The Eagle of the Ninth Working Title

[hedgebird]

A bit of trivia: Here's the blurb from the back jacket of the second 1953 printing of Simon:

Four books* (some reviews of which are given elsewhere on this jacket) have established Rosemary Sutcliff a a true children's author, one of the best writing today. She is a story-teller of natural grace and enthusiasm, with a sympathetic and humourous

Comments

[bunn]

Pif! I'd more or less resolved to try to stick to the pre-Roman/Roman/post-Roman books, but I didn't realise Simon covered the battle of Torrington! That's practically just down the road, it would be positively rude not to read it.

*resolves to go to Torrington to search for Simons*

[hedgebird]

You won't regret it! Unless it proves hideously inaccurate or something, in which case come back and tell us about it. The Rider of the White Horse may be of local interest too (if you can find it); I haven't read it, but it seems closely linked with Simon - shared characters, overlapping time period.

[smillaraaq]

Ah ha ha, how delightful! Please do report back on how it reads to a local. ^_^

[sineala]

...man, I really have to read all the Sutcliff now, don't I?

Seriously, about three people have recced this one to me so far.

[hedgebird]

It's got the classic elements: a heavily textually-emphasised bromance (besides interesting female love interests); some of her most vivid descriptive passages IMO; and an action-packed (if largely coincidental) plot.

It's also, unsurprisingly, much more closely linked to real events and people than her books with earlier settings, including some actual descriptions of battles.

[carmarthen]

Eeeee, English Civil War! Woe, my library does not have it. I shall have to see if I can hunt it down.

[hedgebird]

Heh, if you find it reasonably-priced somewhere let me know.