Saxon: The Book of Dreams - Tim Severin

Published by Pan Books/Macmillan: London, 2013 (2012).
Followed by Saxon: The Emperor's Elephant.

This book is set in an era I have not often read about, during the rise of Carolus, the king of the Franks who would become Charlemagne. The story follows Sigwulf, the son of a conquered Saxon king, who is sent as 'tribute' to Carolus's court, and befriends Carolus's nephew Hroudland.

Sigwulf has eyes that are different colours, and for much of the book hides this fact by wearing an eyepatch. He also is visited on occasion by the fetch (ghost) of his dead twin brother. Yet neither of these facts are really that important to the story, only adding a bit of variety to a character who, otherwise, is a fairly passive figure. He goes from event to event, gaining a lover, growing in influence, becoming an archer and a spy, but most of these things happen to him rather than from his own initiative. I realise that the author is trying to show that Sigwulf must do a lot of these things as he is to some extent a prisoner, but as the story progressed I found myself somewhat frustrated at times, when Sigwulf obviously has some distaste for certain actions of those around him, yet continues to faithfully go along with their decisions, even when he (to my thinking) has other valid alternatives to consider, such as reuniting with other friends and leaving Carolus's court altogether.

The titular 'Book of Dreams' is another element of the story. Sigwulf is given the book by another member of the court in thanks for saving his life, and with the help of Sigwulf's faithful servant Osric, begins to translate it. The book is full of interpretations of the meaning of dreams, and Sigwulf is able to use this to his advantage. Yet even this is not built upon all that much. Things happen that fulfil imagery given in dreams, yet no one seems to change their behaviour based on these interpretations, so really it is just another element used to dress up the story a bit.

All of this makes it sound as though I didn't really enjoy The Book of Dreams. I did. I guess.

I kept reading it for sure. I wanted to know what happened next. I will probably read the sequel in the not-to-distant future (as I have a copy of that on hand as well).

But, yeah... its interesting. Its a page-turner. And... its ok.

Completed 3 October 2020.

Previous Book ~ Next Book

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