Stories are constantly being lost to the past. Historians and scientists may attempt to piece history together with their discoveries, but gaps will always remain, the full story unable to be perfectly preserved across time and space. The Earth holds infinite memories of the human race; it has witnessed the beginning and it will witness the end. But, still, its full history will always elude us.
It’s 2018 in Northwest England, and a body is dragged out of a bog — a body that is remarkable for how it is almost perfectly preserved. Forensic anthropologist Agnes is called to the remains found near Ludlow to investigate what the locals assume is the body of a missing woman from the 1950s. But when Agnes’ tests reveal that the body is more than 2,000 years old, she becomes determined to discover the cause of the Iron Age woman’s death, no matter what the activists stationed around the bog site or the peat-cutters who want to profit from the land have to say otherwise.
In Anna North’s latest novel, “Bog Queen,” the author establishes tension between those digging in the bog and their conflicting desires for knowledge, preservation and money. Throughout the story, she seamlessly blends mystery and historical fiction while remaining grounded in the perspective of Agnes as she is left to question what she values most and how far she’s willing to go for it. The novel ultimately asks us to consider: If the Earth holds onto our stories and memories of us, what do we owe it in return?
North initially hooks readers with a chapter written from the perspective of the bog itself — or more specifically, a colony of moss. The bog’s chapters are brief yet captivating, written with a mysterious tone; the bog always seems to know something we do not, keeping us close as Agnes uncovers the mystery of the bog body. The moss narrates using the pronoun “we,” establishing a clear distinction between the natural world and the humans that inhabit it. North’s enthralling narration reminds us time and time again of our own insignificance — it is the natural world that holds real power and wisdom, she reiterates, not us.
The novel also jumps back in time to follow the story of the Iron Age woman that Agnes finds in the bog — a druid leader from ancient Britain who remains unnamed. North’s dual timelines connect the two women as they embark on journeys to find their role in the world despite societal pressures pushing them elsewhere. The druid’s purpose is to join the land and its culture, but to do so she must compromise her own beliefs and practices. Agnes, meanwhile, faces moral qualms about her profession as her search for knowledge is challenged by real-world consequences, climate concerns and corporate profits that stand in the way of her desire for answers. North thoughtfully contrasts the goals of the two women in a way that leaves the reader considering the impact a single story can have on the course of history, and what is sometimes sacrificed in the name of progress.
These alternating narratives are the most intriguing aspect of the novel, but I found myself wishing that the present-day narration had been fleshed out more. Agnes is so focused on uncovering the secrets of the druid that she seems to forget about finding solutions to problems in her own life, making her appear one-dimensional in comparison to the other woman (and even the colony of moss). It almost seems as if Agnes was created simply as a vehicle for getting to a different, more interesting story, which made it challenging to connect with her beyond feeling basic sympathy for her situation. Toward the end of the novel, North writes an intimate scene between Agnes and one of the climate activists protecting the bog, which also felt like it was thrown in on a whim; there was no buildup to a potential romance and their relationship didn’t contribute to the broader story, which only added to the disconnect I already felt from Agnes as a character.
More than anything, Agnes wants to uncover the druid woman’s story and bring justice to her death. Yet the closing of the druid’s tale leaves the reader questioning whether or not the woman wanted her secrets unearthed at all. The druid’s tale was told, but at what cost? Her body was buried in the bog to honor her and the power she held in her community; she had no desire to be remembered thousands of years later. The druids had a spiritual connection to the land, yet that is the very land Agnes realizes must be torn apart in order to uncover more of the woman’s story. We can ask ourselves all we want whether Agnes’s excavation is impactful or if the story deserves to be told at all, but nevertheless we too have been swept up in the druid’s tale and left just as conflicted as the protagonist.
“Bog Queen” reminds readers of the importance of preserving history and the natural world for future generations, but it also questions where, exactly, the line between preservation and discovery lies. Alongside Agnes, we are forced to wonder if a story and the pursuit of knowledge are worth the damage they may do to the world around us. North does not give a clear answer or tell us what to think, but she does highlight these existing nuances, forcing readers to consider them. “Bog Queen” is a story for those like Agnes — those who wish to uncover the secrets of the universe but in their pursuit may find more than they ever intended.
Daily Arts Writer Meagan Ismail can be reached at mismai@umich.edu.
