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Forward: by Maurice Paul
Bower
One wise archaeologist giving
a lecture at Oxford not so long ago made us all
giggle, then reflect quite hard with his
pronouncement: “The only thing an archaeologist
can be sure of is that he is wrong!” He was, of
course, trying to remind us that new discoveries
in the field are happening all the time and
frequently overturn previously cherished,
long-held beliefs and understandings. So we must
be ever ready to adapt to change. Interpretation
can be a minefield. What seems blatantly obvious
to one person can just as clearly appear to be
the polar opposite to another.
Yet some folk do seem to
possess a special insight that transcends the
obvious evidence to build and flesh out a
comprehensive narrative on the framework of the
relatively few available clear facts. You hold
in your hands the work of one of such
extraordinary insight.
The Isle of Wight is commonly
seen as the ‘last Pagan place in England’,
although it was briefly Christianised through
Roman times before the population returned to
its Scando/Teutonic beliefs and finally adopted
its last Pagan king.
This sacred land has long
suffered the denial of any Jutish heritage,
although there is archaeological evidence these
peoples long ago were here, as well as in Kent.
The author is a direct descendant. A Wahl of the
Warinni tribe. And this gives her an
extraordinary lineage on which to draw, a
bloodline, as well as insights us mere mortals
outside of the tribe cannot really hope to fully
comprehend.
Jan - who I have known for
many years as a dear friend - presents this tale
to you as fiction, but it is far more than that.
She has spent years researching this project,
through which we have had very many discussions
on the historical and the sacred, and I can
vouch for the immense amount of work she has
ploughed into searching out as much historical
fact as remains. Just as valuable, however, is
the extraordinary insight she has brought to
this work, to shine a light into the darker and
more mysterious corners of the narrative. Giving
it life again.
This is a great read, with
well-drawn characters, as it is. A class novel.
But if you have an interest in the deep history
of our islands - and especially the Isle of
Wight - you will find so much more here to
absorb you and pique your appetite.
This volume in its unique
style transports you back to a time of gods and
goddesses, charms and spells, populated by
myriad spirits who had to be respected and
placated for the good of the tribe, embroidered
with passages of a language not heard in these
lands for many, many years.
Herein there be magick!
Maurice Paul Bower
Wight Druids /|\
Newport, Isle of Wight
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