‘The famous dead, whose ashes rest…’

If you have read John James at all, it is likely Wotan or its successor, For all the gold in Ireland. These two novels established his trademark melding of myth and history in a unique blend, both mystical and gritty. Bridge of Sand is much less well known and that is a pity, for it is my favourite of all his novels, and it boasts a similar mix as the others, but perhaps with less humour and a more serious theme.

The narrator is the Roman officer Juvenal, commander of a brigade of Dalmatian cavalry under the overall command of Agricola. Both men are well known to history, Juvenal, later the famous satirist, here an ambitious soldier; Agricola, the general who set out to conquer all of Britain, and might have done so, but for the jealousy of his superiors in Rome, or so his biographer, the historian Tacitus claimed.

The Agricola of this novel is a very different person, an untrustworthy, political schemer, who plots treason. To this end he sends Juvenal and his men on a special mission, to find and seize the fabled ‘bridge of sand’ which connects Britain to Ireland, an island reputedly rich in corn and wheat. Of course, we know that no such bridge exists, and perhaps in the novel’s context it is a garbled version of the Giant’s Causeway between Ireland and Scotland. Nevertheless, the acerbic Juvenal is sent with his men into the wilds to claim this crossing place.

What follows is an expedition into the heart of darkness, the native British being seen as uncivilised savages, the landscape, untamed ‘jungle’. The mystical is always there, a mysterious goddess, an unseen enemy, the gradual whittling down of Juvenal’s force as they press on into unknown territory. Nature conspires against them, a sudden fog leading a troop of cavalry over a precipice. There is dissension too within the Roman ranks, an aristocratic officer of legionaries resentful of a commander of auxiliary cavalry holding command. This dark foreboding atmosphere culminates in the straits of Mona (island of the druids) shaping Juvenal’s future as a man outside Roman power structures, one who satirizes from without, powerless to influence, only to criticise.

This is a moving, mysterious tale, on the one hand filled with echoes of today: corrupt ambitious politicians, evil imperialism, on the other hand, a magical quality, Celtic, more powerful in the end.

The first chapter of this one takes you right into the world of Ancient Rome, including the decadence and cruelty the Roman officers are known for. Only the setting is in Ancient Britain under Roman occupation and a quest to cross the bridge of sand into Ireland.

Most of it was very much what I look for in Historical Fiction. I really got the feel of marching with the Roman army and the power struggles that go with social and military position in that world. It also depicted the beliefs of the Romans very well as well as giving a look into the spiritual side of the Ancient Druids.

Towards the end it got very strange as the main character, Juvenal, got wrapped up in some Druidic magic. There was a lot of poetry which isn't my thing, but it was significant in the plot.

The writing is excellent, though the dreamlike sequences in the later part of the book might not appeal to Historical Fiction purists.

I had a lot of fun in reading this book featuring Juvenal. I remember when I studied his poems and was glad to meet his fiction doppelganger.
It was an interesting and entertaining read and I hope to read other soon.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is a story around a Roman soldier Juvenal who is tasked with the exploration of the Island, ostensibly Ireland. I wasn’t certain what to expect from this book, but once begun I couldn’t stop reading. The author writs most lovely prose and I found it beautiful. I did see examples of superstition and the Romans sense of self which although fictional was fascinating. Overall a great read, thanks to Sapere books and the Author particularly Netgalley for allowing an ARC of this excellent story.

The bridge of sand. A tale of the mystical straight between Briton and Ireland. The story follows a Roman cavalry officer and his troops on a quest from the main bulk of the Roman army, across the Severn and in to the heart of Briton. The mission given to these troops is to find the bridge of sand and to hold it against any native resistance until the army can arrive later in the year.

A surprising mix of historical fiction and poetry blended in throughout which I enjoyed. Full of action, adventure, mutiny and fantasy, a very good read.

Not only a book about the Roman invasion of Britain, but also a look at the religious beliefs of different people shape their destinies. Well written historical fiction.

On one level this is a classic tale of the Roman invasion of Britain. Juvenal, a regimental commander, and our first-person narrator, leads his small army of men though a hostile landscape to find the legendary ‘bridge of sand’ that is said to lead to Ireland, the island of plenty.

This book soon becomes a thought-provoking study of how our religious beliefs and superstitions shape our expectations and view of the world. Commander Juneval is also a poet. We see the strangeness of his enemies through his eyesnd the uncharted land he travels through becomes the mystical playground of his many Gods.

The woods become mysterious ‘jungles’, Druids are magicians, conjuring deadly mists, and the most feared adversaries are the vengeful British women, who bang on their pots and pans in a grim warning. In any other book such things would be amusing, or even ridiculous, yet the author lends them a sinister quality.

I liked the lyrical prose, and the fascinating details of the life of a Roman soldier on a long march. The supporting cast are convincing and well-rounded, and although the ending was predictable, this is a fresh and innovative approach to telling the story of the Romans conquest of Britain.