Song for a Dark Queen by Rosemary Sutcliff

 “It was in two books of T.C. Lethbridge’s, Witches and Gog-Magog, that I first came upon the theory that the Iceni were a matriarchy: the royal line, and with it the lifeline of the tribe, descending from mother to daughter. So that Boudicca was their Queen in her own right, and Prasutagus their King only because he was her husband. 

That was often the way, among the older Iron-Age peoples. And if it was so in this case, then, to the tribe’s way of thinking, it would turn the Romans’ treatment of the Queen and princesses from brutal tyranny into something much worse, into sacrilege against the Life itself. And it would turn what followed from tribal revolt into Holy War; which of all wars is the most savage and merciless kind. 

Also, in some odd way, it seemed to me to turn Boudicca into much more of a real person. And real people, lost behind legends, have always fascinated me.”

— Rosemary Sutcliff, Song for a Dark Queen Author’s Note 

In Song for a Dark Queen Rosemary Sutcliff gives Queen Boudicca a fictional harper who narrates the story of her life, from age six to her failed rebellion against Roman oppression. (Sutcliff spells the name with two c’s, whereas I’ve seen it spelled elsewhere with one.) The author mixes the fictional life story well with what little is actually known about the historical Boudicca, telling an exciting and moving story. The writing is beautiful. It’s lyrical and poetic, whether describing nature, quiet moments, or scenes of violence. 

Sutcliff does not write down to her readers. I really enjoyed the combination of poetic writing and the descriptions of battle. I was surprised to learn that this is a children's book considering the level of writing as well as the amount of violence that’s included. The scenes of violence are based on what is known about her life, the attack on her and her and her daughters, the brutal Iceni attacks against Roman outposts, and the final battle against a Roman army. But those scenes don’t occur until we get to know the characters. The story is ultimately tragic and heartbreaking, but it’s told so well. I was holding back tears when I read the final paragraphs. A sublime masterpiece. This was my first Rosemary Sutcliff book; it won’t be my last.

After finishing Song for a Dark Queen, I decided to watch Boudica: Queen of War (2023) starring Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace, Oblivion, Extraction 2). Peter Franzén, who played King Harold Finehair in Vikings, one of my favorite shows, also shows up. Unfortunately, this film was a big step down from Sutcliff’s book. Olga Kurylenko and a few great fight scenes couldn’t save this.

In this version, the Queen doesn’t become Boudica until she’s given the name Boudica and a magic sword, events happen randomly, and characters make decisions that don't make much sense. The story was a real mess. I didn’t mind the low budget at first, but it became more and more noticeable as the movie progressed, with Boudica often wearing what looked like a blue sweatshirt when fighting, and only a few extras and one chariot showing up in the final battle. We don’t see Boudica from the poster until the last few minutes. Overall, a disappointing watch.

Here’s hoping for a big budget film adaptation of Rosemary Sutcliff’s Song for a Dark Queen someday. It would be epic.