Amazon.com: The Eagle and the Raven (9780772300300): Pauline Gedge: Books

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45 Reviews

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

Average Customer Review

4.5 out of 5 stars (45 customer reviews)

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70 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Print it again!, December 3, 2003

By

Amazonbombshell (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Eagle and the Raven: A novel (Hardcover)

This is an amazing novel. It is not, as the cover claims, so much about Boudicca -- though certainly plays her part in blazing fire and glory -- as it is another historical Bristish chieftan named Caradoc, who united many of the Celtic tribes of England against Rome and fought determinedly until his eventual defeat in A.D. 50. (For those of you who do not know the story -- it's not a common one -- I won't reveal the rest.) It is also about some of the (also historical) Romans who encountered the power of Britannia, though the ultimate sympathy (wrong word, but close) lies with the British tribes. Ms. Gedge sticks to history as far as she can in her writing, and fleshes it out with incredible skill. The book is 827 pages long and I devoured it.

One of the things that makes this book so good is its chosen subject -- obscure figures who have become the stuff of legend; a mysterious and ancient fight for freedom that yet finds a home in our modern souls. Another is its realism -- brutal violence and desperate betrayal alongside deepest love
and noble ideals held, compromised, lifted up. This story does not shrink from death and wrenching sorrow, nor does it invent a hundred miraculous escapes, nor become so caught up in mysticism that it leaves no room for the ordinary man and woman. It is a tale of real people, intermingling and forging lives in less than ideal circumstances, yet time and again forced onto two opposing sides of an issue that has many more facets than two. It is a terribly sad story, but also a triumphant one, and one to stir your blood as others cannot. It deserves many more than five stars. Print it again!

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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gedge steps out of Egypt, March 21, 2001

By

S. Smith "a98hoya" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Eagle and the Raven (Hardcover)

Wow! I have always loved Pauline Gedge's novels set in Ancient Egypt. Her attention to detail, historical fact and ability to imagine a civilaztion in the fullest sense of the term based on the knowledge we have available through the work of Egyptologists continues to impress me. In the Eagle and the Raven, Gedge brings her remarkable abilities to another place and time in histroy and is quite successful. I really encourage a reader who wants to see and feel living history to pick up this book. You won't be sorry, I promise.

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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Eagle and the Raven, November 10, 2002

By

nissa (Austin,Tx usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eagle and the Raven (Hardcover)

My favorite book ever!
If you have ever been transported back in time then you know what it feels like to read this book.When you read the Eagle and the Raven you become a part of the celtic world,you feel the pain of their struggle,you understand their need to remain a free people,and you really start to hate Romans!
It's true,before I read this book I was totaly fascinated by the Roman culture,now it just [makes me mad]
I'm not very good with words so I really can't convey how amazing of a book this is,but I will say that I have read hundreds of books and this really must be one of the best ever writen.I cried in this book,I cry whenever I read it,and I am not a person who cries often.
... if-when-you read it you will understand that that the words of an untrained mind are not able to speak more than simple praise for a book This magnificent.
I'm buying this today and you should too!
READ THIS !

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
From the start of this wonderful historic piece of work I have been in a ancient daze.
How this novel without the smut of today's love making gave you a sense of real... Read more

Published 3 months ago by Mountain Mama

1.0 out of 5 stars TEDIOUS and a chore to read
I love books. I love thick books.
I love historical fiction.
I picked up this book in Costco because it laid next to Ken Follett's "World without End". Read more

Published 15 months ago by J. L. Yu

5.0 out of 5 stars If you love historical fiction...
...then you will love this book. This book started me on a quest of learning everything I could about Roman history. Read more

Published 16 months ago by barbara L. Holbert

5.0 out of 5 stars Unreal
Fantastic novel well worth the read. Again, not one for this genre but you'll want to pace yourself. I am almost done and wish I had slowed down.

Published 22 months ago by A. Mistretta

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Historical Fiction
A classic. Great historical fiction that will keep you pinned to the pages for at least a week. Well written with a great and memorable story line. Highly recommended.

Published on January 29, 2010 by Steven G. Safran MD

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite books of all times
I am French. 25 years ago, I bought an abridged and translated version of The Eagle and the Raven and absolutely loved it. Read more

Published on July 21, 2009 by Possibility

1.0 out of 5 stars Save yourself! Don't buy this book!
I am a voracious reader. I love historical fiction. I hate this book. I am 100 pages from the end and I'm hoping I can make it to the end. Read more

Published on March 8, 2009 by cycle guy

4.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
I loved the plot. I hated the length and detail of the time spent in the mountains and gathering forces to fight against the Romans.

Overall this book was great. Read more

Published on February 1, 2009 by Mel

3.0 out of 5 stars Just all right
I feel really badly about not likely this book as much as all of the other reviewers clearly did. I had read Manda Scott's take on Boudica a while back,. Read more

Published on September 15, 2008 by JenJen

4.0 out of 5 stars A novel of Boudicca
If you've never encountered Boudicca in history, then you may want to do yourself a favor a pick this book up. Read more

Published on September 8, 2008 by RitaWalla

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Inside This Book (learn more)
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
royal war band, new arviragus, armed chiefs, holding spell, wolf mask, magic egg, peaceful journey

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Great Hall, Rufus Pudens, Julius Caesar, Queen of Victory, House Catuvellaun, Raven of Battle, Aulus Plautius, Raven of Nightmares, Ostorious Scapula, Samain Eve, Only Gladys, Caesius Nasica, Caius Caesar, Finally Caradoc, Aunt Gladys, Raven of Panic, Clivus Victoriae, Cinnamus Ironhand, Divine Claudius, Great Mother, Brigantia the High One, Second Augusta, Manlius Valens, Roman Empire

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