Weekly Reader: The Everlasting Spring Beyond Olympus: Volume 1: Benjamin and Boudicca by Francis Audrain; Queen Boudicca is the Highlight of Verbose Inspirational Historical Fiction

 

Weekly Reader: The Everlasting Spring Beyond Olympus: Volume 1: Benjamin and Boudicca by Francis Audrain; Queen Boudicca is the Highlight of Verbose Inspirational Historical Fiction 

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: Queen Boudicca (?-CE 60 or 61) was a memorable figure in British history and that is an understatement. She was the queen of the Iceni tribe during the Roman occupation. Upon her husband, Prasutagus's death, the kingdom was supposed to be jointly left to his daughters and to Emperor Nero. However, the Romans reneged on that request and seized the kingdom for themselves. The property was taken, Boudicca was flogged, and her daughters were raped. Boudicca led the Iceni and other troops in revolt against the Romans. They destroyed Camulodunum, a colony for discharged Roman soldiers. They then defeated factions and burnt both Londinium and Verulamium. Even though they outnumbered the Romans, the Britons were defeated in the West Midlands. Defeated, Boudicca either committed suicide or died from illness.

The story of Boudicca is one that is familiar to many Brits. Her story was first told over 100 years after her death and achieved fame particularly during the Elizabethan and Victorian Era. Paintings and sculptures have been made of her, including one that resides on the western end of Westminster Bridge. She has been the subject of countless books, movies, plays, and TV shows. She is shown as a symbol of Britain's fighting spirit and strength, the way that the Founding Fathers are held up as symbols of America's fight for freedom and independence. Suffragists and feminists have also taken to her image seeing her as a strong independent woman who fought against Rome's patriarchy.

She is also the subject of Francis Audrain's Inspirational Historical Fiction, The Everlasting Spring Beyond Olympus Volume 1 Benjamin and Boudicca. The book tells two parallel stories: one of Boudicca and Benjamin, a Jewish man who converts to Christianity but then is sent to Roman occupied Briton after his family is murdered and he is held captive. He makes his way to Boudicca's encampment and takes part in the rebellion against the Romans.

There are actually two parts to this book, two separate stories which could be critiqued individually: Benjamin's and Boudicca's. Boudicca's portion is the highlight of the book by being active with a character showing tremendous leadership Benjamin's portion is lacking by being overly verbal and repetitive.

Boudicca is a character who commands every moment that she is in. Even in the beginning of the book, Boudicca's pain over her flogging and her daughters's rape is very present but so is her rage and fury. She is a strong leader willing to unite the various tribes over the common cause of fighting Rome. Many of the chapters explore the known battle sites and the action that took place there as the British were led by a very uncommon and very badass woman.

Boudicca often makes strategic plans but is also an unstoppable fighting force. She is a protective mother aware of the hurt that her daughters went through and looks after them with the devotion of a mother bear especially when she grows concerned when one daughter, Fiona, becomes enamored with Benjamin. Boudicca sees the future and wants to fight her and her people's right to be a part of it.

While Boudicca heralds a commanding presence in the book, Benjamin is not near as memorable. The beginning of the book is interesting as he struggles with the grief of losing his family and reconciles his desire for revenge with his newly found Christianity. He also has some interesting conversations with Boudicca about their different faiths.

However, the book runs far too long especially during Benjamin's many efforts to convert Boudicca and her family. It's not a case of "Live and let live" or "To each their own spiritual path." Benjamin hammers down Christianity to the point of overkill insisting that they must be saved or else. Inspirational Fiction is better when characters let their actions do the talking and show Christian love rather than talking about the path to Salvation and trying to win souls with constant repetition.

It also is inaccurate to try to force a conversion out of Boudicca and her daughters when historically Christianity didn't arrive in the British Isles until approximately 597 CE, hundreds of years after Boudicca died. It may have been better to show an actual historical figure that converted like Constantine or even a fictional character rather than create a religious paradox around someone who historically would not have known about let alone never asked to become a disciple of Jesus Christ. 

With more action, showing God's love rather than talking about, and historical accuracy in characters, Everlasting Spring could be a great inspirational historical fiction. But for right now, this is one spring that needs more than a trickle to become a river.