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Boudica
Boudica is both a groundbreaking new study and a surprisingly personal history that is a must-read for anyone interested in British or Roman history, feminism, or all things Celtic.
Boudica has been mythologized as the woman who dared to take on the Romans to avenge her daughters, her tribe, and her enslaved country. Her immortality rests on the fact that she almost drove the Romans out of Britain, and her legend has become the reference point for any British woman in power, from Elizabeth I to Margaret Thatcher. As Boudica has become well known as an icon of female leadership and strength, the true story of her revolt against the Roman empire has only become more distant until now. Combining new research and recent archaeological discoveries, Vanessa Collingridge has written a major new biography on this shadowy and often misunderstood figure of ancient history. Boudica provides a detailed history of the Celtomania that has adopted Boudica as its earliest hero, and the nationalist and feminist causes that have also tried to claim her as their own. While tracking the origins and impact of the various versions of the Boudica legend, Collingridge unearths a historical woman who is far subtler but every bit as fascinating as the myths associated with her name.
472 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
September 9, 2019
This book describes the life of Boudica and times and the context in which the Iceni Warrior-Queen lived.
It tells of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, something about pre-Roman Britain, of Julius Ceasar's invasion of Britain, the conquest of Britain a century later by Claudius, and of the Druids
around which British life centered in pre-Roman times and were ruthlessly stamped out by the Romans.
Interesting insight in human sacrifices by the Druids as well as their use of hallucinogenic drugs such as hallucinogenic mushrooms.
The book gives us an insight into the sheer brutality of the Roman Empire, destroying entire nations and seizing lands at will.
In retaliation for an assault on his men by German tribesman, Julius Casar ordered one of the biggest slaughters of his career.
However the book centers around the Roman coquest of Britain and how the British tribes were subdued.
It is important to note that prior to the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain centuries later, there never was an identity among Britons as a nation.
They identified according to the various tribes to which they belonged, which essentially formed confederations in different regions of today's England.
The Iceni were a client tribe of Rome, and their lands stretched across most of what is now East Anglia, covering today's Norfolk, north Suffolk, and north-east Cambridgeshire.
Boudica's husband, Prasutagus, was the king of Iceni.
when Prasutagus died his attempts to preserve his line were ignored and his kingdom was annexed as if it had been conquered. Lands and property were confiscated and nobles treated like slaves. According to Tacitus, Boudica was flogged and her young daughters brutally raped. Boudica launched a rebellion of the Iceni, and although ultimately defeated, she sacked the towns of what are today Colchester (Camulodunum), London (Londinium) and St Albans (Verulamium) ruthlessly destroying these towns and rooting the Roman masters of Britain.
The rest of the book traces the legend of Boudica as it developed thorugh the ages in England, both as a central component of British (or more accurately English national identity) as well as the symbol or by-word of a
strong women She was an inspiration for Queen Elizabeth I when she rallied the English people to resist the invasion by the British Empire and centuries later for the suffragette movement.
It is also worth noting here a large moral difference between the suffragettes and most of today's radicals.
When the First World War broke out, the Sufragettes suspended their campaign for women's suffrage and threw their energies into the war effort against Germany.
Compare this toi the moral turpitude of most of today's radical left in the USA and Britain, who are openly siding with Islamic terrorist movements and terrorists states, int he West's battle for survival against Islamo-Nazism.
Among the Leftist allies of the Islamists are included many radical feminists who are oblivious to the fact that in Islamist states such as Iran, and the Palestinian Entity, women have no human rights at all.
Perhaps the strugle of these movements for social change in their own countries would have had more legitimacy has they not sided with the murderers and tyrants.
Boudica was in the 1980s often compared to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
The book also details Boudica's role in popular culture through the centuries, including the books, plays and movies about her.
Sculptures of Boudica encapsulate the different roles the Iceni Queen may have played.
A 1902 statue by Thomas Thornycroft, erected 1902 at Westminster Bridge, London, depicts Boudica armed with a lance riding a scythed chariot carried by rearing horses.
At Cardiff city hall one can see a very maternal depiction of Boudica with her two beautiful daughters in an exquisite work by James Harvard Thomas unveiled in 1916.
This book makes for fascinating reading and riveting history.
It includes much social history and reveals some finds showing the houses and clothes worn by people in Roman Britain such as the leather briefs found in Queen's Street, London, of leather briefs, probably worn by a female acrobat or performer , in Roman ruled Londinium (London).
It tells of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, something about pre-Roman Britain, of Julius Ceasar's invasion of Britain, the conquest of Britain a century later by Claudius, and of the Druids
around which British life centered in pre-Roman times and were ruthlessly stamped out by the Romans.
Interesting insight in human sacrifices by the Druids as well as their use of hallucinogenic drugs such as hallucinogenic mushrooms.
The book gives us an insight into the sheer brutality of the Roman Empire, destroying entire nations and seizing lands at will.
In retaliation for an assault on his men by German tribesman, Julius Casar ordered one of the biggest slaughters of his career.
However the book centers around the Roman coquest of Britain and how the British tribes were subdued.
It is important to note that prior to the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain centuries later, there never was an identity among Britons as a nation.
They identified according to the various tribes to which they belonged, which essentially formed confederations in different regions of today's England.
The Iceni were a client tribe of Rome, and their lands stretched across most of what is now East Anglia, covering today's Norfolk, north Suffolk, and north-east Cambridgeshire.
Boudica's husband, Prasutagus, was the king of Iceni.
when Prasutagus died his attempts to preserve his line were ignored and his kingdom was annexed as if it had been conquered. Lands and property were confiscated and nobles treated like slaves. According to Tacitus, Boudica was flogged and her young daughters brutally raped. Boudica launched a rebellion of the Iceni, and although ultimately defeated, she sacked the towns of what are today Colchester (Camulodunum), London (Londinium) and St Albans (Verulamium) ruthlessly destroying these towns and rooting the Roman masters of Britain.
The rest of the book traces the legend of Boudica as it developed thorugh the ages in England, both as a central component of British (or more accurately English national identity) as well as the symbol or by-word of a
strong women She was an inspiration for Queen Elizabeth I when she rallied the English people to resist the invasion by the British Empire and centuries later for the suffragette movement.
It is also worth noting here a large moral difference between the suffragettes and most of today's radicals.
When the First World War broke out, the Sufragettes suspended their campaign for women's suffrage and threw their energies into the war effort against Germany.
Compare this toi the moral turpitude of most of today's radical left in the USA and Britain, who are openly siding with Islamic terrorist movements and terrorists states, int he West's battle for survival against Islamo-Nazism.
Among the Leftist allies of the Islamists are included many radical feminists who are oblivious to the fact that in Islamist states such as Iran, and the Palestinian Entity, women have no human rights at all.
Perhaps the strugle of these movements for social change in their own countries would have had more legitimacy has they not sided with the murderers and tyrants.
Boudica was in the 1980s often compared to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
The book also details Boudica's role in popular culture through the centuries, including the books, plays and movies about her.
Sculptures of Boudica encapsulate the different roles the Iceni Queen may have played.
A 1902 statue by Thomas Thornycroft, erected 1902 at Westminster Bridge, London, depicts Boudica armed with a lance riding a scythed chariot carried by rearing horses.
At Cardiff city hall one can see a very maternal depiction of Boudica with her two beautiful daughters in an exquisite work by James Harvard Thomas unveiled in 1916.
This book makes for fascinating reading and riveting history.
It includes much social history and reveals some finds showing the houses and clothes worn by people in Roman Britain such as the leather briefs found in Queen's Street, London, of leather briefs, probably worn by a female acrobat or performer , in Roman ruled Londinium (London).
August 14, 2020
This book describes the life of Boudica and times and the context in which the Iceni Warrior-Queen lived.
It tells of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, something about pre-Roman Britain, of Julius Ceasar's invasion of Britain, the conquest of Britain a century later by Claudius, and of the Druids
around which British life centered in pre-Roman times and were ruthlessly stamped out by the Romans.
Interesting insight in human sacrifices by the Druids as well as their use of hallucinogenic drugs such as hallucinogenic mushrooms.
The book gives us an insight into the sheer brutality of the Roman Empire, destroying entire nations and seizing lands at will.
In retaliation for an assault on his men by German tribesman, Julius Casar ordered one of the biggest slaughters of his career.
However the book centers around the Roman coquest of Britain and how the British tribes were subdued.
It is important to note that prior to the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain centuries later, there never was an identity among Britons as a nation.
They identified according to the various tribes to which they belonged, which essentially formed confederations in different regions of today's England.
The Iceni were a client tribe of Rome, and their lands stretched across most of what is now East Anglia, covering today's Norfolk, north Suffolk, and north-east Cambridgeshire.
Boudica's husband, Prasutagus, was the king of Iceni.
when Prasutagus died his attempts to preserve his line were ignored and his kingdom was annexed as if it had been conquered. Lands and property were confiscated and nobles treated like slaves. According to Tacitus, Boudica was flogged and her young daughters brutally raped. Boudica launched a rebellion of the Iceni, and although ultimately defeated, she sacked the towns of what are today Colchester (Camulodunum), London (Londinium) and St Albans (Verulamium) ruthlessly destroying these towns and rooting the Roman masters of Britain.
The rest of the book traces the legend of Boudica as it developed thorugh the ages in England, both as a central component of British (or more accurately English national identity) as well as the symbol or by-word of a
strong women She was an inspiration for Queen Elizabeth I when she rallied the English people to resist the invasion by the British Empire and centuries later for the suffragette movement.
It is also worth noting here a large moral difference between the suffragettes and most of today's radicals.
When the First World War broke out, the Sufragettes suspended their campaign for women's suffrage and threw their energies into the war effort against Germany.
Compare this toi the moral turpitude of most of today's radical left in the USA and Britain, who are openly siding with Islamic terrorist movements and terrorists states, int he West's battle for survival against Islamo-Nazism.
Among the Leftist allies of the Islamists are included many radical feminists who are oblivious to the fact that in Islamist states such as Iran, and the Palestinian Entity, women have no human rights at all.
Perhaps the strugle of these movements for social change in their own countries would have had more legitimacy has they not sided with the murderers and tyrants.
The book also details Boudica's role in popular culture through the centuries, including the books, plays and movies about her.
Sculptures of Boudica encapsulate the different roles the Iceni Queen may have played.
A 1902 statue by Thomas Thornycroft, erected 1902 at Westminster Bridge, London, depicts Boudica armed with a lance riding a scythed chariot carried by rearing horses.
At Cardiff city hall one can see a very maternal depiction of Boudica with her two beautiful daughters in an exquisite work by James Harvard Thomas unveiled in 1916.
This book makes for fascinating reading and riveting history.
It includes much social history and reveals some finds showing the houses and clothes worn by people in Roman Britain such as the leather briefs found in Queen's Street, London, of leather briefs, probably worn by a female acrobat or performer , in Roman ruled Londinium (London).
It tells of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, something about pre-Roman Britain, of Julius Ceasar's invasion of Britain, the conquest of Britain a century later by Claudius, and of the Druids
around which British life centered in pre-Roman times and were ruthlessly stamped out by the Romans.
Interesting insight in human sacrifices by the Druids as well as their use of hallucinogenic drugs such as hallucinogenic mushrooms.
The book gives us an insight into the sheer brutality of the Roman Empire, destroying entire nations and seizing lands at will.
In retaliation for an assault on his men by German tribesman, Julius Casar ordered one of the biggest slaughters of his career.
However the book centers around the Roman coquest of Britain and how the British tribes were subdued.
It is important to note that prior to the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain centuries later, there never was an identity among Britons as a nation.
They identified according to the various tribes to which they belonged, which essentially formed confederations in different regions of today's England.
The Iceni were a client tribe of Rome, and their lands stretched across most of what is now East Anglia, covering today's Norfolk, north Suffolk, and north-east Cambridgeshire.
Boudica's husband, Prasutagus, was the king of Iceni.
when Prasutagus died his attempts to preserve his line were ignored and his kingdom was annexed as if it had been conquered. Lands and property were confiscated and nobles treated like slaves. According to Tacitus, Boudica was flogged and her young daughters brutally raped. Boudica launched a rebellion of the Iceni, and although ultimately defeated, she sacked the towns of what are today Colchester (Camulodunum), London (Londinium) and St Albans (Verulamium) ruthlessly destroying these towns and rooting the Roman masters of Britain.
The rest of the book traces the legend of Boudica as it developed thorugh the ages in England, both as a central component of British (or more accurately English national identity) as well as the symbol or by-word of a
strong women She was an inspiration for Queen Elizabeth I when she rallied the English people to resist the invasion by the British Empire and centuries later for the suffragette movement.
It is also worth noting here a large moral difference between the suffragettes and most of today's radicals.
When the First World War broke out, the Sufragettes suspended their campaign for women's suffrage and threw their energies into the war effort against Germany.
Compare this toi the moral turpitude of most of today's radical left in the USA and Britain, who are openly siding with Islamic terrorist movements and terrorists states, int he West's battle for survival against Islamo-Nazism.
Among the Leftist allies of the Islamists are included many radical feminists who are oblivious to the fact that in Islamist states such as Iran, and the Palestinian Entity, women have no human rights at all.
Perhaps the strugle of these movements for social change in their own countries would have had more legitimacy has they not sided with the murderers and tyrants.
The book also details Boudica's role in popular culture through the centuries, including the books, plays and movies about her.
Sculptures of Boudica encapsulate the different roles the Iceni Queen may have played.
A 1902 statue by Thomas Thornycroft, erected 1902 at Westminster Bridge, London, depicts Boudica armed with a lance riding a scythed chariot carried by rearing horses.
At Cardiff city hall one can see a very maternal depiction of Boudica with her two beautiful daughters in an exquisite work by James Harvard Thomas unveiled in 1916.
This book makes for fascinating reading and riveting history.
It includes much social history and reveals some finds showing the houses and clothes worn by people in Roman Britain such as the leather briefs found in Queen's Street, London, of leather briefs, probably worn by a female acrobat or performer , in Roman ruled Londinium (London).
December 18, 2023
I do not read a lot of non-fiction but this year I made a goal to at least read 6 (so 1 every 2 months) and made an unofficial goal to read more in depth analysis of a topic that we covered in my Survey of English History course. This book checks both those boxes. Unit 1 done.
As an American this book was very informative as I had little to no knowledge of Boudicca but I imagine this would be a terrible drag for a British person to read. It felt like a regurgitation of facts and information from scholars. I wanted Collingridge to have a different or new interpretation or there is no point to write a book.
Collingridge builds context for the life of Boudicca by explaining the rise and fall of the Roman Empire and different factions on the British Isle. I do think some of the writing is misleading in how Boudicca functioned at the time she existed. They make her into this leader of all Britannia. In later chapters Collingridge explains how this perspective was essentially dictated to Brits by two Queens trying to build their legitimacy. Those queens were arguably the greatest of all time. Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria.
When I was in London I saw the 1902 statue by Thomas Thornycroft and this fun to learn how a real person can be turned into a kind of propaganda figure to further others ends. I criticized quite a bit but ultimately for my experience the information was sound though 473 pages is a lot to get through especially with some mild repetition in the writing. 3.75 rounds to 4 stars. Collingridge needed to reevaluate her title to make it more inline with her thesis about how society conceptualizes historical figures.
As an American this book was very informative as I had little to no knowledge of Boudicca but I imagine this would be a terrible drag for a British person to read. It felt like a regurgitation of facts and information from scholars. I wanted Collingridge to have a different or new interpretation or there is no point to write a book.
Collingridge builds context for the life of Boudicca by explaining the rise and fall of the Roman Empire and different factions on the British Isle. I do think some of the writing is misleading in how Boudicca functioned at the time she existed. They make her into this leader of all Britannia. In later chapters Collingridge explains how this perspective was essentially dictated to Brits by two Queens trying to build their legitimacy. Those queens were arguably the greatest of all time. Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria.
When I was in London I saw the 1902 statue by Thomas Thornycroft and this fun to learn how a real person can be turned into a kind of propaganda figure to further others ends. I criticized quite a bit but ultimately for my experience the information was sound though 473 pages is a lot to get through especially with some mild repetition in the writing. 3.75 rounds to 4 stars. Collingridge needed to reevaluate her title to make it more inline with her thesis about how society conceptualizes historical figures.
October 2, 2017
Despite the title, Collingridge broadens the scope of this biography to help the readers understand the context she has existed in, including a history of Rome and its imperialism, the tribes that ancient Britain consisted of, and the entwined mythology of Boudica and Britannia in association with English queens Elizabeth and Victoria.
If I hadn't recently read Mary Beard's SPQR or been well-versed in the Tudor dynasty, this might have been more appreciated - instead I skimmed through. I did enjoy Collingridge's examination of Boudica's feminism and how it was reinterpreted throughout time as well as, of course, the chapters focusing on what little historical evidence remains of Boudica herself. But this scarcity of information unfortunately means that the subject of the book is slightly misleading.
If I hadn't recently read Mary Beard's SPQR or been well-versed in the Tudor dynasty, this might have been more appreciated - instead I skimmed through. I did enjoy Collingridge's examination of Boudica's feminism and how it was reinterpreted throughout time as well as, of course, the chapters focusing on what little historical evidence remains of Boudica herself. But this scarcity of information unfortunately means that the subject of the book is slightly misleading.
March 26, 2026
I've had a whale of a time reading this!
Given that I'm not naturally a history or archaeology buff, this had me completely captivated from start to finish.
When the book started, I had misgivings that Collingridge had told terrible porkies and that this was going to end up as a history of Roman men (!!) but in actual fact, the author's framing and contextualisation of Boudica within the bigger picture of the time had me interested. Collingridge sets the scene of Britain in Boudica's times and discusses the history and the events leading up to her rebellion. I had scant knowledge of the timelines of much of the Roman invasion(s) as we didn't really cover it at school much. This enlightened me for sure.
I like how Collingridge actually admits that much of Boudica's story has to be fleshed out with the bigger picture as there is little information available regarding her actual life. What is refreshing is the debunking of many myths and legends surrounding Boudica, the misrepresentations and the misappropriation of her background to bolster trends such as "Celtism" and the sometimes imaginary beginnings of Druidry. I also loved how the author travels forward to Elizabeth 1st, Queen Victoria, the modern Queen Elizabeth, Margaret Thatcher and Princess Diana, reframing their stories in the context of "warrior queens" and the trope of "Britannia".
Honestly, this was an eye opener for me and it managed to make history and archaeology truly fascinating within the context of Boudica's story.
5 star non fiction and definitely a keeper.
Given that I'm not naturally a history or archaeology buff, this had me completely captivated from start to finish.
When the book started, I had misgivings that Collingridge had told terrible porkies and that this was going to end up as a history of Roman men (!!) but in actual fact, the author's framing and contextualisation of Boudica within the bigger picture of the time had me interested. Collingridge sets the scene of Britain in Boudica's times and discusses the history and the events leading up to her rebellion. I had scant knowledge of the timelines of much of the Roman invasion(s) as we didn't really cover it at school much. This enlightened me for sure.
I like how Collingridge actually admits that much of Boudica's story has to be fleshed out with the bigger picture as there is little information available regarding her actual life. What is refreshing is the debunking of many myths and legends surrounding Boudica, the misrepresentations and the misappropriation of her background to bolster trends such as "Celtism" and the sometimes imaginary beginnings of Druidry. I also loved how the author travels forward to Elizabeth 1st, Queen Victoria, the modern Queen Elizabeth, Margaret Thatcher and Princess Diana, reframing their stories in the context of "warrior queens" and the trope of "Britannia".
Honestly, this was an eye opener for me and it managed to make history and archaeology truly fascinating within the context of Boudica's story.
5 star non fiction and definitely a keeper.
December 12, 2008
I think it depends on how a reader is introduced to this subject. Collingridge fills the story with the backgrounds of the B.C. & A.D Roman invasions with the tribal lay of the land in Britain. Julius Ceasar, Cassius Dio and Tacitus provide the source material. Halfway through the book, Boudicca arrives. I could also do without, the image of the warrior queen through English history, at the end of the book. Elizabeth I, Victoria, Margaret Thatcher. However, the rebellion of the Iceni and the Druids versus Paulinus is a good story.
September 21, 2023
Very little is known about Boudica, the ancient British warrior queen. Vanessa Collingridge managed to stretch that little into a whole book by writing about just about every other person ever born including most of the legitimate Queens of England. It made for interesting reading, but it could have been a magazine article rather than a book.
April 18, 2020
Unfortunately the title along with its description is misleading. The book is more about the Roman invasion of Britain with Boudica as a side note. I realize that there is little historical documents or evidence on Boudica but I was still hoping the author found something different from what has already been writen about Boudica. Sadly, the author offers nothing new on Boudica nor the Roman invasion.
May 21, 2017
Interesting read, but felt as if the book had been padded out due to the paucity of the information available.
February 17, 2021
Unfinished at around halfway through. Man, this isn’t a book about Boudica, it’s a very surface level history of Roman Britain around the time of Boudica; Boudica herself isn’t actually featured until around page 169 and even then she’s talked around like the author is trying desperately not to mention her. The author also seems to really struggle with examining her sources - if Cassius Dio and Tacitus disagree on the exact cause of the Iceni rebellion, SURELY both of them must be telling the truth! And if one must be lying, it can’t POSSIBLY be the more sensational and brutal of the two! Not that sources get brought up all that much, to the point that just under halfway through the book we need an entire chapter to talk about archeological evidence that really should have been brought up in the appropriate chapters.
Also, I don’t understand why we have to detour to talk about the Druids of Mona and MODERN DAY DRUIDS, in a book about BOUDICA... if you need to explain why there were so few soldiers to defend the Roman settlements, you can do that in a paragraph, I promise I don’t need a chapter on something that has very little to do with Boudica’s story, really! And I really, really promise I don’t need you to talk about modern day Druidry because that has absolute fuck all to do with Iron Age Druidry anyway.
Also, I don’t understand why we have to detour to talk about the Druids of Mona and MODERN DAY DRUIDS, in a book about BOUDICA... if you need to explain why there were so few soldiers to defend the Roman settlements, you can do that in a paragraph, I promise I don’t need a chapter on something that has very little to do with Boudica’s story, really! And I really, really promise I don’t need you to talk about modern day Druidry because that has absolute fuck all to do with Iron Age Druidry anyway.
April 18, 2021
I knew there wasn’t a TON of factual information about Boudica. But I was hoping for more than this book provided. There were at least 209 extra pages.
August 19, 2023
A very detailed work about an ancient warrior queen who lives on in our imagination and culture. Collingridge's history book deals not only with what is known (and very much unknows) about Boudica, but also with how she became the symbol centuries later primarily in Great Britain but also other nations' culture.
January 23, 2013
My first introduction to Boudica came when I was about 13, in Pauline Gedge's The Eagle and the Raven (which I think I might re-read). Although that book's blurb makes it sound like it's mainly about Boudica, as I recall, she really only features briefly in the back half of the book. (She makes an impact, though — I remember pretty much nothing else from that book.)
In a way, that's also true of this book, even though it's supposed to be a biography of her. There's lots of background as to what was going on that led to the events of AD 60–61, and there's lots about the Boudica legend and its evolution over time, but only a few chapters about Boudica, and even those are more about the events of her rebellion than about her. Because the trouble with Boudica is that, as fascinated as many of us are with her, we know basically nothing about her. We know that she existed. We know that after her husband's death, the Romans flogged her and gang-raped her daughters. We know that this led her to raise a pretty impressive army. We know that her army thoroughly sacked several cities and then was finally defeated, at which point she died (Apparently it's believed that she died from poisoning by her own hand, but I'm unclear as to how we have any idea about that.).
We don't know what she looked like — the only written account is from someone who wasn't there and had his own agenda to push when describing her. We don't know her daughters' names. We don't really know anything about her life before her husband's death. We don't even actually know her name. Boudica is thought to be related to the Celtic word for victory, but we haven't the foggiest idea if that was legitimately her name, something she called herself while leading the revolt, or something that actually had nothing whatsoever to do with her.
Collingridge proposes that this lack of information is precisely why she is so enduring: the lack of specifics means that we can all fill in whatever makes her most meaningful to ourselves, and, from the historian's point of view, her story is simply never over because there is, theoretically, so much more that could be learned about her.
Personally, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable publishing something claiming to be a biography with as little actual biographical information as this contained. I don't blame Collingridge for that lack; the information simply doesn't exist anymore. But I feel a little lied to by the subtitle "The Life of Britain's Legendary Warrior Queen," and by the blurb. Although the blurb does make mention of the pre- and post-Boudica stuff that's in this book, it also suggests fairly strongly that there will be an honest-to-god biography in here, and there simply isn't. The book should have been presented as a history of the legend, because that's a much more accurate description.
That said, it was interesting. I wanted more biographical detail, but I did get lots of very interesting historical, philosophical and mythological detail. So it was still worth the read.
I have two more issues, though. First, the editing in this book was terrible. Typos, bad punctuation, and occasionally, an entirely wrong word. Yowza. The acknowledgements don't make specific reference to an editor, so I can't call anyone out by name, but somebody seriously dropped the ball on this one.
And secondly, Grace Production, credited with the jacket design, WTF? With all the images of Boudica that are out there, why the hell did you decide to illustrate this book with a picture of Morgan le Fay? What is wrong with you? Seriously.
And finally: I kind of wish I had Vanessa Collingridge's hair.
In a way, that's also true of this book, even though it's supposed to be a biography of her. There's lots of background as to what was going on that led to the events of AD 60–61, and there's lots about the Boudica legend and its evolution over time, but only a few chapters about Boudica, and even those are more about the events of her rebellion than about her. Because the trouble with Boudica is that, as fascinated as many of us are with her, we know basically nothing about her. We know that she existed. We know that after her husband's death, the Romans flogged her and gang-raped her daughters. We know that this led her to raise a pretty impressive army. We know that her army thoroughly sacked several cities and then was finally defeated, at which point she died (Apparently it's believed that she died from poisoning by her own hand, but I'm unclear as to how we have any idea about that.).
We don't know what she looked like — the only written account is from someone who wasn't there and had his own agenda to push when describing her. We don't know her daughters' names. We don't really know anything about her life before her husband's death. We don't even actually know her name. Boudica is thought to be related to the Celtic word for victory, but we haven't the foggiest idea if that was legitimately her name, something she called herself while leading the revolt, or something that actually had nothing whatsoever to do with her.
Collingridge proposes that this lack of information is precisely why she is so enduring: the lack of specifics means that we can all fill in whatever makes her most meaningful to ourselves, and, from the historian's point of view, her story is simply never over because there is, theoretically, so much more that could be learned about her.
Personally, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable publishing something claiming to be a biography with as little actual biographical information as this contained. I don't blame Collingridge for that lack; the information simply doesn't exist anymore. But I feel a little lied to by the subtitle "The Life of Britain's Legendary Warrior Queen," and by the blurb. Although the blurb does make mention of the pre- and post-Boudica stuff that's in this book, it also suggests fairly strongly that there will be an honest-to-god biography in here, and there simply isn't. The book should have been presented as a history of the legend, because that's a much more accurate description.
That said, it was interesting. I wanted more biographical detail, but I did get lots of very interesting historical, philosophical and mythological detail. So it was still worth the read.
I have two more issues, though. First, the editing in this book was terrible. Typos, bad punctuation, and occasionally, an entirely wrong word. Yowza. The acknowledgements don't make specific reference to an editor, so I can't call anyone out by name, but somebody seriously dropped the ball on this one.
And secondly, Grace Production, credited with the jacket design, WTF? With all the images of Boudica that are out there, why the hell did you decide to illustrate this book with a picture of Morgan le Fay? What is wrong with you? Seriously.
And finally: I kind of wish I had Vanessa Collingridge's hair.
May 2, 2015
To the Roman mind, the isles of Britain lay in the shadows between the light of civilized Empire and the dark depths of the unknown Oceanus which encircled the world. Naturally the ambition of the Caesars would be to attempt its capture. Repeated invasions led by both Julius Caesar himself and successors like Claudius created an effective Roman presence in wild Britannia, complete with a few cowed client states. Those who resisted were crushed or humiliated. When one tribe strayed from the straight and narrow leading to Rome, their queen was beaten and her daughters raped. The name Boudica may ring but a distant bell for Americans, but the avenging queen is a figure of legend in English history. Vanessa Collingridge’s Boudica examines not only the life of this long-dead heroine, but how her legacy of opposing conquest and humiliation has been remembered throughout English history.
Boudica is storied, personable, and sometimes speculative on occasion, but is as thorough as a history about a life so scantily recorded can be. Collingridge offers an expansive background (delivering an entire history of the Roman people that focuses on their frequent altercations with the Gauls), and uses archaeological evidence like coins to supplement the official Roman accounts of the revolt. The background is useful for casual readers of history in understanding “Celtic” Britain; as Collingridge points out, Celtic is a relatively modern label that assumes more unity than actually existed. The native British and the continental Gauls did share certain a general culture, with similar art and gods, but not only did the Britons view their European relations as a people apart, but even on the island they were divided into a multitude of warring tribes. Contemporary research unearths more questions than answers; the amount of Roman artifacts lying around Britain decades before Caesar braved the Channel indicates that there was more traffic across the channel than previously thought. Some attempts to settle questions remain purely in the realm of the imagination; Collingridge hints that there may have been a famine in areas of the island around the time of the invasion, given the burned remnant of imported French grain. There is little that is really known about Boudica; even drawing from two Roman histories, we only know her tribe, the assault against her, and her subsequent part played in a rebellion that burned to the ground three Roman settlements, including London. The importance of Boudica lies not in what she accomplished during her life (the rebellion failed), but how she is remembered. Female rulers brought nothing but woe to the Romans, but for the English she would regarded as a source of inspiration. This was especially true during the reigns of Queens Elizabeth and Victoria, where her ideal as a roaring, wounded mother helped generate devotion to the Queen as a feminine ideal, and support for her benevolent empire.
Collingridge makes the most out of limited material and tells a good story. This is terra incognita for me, but she does a solid job establishing how sketchy our appreciation of pre-Roman Britain is.
Boudica is storied, personable, and sometimes speculative on occasion, but is as thorough as a history about a life so scantily recorded can be. Collingridge offers an expansive background (delivering an entire history of the Roman people that focuses on their frequent altercations with the Gauls), and uses archaeological evidence like coins to supplement the official Roman accounts of the revolt. The background is useful for casual readers of history in understanding “Celtic” Britain; as Collingridge points out, Celtic is a relatively modern label that assumes more unity than actually existed. The native British and the continental Gauls did share certain a general culture, with similar art and gods, but not only did the Britons view their European relations as a people apart, but even on the island they were divided into a multitude of warring tribes. Contemporary research unearths more questions than answers; the amount of Roman artifacts lying around Britain decades before Caesar braved the Channel indicates that there was more traffic across the channel than previously thought. Some attempts to settle questions remain purely in the realm of the imagination; Collingridge hints that there may have been a famine in areas of the island around the time of the invasion, given the burned remnant of imported French grain. There is little that is really known about Boudica; even drawing from two Roman histories, we only know her tribe, the assault against her, and her subsequent part played in a rebellion that burned to the ground three Roman settlements, including London. The importance of Boudica lies not in what she accomplished during her life (the rebellion failed), but how she is remembered. Female rulers brought nothing but woe to the Romans, but for the English she would regarded as a source of inspiration. This was especially true during the reigns of Queens Elizabeth and Victoria, where her ideal as a roaring, wounded mother helped generate devotion to the Queen as a feminine ideal, and support for her benevolent empire.
Collingridge makes the most out of limited material and tells a good story. This is terra incognita for me, but she does a solid job establishing how sketchy our appreciation of pre-Roman Britain is.
June 6, 2022
This is an excellent book, full of fascinating historical information. However, the title is misleading: in fact, the book covers a sweep of history, beginning with the culture of ancient Rome and ending with the death of Diana Spencer. Rather than just the life of Boudica (about whom there's enough historical information out there to fill a very short pamphlet), the author explains the context of Boudica's life and the various ways the legend has been interpreted over 2,000 years. All of that makes for a great read, so I'm not knocking the book: only the title!
Collingridge could use a little more help from an editor....Pay close attention to the Iron Age names and the dates, as the author doesn't always organize her information effectively--she leaps ahead and circles back around. Don't blink, or you may get lost in the recap of some event that was already discussed.
Collingridge could use a little more help from an editor....Pay close attention to the Iron Age names and the dates, as the author doesn't always organize her information effectively--she leaps ahead and circles back around. Don't blink, or you may get lost in the recap of some event that was already discussed.
June 19, 2014
I'm very torn on how to rate this text, 3.5 would be better I suppose. If you are looking for a biography strictly of Boudica, you will be disappointed - this book largely deals with the legends of Boudica in the 2000 years since her death. The author can hardly be blamed though, as there is debate as to whether or not she ever existed in the first place. I'd like to think she was real, a strong female warrior who avenged the rape of her daughters and the mistreatment of her people, thoroughly defeating the Roman army twice. It's intriguing to think what might've happened had Boudica defeated the army for good and sent the Romans packing, and how differently the UK might look today.
July 24, 2022
A decidedly mixed bag
I had high hopes for this book, hopes which were met in some respects but dashed in others. I found that I couldn't entirely trust an author who repeatedly used "Jacobite" in the context of James I of Great Britain, to cite one example, and the characterization of Diana Princess of Wales as a sort of modern-day Boudica felt like a bit of a stretch, leaving me unconvinced. Other areas of the book were more convincing however, including the feminist angle. Finally, I am deducting a star because of the dismal editing both of content and copy; the publishers did their author no favors.
I had high hopes for this book, hopes which were met in some respects but dashed in others. I found that I couldn't entirely trust an author who repeatedly used "Jacobite" in the context of James I of Great Britain, to cite one example, and the characterization of Diana Princess of Wales as a sort of modern-day Boudica felt like a bit of a stretch, leaving me unconvinced. Other areas of the book were more convincing however, including the feminist angle. Finally, I am deducting a star because of the dismal editing both of content and copy; the publishers did their author no favors.
May 22, 2020
Heard about this through Expedition Unknown so figured I'd check it out. I read almost zero non-fiction so this was different for me, but overall I enjoyed it. Lots of info I didn't know about Rome. Got a little feminist-y in spots but I figured that was gonna happen because it was about a warrior queen. Despite that I thought it was good, but like I said I don't have much to compare it to. Not enough spaceships or elves.
June 17, 2020
Interesting read about a figure unknown to me
I expected a type of biography about Boudica but the author quickly enlightened me that I needed to understand Roman history to understand Boudica.
Further it became obvious that the history of Boudica depends upon who wrote the history and how society interprets those writing at any given time, much like today's treatment of history.
I expected a type of biography about Boudica but the author quickly enlightened me that I needed to understand Roman history to understand Boudica.
Further it became obvious that the history of Boudica depends upon who wrote the history and how society interprets those writing at any given time, much like today's treatment of history.
October 22, 2009
An absolutely amazing book. Incredibly thorough and the best treatment of the material that I have ever read. It follows the impact of the woman, the events she caused, and the life of her story throughout the centuries. Beautifully and passionately written. Highly recommended. I adore this book. I've read it twice already.
June 20, 2020
Very interesting information on Boudica, but it's only 25% of the book. The first 40% is a summary of Roman history to set Boudica in context, and that was OK. The last part of the book was her legend, which was less interesting.
August 14, 2020
i like that she took it beyond just the actual "history" of Boudica and traced the usage of Boudia's image through the ages after her as well
August 23, 2017
I felt cheated by the author and the publishers. This book is titled Boudica: A Groundbreaking Biography of the True Warrior Queen. This is definitely not a biography of Boudica and as for ‘groundbreaking’, I did not learn anything about Boudica I did not already know or one could find by checking our Wikipedia and a couple of google search results.
The books consists of 378 pages!! Although Boudica is mentioned a few times in the ‘opening’ 169 pages (!!!), her story starts with Chapter 9 (page 169) and finishes 76 pages later after 6 short chapters. The rest 80% deals with Roman history up to 1st century AD, views on women during those times, history of druism, queens and poets of later centuries and the value of metal detectorists!!!
After page 244, it becomes very difficult to read, uninteresting and disjointed. I had to abandon it at around page 300 and start o book by a captivating historian like John Man. What a refief!
It is full of tiresome repetitions (I suppose, 378 pages had to be filled in order to justify the price), wild connections, wishful explanations of archaeological findings and countless references to the anti-feminist views of Romans and other people of those times. The author was clearly captivated by the legend of Boudica when she was a child. Despite the fact that she obviously dedicated a considerable part of her life travelling around and collecting Boudica related information, it is clear that there are not enough historical facts available in order to put together a 400 page book on Boudica’s biography. She is also clearly not a historian.
In her own words : “ ...during my search for Boudica, time and time again I came into conflict with wishful thinking that had been reported as ‘fact’ and it’s enough to make one wary of even the most alluring ‘coincidences’........ but the thought is just about credible to make it enticing”
Unfortunately, dear Vanessa... It is not enough to make it an enticing book.
The books consists of 378 pages!! Although Boudica is mentioned a few times in the ‘opening’ 169 pages (!!!), her story starts with Chapter 9 (page 169) and finishes 76 pages later after 6 short chapters. The rest 80% deals with Roman history up to 1st century AD, views on women during those times, history of druism, queens and poets of later centuries and the value of metal detectorists!!!
After page 244, it becomes very difficult to read, uninteresting and disjointed. I had to abandon it at around page 300 and start o book by a captivating historian like John Man. What a refief!
It is full of tiresome repetitions (I suppose, 378 pages had to be filled in order to justify the price), wild connections, wishful explanations of archaeological findings and countless references to the anti-feminist views of Romans and other people of those times. The author was clearly captivated by the legend of Boudica when she was a child. Despite the fact that she obviously dedicated a considerable part of her life travelling around and collecting Boudica related information, it is clear that there are not enough historical facts available in order to put together a 400 page book on Boudica’s biography. She is also clearly not a historian.
In her own words : “ ...during my search for Boudica, time and time again I came into conflict with wishful thinking that had been reported as ‘fact’ and it’s enough to make one wary of even the most alluring ‘coincidences’........ but the thought is just about credible to make it enticing”
Unfortunately, dear Vanessa... It is not enough to make it an enticing book.
August 31, 2021
Overall, I think it's a good history. Ms. Collingridge eschewed any legends or theories about Boudica that had nothing behind them, she relied strictly on the histories written (by the Romans, Boudica's enemies, but the Iceni did not record anything from their side), and what the archaeology points to. So at times, it seems like Boudica is just a bit player in her own biography. And so it should be, since there really isn't that much known about her. I was skeptical of calling her a warrior queen, since there's no evidence that she actually fought or killed anyone. She was a leader, a commander, but she didn't fight. I also think Ms. Collingridge misinterpreted the arguments over confirming Condoleeza Rice as Secretary of State. It was not about whether she could lead the country to war - she'd already done that cheerleading for the Iraq War, a dreadful mistake. We wanted to know if she could lead us to peace, which is the primary job of Secretary of State, or whether she would threaten allies instead of cajoling them. In the latter part of the book, Ms. Collingridge talks about how the view of Boudica has changed through the centuries, depending on what purpose she was intended to serve at that point in time. I thought this interesting, and I know it will continue through the years. Because so little is really known about Boudica, she can be an immortal chameleon, always changing to fit the current need.
March 3, 2025
Contextualização histórica antes e depois do tempo em que Boudica realmente viveu muito extensa e até interessante. No entanto, a primeira referência a algo que Boudica realmente teria feito aparece 200 páginas depois e é muito curta para a ânsia que o livro induz... Na realidade, também não há muitos vestígios históricos desta rainha...
Achei particularmente enriquecedor o renascer desta rainha e da ideia que se tornou ao longo dos séculos, em especial depois de Elizabeth I. O mundo nunca esteve preparado para grandes mulheres e não quer preparar-se para grandes mulheres. Parece que há um impedimento na conjugação mãe-gerente-guerreira, quando, na realidade, não há. A História está cheia de rainhas que vieram, viram e venceram, tal como o imperador romano.
Boudica, Elizabeth, Thatcher, Elizabeth II, Diana de Gales, Cleópatra ou até a mãe de Nero.
Rosa Parks, Marie Curie, Amelia Earhart, Florence Nightingale, Malala Yousafzai.
Aquela mãe viúva, aquela adolescente sozinha com os irmãos, aquela avó cuidadora, aquelas filhas neurodivergentes.
O mundo tem mulheres incríveis. Só precisamos de perceber que há espaço para todos e elas não são a ameaça.
Achei particularmente enriquecedor o renascer desta rainha e da ideia que se tornou ao longo dos séculos, em especial depois de Elizabeth I. O mundo nunca esteve preparado para grandes mulheres e não quer preparar-se para grandes mulheres. Parece que há um impedimento na conjugação mãe-gerente-guerreira, quando, na realidade, não há. A História está cheia de rainhas que vieram, viram e venceram, tal como o imperador romano.
Boudica, Elizabeth, Thatcher, Elizabeth II, Diana de Gales, Cleópatra ou até a mãe de Nero.
Rosa Parks, Marie Curie, Amelia Earhart, Florence Nightingale, Malala Yousafzai.
Aquela mãe viúva, aquela adolescente sozinha com os irmãos, aquela avó cuidadora, aquelas filhas neurodivergentes.
O mundo tem mulheres incríveis. Só precisamos de perceber que há espaço para todos e elas não são a ameaça.
July 2, 2026
The title is a tad misleading - there really is not much material on Boudica in the tome. Frankly I wanted to learn more about her and really I didn't.
This is because we know precious little about the "Warrior Queen", we are not even sure of her name. All that said I still found the book educational, thought provoking and, not in the least, entertaining. The first part of the book - up until the entrance of Boudica herself we are lead - deals with the Roman colonization of Britain, the political motivations and why it took nearly 100 years from the first excursion until the full assault.
After Boudica's revolt the book deals with her impact on the history, culture, and identity on Great Britain. I am neither British nor an Anglophile so a lot of this context was foreign to me, especially the feelings that the British have for the Royal Family. I was fascinated by how Ms. Collingridge connected Boudica to Elizabeth I and Victoria. I remain unsure of how she tied Boudica to Lady Diana, but again I really had very little interest in affairs of the British Royal Family - no offense intended.
This is because we know precious little about the "Warrior Queen", we are not even sure of her name. All that said I still found the book educational, thought provoking and, not in the least, entertaining. The first part of the book - up until the entrance of Boudica herself we are lead - deals with the Roman colonization of Britain, the political motivations and why it took nearly 100 years from the first excursion until the full assault.
After Boudica's revolt the book deals with her impact on the history, culture, and identity on Great Britain. I am neither British nor an Anglophile so a lot of this context was foreign to me, especially the feelings that the British have for the Royal Family. I was fascinated by how Ms. Collingridge connected Boudica to Elizabeth I and Victoria. I remain unsure of how she tied Boudica to Lady Diana, but again I really had very little interest in affairs of the British Royal Family - no offense intended.
March 12, 2017
This is a history of Boudica, an ancient British Queen who led a failed uprising against the Romans. The book starts with a general history of Rome and its expansion into Britain. The author covers Boudica's rebellion through the eyes of archeological evidence and classical histories. The second half of the book is a historiographical study of Boudica as a symbol in British culture. This half also covers the creation of the British "Celtic" identity.
I enjoyed the crash course in Roman history at the beginning of the book. The study of Iron Age occupied Britain offers a complex world of Roman culture, client kingdoms, diplomacy, and resistance. I was worried that the second half would include too much speculation but the author threads the Boudica narrative nicely throughout her discourse on various topics. This book is a potpourri that covers topics such as the influence of metal detectors on British history to the fact that Winston Churchill was a member of a Druidic order. It is a nice overview of the facts and myth of Boudica. Recommended for fans of history.
I enjoyed the crash course in Roman history at the beginning of the book. The study of Iron Age occupied Britain offers a complex world of Roman culture, client kingdoms, diplomacy, and resistance. I was worried that the second half would include too much speculation but the author threads the Boudica narrative nicely throughout her discourse on various topics. This book is a potpourri that covers topics such as the influence of metal detectors on British history to the fact that Winston Churchill was a member of a Druidic order. It is a nice overview of the facts and myth of Boudica. Recommended for fans of history.
April 11, 2023
I had to drop this one, unfortunately, although I had been eager to learn more about pre-Roman Britain. I got about 2/3 through when I threw in the proverbial towel. On a side note, I have to admit that I skipped quite a lot of pages.
I feel that the title is rather misleading. Most of the book's content is about Roman invasions, Rome's plans and visions for the British islands, and little, as far as I have gotten, about Boudica herself. I know, there are lots of myths and legends surrounding her, but I still felt confused by the sheer volume dedicated to the Roman emperors and their battles in Britain. There were so many historical figures mentioned and their impact on Britain that the author lost me at one point and I just became bored. Add to that the dryness of the language and I finally gave up.
I feel that the title is rather misleading. Most of the book's content is about Roman invasions, Rome's plans and visions for the British islands, and little, as far as I have gotten, about Boudica herself. I know, there are lots of myths and legends surrounding her, but I still felt confused by the sheer volume dedicated to the Roman emperors and their battles in Britain. There were so many historical figures mentioned and their impact on Britain that the author lost me at one point and I just became bored. Add to that the dryness of the language and I finally gave up.
August 18, 2025
The subtitle of the version by Collingridge that I read is "The life of Britain's legendary warrior queen," which is much less accurate than "the life and legends of Britain's warrior queen."
I was hoping for more information on Boudica--which understandably is pretty scanty--and about what life was like in Britain around that time. Unfortunately, there are only a few chapters devoted to those topics. Much of the book is devoted to the internal politics of the Roman empire, both within Rome itself and, to a lesser extent, in the areas it controlled. There are also multiple chapters devoted to the way Boudica mythology has been used throughout British history by England's queens and others.
If you are looking for a book about Iron Age Britain and life in Britain under the Roman empire, this is not it.
I was hoping for more information on Boudica--which understandably is pretty scanty--and about what life was like in Britain around that time. Unfortunately, there are only a few chapters devoted to those topics. Much of the book is devoted to the internal politics of the Roman empire, both within Rome itself and, to a lesser extent, in the areas it controlled. There are also multiple chapters devoted to the way Boudica mythology has been used throughout British history by England's queens and others.
If you are looking for a book about Iron Age Britain and life in Britain under the Roman empire, this is not it.
October 23, 2019
Although informative, I learned very little about Boudica. However, to be fair, according to the author very little is actually known about her. Ms. Collingridge did do a fantastic job of explaining what was happening in and around Britain and the Roman empire during the time of Boudica. You can tell that she has done her research! I have a much better understanding about ancient Britain because of this book.
Having said this, I felt the last several chapters were somewhat pointless. She tried to tie Boudica to Queen Victoria, Margaret Thatcher, and even Princess Diana and I really didn't understand the point. I honestly struggled to finish the last portion of this book because of this.
Having said this, I felt the last several chapters were somewhat pointless. She tried to tie Boudica to Queen Victoria, Margaret Thatcher, and even Princess Diana and I really didn't understand the point. I honestly struggled to finish the last portion of this book because of this.
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