Arthur: Roman Britain’s Last Champion, by Beram Saklatvala, Reviewed

Arthur, the last ‘king’ of the Britons, has been analysed, scrutinised, mocked and praised through the ages. For a man without any positive identity or even, perhaps, existence, this is quite an achievement.

Those who recognise the ancient British hero as either the mythical demi-god or the possibly real last leader to stand against the invading English, will be familiar with the works of the past. Mallory, Geoffrey of Monmouth and William of Malmsbury will all be names that strike chords of recognition, with Mallory’s Morte D’Arthur probably the most well-known source of speculation and romance regarding this character from our ancient past.

In his studious and careful re-examination of known facts, scholarly conjecture and outright fable, Saklatvala has brought together these know sources and added many less familiar works to the canon for an in-depth examination of the possible reality. My only criticism of his narrative stems from his clear bias toward the positive role of Christianity in Arthur’s background; I suspect that this leaning toward that religion has distorted some of his judgement. However, I applaud the scholarship displayed along the way.

The book, necessarily, contains a huge number of ‘if’s; such is the nature of conjecture. And, if nothing else, we who are not such scholars learn a good deal about how the mind of the archaeologist functions. In the absence of concrete evidence, speculation, informed by knowledge of times, customs, actual historical events and other reliable sources, steps in to form a picture of possibilities. Whether the reader believes the resultant conclusions is dependent on that reader’s prior knowledge of the subject, his own prejudices, and the ability of the narrator to convince him of his theories.

I came to this topic with the average English schoolboy’s knowledge of Arthur, informed by scant history from school lessons, the imaginative Disney The Sword in the Stone movie, Mary Stewart’s quintet of Arthurian legends, the musical Camelot and, of course, the inimical Monty Python and the Holy Grail. So, I imagine I was fairly typical of the majority of people in this respect.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What I found in these pages surprised and informed me. I came across many names I had forgotten I knew; Vortigern, Ambrosius, Hengist, Horsa, Bede and others. But I was introduced to entirely new characters both historical and legendary; Germanus, Maximus, Gratian, Valentinian, Nennius, Claudian and Gildas amongst many.

Saklatvala has studied innumerable texts and put together those facts that appear to support each other from disparate sources to form the kernel of a possible truth about Arthur. The label, ‘King’, is clearly a latter day title for a man who was probably known in his lifetime as the ‘Duke of Britain’, a military leader devoted to the task of keeping alive the traditions and values of Rome at a time when that empire was swapping military power, which had declined to the point of non-existence, for religious power in the role of Father of Christianity in the person of the Pope.

The reason for much that is valued in current society has been made clearer to me by reading this book and I suggest that anyone with an interest in English history would be well served by reading it. It was first published in 1967 and new evidence has come to light since then, some no doubt inspired by the book itself. Nevertheless, the nub of the narrative remains, I suspect, as credible now as it was when the book was written. Scholars with specialist knowledge will no doubt already be aware of the theories and conclusions made by this author. But those who have only a passing familiarity with the legend that is King Arthur will undoubtedly discover much food for thought within these careful and comprehensive pages. Give it a try; you might be surprised by what it tells you.

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Ancient Symbol Worship, by Westropp & Wake, Reviewed.

This is a modern version, not the one I read,
and may contain more information.

Subtitled, Influence of the Phallic Idea in the Religions of Antiquity, this book came my way as one of a small collection given me by my brother when he was sorting stuff out prior to a move to a new house with less space. He used to work in a book store and has a number of fairly unusual titles in his library. This was one he hadn't got round to reading, but the title and subtitle intrigued me.

This small volume, first published in 1875, sets out to examine the influence of the phallic, or male, component in ancient religion. But it takes this idea into modern religion, suggesting that the ancient beliefs, customs and rites have been absorbed and altered by modern celebrants in forms recognisable to those who wish to see.

There's some Latin, untranslated, and a colossal amount of reference to often obscure issues that were, presumably, well known to scholars of the time. But, for a modern reader, these references remain unexplained and would require a great deal of research to track down and more time than most people have these days for such esoteric issues. Whilst those who already have a deep interest in the symbolism employed in worship will undoubtedly understand the references, the rest of us will remain confused. However, much is clarified by context and, having an interest in many subjects, I was able to apprehend a lot of what the authors allude to, though other items consisted of listings of arcane information lacking any hook on which I could hang it.

That the book was written in the Victorian era, with its dreadful hypocrisy regarding all matters sexual, shows in the circumspection that rules the writing. Where, today, we would name the penis, testes, vulva and breasts without fear or embarrassment, the authors are constrained by the customs of their times and therefore have to express much of their ides in convoluted form or by the use of metaphor, much of which is couched in classical references that will be lost on many modern readers.

A second factor in preventing the authors expressing themselves frankly and with clarity is their sensitivity to the feelings of those who profess a faith. Again, today, such sensitivities can be dealt with more openly, showing respect rather than reverence. In the time the book was published however, such frankness, leading to real clarity, would have probably prevented publication.

So, an already difficult subject is made more obscure for reasons that are no longer valid. As the ideas and information explored are still valid and in need of wider publicity, I'd love to see some modern scholar produce a similar volume for today's reader with a much clearer text. Perhaps it's been done and I simply haven't come across the book.

As it is, this book can really only be read by the general reader as a partial glimpse into the subject. Those with a good knowledge of ancient history, religion and symbolism will glean a good deal more, however. Many of the ideas expressed as certainties have, of course, been placed in doubt or even refuted by more recent discoveries of texts from such sources as the Dead Sea Scrolls and other ancient records and parchments retrieved from many different sources by modern archaeologists.

Members of religious organisations will no doubt be outraged by suggestions that the roots of their current dogma and rites grew from ancient forms of worship that were definitely based in reproduction and sexuality, often in very explicit acts of devotion, sacrifice and propitiation to the early deities. But a dispassionate and disinterested examination of the rites, customs and beliefs of such groups quickly establishes their ancient links with many practices and myths no longer considered either right or sensible.

A demanding read, not for the faint-hearted.

Author Interview with Tracey Alley

Tracey Alley has degrees in Ancient History and in Comparative Religion, however, she describes herself as  simply a seeker of the truth, a lover of Jesus and someone who tries to live a Christian life. She’s also an author of fantasy fiction, which she says some may see as a contradiction. However, she believes God blessed her with an active (perhaps over active – her words) imagination and that is one way she chooses to use it. She also writes moral tales for small children, although these have yet to be published. She didn’t start out life as a Christian, but believes God began calling her in her early twenties and, she believes, has never let go. She doesn’t promote any particular denomination or church and encourages all people to find their own personal faith.

Tell us about Erich’s Plea in a few sentences.

Erich’s Plea is high fantasy, set in the world of Kaynos.  The basic premise of the book is the introduction to Kaynos of a new and deadly form of magic.  The story begins with the kidnapping of High King Erich of Vestland and his son Slade’s efforts to find and free his father.  The underlying theme is the question of how far would you go for someone you love, whether it’s love of parent, country, friend, lover etc

What qualities do you need to be a successful writer?

I think a certain amount of talent or imagination goes a long way but the true qualities of a successful writer today are hard work, perseverance and an ability to be able to sell yourself and your work in a way that’s engaging and not obnoxious.

What is your working method?

Usually for me the first step is the concept, I’ll get an idea that just starts nagging at me.  From there it’s a matter of filling in background, characters, reasons – it’s critical to me that my characters have reasons to behave the way they do even if it’s not immediately apparent it will have to make sense in the end.  Then comes the hard slog of putting words on paper, rewriting, editing, polishing – all the not so fun stuff.

What is the single biggest mistake made by beginners to writing?

Probably not starting.  I know of many people who say they’d love to write a book but they never even try, unless you give it a go you’ll never know if you can actually do it or not.  After that is probably assuming that you’re the greatest writer since Shakespeare or that you’ve written a masterpiece, both of which are highly unlikely for a first timer.

How did you come to write this particular book?

I’d been writing for many years, novels, short stories, poetry etc but this book came partly out of a role-playing game I’d been playing with some friends and partly out of watching an old Robin Hood movie – the two ideas just sort of jelled in my mind and The Witchcraft Wars was born.

If you have a favourite character in your novel, why that particular one?

Most writers will tell you it’s hard to pick a favourite, obviously because we created them all but I’ll confess that I do have a favourite – Trunk.  He’s a Knight of Ilmater who’s been transformed into a grotesque half-ogre, half-troll and I love the amount of room I have to develop his story.  The temptation to write his whole story, as opposed to being a supporting player, is huge.

How can people buy your books?

I’m on Amazon, both US and UK as well as Smashwords and will very soon be available in print versions as well as e-books.

To what extent are grammar and spelling important to a writer?

During the first draft I don’t pay a lot of attention to the mechanics of writing as I’m totally into the story.  During the editing and polishing stage however, I believe it’s pretty critical.  They may only be small things but readers do notice and it creates a jarring effect while reading.  That’s not to say that all my work is perfect, I’m human and I’m certain I’ve missed some things.

How much revision of your MS do you do before you send it off?

In all honesty possibly not as much as I should but I do give it several drafts and ask the opinions of beta readers and try to present the most professional work I possibly can.  Sending sloppy work is a recipe for disaster.

Where and when is your novel set and why did you make these specific choices?

My novels are set in a medieval style fantasy world.  I wanted to write fantasy primarily due to the almost unlimited amount of choice it offers, however, it would also be fun to use a ‘real world’ setting with all the constraints that implies as well.

To what extent do you think genre is useful in the publishing world?

In the traditional world of publishing I think genre is probably the be all and end all of everything – I get the impression their first question is ‘does it fit so and so mould?’  Fortunately as an Indie author genre’s not quite as important and you have the freedom to tell the story you want to tell and the sales results – I’m speaking generally here – have proven there’s many readers who don’t mind reading something that’s not quite so formulaic. (SA _ Traditional publishers, please note)

What are your writing habits?

I usually tend to write at night, it’s quieter with less distractions but I’ll also write any time I find that inspiration strikes.  I’m not as disciplined as perhaps I should be but when I do sit down to write I usually achieve a great deal.

How do you know where to begin any given story?

Personally I like to begin a story with a problem or a conflict – that allows me to spend the rest of the work solving the problem or conflict.  I’d like to think that my books read as though the characters had a life before page one and will continue to have a life after The End.

What sort of displacement activities keep you from actually writing?

Not a lot if I’m feeling inspired but sickness or other personal stuff can get in the way.  Right now my biggest distraction is usually the fascinating conversations on Goodreads or KindleBoards.

Do you have support, either from family and friends or a writing group?

I don’t have a writing group but I am a member of Queensland’s Writer’s Guild who are always happy to help and I’ve been extremely blessed with a highly intelligent and bluntly critical best friend.  My husband is also a help and will tell me honestly if what I’ve written is rubbish – that kind of honest feedback is critical for any writer.  My family are very supportive but they tend to think anything I’ve written is great, they’re a little biased J

Is presentation of the MS as important as most agents and publishers suggest?

From my personal experiences – absolutely.  An agent or publisher won’t even look at a poorly presented MS so if you don’t get it right, don’t bother.

How long does it normally take you to write a novel?

That totally depends on the novel.  Erich’s Plea took over a year to write, while the follow up Ursula’s Quest was ready to go within 4 months.  Writing the first draft is not the hard part, getting it ready for publication is the hard part.

What are your inspirations?

Absolutely everything around me.  I’m a huge people watcher and always find myself wondering about their back story or future story.  I warn all my friends and family to be careful what they say or they may find it twisted into one of my novels J

If there’s a single aspect to writing that really frustrates you, what is it?

Writing I adore – no frustrations there.  Marketing on the other hand, not so much.  I tend to be, in real life, a little shy and that doesn’t make for a great sales person but I’m learning.

Do you think writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?

I can only speak for myself but I could no more stop writing than stop breathing, however, writing well is a skill that you learn along the way.

What are you writing now?

I have three current WIP’s – one, obviously, is Slade’s Destiny, the final in the Witchcraft Wars trilogy.  I’m also working on a non-fiction piece about the history and development of religion as a whole and I’m loving both the researching and the writing of that project.  Lastly is a series of children’s books, aimed at the under 6-7 market which will hopefully be ready to go before Christmas.

Is there any aspect of writing that you really enjoy?

From getting the idea to putting the words on paper – I love all of that.  Once I get to editing and polishing it’s more work than love but still needs to be done.

Do you have a website or a blog that readers can visit?

No website yet, still working on that but I have a Facebook page devoted to the Witchcraft Wars and other associated short stories - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tracey-Alley-The-World-of-Kaynos/127959000550782  I also have a blog that related to my non-fiction work - http://traceyalley-whitehorse.blogspot.com/  and I have a more generic blog on Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4076601.Tracey_Alley/blog

Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?

Actually I’m kind of spoilt because I think I already have the ideal environment – great study with all my bookcases for references around in easy reach.

Where do you actually write?

Always in my study, everything is set up exactly as I need it, it’s quiet and I have all my resources easily to hand.