Island of Ghosts: A Novel of Roman Britain

by Gillian Bradshaw

Book Overview

A thoughtful and compelling novel of the clash of cultures as Roman conquerors sweep across second-century Europe, written by the acclaimed author of "Horses of Heaven" and "The Bearkeeper's... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0812545141
• ISBN13: 9780812545142
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Excellent historical fiction

In the Caucasus Mountains, in the little republics of the Ossetians, the inhabitants still tell stories about their medieval ancestors the Alans and their greatest heroes, the Narts. One of the Nart heroes is said to have been mortally wounded in a great battle. Knowing death was near he told one of his warriors to heave his magical saber into the Sea. The warrior departed with the sword, but intent on keeping it did not throw it into the Sea. The dying Nart does not believe him when he claims that the sword simply sank into the waters, so he angrily demands that the warrior obey him. At the final try, the warrior tells the hero that when the saber hit the waves the water roiled and boiled red, rushing upward in a great gush. Satisfied, the hero dies. How could modern Ossetians be telling stories that sound so much like the story of King Arthur and his magical sword Excalibur? This novel contains the answer, as does the recent movie "King Arthur". "Islands of Ghosts" tells it better. Before ending up in the Caucasus the Alans had been part of the great Sarmatian tribal confederacy, horse nomads of the steppes of southern Russia and Ukraine. At the time of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius they were defeated in a great battle north of the Danube (remember the opening scene in "Gladiator" -- that's it). As tribute they had to provide 5,000 armored horsemen, their peculiar specialty (much like the Riders of Rohan) for service in the Roman province of Britain where they would face Pictish invasions and Celtic rebellions. "Island of Ghosts" opens with a squadron of Sarmatians near revolt when they first spy the English Channel: they believe that somewhere to the West, on the Great Sea, lies the Island where the dead reside. Now they are convinced the Romans are sending them there deliberately. Given that the Roman officer now in command of them heartily wishes that his Sarmatian charges actually were dead, the Sarmatian leader, Prince Ariantes, has his hands full. As he leads his troops across the sea to Britain and north to the great Roman Wall, Ariantes will have to come to terms with what it means to be a loyal servant of the Empire, perhaps against the wishes of his own people. He will face enemies inside and outside the empire, the horrors of army bureaucracy, begin to become literate, and above all face the dilemma of reconciling the free warrior code of his past with his life as a soldier for civilization. Gillian Bradshaw has written a terrific historical novel about a little known corner of Roman history, one that explains how Sarmatian stories could well end up in Britain and in the Caucasus. Her characters are drawn with considerable imagination and sensitivity. By the end of the story the reader identifies with Ariantes and his people. The fact that his solution to his problems goes a longs way towards explaining the complexity of the ancient world's heritage in modern Europe is important. I highly recommend this book for anyone who

A fine novel by an author who deserves a wider audience

Island of Ghosts describes the Claudian invasion of Britain from an unusual point of view, through the eyes of a Sarmatian auxiliary soldier. The scholarship is impeccable (as in her other novels), and the story is an appealing account of military life, and a love affair between people from different backgrounds. In her other books (including A Beacon at Alexandria, Cleopatra's Heir, and Render Unto Caesar) she has presented a many-sided view of life in ancient Rome. She doesn't simplify the ancient world into cardboard characters that represent stereotypes; her characters seem alive and complex. And she gets the details right... even that controversy about the use of stirrups in ancient times. I read her novels with great enjoyment, but her background in classics and history adds educational value.

excellent historical novel

This is an excellent book! The author has done a great job researching the subject and is able to bring at least some of the Roman Empire back to life. I would highly suggest this book for anyone who may be interested in Ancient Rome or for anyone who may just be looking for a good book to read!

Realistic tale of assimilation

This is great!! I had read almost all of Gillian Bradshaw's previous books. I bought this thinking it was a new fantasy. It is straight historical fiction, but superb nonetheless. There are no cheap shots. The writing and characterization was wonderful, and the people entirely believable. The hero Ariantes, succeeds not by military or physical prowess, but by tact and diplomacy and alliances. I want a sequel!! or two or three.

This is the kind of book you wish were longer.

Island of Ghosts falls into what I call the Mary Renault School -- historical fiction that is so compellingly good that you end up believing this is how it actually happened. Gillian Bradshaw has taken a historical "footnote"--the arrival of Sarmatian cavalry in Britain--and turned it into a rousingly good story. I sat down and read this book in one afternoon, then re-read it the next day. Characters and their motivations are for the most part quite believable (although the villainess was just a tad extreme) and I found myself caring about what happened to them. This book is a great example of historical fiction, with just a little romance thrown in for good measure. I am quite a fan of the author's -- I have read all of her work -- and while I might not rate this as the best of her books, it's right up there near the top. If you read this book, you will not be disappointed -- I swear on fire.