Boudicca: The Warrior Queen

by M.J. Trow, Taliesin Trow

This vivid and bloodthirsty tale explores the true story of the woman who took on the might of the greatest power of the ancient world and nearly drove it out of part of its empire.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Womens, Historical, Roman Britain, British Literature

288 pages, Hardcover

First published October 30, 2003

About the author

Meirion James Trow is a full-time teacher of history who has been doubling as a crime writer for seventeen years. Originally from Ferndale, Rhondda in South Wales he now lives on the Isle of Wight. His interests include collecting militaria, film, the supernatural and true crime.

Reviews

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to think of this at first, since it began with a reconstruction of the events of Boudicca's last battle which read like fiction. However, I appreciated that in the first chapter the author was very upfront about the sources used (and the lack of sources), and about the problem of tainted sources. The analysis of how accurate the information was helped me believe in Trow's good faith in doing this research. The reliance on racial stereotypes/archetypes made me wince a bit, because we do know so little about the Celts from their own point of view.

I think Trow did well with the dearth of available information, and tried very hard to be fair to Boudicca: the book is very much on her side versus the Romans, without any suggestion of an alternative (could Boudicca have provoked the Romans?).

It's an interesting read, and well written.

[Pete daPixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

M.J.Trow's 'Boudicca-The Warrior Queen' published 2003 is the second book that I have read by this author, having previously given four stars for his 'Cnut;Emperor of the North.'
Mr Trow is a historian and a history teacher, well I only wish I had a history teacher of his perspicacity when I was a wee smaik.
In similar vein to his Cnut, the author excavates every fragmentary layer of our present understanding of this Queen of the Iceni, a fossicker through the dark distant mists. Boudicca's place in Celtic-British legend is firmly established. The wronged woman who turns and strikes back at Nero's Rome to send shock waves back across the first century empire. In actual fact, it is not a case of what we know of this Celtic amazon, but what we still have no knowledge of. We do not know if she was a queen at all. Was she a druidess? We have no firm setting for the site of the final battle with Paulinus' XIV & XX legions. Archaeology has not discovered the Iceni power base in todays Norfolk, nor any royal internments. Also absent from any archaeological record is any confirmation to the writings of the classical Roman writers, namely Tacitus and Cassius Dio, in relation to the Romanised victims of the British rampage of 61a.d. at the three sites of devastation, namely Camulodunum (Colchester), Londinium or Verulamium (St.Albans).
Yet, Mr Trow disembroils the propogandist classical texts, utilises what solid archaeological evidence we have and quotes the latest expertise on Roman Britain, to bring forth another shining nugget in his eminently readable style.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish an alternate universe could have opened in Boudiccas' final battle against the Romans. How different would our British/North American planet be if she had won? The possibilities, for better or worse, are endless. It makes me want to read about more as the Celts as a people. Were they the Klingons they are often made out to be? Were women and men really on equal footing? Fascinating stuff.

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It really should have been titled "How The Romans Attacked and Conquered Britain - Guest starring Boudicca". Plenty of historical information and analysis... But almost none of it was actually ON the alleged subject of the book.

[Vladimiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

E' un libro molto onesto nel dire che, di Boudicca, sappiamo davvero molto molto poco. Motivo per cui buona parte del libro è dedicata all'archeologia dei vari siti della rivolta. Ogni tanto forse l'autrice fa qualche uscita a mio giudizio un po' azzardata. Senza dubbio gli unici storici che parlano della vicende sono romani (Tacito e Cassio Dione) ma da qui a smontare alcune loro affermazioni (e farlo solo quando conviene al proprio ragionamento) ce ne passa.

Se cercate un libro dedicato solo a Boudicca, non fa per voi, ma penso che nessun libro potrebbe fare al caso vostro, semplicemente perché della regina, come detto, si sa poco. E' un ottimo libro, invece, sulla conquista romana della Britannia e sulla rivolta, pieno di citazioni. A mio giudizio manca però una buona discussione delle mancanze militari e strategiche di Boudicca che, dopo gli iniziali successi, non seppe capire che andava evitato il confronto in campo aperto contro i Romani (o non seppe imporlo agli altri capi, il che la rende comunque carente come condottiero).

Molto erudito il capitolo finale che ripercorre la figura di Boudicca attraverso i secoli, dalla condanna di epoca elisabettiana alla riscoperta di età romantica.
Purtroppo mancano cartine e mappe e si che ce ne sarebbe stato bisogno.

[Laura Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

The problem with writing a biography on Boudicca is there is so little information available. Most sources are biased and come from Roman chroniclers, hence there is a nauseating amount of information about the Roman leaders of the time and their doings. Very detailed, but not what I wanted to read about. At times, this book reads more like a history on Romans in Brittania than about Boudicca and her Iceni revolt.

The parts which delved into archaeology and how it helps to construct the past were quite interesting. I definitely enjoyed these sections much more than the ones going on for paragraphs about this Roman leader or another.

The author does his best to provide a fair and balanced account of Boudicca. I only wish he had a greater amount of unbiased historical material to work with.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always found Boudicca fascinating. If only there were more information available on her - preferably some not filtered through the obviously biased eyes of Roman historians!
The lack of known facts about her life, the uprising she led, the Iceni culture and way of life, is the major issue Trow faces in attempting to write a comprehensive biography of her. There is so little of it in existence that by necessity a lot of what he can offer is speculation interspersed with the few tidbits actually proven, and a whole lot of general Roman history that is sometimes at best tangentially related to the book's subject. That the writing is rather dry doesn't improve the situation...
A good effort, but I'd hoped for something a little more engaging.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very interesting read that pulls together a lot of information from the limited sources available about Boudicca and the Iceni. Trow does highlight that all of the sources are Roman and nothing has been found from the Iceni or the other Celtic tribes that lived in Britain at the time or subsequently so the sources are mildly biased at best. Trow does well to present a pretty balanced view of the time and the events that lead to Boudicca's rebellion as well as what happened after the final battle, although there is definitely a sense of sympathy towards the native tribes over the Romans (quite rightly too). There is a lot of information about the Romans themselves, their leaders at the time, and their actions and invasions and less about the Iceni and Boudicca, which is not the fault of the author but as these are the focus of the sources the focus of the book naturally goes that way. Despite this Trow has done a pretty good job drawing out the facts around Boudicca, her family, tribe, and legacy including how she disappeared from history and how she was rediscovered and has entered the mainstream consciousness, albeit in a more idealised form.

[Royce Ratterman · Rating 1 out of 5]

All that is related directly to Queen Boudicca is found in Roman records, which are very brief. This work related more to the era surrounding Boudicca's reign. I prefer original source documents.
Read for personal historical research, but better information can easily be found elsewhere for free.
I found this work filled with speculation, conjecture (based on speculations), interpretations, etc.
Some, though sparsely peppered throughout this work, are some facts related to Rome, coins, etc., in support of the time periods involved... and beyond - number rating relates to the book's contribution to my needs.

[Kizzydot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting overview

The author has done a lot of research and this a good overview of what is known about her and how she has been portrayed through the ages. Sadly it also shows how little we know about Boudicca and her people. The book is more about the Roman conquest of Britain than the Celts

[Annette · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a great book about the Roman Empire...too bad it really has a few mentions of Boudicca. Definitely needs a new title, it's definitely misleading

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hx fiction by Christopher Allen the defiant warrior queen

[Corinne Vivers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has not been the easiest book to get into. It starts slow and monotonous with a focus on identifying the roman legions and their conquest of Brittain. It's discussed repeatedly that the written records from the time are roman and therefore we are left with a biased perspective.

Watching the show, Brittania, renewed my interest in the book. I picked it back up and have found the parallels to topics in that show are fascinating. I am enjoying the read as it has started delving into druid culture and the role in Rome overtaking Brittania.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the authors know their stuff but they probably need a good editor to straighten out the chronology of their story. Also, the book needs photographs and many more maps showing the areas written about. There could be more background on the various Celtic tribes, too.

[Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating. I watched a history channel show on how she fought the Romans, but I needed to know more. Women and men on equal ground, both respected for their roles whatever they might be.

[Crazy Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tangled with some names and places.

[Clare]

Not much about the woman

Lots of information about the Romans and ancient Britain, but hardly any content about Iacocca, which was really disappointing! Glad it was a free book.

[Liam Wallis]

i love it