R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed on + 1438 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
According to the great Wiki: "A druid was a member of the priestly class in Britain, Ireland, and Gaul, and possibly other parts of Celtic western Europe, during the Iron Age. Very little is currently known about the ancient druids because they left no written accounts about themselves, and the only evidence of them is a few descriptions left by Greek and Roman authors, and stories created by later medieval Irish writers. While archaeological evidence has been uncovered pertaining to the religious practices of the Iron Age people, 'not one single artefact or image has been unearthed that can undoubtedly be connected with the ancient Druids.' Various recurring themes emerge in a number of the Greco-Roman accounts of the druids, including that they performed human sacrifice, believed in a form of reincarnation, and that they held a high position in Gaulish society. Next to nothing is known about their cultic practice, except for the ritual of oak and mistletoe as described by Pliny the Elder."
With this information in mind, little as it is, the author wrote a wonderfully compelling tale about the Roman invasion of the Gaul lands. This area encompassed today's France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. Llywelyn created Druid characters and Gaul personalities who war to repel the invading Romans. The tribes the author uses are listed among the Gaul tribes. Prince Vercingetorix was a real leader who united the tribes to war against the Romans. The story is embellished in a wonderful way by the author as he details the battles, the Druid influence and includes family and friendship connections. I truly enjoyed this read as I knew little about the Druids and the Gauls prior to reading this novel. Well done!
With this information in mind, little as it is, the author wrote a wonderfully compelling tale about the Roman invasion of the Gaul lands. This area encompassed today's France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. Llywelyn created Druid characters and Gaul personalities who war to repel the invading Romans. The tribes the author uses are listed among the Gaul tribes. Prince Vercingetorix was a real leader who united the tribes to war against the Romans. The story is embellished in a wonderful way by the author as he details the battles, the Druid influence and includes family and friendship connections. I truly enjoyed this read as I knew little about the Druids and the Gauls prior to reading this novel. Well done!
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