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Tales of Bowdyn #1
The Axe the Shield and the Triton
These are the tales of Bowdyn, itinerant 17th Century Gleeman, member of an ancient story-telling guild. Rescued from death during the Monmouth rebellion he tells tales of the Dark Ages to his rescuers their friends and neighbours, to entertain, divert and sing for his supper . In this first tale a lovelorn boy Gewis flees home, joining the Vandals of Carthage, in piracy and war. Years later, a wealthy, seasoned warrior, he returns to save his people from slavery or death. Set in the Dark Ages straddling the Vandal sack of Rome, The Axe the Shield and the Triton is a sweeping yarn of anarchy in a crumbling Empire, where internal conflicts, savage invaders and bands of reavers destroy Imperial order. It is a story of the workings of the Fates, part of a great tapestry in the weaving, changing the history of the world for all time.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
434 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2011
73 people want to read
About the author
James M. Hockey
3 books9 followersI was born in a cottage on the slopes of an ancient Iron Age hill fort.
I spent my early years in a village where, on the hill overlooking it, a mysterious black slate Crucifix was found under a stone slab, by the village blacksmith, in 1034 AD. That Crucifix, the Halig Rood, became the battle cry of the English army at Hastings.
Little wonder then that I am obsessed with the early history of the West Country and with inventing stories to tell where this Cross came from, its possible influence on the outcome at Hastings, who the Gewissae really were and why Wessex became the dominant power in unifying the broken land of post-Roman Britain.
I left this magical country at the age of seven. After leaving school in London I went to sea and eventually over the years became Captain of a number of Merchant Ships. I went on to lecture in Nautical subjects eventually becoming Head of the Department of Navigation and Maritime Studies in Bristol. I moved on from there to become Principal of two Community Colleges and retired after training as a College Inspector. It was thus many years later that I visited my childhood haunts and in the church where I attended Sunday School found a leaflet outlining the details of this Crucifix and its mysterious discovery. At about the same time I found that the hill on which I was born which I knew merely as Ham Hill was an ancient Iron Age Hillfort.
In puzzling through the mystery of the origins of this cross I developed a hypothesis and a conviction that I should write it as a novel. I determined to acquire some competence in writing and studied and achieved a Diploma in Literature and Creative Writing through the Open University. The novel became a series of three with a possible two more in concept. Two Dark Age novels are published, The Axe the Shield and the Triton followed by the Axe the Shield and the Halig Rood. The third Edith Fair as a Swan which brings the story forward to the aftermath of the Battle of Hastings is completed and hopefully will be available by June 2014. The prequel, Atland the Lost, set in the time of the melting ice caps after the last Ice Age is a work in progress and should be available from June 2016. The last of the quintet, The Wild Hunt follows the struggle to recover the freedom lost through the needs of survival culminating in 'the glorious bloodless revolution' of 1688 as the Gleemans story telling becomes contemporary with the time in which he and the villagers live.
I didn't set out to be an author, it is as if the story demanded to be written. You can read more about the series and my progress to publication on my blog and publishing website.
http://oldfartwannabeblog.blogspot.com and http://wyrdsisterspublishing.co.uk/ where there are sample chapters for you to dip into.
You can also look inside the first volume on Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B006GD9WX6
I spent my early years in a village where, on the hill overlooking it, a mysterious black slate Crucifix was found under a stone slab, by the village blacksmith, in 1034 AD. That Crucifix, the Halig Rood, became the battle cry of the English army at Hastings.
Little wonder then that I am obsessed with the early history of the West Country and with inventing stories to tell where this Cross came from, its possible influence on the outcome at Hastings, who the Gewissae really were and why Wessex became the dominant power in unifying the broken land of post-Roman Britain.
I left this magical country at the age of seven. After leaving school in London I went to sea and eventually over the years became Captain of a number of Merchant Ships. I went on to lecture in Nautical subjects eventually becoming Head of the Department of Navigation and Maritime Studies in Bristol. I moved on from there to become Principal of two Community Colleges and retired after training as a College Inspector. It was thus many years later that I visited my childhood haunts and in the church where I attended Sunday School found a leaflet outlining the details of this Crucifix and its mysterious discovery. At about the same time I found that the hill on which I was born which I knew merely as Ham Hill was an ancient Iron Age Hillfort.
In puzzling through the mystery of the origins of this cross I developed a hypothesis and a conviction that I should write it as a novel. I determined to acquire some competence in writing and studied and achieved a Diploma in Literature and Creative Writing through the Open University. The novel became a series of three with a possible two more in concept. Two Dark Age novels are published, The Axe the Shield and the Triton followed by the Axe the Shield and the Halig Rood. The third Edith Fair as a Swan which brings the story forward to the aftermath of the Battle of Hastings is completed and hopefully will be available by June 2014. The prequel, Atland the Lost, set in the time of the melting ice caps after the last Ice Age is a work in progress and should be available from June 2016. The last of the quintet, The Wild Hunt follows the struggle to recover the freedom lost through the needs of survival culminating in 'the glorious bloodless revolution' of 1688 as the Gleemans story telling becomes contemporary with the time in which he and the villagers live.
I didn't set out to be an author, it is as if the story demanded to be written. You can read more about the series and my progress to publication on my blog and publishing website.
http://oldfartwannabeblog.blogspot.com and http://wyrdsisterspublishing.co.uk/ where there are sample chapters for you to dip into.
You can also look inside the first volume on Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B006GD9WX6
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 10, 2018
If Oprah still had her tv show, I'd suggest she have James Hockey as her guest. Talk about his books.
Ask how he developed the storyteller mode.
For a public library, I'd shelve copies in both the the YA and adult sections. Hockey provides a fine example of using the storyteller to carry a tale. A great model for teaching history via the novel.
(Minor caveat - one of the characters cautions the storyteller his tale may be overly graphic for the community's younger audience members. Just being realistic.)
The world he describes and the participating characters remind of excellent "fantasy" novels, but it's mostly set in real history, a vivid Europe, starting in 1685 Somerset for the contemporary storyteller, "a gleeman" ... and bringing that audience back to AD 462, starting from Thiatmaresgaho, a place between the Eider, Elbe, a North Sea ... home of Creoda, one of the main players in the narrative.
...
Adding some quotes
From the back cover:
"These are the tales of Bowdyn, itinerant 17th Century Gleeman, member of an ancient story telling guild. Rescued from death during the Monmouth rebellion he tells tales of the Dark Ages to ...
"In this first story a lovesick boy Gewis flees his home in Germania ...
"This is the story of Gewis and his hearth band of oath-sworn warrior companions set against a background of war, piracy and insurrection."
***
page 171 :
"I lived for seven years amongst the Vandals as a warrior, oath-sworn to King Gaiseric. ... to one of his Captains. There were many Captains, for the Vandal warriors who had crossed from Baetica had numbered in the tens of thousands. ...
"When we first berthed at Carthage two surprises struck me. The first was the great size of the city, bigger by far than Colonia. The second was that it looked to be in ruins. The city walls overthrown lay piled in rubble around the outside of the buildings, but once we entered we found the houses undamaged. Only the walls of the town were ruined. I heard later that King Gaiseric, when he had taken the city nine years earlier, had ordered the wall destroyed so that no rebels or armies could capture them and hold out against him."
page 187 :
"When the land began to fall away to the west on our ladeboard side, we altered course into the setting sun, about northwest. We rowed in this direction for seven full periods each of one thousand strokes, by which time the sun had again risen and it was near midday. We altered again to the steerboard and short shadows lay along the deck towards our bow, so I saw we were heading north again. During my next spell of rest I turned to the resting oarsman from the next bench, one of a number of the Anglekin in the company, and asked him were we were going.
"He thought for a little and then shrugged. 'Probably to Sardinia, my guess is Tharros. We usually call there first for food and water. It is a Roman town but the garrison is small there you see. So the governor comes out, records we are a harmless merchant ship and then sells us what we need. We, on our part, don't attack and sack his town. It's a sensible understanding. Where we will go for tribute I'm not sure. Perhaps Bosa, we haven't called there for some time.'"
"'But,' I said, puzzled, 'isn't this Roman land?
"Of course, but Rome can't defend every small town with a force big enough to drive us off. So they pay us taxes and we don't sack and burn the town. They have to pay taxes to Rome as well so that is their bad luck. They would probably be happier if they were part of our kingdom.'"
Ask how he developed the storyteller mode.
For a public library, I'd shelve copies in both the the YA and adult sections. Hockey provides a fine example of using the storyteller to carry a tale. A great model for teaching history via the novel.
(Minor caveat - one of the characters cautions the storyteller his tale may be overly graphic for the community's younger audience members. Just being realistic.)
The world he describes and the participating characters remind of excellent "fantasy" novels, but it's mostly set in real history, a vivid Europe, starting in 1685 Somerset for the contemporary storyteller, "a gleeman" ... and bringing that audience back to AD 462, starting from Thiatmaresgaho, a place between the Eider, Elbe, a North Sea ... home of Creoda, one of the main players in the narrative.
...
Adding some quotes
From the back cover:
"These are the tales of Bowdyn, itinerant 17th Century Gleeman, member of an ancient story telling guild. Rescued from death during the Monmouth rebellion he tells tales of the Dark Ages to ...
"In this first story a lovesick boy Gewis flees his home in Germania ...
"This is the story of Gewis and his hearth band of oath-sworn warrior companions set against a background of war, piracy and insurrection."
***
page 171 :
"I lived for seven years amongst the Vandals as a warrior, oath-sworn to King Gaiseric. ... to one of his Captains. There were many Captains, for the Vandal warriors who had crossed from Baetica had numbered in the tens of thousands. ...
"When we first berthed at Carthage two surprises struck me. The first was the great size of the city, bigger by far than Colonia. The second was that it looked to be in ruins. The city walls overthrown lay piled in rubble around the outside of the buildings, but once we entered we found the houses undamaged. Only the walls of the town were ruined. I heard later that King Gaiseric, when he had taken the city nine years earlier, had ordered the wall destroyed so that no rebels or armies could capture them and hold out against him."
page 187 :
"When the land began to fall away to the west on our ladeboard side, we altered course into the setting sun, about northwest. We rowed in this direction for seven full periods each of one thousand strokes, by which time the sun had again risen and it was near midday. We altered again to the steerboard and short shadows lay along the deck towards our bow, so I saw we were heading north again. During my next spell of rest I turned to the resting oarsman from the next bench, one of a number of the Anglekin in the company, and asked him were we were going.
"He thought for a little and then shrugged. 'Probably to Sardinia, my guess is Tharros. We usually call there first for food and water. It is a Roman town but the garrison is small there you see. So the governor comes out, records we are a harmless merchant ship and then sells us what we need. We, on our part, don't attack and sack his town. It's a sensible understanding. Where we will go for tribute I'm not sure. Perhaps Bosa, we haven't called there for some time.'"
"'But,' I said, puzzled, 'isn't this Roman land?
"Of course, but Rome can't defend every small town with a force big enough to drive us off. So they pay us taxes and we don't sack and burn the town. They have to pay taxes to Rome as well so that is their bad luck. They would probably be happier if they were part of our kingdom.'"
March 20, 2012
Opened the book today. Discriminating reviewers have given this book good reviews. I am ready to read. Completed reading today. I shall miss the characters of this book intil I read the second book of this story.
Out of the first thirty five pages of my copy of the book, about five pages were missing. So initially I was a little confused, but soon the book righted itself. The writing I found to be pure without being simple. Writing tales within tales is no easy task, but Mr. Hockey did so admirably. I was so looking forward to the end when all the people, countries, wars, adventures and more would be resolved. Guess what? Correct. There was no resolution. The tale will be resumed in the second book of the series, and I will bite the bait.
Remembering that the reader is taken through time and place, I sometimes had to refresh my memory about what time and place I was reading. There were times when I wondered about the over-all purpose of the book. Again the author reminded me at the right moment about the said purpose. Mr. Hockey is a gifted writer. He is gifted in knowing his subject and his reader. His pick-up timing is extraordinary.
Other readers review the storyline much better than I. I focus more on how an author's writing holds and moves me. Thank you Mr. Hockey for holding and moving brilliantly.
Out of the first thirty five pages of my copy of the book, about five pages were missing. So initially I was a little confused, but soon the book righted itself. The writing I found to be pure without being simple. Writing tales within tales is no easy task, but Mr. Hockey did so admirably. I was so looking forward to the end when all the people, countries, wars, adventures and more would be resolved. Guess what? Correct. There was no resolution. The tale will be resumed in the second book of the series, and I will bite the bait.
Remembering that the reader is taken through time and place, I sometimes had to refresh my memory about what time and place I was reading. There were times when I wondered about the over-all purpose of the book. Again the author reminded me at the right moment about the said purpose. Mr. Hockey is a gifted writer. He is gifted in knowing his subject and his reader. His pick-up timing is extraordinary.
Other readers review the storyline much better than I. I focus more on how an author's writing holds and moves me. Thank you Mr. Hockey for holding and moving brilliantly.
May 27, 2014
Fascinating group of tales told about a West Saxon tribe, narrated by the storyteller Bowdyn, through the words of a teenager, Creoda, and his uncle, Gewiss, in 5th century Germania. Gewiss leaves his village and goes wandering, because of an unrequited love. The tales are his adventures as told to his nephew. Gewiss gains faithful companions along the way; they join the Vandals in North Africa as pirates on the ship Triton. At the sack of Rome, he decides to go home to his village, leaves his shipmates and travels with his companions. They find, hide, and recover a treasure to pay for ships to take them to new lands to the west. Famine has destroyed their homeland, The Holding. Creoda describes their preparation and the sea voyage to Britain. The author used lots of imagination and creativity to breathe life into a semi-mythical character. I enjoyed the tales. The whole novel was like a saga. Although this novel ends in a cliffhanger, the tribe's further adventures in Britain follow in a sequel.
July 6, 2012
Wow.....what a story within a story. So visually depicted and authentic. Even though I had to put it aside a couple of times due to my working, I never had to refresh the story...it mstayed vividlywith me. Can't wait to read the next installment. My first 5 star rating in a while!!
March 16, 2014
I wish I could give this book 4.5 stars, but since I can not, I've given it 4. The Axe the Shield and the Triton is about a Gleeman staying as a guest in the home of the Hacking family. To pay for his board and lodging he tells his tales to all who care to hear them. Each night the crowd grows until the entire village is there. These stories he tells are the main part of the book and I couldn't wait to hear him spin his next tale, each one related to the next. The story takes place in England in the late 1600's and the tales within move from Germania, Gaul, and Africa around 450 AD. The story finishes up in the sequel The Axe the Shield and the Halig Rood. I can't wait to continue this adventure.
June 25, 2012
First, let me say this is not a book I would normally select. The book was highly recommended so I gave it a try. Mr. Hockey grabs the reader with a fast paced opening. These tales take place in two times separated by centuries but with similar issues. He uses a storyteller's tales to shift from 1600 AD to 400 AD. The Gleeman's own character is as interesting as the tales he weaves. Mr Hockey and his gleeman weave many different threads, and voices, into his tale and he does it well.
Some scenes are harrowing: I would not recommend this for younger audiences.
June 15, 2016
After just finishing and reviewing Book 3 of the series, I realized that I had never posted my review for Book 1 on here:
Historical Fiction and Fact Masterfully Intermingled
As soon as I read the first sentence of The Axe the Shield and the Triton, `When I was a child I loved the hill, for I knew nothing then of its blood-drenched soil. It was my playground and my playfellow,' I knew I would like the writing. Style, to me, is as important as the story itself. I like being led gently, not dropped, into the action. This one begins in 1685 AD. Immediately, you felt the stench of poverty, the desperation of a family, and I hoped for the boy and his kin to meet better times.
The escape from their daily grind comes via Master Bowdyn Galan's tales of far away places. Through them, we are swept back to AD 462, to the old Germania and Creodoa, the Hun's, tale.
The chapters switch back and forth between the two stories. While enjoying one, I became eager to know what would happen in the other, and so kept turning the pages in anticipation. I was not disappointed with either.
This is not fiction for the impatient. It is a book for people who LOVE to read. And while it is indeed fiction, I was sneaky enough to Google a few items and found that the facts are, indeed, factual. Glad to see there is a sequel.
Highly recommended.
Historical Fiction and Fact Masterfully Intermingled
As soon as I read the first sentence of The Axe the Shield and the Triton, `When I was a child I loved the hill, for I knew nothing then of its blood-drenched soil. It was my playground and my playfellow,' I knew I would like the writing. Style, to me, is as important as the story itself. I like being led gently, not dropped, into the action. This one begins in 1685 AD. Immediately, you felt the stench of poverty, the desperation of a family, and I hoped for the boy and his kin to meet better times.
The escape from their daily grind comes via Master Bowdyn Galan's tales of far away places. Through them, we are swept back to AD 462, to the old Germania and Creodoa, the Hun's, tale.
The chapters switch back and forth between the two stories. While enjoying one, I became eager to know what would happen in the other, and so kept turning the pages in anticipation. I was not disappointed with either.
This is not fiction for the impatient. It is a book for people who LOVE to read. And while it is indeed fiction, I was sneaky enough to Google a few items and found that the facts are, indeed, factual. Glad to see there is a sequel.
Highly recommended.
July 22, 2012
What a marvelous effort by Mr. Hockey. I downloaded it not expecting a whole lot but this is one of the best historical novels I have read. The times seem very real, if not 100% historical accurate. The toughness of life, and the mixture of 475 AD in medieval England is outstanding. I already have book 2 and will start this week. Wanting more is the best review any reader can offer.
May 4, 2013
A remarkable novel that embraces the story of migration during the decline of Rome. We sail with the Vandals across the Mediterranean to The Balearics and Sardinia, and to Rome itself. We feel the pressure of the Anglian tribes that faced the Huns. A sweeping tale of survival and change. I took my time over this one.
November 8, 2012
A thoroughly enjoyable and well researched historical romp - I recommend this book to one and all!
November 8, 2012
Really fantastic holiday read, cant wait to read another.
Want to read
December 3, 2013Tales of Bowdyn:
#1 The Axe the Shield and the Triton
#2 The Axe the Shield and the Halig Rood
#1 The Axe the Shield and the Triton
#2 The Axe the Shield and the Halig Rood
April 1, 2017
This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
" a book for people who enjoy reading. "
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
" a book for people who enjoy reading. "
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews