The Mistletoe and the Sword: A Story of Roman Britain

by Anya Seton

From a fascinating corner of history, comes a thrilling story of England in the time of the Romans. Quintus Tullius, a young standard bearer for the Ninth Roman legion, vows to properly bury his grandfather who had been killed by the Druids. In the strange foreign country of the Britons, Quintus meets lovely Regan, the mysterious foster daughter of the Warrior Queen of the Iceanians. Once, he saves her, and then in a daring scene, she rescues him. They are at once bound into history in a time of magic and mystery.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Roman Britain, Romance, Historical Romance, Novels

189 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Anya Seton (January 23, 1904 (although the year is often misstated to be 1906 or 1916) - November 8, 1990) was the pen name of the American author of historical romances, Ann Seton.

Ann Seton was born in New York, and died in Old Greenwich, Connecticut. She was the daughter of English-born naturalist and pioneer of the Boy Scouts of America, Ernest Thompson Seton and Grace Gallatin Seton-Thompson. She is interred at Putnam Cemetery in Greenwich.

Her historical novels were noted for how extensively she researched the historical facts, and some of them were best-sellers.[citation needed] Dragonwyck (1941) and Foxfire (1950) were both made into Hollywood films. Two of her books are classics in their genre and continue in their popularity to the present; Katherine, the story of Katherine Swynford, the mistress and eventual wife of John of Gaunt, and their children, who eventually became the basis for the Tudor and Stuart families of England, and Green Darkness, the story of a modern couple plagued by their past life incarnations. Most of her novels have been recently republished, several with forewords by Philippa Gregory.

Her novel Devil Water concerns James, the luckless Earl of Derwentwater and his involvement with the Jacobite rising of 1715. She also narrates the story of his brother Charles, beheaded after the 1745 rebellion, the last man to die for the cause. The action of the novel moves back and forth between Northumberland, Tyneside, London and America.

Anya Seton stated that the book developed out of her love for Northumberland. Anya certainly visited her Snowdon cousins at Felton. Billy Pigg, the celebrated Northumbrian piper played 'Derwentwater's Farewell' especially for her. The novel shows her typical thorough research of events and places, though the accents are a little wayward. Anya Seton said that her greatest debt of all was to Miss Amy Flagg of Westoe Village in South Shields, her father's birthplace.

Reviews

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

An old book where the pages are covered and the print is small, first published in 1955 and this copy is from 1974. The Roman are taking over Britain and a soldier falls in love with a British woman linked to the Druids. The battles are the bulk of the book with the soldier frequently think about the beautiful Regan! Mum’s favourite author when she was a young woman.

[Morgan Dhu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anya Seton's historical novels were best-sellers in their time, narratives featuring, for the most part, resilient and determined women, their stories told in elegant prose, their lives and times well researched. Two of her books, Katherine (about Katherine de Roet, mistress and third wife of John of Gaunt, ancestress to the Tudor line) and Green Darkness (a complex tale of forbidden love and reincarnation set in two times) are among my favourites.

The Mistletoe and the Sword is one of Seton's lesser-known, and lesser-regarded novels. Intended for a young adult audience, it is a shorter and simper tale than most of her books. Set in Roman Britain during the time of the Iceni Rebellion, the protagonist is a young Roman soldier who falls in love with a British girl who is of the family of the Arch-Druid of Britain - assuming there ever really was such a thing. (Seton's research is solid on the Roman aspects of her subject, but she wrote during that period of time when the state of research into Celtic society tended toward romanticism.)

A light and pleasant tale, with a nice balance of action and romance, reminding us of a time when both young men and young women might be expected to read and enjoy the same books.

[Karen Hogan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Historical fiction in ancient Britain involving a Roman soldier and the grand-daughter of a Druid Priest. I always enjoy Anya Seton's novels, but this one wasnt quite as absorbing for me as her others.

[☆Ruth☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy historical fiction if it's well-written and well researched, especially if it introduces me to a period I know little about.
I'm not sure how well this book sticks to the historical facts but it has at least stimulated me to try and learn more about Roman Britain. I also enjoyed the story although it was a little lacking in depth and substance.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

100 years after Julius Cesar's failed attempt at conquering Britain, Rome is ready to once again bring the "savage" nation to heel. This short story follows our hero Quintus. Quintus is a young man, fresh from the streets of Rome itself. A good person who always tries to do the right thing, his goal is not to conquer, but to lay to rest the bones of his ancestor who died in the first invasion. Fate has other plans, though, and he is there during the scourge of Boudica and the violation of daughters that sets in motion Boudica's determined campaign to rid Britain of Rome forever. After much horror and destruction, Quintus is sent to summon the Second Legion to help put a stop Bodica's ethnic cleanse, with non other then Boudica's foster daughter herself, Regan, who prefers a less violent and severe method of dealing with Rome. Especially one kind, handsome Roman, while Quintus will be tested and face the toughest challenges of his young life...

Well researched and written, I very much enjoyed this book! I wish Regan had had a slightly more prominent part, but overall, this book is very much a keeper.

[Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young Roman soldier Quintus Tullius finds his lifetime dream fulfilled: to travel to Britain as part of the army and try to find the body of his long-dead great grandfather (killed by Druids). What he finds instead turns out to be something he did not know he needed. Set in AD 60-61 in Roman Britain, Seton, using period accounts and contemporary studies, recounts the exact historical events surrounding the uprising of the British tribes against the Roman army, led by fearsome Queen Boadicea. The book starts out a bit slowly but picks up momentum, and Seton does an excellent job of fleshing out history and making it immediate. She does not bother with much description, and her language is accessible. If you read Asterix comics, you will find the time period to be familiar(with much less humor, of course). Upper teen/adult.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know what it is about Anya Seton that I love so much. She does have a few books that I could live without, but this one is one of her better ones, if quite short. There's something to be said about a decently sized historical fiction book that can be as atmospheric as tomes three times its size.

The story of Quintus and Regan captured me right away and I found myself thinking of these characters even when I wasn't reading. Queen Boudicca was fabulous, as she should be, though she's not a major character.

Highly recommended for all fans of Roman HF and fans of The Eagle and the Raven.

[Francoise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a lot, actually. I really didn't know anything about the history of Britain and the influence of the Roman Empire at this time. Also, I was intrigued about the story of Boadicea (Boudicca) and had to look up more info. The characters are well developed and what better way to learn history than in a well written book that is securely based on good research? At the end, the reader realizes that all history is a result of two civilizations coming into contact and then blending to form something new and different. Hard to put down.

[Cass · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anya Seton was one of my favorite authors when I was in high school and college. She wrote historical fiction and this was where I learned a lot about English history. Her novels were very well researched. So I decided to revisit this author and found this book in my local library. Had I read it back in the day, I probably would not have continued to read Seton's books. This was like reading a history book of events that took place when the Romans occupied Briton in the time of Julius Caesar and after. Not much of a story line-rather boring.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read a few of Anya Seton's books over the years and I've found them to be thoroughly escapist and always satisfying. I'd liken them to a big summer blockbuster, but not the kind where you role your eyes or walk out of the theater. Think Harry Potter, not Transformers 2. So if you feel like getting carried away to a land of defiant ladies, reckless soldiers, and in this case, druids....Anya Seton is for you. I'm not quite ready to return to reality; I think I'll go check out another one.

[Susanne Doremus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually can't put an Anya Seton book down, but this book wasn't up to par with her other books. It took me months to get through this because I was bored. I felt like the story was rushed in some areas and the characters were juvenile. I wonder if the author was bored with this novel? The final battle with Boadicea was very anti-climatic. I was very interested in reading Seton's take of this period in Roman/English history because her books are very well researched (I'm usually Googling when I'm reading an Anya Seton book to see how much is based on facts and how much she embellishes.). It's too bad that there just isn't a lot of good historical sources that covers the Druids and Celts. It's still worth a read if you are interested in this period of history.

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the story gave a good insight into some of the key historical characters of 60AD Britain and did so with a not too soppy love story running through.
It is a nice easy read and not too long either.

I didn't like that the chapter is summarised at its start, couldn't see the merit of spoilers.

[Virna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The characters and story line was entertaining and I enjoy read this.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this author. I learned all about Boudicca (more than I knew before). Really brought the British rebellion again Rome alive. Old fashioned story telling, but still delicious.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[sabzino · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5) Seton is just a big nerd and will use romance as a marketing tactic to get people to read her ramble about history I love it

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

​Anya Seton was a successful, bestselling historical fiction novelist in the 1950s, known best for her works Katherine and The Winthrop Woman. But she also wrote a slimmer, young-adult novel named  The Mistletoe and Sword . At 250 pages, this book was the perfect size to devour in a day. Here's what it's about.

What it's about

Set in A.D. 60-61, The Mistletoe and Sword is about a Roman centurion named Quintus who is sent to Celtic Britain to ensure the peace and compliance of the native population. He's also motivated by the desire to discover the place where his great-grandfather was murdered a century earlier, by a Celtic tribe, at the mysterious Stonehenge. But before he can get to the site, the Ninth Legion and the rest of the Roman army have to subdue the mighty rebellion organized by Queen Boudica of the Celtic Iceni tribe. Quintus also meets a Celtic woman named Regan, and the two fall in love (because of course!).

Why you should read it

Anya Seton was known for being a meticulous researcher and for painstakingly making sure her stories were accurate. So despite the fact that "accurate" may have changed definition necessarily in the intervening 50+ years, I know that the story, even if it's technically fiction, is as historically accurate as it is possible to be (at the time). That's a huge plus for me.

While this isn't her most sophisticated work (I read Green Darkness and liked it much better), this is a quick, easy read that features a whole lot of mysticism, atmosphere, and history in a compact little package. If you've never heard of Anya Seton, this may be the title you can start with!

The romance is fun, although the dialogue is dated (a lot of cliched phrases and situations, for example) and the characters are less complex than they can be. Read it for the history and action, and less for the romance.

Favorite character

Regan, the Celtic woman who helps Quintus and falls in love with him. Even though she's, again, not very complex, she's also an independent-minded, capable woman with intelligence and fierce loyalty to her people and her customs. I wanted to know more about her.

Favorite quote

Quintus did not hear the ghostly shrieks, but as he forced himself to shut his eyes and relax his body as Roman soldiers were taught, he heard something else--something from the dark woods across the Colne; the sharp yelping of foxes, and more distant answers. And he thought that there was little chance of surprising the British forces, for there were unseen eyes watching every Roman move. 

Recommended for

Anyone who loves history or a simple romance, and anyone with a lazy Saturday to spend being introduced to a talented author.

[Lynette Lark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Anya Seton book (and I love this author now that I've discovered her). This is circa 80 AD when Britain was a young country and part of the Roman Empire. Druids were a part of this landscape and Stonehenge was already a very ancient artifact. It's a story about people exploiting people, unnecessary wars because of slights and misunderstandings, and love. Thank God for love.

[Missy Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opposite view of my favorite book, The Ravens of Avalon. Good quiz read. Definitely a Roman take but gentle with the Druid side. Good companion book for Ravens.

[Angela Sawtelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first novel I’ve read by Anya Seton that I did not like. It’s not up to her usual standard of historical accuracy and fascinating characters. Everything about the book is weak, unfortunately. If you love Roman Britain, read something by Rosemary Sutcliff.

[Phil Syphe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young Roman and his fellow soldiers are sent to Britain in AD 60.

Events focus on Queen Boudicca’s rebellion and a mysterious druid from Stone Henge.

The characters are vivid, though I feel Boudicca/Boadicea is too melodramatic.

The plot is a good adventure yarn, with action, mystery, suspense, a little romance, and a hint of druid-style magic.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast-paced little novel, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The descriptions of the British countryside in AD 60, aswell as the depictions of the various British tribes, were excellent. Ms Seton is a master at creating context, and even in this shorter novel she effortlessly transports the reader back to a long ago era where a divided people are called to unite against the invading Romans by the Warrior-Queen Boadicea.
The male protagonist of the story, Quintus, is a very loyal soldier of Rome, and yet is portrayed as a very compassionate person. He truly believes that the rule of Rome is superior, and brings many benefits to a people and their land. This was a very interesting concept to read about, as the reader cannot help but feel both sympathy for the conquered people and yet understanding that the Romans feel as though they are 'civilising' the nations that they conquer.
The love shared between Regan, a native Briton, and Quintus, was a lovely romantic tale that was a nice contrast to the various battle scenes depicted in the novel. The idea that Regan and Quintus, and others like them, will form a united race of two peoples is a nice thought. Unfortunately to conquer has been a way of the world for thousands of years, however the knowledge that very few of us would be here if not for such conquering is food for thought. As a British-born person this novel struck home as I realised that the country I was born in would not be the same if not for the Romans, and part of my ancestry may very well be from the united race of Britons and Romans.
This was a wonderful novel and it was so easy to pick up and get lost in; I definitely recommend it.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is really a tale of Roman/Celtic assimilation. A Roman soldier is mesmerized by Regan, a 16 year old granddaughter of a highly ranked Druid priest. The Romans are pitted against Queen Boadicea, who is also Regan's foster mother, and has risen in revolt against the Romans and their injustices rallying most of the tribes of Briton to follow her in hopes of eradicating Roman occupation. Lots of predictable intrigue, battle strategies, and betrayals lead to the inevitable crushing of the ill-prepared and ill-equiped Britons by the Roman legions. The Celts see the "handwriting on the wall" and retreat to Ireland leaving Romans and civilization in charge. All of this occurs in the time of Emperor Nero, and we know he is the sel-indulgent glutton responsible for the fall of Rome. So, the two lovebirds are quite lucky to be in Briton symbolically and literally uniting the two cultures. This is a quick "bubblegum-for-the-eyes" read. A solid 3.

[Robert Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was a teenager my uncle had girlfriends and one of them had the cutest curly hair and the smiliest face and I thought of her in.. well, I guess you could guess how teenagers think of cute aunties; but then he had another girlfriend and when she visited and left again, she left behind a book called Green Darkness and I read it and it was good and then I turned to SciFi and Thriller and Horror and Comedy and finally, in my mumfly mumph year, time swing around and another book of the same ilk falls into my lap and, haunted as I was by the mixed up memories of cute aunties and book leavings, I read it and lo, it turns out that this fanciful tale of Romans and Warrior Queens was nothing like the other one, but it's still a good yarn and it passes away a little of this time I have here on this earth and all is well. Smile.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this book, because I like Anya Seton and I was thrilled to learn that she had written a book set in Roman Britain, my current historical obsession. Right away, though, I did not like this hero. He was too pompous, impetuous, naive, and I think too immature for me to warm up to. I was hoping that this would change over the course of the story, and that he would mature with time, but this didn't happen enough to satisfy me. I also would've liked more time with Regan, the love-interest. I wanted to know more about her background, which was barely breezed over.
These character shortcomings were balanced, though, by the storyline. I liked the scenes involving Boudica, (though again, I would've liked to have seen more of her) the raids, the journey of Quintus to find the 2nd legion, and the final battle between Boudica and the Roman occupation.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quintus, a Roman soldier in Britain in 60AD, has two missions: to conquer Britain in the name of the emperor Nero, and to find the ancient remains of his great-grandfather, murdered by Druids during the invasion of Julius Caesar many years earlier. However, the Roman military doesn't count on warrior queen Boudicea uniting the Celtic tribes in revolt, and Quintus doesn't count on falling for Regan, a fetching young Briton woman.

This is a fairly light-hearted story, given the subject matter. I found it enjoyable, and consider it a decent jumping-off point for a reader new to Roman history in Britain.

[laninaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the perfect example of why I love historical fiction so much. Seton makes the events of the Briton's revolt against the Romans, led by Boadicea, and weaves an interesting story around it. I knew the bare facts about these events, but having Quintus' tale looped through it made it seem much more real. The romance is a nice touch - but it's more a subplot and doesn't take center stage. The story is definitely about Quintus and his role as a Roman in Briton. Very interesting read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleased that Seton's story was not dragged down by her research, which is something I've encountered in her other books. And I thought her portrayal of Boadicea was fairly even-handed; other times I've encountered the woman in fiction, the authors have seemed eager to portray her as some sort of Mary Sue Celtic Shiva.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read more than half in one night - cannot put it down!

Having loved Latin Class in high school and college, I have always enjoyed stories about the Romans. This tale of Roman conquest in ancient Britain was even more engrossing than I would've imagined.

Once again, no matter the time period - Anya Seton is outstanding.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed it even more than when I read it as a teenager. The subject matter was one much beloved to Gloria and me, and I've even mixed the plot it my mind with that of ________.

I did become aware this time, having watched "Centurion" on DVD, that there is a seeming mystery about the fate of the Ninth Legion in Briton.