Dreaming the Eagle

A Novel of Boudica, the Warrior Queen

De: Manda Scott

Narrado por: Josephine Bailey

Dreaming the Eagle is the first part of the gloriously imagined epic trilogy of the life of Boudica.

Boudica means "Bringer of Victory" (from the early Celtic word “boudeg”). She is the last defender of the Celtic culture in Britain; the only woman openly to lead her warriors into battle and to stand successfully against the might of Imperial Rome - and triumph.

It is 33 AD, and 11-year-old Breaca (later named Boudica), the red-haired daughter of one of the leaders of the Eceni tribe, is on the cusp between girl and womanhood. She longs to be a Dreamer, a mystical leader who can foretell the future, but having killed the man who has attacked and killed her mother, she has proven herself a warrior. Dreaming the Eagle is also the story of the two men Boudica loves most: Caradoc, outstanding warrior and inspirational leader; and Bàn, her half-brother, who longs to be a warrior, though he is manifestly a Dreamer, possibly the finest in his tribe’s history. Bàn becomes the Druid whose eventual return to the Celts is Boudica’s salvation.

Dreaming the Eagle is full of brilliantly realized, luminous scenes, as the narrative sweeps effortlessly from the epic - where battle scenes are huge, bloody, and action-packed - to the intimate. Manda Scott plunges us into the unforgettable world of tribal Britain in the years before the Roman invasion: a world of druids and dreamers and the magic of the gods, where the natural world is as much a character as any of the people who live within it; a world of warriors who fight for honor as much as victory; a world of passion, courage, and spectacular heroism pitched against overwhelming odds.

Dreaming the Eagle stunningly recreates the roots of a story so powerful its impact has lasted through the ages.

©2003 Manda Scott (P)2003 Books on Tape, Inc.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“What’s amazing to me about this tale of Boudica, Britain’s legendary female warrior, is the pitch-perfect fluency with which Manda Scott brings it forth . . . like an eyewitness recounting real events that she saw and participated in. Her reimagining of this age, when the tribes of Britain clashed with the legions of Rome, includes interior monologues, multiple points of view, dreams, visions, ecstasies, and interlocutions with the dead, all of it utterly convincing and compelling . . . . A stunning feat of the imagination and an absolute must-read for lovers of historical fiction.” (Steven Pressfield, author of Tides of War and Gates of Fire)

"A masterpiece of historical fiction, Scott's richly detailed novel brilliantly captures the driven, passionate soul of the Celts. The lyric prose captivates, the characters ensnare. In Scott's talented hands, the legendary Celtic queen Boudica breathes, lives, and absolutely rivets." (Karen Marie Moning, author of The Dark Highlander)

"A truly remarkable story full of wonderful atmosphere.... Intensely exciting, a tale of passion, courage, and heroism against huge odds, which is intensely moving." (Publishing News)

Bummed that only the 1st book is on audible!

I really got into Dreaming the Eagle & I love the historical fictions featuring Boudica. I loved this book, but am extremely disappointed the other 2 books aren't on here. I still recommend listening to this one and hope one day the other books will be available as more people request it... fingers crossed!

Way better than I anticipated.

Personally I put Manda's work somewhere between Robert Graves and Marguerite Yourcenar. Excellent , I was very pleasantly surprised. Looking for a sequel ?

Awesome performance

Awaiting the next audiobook of Manda Scott's serie: Dreaming the Bull.
Audible please hurry up!

Too Many Characters

This is a book that is better read than listened to. I could follow the main characters and was already familiar with the historical Boedica. If I could have seen the names in text it would have been easier to follow the cast of Celtic tribes, Roman citizens and Gaulic mercenaries that supported the story.

A beautiful fictionalization of an ancient story

There appears to be very little beyond the basics of Boudicca's rebellion in the historical record (at least given my limited reading). Certainly I have seen few details of her childhood. This novel is a fictionalization of that childhood and her growth from child to warrior of Mona and it does an admirable job of that. With few exceptions, I was riveted from beginning to end. My only real question is when book 2 will be added to Audible.

Terrific Book

This is a book that's hard to pause! The first part is a little slow, and the pace picks up dramatically about a third of the way through - from there on, it's captivating. As an added bonus, Josephine Bailey is the best narrator you can wish for. Too bad the three sequels are not publised as audiobooks.

Terrific Book

This is a book that's hard to pause! The first part is a little slow, and the pace picks up dramatically about a third of the way through - from there on, it's captivating. As an added bonus, Josephine Bailey is the best narrator you can wish for. Too bad the three sequels are not publised as audiobooks.

Magnificent book

Magnificent book and excellent performance.
I loved these books when I read them in their paper format, and find the audio adds even more dimension and depth.
How is it possible that Audible does not have the rest of this trilogy? I'd give them one star for that if I knew where to do it.

FANTASTIC!!!

This book was a great surprise. I read reviews of it on Amazon, which were not as good as I hoped for given the content, but got it anyway and am I ever pleased. The story grabs you right at the beginning and tugs at your heart strings (listen to the sample). I listened to the whole thing in like 4 days at work, just couldnt wait to hear what was going to happen.

The story is equally split between the lives of the main charecter Breaca and her brother Ban, and the narrator does a great job of changing her voice to suit the different charecters so you know right away which is talking when. Best of all you really get invested in them. I cant tell you how many tears I shed. Charecter development is fantastic as well.

Celtic myth enthusiasts, particularly those who know the "old gods" and the legend of Boudica, who enjoy a good retelling with the author's personal flair, will love this book. And men, the book is inundated with battle scenes, in "graphic" detail - so theres much there for you too. :)

Audible when are you getting the sequel "Dreaming the Bull"? :)

Great Book!!!!!

This book was one of the best book I have read in a very longtime. the story line was wonderful and it kept you on the edge of your set.
Can't wait to read or listen to the next in the series.