Queen's Brooch

by Henry Treece

The first time Marcus met Queen Boudicca he thought she was going to ride him down on her black horse. Then she stopped and stared at him silently. 'This is not your road, but it is mine,' she said. 'I am the Queen here.' Then she gave him a brooch as her token. Years later Marcus met the Queen again, but times were different now, and a harsh and bloody battle lay in store.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

Henry Treece (1911-1966) was a British poet and writer, who also worked as a teacher and editor. He wrote a range of works but is mostly remembered as a writer of children's historical novels.

Reviews

[Leila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henry Treece was better known for his Viking books for children but he did write a few based on Roman Britain. This is quite a short book but it is a dramatic and powerful story. He sure knew how to write! The book centres on a young son of a Roman Tribune at the beginning of the story and while out one day walking along a forest path the warrior Queen Boudicca comes along towards him on a black horse. They talk and although they are on opposite sides she gifts him a brooch which he keeps into manhood. Marcus becomes a Roman warrior and is involved in the brutal battles between the proud and warlike Queen Boudicca and the Roman army under the Roman General Suetonius. His thoughts and feelings undergo changes throughout the story. Yes, this book is written for children but as an adult I was really taken by the depth of the story. I recommend it to anyone interested in not just historical fiction but especially tales of Roman Britain. I personally enjoy the books written by Rosemary Sutcliff but that does not take away from this exceptionally well written tale.

[Len · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is very firmly Young Adult, mainly because of its violent content; but then if you revolt against the Roman Empire violence will be coming your way. It begins portraying history as an age of heroes in the time of Boudicca and the Iceni uprising in Roman Britain. Apart from Boudicca, it's a man's world and the men tend to be big, strong, ready to strike first, and with a sense of honour and saving face that could teach lessons to a samurai.

The story centres round Marcus Volusenus. He is the son of a Tribune and is being brought up by his father to understand his duties and superiority as a Roman. As a young boy he meets Boudicca and her savage entourage while riding down one of the sacred trackways of Britain's ancient landscape. He is impressed by her primitive, dominating presence yet, as young as he is, he is aware that she represents a way of life that is doomed to extinction under the force of Roman civilization. Boudicca is presented as an almost mystical, certainly religious figure, a sort of shaman with a long sword and a short temper. She gives Marcus a brooch as a talisman to protect him when they should meet again – and she knows they will meet again.

The first half of the story is all action and fighting – once Marcus has grown up a bit and replaced his father as Tribune to the Ninth Legion. It is real boys' stuff with lots of bloodshed, stiff upper lips in the face of hideous torture, and sacrifices made to preserve the honour of Rome or the tribe. Heroes are everywhere while the womenfolk seem to do the cooking, cleaning and salving of wounds. It all pushes the story along to Marcus' capture, the Iceni revolt and the bloody sacking of Camulodunum. Then it changes and becomes more adult.

Marcus escapes and makes his way to Londinium to give warning of its approaching doom. From this point the style of the story reminded me of the sort of play broadcast on BBC Radio when I was young and I couldn't help wondering if that is where the novel originated. The opening scene involves three merchants setting up their stalls: big, hairy Ochter from somewhere around the Baltic – he talks of retiring to a farm on Gotland, Orosius a Spaniard from Gades a trader in olives and wine, and Ula Buriash from Armenia who sells silverware. The style of their conversation is so like that of Gower, Fluellen and Macmorris in Henry V the similarity is uncanny.

Then a bedraggled Marcus approaches and his adventures continue, but no longer as a hero. He cannot convince anyone of the danger they are in, he is mistreated by the local militia who think he is an escaped slave and eventually is rescued and cared for by Gerd, a Saxon girl living by her wits in the Roman world while her brother operates as a pirate out of the island of Vectis (the Isle of Wight). Apart from one incident, which is now considered unacceptable – Gerd persuades Marcus to black-up using the old adventure story trick of walnut juice stain to avoid recognition – a relationship develops between the two. Not quite romantic, the hero in Marcus can't allow that just yet and there is still a mission to accomplish, but give him time. The story then flows, a little slowly, to the final battlefield on which Suetonius and his legions slaughter the brave Iceni.

Marcus is a spectator and becomes sickened by what he has had to witness. As he wanders across the field he comes across the wreck of Boudicca's war-wagon and has a final meeting with the fatally injured queen. As she dies before him he is grief-stricken and makes his decision to give up war and the hero's life forever. Gerd suggests they go to her brother and sail away into a new life.

He nodded slowly and said, "Yes, Saxon, we will go to Vectis. Where else is there to go?”

It is a very well written and composed story. If it has a weakness it is the character of Boudicca. She comes across as the Romans probably saw her: a woman pretending to be a man in their male dominated world, a witch who could control the Iceni men with her witchery. Treece chose to put to one side the tradition of women warriors and female rulers in Celtic society - Cartimandua ruled the fierce Brigantes for instance – leaving his Boudicca as an ambitious woman who rose on the backs of her male warriors. She ends as a tragic queen caught sheltering in her wagon when she probably died, sword in hand, surrounded by Roman spears and wary Roman legionaries, a true Celtic hero to the end.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this children's book from the 1960s quite randomly and was attracted because it features Boudicca who is one of my favourite historical figures. The story is about a young Roman boy in Britannia whose path crosses with the famous Iceni Queen and periodically bumps into her as he grows up until the fateful rebellion that causes her death. Although written rather a long time ago, this is still an enjoyable novel and I'd recommend it to anybody interested in historical fiction set in Roman Britain.

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - this guy knows how to push a story along.

I first read Henry Treece when I was going on a bit of a historical novel kick as an 8 year old - lots of Treece, Sutcliffe and Goudge. I'd forgotten how brilliantly written they are. He doesn't exactly pull his punches either - human sacrifice, rape, child slaughter. The war crimes of the tribal chieftains and their Roman conquerors are certainly not glossed over. I wonder if many modern day authors would be allowed to write for children in such a way now. A pity if not I think - nothing is glamourised and Treece's own experiences of war as a nasty, brutish business are extremely evident here. The book ends on a poignant note - Marcus is about to start a new life with nothing he knew formerly having any relevance. All seems lost and the Roman conquest of Britain (although only just begun) would seem to be over. Will he throw his lot in with the Saxon girl Gerd? If he does he may find himself historically on the losing side again... However, Treece does a wonderful job of portraying his options in a clear-eyed, rational way. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and we might know that Marcus might be better of staying a Roman but on the ground his options look rather different. Neither his Roman forebears or his captor Briton friends (Boudicca amongst them) or indeed his new Saxon friend would seem to have the answer. He can only do what all refugees have done before or since - choose a path and hope for the best.

[Mrs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unrelenting violence with no redemption. Probably completely accurate but not something I would put in the hands of children.

[Ape · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather entertaining children's story set in ancient Britain, with a hint of 60's school master voice, telling the tale of Roman boy Marcus. Sent to Britain to be with his father, he grows up learning the local Celtic languages and even has the fortune to bump into Queen Boudicca, who gives him the Queen's Brooch. Marcus grows up and joins the army, and relations between the Romans and various tribes disintergrates and turns into war. Marcus has something of an epic journey all across the south of England, before getting to ye olde London to warn them of their impending doom, to which they do not listen. It all ends a bit open ended and depressed, which given everything he went through, is fair enough. For a children's book, it has the right level of adventure and battling without getting too gory or lost in long descriptive passages.

On a complete side note, this copy has a nostalgia moment. There's a page right at the back of the book about the Puffin club, and an application form to join. It was 5 shillings - way before my time, as I am post decimalisation - to join back in the 60s. So sweet. I wonder if such things exist now.

[Tony Tubb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb battles, exciting world building and character, the usual riches from this great writer.