The Eagle of the Ninth

Rosemary Sutcliff's 1954 classic "The Eagle of the Ninth" is an archetypical tale of human connections, self-discovery, redemption and choice. In tone and emotional scope, one is reminded of John Knowles' "A Separate Peace" or J.D. Salinger's "A Catcher in the Rye". The book will resonate with fans of Roman Empire-era fiction; and those that are familiar with the story from their youths, will reconnect warmly and fondly with Marcus Flavius Aquila and his cadre. The book is written for young adults; however, vocabulary and phrasing nod to the book's British origins in the 50's. It's a quick and fun read, and I found myself pausing at different points, tying together the symbolic links between characters. The book will appeal to a broad audience who'll enjoy Sutcliff's adventure and vividly real experience, while connecting to her characters and their growth as the story progresses. Sutcliff explains in her original introduction that "Eagle" is based on the legendary disappearance of the Roman Ninth Legion after marching to Northern Britain in response to a rising among Caledonian tribes. The Eagle of the Ninth is the traditional legionary standard - a bronze eagle sculpture with bolts of lightning clutched tightly in its claws. Sutcliff combined this tale with modern excavations at Silchester that uncovered a wingless Roman eagle, a cast of which is still on display at the Reading Museum. Marcus Flavius Aquila is the son of the Commander of the First Cohort of the infamous IX Legion Hispania. Marcus is Pilus Prior Centurion of the Fourth Gaulish Auxiliary of the Second Legion, based in southern Britain - leading his six hundred troops to relieve a command in Durinum. Marcus' connection to his father runs deeply and the tenor of our character is set early. Marcus is left wounded and unable to continue with his military career after successfully leading the defense of his fort from a local native uprising. He removes himself to the home of his paternal Uncle in nearby Calleva (home to the modern day Reading Museum of Silchester). Enter Esca - a defeated gladiator that Marcus purchases as his personal slave. Their relationship quickly becomes much more than master and slave, and we find that Esca and Marcus are almost mirror reflections of each other. Esca is from the Brigantes tribe from northern Britain - his father, like Marcus', was a commander, a clan chieftan. In a battle against the Legions, Esca was injured, taken prisoner and enslaved to fight as a gladiator. But Esca describes how, ten years earlier, he watched a Legion marching north that never came marching back - "I had never seen such a sight before. Like a shining serpent of men winding across the hills; a grey serpent hackled with the scarlet cloaks and crests of the officers." This memory of Esca's echoes Marcus' own memories of his father's farewell, watching the Ninth march off, never to return. This symbolic tether that binds the characters is but the first of several si

At the age of eight, I read Eagle of the Ninth, my first encounter with historical fiction. I became hooked. Since then, I have been read Nigel Tranter, John Prebble, Conn Igguden, Simon Scarrow, Ruth Downie, and many others. Forty-four years later, re-reading this classic is no less exciting for me. My view is that it should be compulsory reading in primary school as it really does bring Roman Britain to life. It is an exciting adventure that could possibly have been reality. It is certainly tinged with historic fact. This book had an amazing positive effect on my life in that it gave me an enormous appetite for books, not just historical fiction. However, it did have a slightly negative effect on my life. I was always in trouble with my history teachers for doubting what they told me. After all, when they were teaching me current affairs, I was guided not to believe everything that the papers say. My challenge was always that the contemporary commentators, or historians, that they expected me to believe were no less than the journalists of their time. Why couldn't the historical fiction of which I was so fond be nearer to the truth than their history text books? Eagle of the Ninth is a fantastic read. Whatever your age, if you haven't read this book already, read it now!

Rosemary Sutcliff is one of those authors whose books I can pick up and know they will be satisfying. The Eagle of the Ninth does not fail to meet that rather strict expectation. It is a rip-roaring ride that follows a young Roman named Marcus and his good friend, Esca, through the wastes of Northern England and Scotland. Marcus' purpose for this journey is the recovery of the lost eagle of the Ninth Legion--his father's legion. The Ninth Legion marched into the mists of the North some twelve years before Marcus set out, and never returned. Some time later, rumor reaches the Roman provinces that a Roman eagle was in the hands of the northern tribesmen, and Marcus determines to go and find it. High adventure follows. I have been a Sutcliff fan for years, and the Eagle of the Ninth certainly makes a place for itself among the ranks of her other works as a masterful work of fiction about the Roman era. If you buy this book, you can safely say with Marcus and Esca, the two protagonists, that "It has been good hunting, brother."

Read Rosemary Sutcliff to your children 8-10 or encourage your 10-14 year old. Try the first four or five sentences of any of her books together and see what images she conjures in your minds' eyes. She imparts so much color and action, once a child is able to get into these books either listening or on their own, there is no storyline closed to them. These books require thinking and reward the reader with an experience that lasts a lifetime. Do read them, especially if you have kids.

Sutcliff has to be one of the most consummately skilled authors in this genre, both for style and characterization. Her sense of time and place is wonderful, and she manages to powerfully evoke our interest in her character's struggles and triumphs. As another reviewer noted, Sutcliff's people are real, not some silly pasteboard stereotypes of modernity, flicked back about 1500 years.The plot is tight, avoiding unnecessary haste (which helps to give a sense of reality, as well), but not degenerating into a slough of wasted pages devoted to trivialities. Sutcliff's keen sense of location is a delightful aspect of the story--- one feels that she was intimately acquainted with Great Britain's wilds, and loved them for what they are and were: solemn, unfathomable, and full of mystery.An obvious scholar of Celtic and Roman traditions and culture, Sutcliff manages to subtly impart a great deal of information without lapsing into "textbookishness"--- that alone is no mean feat! Readers will find that there horizons have been broadened after diving into her books.Sadly, most of her best fiction is out of print, but here are some titles of her most enjoyable stories-you might want to check the libraries:Mark of the Horse LordThe Eagle of the NinthThe Silver BranchThe Lantern BearersSword SongWarrior Scarlet