Customer Reviews

Set Among Princes: The Saga of Claudia Rufina

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SET AMONG PRINCES is a delightful extrapolation of what little information exists about Caratacus and his family; especially Gladys (Glwadus) or Claudia Rufina. There is ample footnoting in the novel to assure the reader that at least the events or instances cited are documented in history. Even setting the fictional story aside the wealth of information about Celtic and Roman customs, names and history makes SET AMONG PRINCES, a worthwhile read.

The focus of the novel is the suspected connection of the Caratacus family with first century Christianity. While other novels involving Caratacus have concentrated on his military struggle and that of Boudicca giving only a cursory nod to the "Christian"connection, this novel leaves the British struggle with Roman armies and moves to Rome itself after Caratacus' final defeat. The story of what may have happened is as believable as any speculation about those early days of Christianity.

While I enjoyed the story I thought some of the presentation of facts was a bit awkward. Words were put into the mouths of characters having them tell each other things that they all knew just for the benefit of the reader. It was a lot like a character in a play facing the audience and explaining details to them. Also the word for word recitation of New Testament passages disguised as conversation between the characters seemed a little forced.

The change between first person and third person narrator also seemed a bit awkward. Perhaps the story would have been better written in the third person with multiple view points; but that is only a personal preference and takes nothing way from an otherwise enjoyable story.