Boudica : the life of Britain's legendary warrior queen

Summary: "Boudica has been mythologized as the woman who dared to take on the Romans to avenge her daughters, her tribe, and her enslaved country. Her immortality rests on the fact that she almost drove the Romans out of Britain, and her legend has become the reference point for any British woman in power, from Elizabeth I to Margaret Thatcher. As Boudica has become well known as an icon of female leadership and strength, the true story of her revolt against the Roman empire has only become more distant- until now." "Combining new research and recent archaeological discoveries, Vanessa Collingridge has written a major new biography on this shadowy and often misunderstood figure of ancient history. Boudica is a detailed exploration not only of the historical reality, but also of the "Celtomania" that has adopted Boudica as its earliest heroine, and the nationalist and feminist causes that claim her as their own. While tracking the origins and impact of the various versions of the Boudica legend, Collingridge unearths a historical woman who is far subtler - but every bit as fascinating - as the myths associated to her name."--Jacket.