The Pict

by Jack Dixon

Calach stood. His anger was surfacing, and he felt suddenly seized by the demons he had been struggling to contain. Sioltach stared at Calach in admiration as he quickly translated his words. "Why have you lost one legion, soon to be followed by another? Look, and see! Your soldiers are wide-eyed Roman lads, fighting beside non-Romans who were your enemies longer than they have been your slaves. They are bewildered by a strange and frightening land. They are bound to you not by loyalty, but by fear, and when their fear ends, only hatred will remain. "For all of your pomp, you have none of what inspires men to victory. Your soldiers fight for nothing but the glory of an empire that has crushed their own nations and tribes. They have no wives to inspire them, and no parents to mock them should they shrink from battle. They have no country, or if they do it is not Rome, and it is in ruins." Agricola began to grow pale. He was certain that he would die at the hands of this man whose spirit he could not comprehend.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Scotland, Historical, British Literature, Roman Britain, Novels

184 pages, Paperback

First published August 6, 2007

About the author

Jack Dixon is the author of the award-winning historical novels, The Pict, and Jerusalem Falls. His fascination with history inspires him to write stories that bring historical characters and events to life.

Author's note:
I did not write "Dowding and Churchill," nor "Secrets of the Alpha Male, nor "A Book of Simple Crochet Flowers for Beautiful Handmade Decor," but for some reason Goodreads still has these books linked to my account. I don't really much care what secrets alpha males keep, or what Dowding's relationship to Churchill might have been, and I don't know the first thing about crocheting flowers. Those books were apparently written by other Jack Dixons, of which I guess there are many.

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 of 5, rounded to 4. I was glad to find another novel on Roman Britain from the natives' point of view. This novel tells of Calach [Galgacus, or Calgacus, as the Romans call him] from his boyhood in which he first comes into contact with evil; is accused of something he did not commit and acquitted; through his personal tragedies and years leading a federation of Pictish tribes offering stiff resistance to the Roman menace. The brutal Romans [and I admit that they were, although I am a lover of Roman fiction,] under Governor [and General] Agricola, first destroy a Selgovae village then build a series of forts to the north. Then the united Picts defeat the Romans through a series of guerrilla actions; Calach proves himself a masterful tactician. At Mons Graupius Agricola is not able to conquer the land and to subdue this courageous people. The author paraphrases Calach's morale-boosting words to his troops and his strong words to Agricola. Both are from Tacitus originally. As Calach boldly says to Agricola in their face-to-face meeting: since you Romans have to write everything down, "you are slaves to your posterity". The Romans finally depart and leave these brave people in peace.

I really can't comment on the Gaelic names, except Suemas should have been Seumas. The XXth Legion wasn't headquartered at Viroconium as the novel would lead a reader to believe; however, there was a garrison there. The author should have made that clear. I wondered if some of the smaller tribes' names were really accurate. The strong points of the novel was not the writing style--quite ordinary--but the story itself and empathy I felt for the Picts were stirring. The author's narration of their origin and migration from Scythia to Ireland to their final homeland in the highlands of northern Scotland was probably just as valid as anyone else's theory of their origin; all we can do is speculate. The author created a convincing persona for Calach.

All in all, recommended.

[Maggie Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

My final read in 2012 was The Pict by Jack Dixon. I was really looking forward to this one because it touched very close to my heart. I am a Scot, and I can trace my line back to a merger with the Picts, though nothing as stellar as anything claimed by the MacAlpins. That said, this was an important read to me. I did absolutely no research on the author before I dug into the book, so whatever he may have said about his work here or what he felt he did with it, I have my own feelings about how it came across to an average Scottish reader.

Most history books take the Roman writings regarding the attempts to Romanise all of Britannia at their face value. These writings portray Calach, the protagonist of Jack Dixon’s novel, as a savage figure who, at the battle of Mons Graupius, succumbed to the might of the Roman military machine. He did not. In fact, most of Scotland today tends to forget that Calach and his semblance of the then 20 tribes of Pictland even happened, but it did. It was through him that Scotland had its first tenuous grip on what it means to be a nation. They united themselves and did something very few can claim to have done. They badgered and annoyed the Romans all the way back to the south to England, and never allowed them to conquer what was known at the time as Pictland, later Scotland.

I truly enjoyed this story of Scotland’s first recorded hero from beginning to end, with a small stumble over the use of names. Once I got past this, though, it was a remarkable read. I have been searching for a work of fiction that touched on this period of time in Pictish history, because it was surely the Picts who drove the Romans back from Scotland. I had imagined it had been done almost exactly in the way Jack framed the incursions. Walking the area again in my head as he described the terrain brought back some stellar memories. I was also pleased to see him describe both the tattoos and their blue skin the way that he did. They weren’t “painted” blue at all. The skin was dyed a hue that made them appear blue. I have argued this point for years.

My one criticism of this entire work is in the use of Scottish Gaelic names, particularly in the first few chapters. Please, if you are going to use them, use them correctly. It is Seumas, not Suemas. Liusaidh has an accent: Liùsaidh, which I know the author can accomplish in the manuscript easily enough. If I know the keyboard shortcuts, surely the author knows them, as well. If any of this had been a singular occurrence, I wouldn’t even mention it, but it was consistent throughout the story.

Jack, my hat’s off to you for writing a rich story about an underrated period of time when tribes of barbarians were put down by the Romans, and when it was clear that it would take someone with foresight and courage to pull together a fragmented people to drive them back.

I recommend this book especially to other Scots like me looking for something tangible to help them understand a truly unrecorded history of the anthropology of a race of people who inhabited our Scotland.

[Laura Tenfingers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. The Pict is the story of the native peoples in current-day Scotland during the Roman invasion of Northern Britain. I enjoyed reading the story from the native perspective. And how they kicked some serious imperial ass. I learned some things and thought the guerilla warfare was well written.

There was some philosophising about whether "free" Roman citizens are truly free which I really enjoyed. There was also some speaking with dieties and reincarnation that wasn't to my taste. It wasn't so thick that it took us into the realm of fantasy, but I didn't really jive with it. The author also wanted to philosophize about violence and when it is and isn't justified but I felt like it was directed solely at teenage boys with anger management issues.

All in all, I had a good time and would recommend this to anyone interested in Roman historical fiction.

[Zack · Rating 2 out of 5]

... This needs heavy revision and editing. While I couldn't finish it, what I had read reminded me of a very well educated seventh grader. It's got the potential to be good, it's just .. Not okay when a characters name is repeated seven times on a page without it being in dialogue, not to mention all the other repetition.

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled upon Jack Dixon's The Pict on accident while surfing the net. Once the book was in my possession I genuinely had a hard time putting it down. The character development is superb and the pace of the story is perfect. This is my first experience reading historical fiction based on what became Scotland, and I am utterly impressed. It has been some time since finishing a book has brought me the emotional duality of putting one down and not having another one to pick up. I eagerly await more from Jack Dixon and recommend this book to anyone willing to let a story such as The Pict take over their reading time.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great quick read! Easy enough to pick up from a few day break. As stated by a few others, the names are a bit difficult to keep up with at the beginning, but you get the hang of it after a few chapters.
Overall, very impressed with the book, especially with so little actually known about the Picts. I recommend this to anyone who's into historical fiction or Roman Era war stories. If you're looking for a great short read and a glimpse into history through a warrior's point of view do yourself a favor and pick this up! My only complaint is it left me wanting to read more.

[Kyle Krolicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a very interesting read that kicks it off right away with a heated battle right out of the gate. it is perfect for getting the tribesmen's POV of action and not a falsified report from a roman. even though it is a fiction story. many aspects are accurate for Scythian and pictish lives and their constant struggles and also proves who the real tyrant and "barbarrians" really are.. worth reading 100%

[Harper Haven · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good book about a little known people. Dixon has taken what little is known historically about the Picts and fleshed it out for the reader. This is a good heroic tale of a man struggling with his inner demons as well as with the expanding Roman Empire which is trying to conquer their lands and assimilate his people.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book about a relatively unknown ancient people. Early Scots warriors. A struggle for survival against the mighty Roman empire.
Calach battles with his conscious and his grief for his dead wife.
It has enough historical fact to keep it real and enough battle to keep it interesting.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting history of a little known group of ancestors of the Scots who fought the Roman legions and won. The battle scenes are excellently staged, and the book moves at a quick pace.

[Conrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stirring novel about the little-known Picts of Scotland and their clash with the Roman Empire. This was printed by iUniverse which is a self-publishing house. That became apparent while reading it because it would have benefited greatly by the work of an editor. Apart from several typos (which always jars me when I spot them in a book) there was one particular scene when a man has his shoulder dislocated then proceeds to dive and wrap his arms around the legs of his opponent, bring him to the ground. That's just totally wrong - it would (could) never happen. Also, some of the dialogue and thought patterns seemed a little too modern for the setting of the book. Setting aside those criticisms, I enjoyed the story - perhaps because being a Scot, I undoubtedly have Pictish blood too and I would love to know more about them and their culture.

[Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

I loved reading this book. I love reading anything about the Picts. I am familar about this time in their history

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it would make a good book club read, gentle enough read without bogging you down with too much historical facts. Although this is a historical-fiction book not a historical-fact book.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

decent read.

A great read. Fast pace, timeless moral, relatable characters. The writing makes it easy to see and feel what Calach is going through.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really glad I PICT this book to read and I hope you will PICT it too

[Elli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kindle edition. Very readable book, even by an interested and proficient YA reader. The story itself is good, and quite interesting. Starts with the migration of an ancient Scythian tribe from its most ancient home probably somewhere in a large plains area in Europe. The tribe has seen better days and is being overcome by a stronger more heavily populated tribe. The migration continues to the very northern highlands of Scotland where the tribes live for many generations in relative peace and reasonable prosperity. Of the Picts, little is known, and the author has taken this research as well as some others not totally proved to build this story. It focuses on its heroes, warriors, and its general dedication to complete liberty and freedom, to the point that governing is mainly a basic shell and guidelines with few, but immutable given restrictions, and this does work well for this group of people. The Romans who want to include this area as part of the empire are the enemy, and they do not do well in trying to make this happen. When it comes to push and shove, the reader has no problem understanding why. Much is made to of the ancient traditions governing human nature and incorporating and accepting what is what without being crushed by it's lack of perfection. I would consider it a recommended good read, and I don't think there is alot of material out there available about this group. One fact about the Picts that is well enough known is that they were never conquered by anyone, including the Romans who certainly tried hard enough. They finally amalgamated with the Scots and simply gradually became part of that nation.

[Wendy Bertsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautifully written book tells the story of the warrior Calach, first among equals, who led the wily and indomitable Picts against the invading Roman Legions.

His nobility of spirit and deep love for his warrior wife add depth to gripping descriptions of the guerrilla raids and battles waged by the Picts in their efforts to keep their people free.

I enjoyed this inspiring account of a little-known time in history, riveting for all historical fiction readers, and certainly a must-read for all Scots!

[Sabina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the story of the Pictish warrior Calach and his struggles, military as well as personal, with the Roman Empire. As we know next to nothing about the people we call the Picts, this has to be placed somewhere in the realm between fantasy and an educated guess. However, it's a good and plausible story, as well as an enjoyable read, albeit at just under 200 pages a rather quick one.

[Pat Loughery · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Pict was a fun, quick read. It's page turning historical fiction about a people group that we know little about, and though I wouldn't say I know a lot more about the Picts now, I enjoyed this sketch a great deal.

[Digit · Rating 4 out of 5]

for a culture with little evidence, the writer has done a wonderful job in building g a story from what we do know and what is plausible. excellent read on a culture that deserves more writing........ they held back the great roman Empire after all!!!

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poorly organized narrative, boring one-dimensional characters, altogether just not a fun read. It's a shame, because the history behind the story is truly intriguing, but this book did not do it justice.

[Miss Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit slow-moving, told from several different points of view and some times they get jumbled.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it for book club. It was an Interesting, quick and easy read. Main character was like many leaders - willing to lead but only did it so he could live in peace on his land. Not for the glory.

[Margaret]

still reading.

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was soooo slow...no BraveHeart...I gave up...I might go back