Title: Queens of the Wild
Author: Ronald Hutton
Publisher: Yale
Queens of the Wild
Pagan Goddesses in Christian Europe
An Investigation
Review by Eva Humphrey-Lahti
I have to admit from the very start that although I was curious from the investigative point of view, I was a little sceptical I would find this book appealing. I’m so pleased I did decide to read it, as from the first chapter on I was hooked, delighted by the way of the author’s clear, objective, rigorous but kindly thoughtful voice reads out from the pages; a wise voice indeed but also a hugely entertaining one.
I found the book an interesting and illuminating read with a clear structure for laying out the history from whence these traditions and beliefs spring from, or not. Throughout the book and into the summary, the narrative clearly shows the immense experience, wealth of knowledge and generous empathetic spirit of the author to allow his fellow women and men, who have walked this wide road of enquiry and research before, to give voice to their views, conclusions, confusions and some interesting leaps of imagination.
The author carefully rounds up the odds and ends of information and research material throughout the ages, puts it neatly in order by authenticity, relevance and validity of sources from different periods, backgrounds and localities.
After rigorous detailed examination placing all the findings into right context, period and background in a clear and concise way and cutting right through this bundle of historical hair-bends, the author is still able to put it all delightfully into layman’s terms, fully making sense by examples and parallels for the modern reader. I’ve certainly had many an interesting conversation about the book in the course of reading it.
It’s a thorough, well researched investigation by Professor Hutton, even into his own words, with witty critique and in quite a few places a hugely entertaining read, still keeping to scholarly methodology where others might well have got carried away, again. A perfect springboard for further studies and research as and when more illumination and ideas might come forward.