please...
Boudica history
Amazing, bloody, and brutal
Excellent Heroine Story

Warrior Queen: The Story of Boudica, Celtic Queen
Alan Gold
Manufacturer: NAL Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451215257

Book Description

Meticulously researched and imaginatively wrought, Warrior Queen is the sweeping epic of a flame-haired woman who would dare to challenge the vicious might of the Roman Empire-and whose name would echo throughout history.

In 43 A.D., Boudica became the queen of a Celtic tribe-and a Roman sympathizer. But after years of loyal service to the Empire, she would find herself brutally betrayed. With the conviction of a hero and the courage of a warrior, she united the Celts against their enemy. The fury of her unleashed vengeance threw the Roman forces into chaos, made her a goddess to her own people-and carried her into the history books as a true heroine of the British people.

Now, Alan Gold retells the story of Boudica in a novel that embraces all the fiery passion and intrigue of the Warrior Queen.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent read!.......2007-10-06

This was an excellent recounting of the story. The author seemed to have done thorough research and has a good understanding of the culture that existed at the time. I would highly recommend reading this book!

Oh, please..........2007-04-07

As an ordained druid priestess, I'll be the first to admit that the amount we actually know about the ancient druids fills about 2 pages, and some of that was written by the romans themselves. Not exactly the best source for information. Everything else is speculation based on a few fragmentary references in Greek, Latin, and medieval Irish writings. What did the druids actually practice? Nobody knows!! So why try to create rituals for them in this book? Yes, OK, it's fiction. I get that. But gods, Cornwell did it SO much better in his Warlord Chronicles. I guess I'm spoiled by an actual author who IS a meticulous researcher.

Two stars (WHICH I CAN'T SEEM TO EDIT, HELLO???) instead of 0 for the roman bits that are correct. Everything else is completely fiction. I also rated this low for hokiness. Some of the dialogue is so ridiculous.

Boudica history.......2007-01-18

This historical fiction novel brings to life the 1st century, AD, when Claudius and Nero were emperors of Rome, and Britain was being conquered by them. Assuming that the factual portions of the story are correct, he has done a good job of weaving a story around what facts remain about the rise and fall of Boudica. The way of life of the Celts are dramatized into a very readable book. I give this book a 4 star rating, mostly based on the enjoyment of experiencing life in the 1st century.

Amazing, bloody, and brutal.......2006-11-16

I love historical-fiction books about the ancient times and that is why I bought this book. The cover grabbed my attention and the synopsis on the back grabbed everything else. This was one. good. book! So good infact that after I was finished I started doing a search on the Web to find out more about Boudicia. I highly recommed this book yall!!

Excellent Heroine Story.......2006-08-12

Love the story of a great female warrior in history. Alan Gold has a way of captivating the reader. Looking for more of his books.

Average customer rating:

Dreaming the Hound (Boudica Trilogy)
Manda Scott
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Historical | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0385337752
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Book Description

In a spellbinding novel of gods and men, myth and brutality, acclaimed author Manda Scott returns to her heralded saga of a world under siege. For here is the epic tale of Boudica, the legendary Celtic queen, and her embattled Eceni tribe—a bold new work of imaginative fiction that takes us on a thrilling journey into a clash between magic and mankind.

To the Eceni tribe of Britannia, nature is the ultimate god, and warriors are joined in battle by the voices and spirits of their ancestors. But the proud Eceni are running out of time. Nero’s army, long since out of patience with Britannia’s wild tribes, is becoming increasingly oppressive. And Boudica’s family is at the center of a gathering storm: Cunomar, Boudica’s son, who longs for the mettle to kill as fiercely as his mother… Graine, her young daughter, gifted with the power of dreamers, scarred forever by the horrors of war...and Boudica’s brother, born Bán of the Eceni, turned the traitor Valerius—a man caught between worlds: warrior and dreamer, Roman and Eceni.

As conflict erupts between the tribes and their brutal invaders, Boudica is forced to make a bold sacrifice. Cloaking her identity, she will travel directly into the stronghold of an enemy who longs for her crucifixion. What happens next—in a brutal drama of betrayal, heroism, and sacrifice—will leave Boudica with no options but one: to raise and arm every warrior, every dreamer, every tribe…and push the invader and its legions back into the sea.

From the thundering hooves of the Eceni’s great horses to mystical spirit quests of young warriors, from the politics of an empire to the passions of lovers, Dreaming the Hound takes us on a breathtaking journey of the imagination—at once brutal, fantastical, and utterly unforgettable.

MAGNIFICENT PRAISE FOR MANDA SCOTT’S BOUDICA SAGA

Dreaming the Hound

“Extraordinary.” —Independent, UK

“Brilliantly imaginative.”—Colchester Evening Gazette, UK

“Dramatic…Vivid…Lyrical.”—Yorkshire Evening Post, UK

“One of Britain’s most famous legends…is retold here with extraordinary immediacy.”—Our Time, UK

“Irresistible…an excellent read.”—Diva, UK

Dreaming the Bull

“Enthralling…Mesmerising…Creates a living past of battle feats, betrayals, heart-breaking loyalties and cruelties.”—Publishing News, UK

“Thrilling…Readers will be swept away.” —Booklist, starred review

Dreaming the Eagle

“A powerful novel about one of the most intriguing and mysterious women in history…Alive with the love, deceit, wisdom and heroics of humanity. Read it and enjoy!”—Jean M. Auel

“The new Mary Renault…Intensely exciting, a tale of passion, courage and heroism against huge odds.”—Publishing News, UK

From the Hardcover edition.

Average customer rating:

Well Worth the Wait
In some ways it's better than the first one...
Good, but not as great as the first one
everyone has already said it all.
Almost super

Lady of the Light
Donna Gillespie
Manufacturer: Berkley Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0425212688

Book Description

Auriane, warrior maiden of the Chattian tribe, was sworn to remove the cursed Romans from the lands of the Rhine. Then fate intervened: she was captured, brought to Rome in chains, and trained to fight in the arenas as a gladiator-only to fall in love with a Roman aristocrat, Marcus Arrius Julianus, and become his wife.

Marcus and Auriane have lived in tranquility for years but, without his knowledge, Auriane is a traitor to Rome. Plundering her husband's coffers for nearly a decade, Auriane has provided her people with enough wealth to arm themselves. Now, Auriane's betrayal has been discovered, and if her duplicity reaches the Roman authorities, her life- and the lives of her family-will be forfeit.

Customer Reviews:

Well Worth the Wait.......2007-10-05

This is a big book by any standards, almost 500 pages and is the result of years of research and study by the author into the culture, and history of Rome and the Germanic tribes. The book believe or not is a follow up to The Light Bearer, a book that Donna Gillespie wrote 12 years ago. The book continues the life of Auriane, a warrior maiden of the Chattian tribe, designated to be their new prophetess but as fate would have it she was captured by the Roman army and taken in chains to the city of Rome.

Once there her life changed completely and she was trained to be a female gladiator in the great arena of Rome. Again fate takes a hand in the life of the woman who had vowed to defend her tribe against all things Roman. She falls in love with a Roman aristocrat Marcus Arrius Julianus and becomes his wife.

Marcus and Auriane have lived a peaceful life for a number of years, but unbeknown to her husband Auriane is a traitor to Rome, plundering her husband's coffers for nearly ten years, Auriane has provided her family with enough wealth to arm themselves. Now her deceit has been discovered and if it reaches the Roman authorities, not only her life, but the life of her family will be forfeit.

In some ways it's better than the first one..........2007-09-05

This book is beautifully composed and artfully put together. I found not a wasted sentence. There is polished beauty to the scenes that shows a new mastery on the part of this author. The forward movement of the story is brisk and relentless and calamity lurks at the end of every chapter - I never felt a slowing of tension throughout the whole book. This family struggles to stay together as they are ringed by wolves. This story is put together like a puzzle box - every piece matters. I had to read it twice to appreciate how this was done. The reviewer who called this book a study in economy really got it right. The rich background of each scene somehow never intrudes on the action. The characterizations, too - possibly even lusher and fuller than in Light Bearer - are seamlessly developed along with the action. The dialogues are inspiring - so many characters have quotable lines that I almost lost track. Here is that sort of novel it's so difficult to find these days - a solid work of adventure that is also deeply meaningful. I agree with others who pointed out that the portrayal of the powerful position of women in early Germanic society is utterly convincing and makes this book a rare gem. I ardently wanted to believe that there was once a great teacher called Ramis dispersing wisdom with roots reaching back into archaic times. And there is such honesty and intimacy in the portrayal of Roman life. This volume beautifully complements Light Bearer - it fills in precisely those details of Marcus' and Auriane's lives that I was so avid to know and manages this with such deft storytelling that those details always felt necessary to understanding the continuing crises of the present. This book has it all - horror, mystery, psychological tension, betrayal, horrific battles, sweet victories, tragic love. If this book doesn't become a classic there is no justice.

Good, but not as great as the first one.......2007-08-23

This novel is the sequel to the magnificent work "The Light Bearer", which was an epic saga centering around Auriane, who is the daughter of a chieftain of a Germanic tribe at a time that ancient Rome is pushing further and further into their territory. It was fast paced, intriguing, well-written - just fantastic all around. I would even put it on a par with "The Mists of Avalon" and recommend it to anyone, whether or not they like historical fiction. It's been about 7 years since I read the book and I looked forward to reading this sequel.

Despite its very favorable reviews here, I personally had mixed feelings towards the sequel. On the plus side: Gillespie still writes beautifully and I like her characters. She brings the setting to life and gives you a fascinating take on history and the events that are shaped by one powerful woman. The whole setting is brilliant - the Germanic tribes are being even more overwhelmed and conquered by the Romans; their ancient traditions are falling out of history. It's always interesting to read about history from the perspective of those who lost a war. Gillespie also writes well of the mother-daughter relationship between Auriane and her first daughter Avenahar. Also, I liked getting to see what befell some of the characters from the first book such as the prophetess Ramis and Auriane's first love (and one of my favorite characters), the Roman man Decius. But on the negative side: The plot moved slowly. Some scenes felt like they were 5 times longer than they needed to be and there were plenty of scenes that really didn't need to be in there at all. I was shocked at that, since the first novel moved at breakneck speed and I found nothing in it superfluous. I also felt that the main male character, Marcus, is almost a bit too much like a hero of a romance novel - he's unrealistically without flaw. (I prefer the more spicy and flawed Decius). I'm glad I read the book though, just to see what happened to all the characters I loved in the first novel and I still found it enjoyable despite its faults. It's always hard for sequels of extraordinary works to follow up to the earlier book's greatness.

everyone has already said it all. .......2007-07-30

A really good summer read. I just finished it, can still smell the leather horse saddles and feel the cool fog on my face.

Almost super.......2007-05-02

I read this book right after reading Light Bearer and found it almost as good. In the middle I was losing interest and then Ms. Gillespie brought in the nine maidens with their string skirts and I was hooked again. Scholars say that the skirts were worn high on the waist and did not fall low enough to cover the private parts (not sure of the reason why) but this is a minor inaccuracy. I await book three when I am sure the family will be temporarily reunited after many adventures, of course. I am curious to see how Ms. Gillespie resolves their final living arrangements.

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