Beric The Briton

The English author G. A. Henty wrote a historical fiction book titled A Story of the Roman Invasion. The story is set partly in Britain and partly in ancient Rome during the first century AD. Beric, the protagonist and youthful leader of the Sarci Celtic tribe, is the main subject of the narrative. The conflict between his people and the Roman invaders as they invade their territory is the main theme of the narrative. The story opens with Beric's four-year captivity ending at Caius Muro's home and his return to his family and friends, where he and his tribesman Boduoc debate the benefits and drawbacks of Roman culture and power. Later, Prasutagus, the Iceni client-king, passes away and leaves Nero and his wife Boudica all of his money and possessions. The estates and wealth of the Celtic nobility are taken by Catus Decianus, the Roman procurator. Boudica makes the unfortunate decision to take back what is rightly her people's, but the results are devastating as she is flogged and her two daughters are sexually assaulted. The novel shows the persecutions Christians endured were indeed horrifying, their courage and optimism in the face of it all are still an example to us today.