Find a library or download libby an app by overdrive. Sword at sunset is a novel for adults first published in 1963. Synopsis this brilliant arthurian epic cuts through the mists of pagan, early christian, and medieval splendors that have gathered about the subject and tells the authentic story of the man who may well have been the real king arthurartos the bear, the mighty warriorking who saved the last lights of western civilization when the barbarian darkness descended in the fifth century. I didnt think i was going to like sword at sunset as much as i typically like rosemary sutcliff s books, even though it was surely combining two of my favourite things sutcliff s writing and realism, and arthurian myth. Although she was primarily a childrens author, the quality and depth of her writing also appeals to adults. But arthur was real a man of towering strength, a dreamer and a warrior who actually lived, fought and died for his impossible dream.
Here and there a polished bracelet, a twisted ringbrooch or a bright stone set in a sword hilt caught the light, for they were mighty, the companions of artos the bear, and had won many prizes in war against their foes, the saxon seawolves, the painted people, the savage raiders from the shores of ireland. The moral right of rosemary sutcliff to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. And she remains true to the central dramatic conflict of an unwitting but taboo liaison with his halfsister which extends later with their son, moderaut. A theme throughout the book is homosexuality among the knights. A book of great beauty, of fine writing, of the evocation of a time.
See all books authored by rosemary sutcliff, including black ships before troy. Artos the bear, the mighty warriorking who saved the last lights of. Rosemary sutcliff was born in 1920 in west clanden, surrey. It is from this research that the author has crafted this prearthur tale. It is also sutcliff s first novel written in firstperson perspective. Rosemary sutcliff wrote more than 40 historical novels for young adultsincluding the eagle of the ninth, the silver branch, the lantern bearers, the sword and the circle, and black ships before troyfive adult novels, and several books of nonfict. Classic sutcliff books include the eagle of the ninth, the lantern bearers, sword at sunset, and song for a dark queen. Sword at sunset, by rosemary sutcliff, has been created by the author by doing extensive research into the arthurian legends.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Read sword at sunset by rosemary sutcliff available from rakuten kobo. Seven subsequent books follow his familys fate, usually directly. Sword at sunset, rosemary sutcliff originally posted 24th february, 2011.
The death of king arthur by rosemary sutcliff and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Sword at sunset, by rosemary sutcliff the independent. With over 40 books to her credit, rosemary sutcliff is now universally considered one of the finest writers of historical novels for children. Rosemary sutcliff was a novelist from the united kingdom known for her historical books for children mostly. Mar 31, 2017 author of the eagle of the ninth, black ships before troy, the rider of the white horse, the lantern bearers, tristan and iseult, the sword and the circle, the armourers house, the wanderings of odysseus. Chronologically, her stories range from the iron age just before the romans came, to the english civil war, although it appears she did not write them in that order. Sword at sunset ebook by rosemary sutcliff rakuten kobo. The gritty realism and emotional power of rosemary sutcliffs writing places sword at sunset in a place of its own. Rosemary sutcliff s fleshing out of kiplings fictional treatment of british history puck of pooks hill, concludes with sword song. Sword at sunset by rosemary sutcliff 2012 hardcover. Her first novel, the queen elizabeth story was published in 1950. The gritty realism and emotional power of rosemary sutcliff s writing places sword at sunset in a place of its own. I can still vividly recapture the magic of reading her books.
Library journal sutcliff is an effective storyteller and knows how to keep her dialogue terse and believable. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading sword at sunset rediscovered classics. A book of great beauty, of fine writing, of the evocation of a time past. Buy sword at sunset by rosemary sutcliff online at alibris. Sword at sunset by rosemary sutcliff and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Interweaving ancient legend and celtic history, this novel chronicles the life of king arthura man of towering strength, a dreamer. Set in a time when the british isles were wild places, with norsemen and painted people, picts and pirates, readers follow the adventures of bjarni sigurdson, a teenage boy exiled from his home for five years for accidentally killing a priest of. Rosemary sutcliff has created a compelling and memorable figure.
Rosemary sutcliff books list of books by author rosemary. This is the first novel that sutcliff wrote using a firstperson singular point of view for her story. Sword at sunset is an attempt to recreate from fragments of known facts, from likelihoods and deductions and guesswork pure and simple, the kind of man this war leader may have been, and the story of his long struggle. New readers should start with the more polished books like the eagle of the ninth, the lantern bearers, or my personal favorite, warrior scarlet. In a 1986 interview she said, i would claim that my. Rosemary sutcliff cbe 14 december 1920 23 july 1992 was an english novelist best known for childrens books, especially historical fiction and retellings of myths and legends.
Novel about a possible reallife basis for king arthur. This brilliant reconception of the arthurian epic cuts through the familiar myths and tells the story of the real king arthur. Apr 01, 2005 rosemary sutcliff 19201992 wrote dozens of novels for young readers, including the awardwinning trilogy set in roman britain, the eagle of the ninth, the silver branch, and the lantern bearers. Sword at sunset by rosemary sutcliff, 9781556527593, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Sword at sunset enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Sword at sunset, a retelling of the arthurian legends, is one of my least favorite sutcliff books.
The story of the iliad, and the eagle of the ninth, and more on. Her research took her to some strikingly similar accounts of a warrior king named artos, the bear. One of her few historical novels written specifically for adults, it is her interpretation of the. Black cloth covers with red quartering, gold stamping on. It began slowly, i think, and it was a surprising change of tone for sutcliff her books.
Sword at sunset rediscovered classics by sutcliff, rosemary, whyte, jack. The late rosemary sutcliff was a prolific writer from the 1950s through the 1970s, publishing a number of childrens books, including the eagle of the ninth series and a series of arthurian novels, as well as over twenty other childrens books on historical subjects. May 01, 2008 the gritty realism and emotional power of rosemary sutcliffs writing places sword at sunset in a place of its own. Sword song isnt the best of sutcliffs work, understandably, but its quite good. This brilliant arthurian epic cuts through the mists of pagan, early christian, and medieval splendors that have gathere. Sword at sunset is a bestselling 1963 novel by rosemary sutcliff. Sword at sunset by rosemary sutcliff, paperback barnes. This anniversary edition of rosemary sutcliffs arthurian adult novel proves it was her odd one out. It is prefaced by the poem hic jacet arthurus rex quondam rexque futurus by francis brett young the island, 1944, and an authors note outlining her intent to write an historical account. For awardwinning, internationallyacclaimed author rosemary sutcliff 192092. There are many fine battles in sword at sunset, and they are described with majestic eloquence. Sword at sunset by sutcliff, rosemary and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Sword at sunset rediscovered classics kindle edition by sutcliff. Shortly before her death, she was awarded the cbe, one of britains most prestigious honors.
This brilliant reconception of the arthurian epic cuts through the. A rosemary sutcliff bibliography the eagle of the ninth is widely known, but it is only one of more than fifty books written by rosemary sutcliff. The odd book out is the fifth, sword at sunset, now published in a new edition to celebrate its 50th birthday. Sutcliff founds her story in the place names of roman and preroman possibly celtic britain. The sword song of bjarni sigurdson rosemary sutcliff. In spite of being a huge rosemary sutcliff fan, and a lover of king arthur stories, i didnt care for this book. An action book if there ever was one, found in full draft among the prolific sutcliff s papers at the time of her death in 1992, and a fine last gift. To immerse yourself in both the glorious writing and the times, read eagle of the ninth recently republished as the eagle never mind the movie, it was a mess, the lantern bearers and the silver branch predecessor novels to this story by miss sutcliff and finish it with sword at sunset.
This brilliant arthurian epic cuts through the mists of pagan, early christian, and medieval splendors that have gathered about the subject and tells the authentic story of the man who may well have been the real king arthurartos the bear, the mighty warriorking who saved the last lights of western civilization when the barbarian darkness descended in the fifth century. Sword at sunset by rosemary sutcliff overdrive rakuten. Free download sword at sunset by rosemary sutcliff. Rosemary sutcliff for awardwinning, internationally. I discovered rosemary sutcliff in my early teens, and she quickly became one of my favorite authors. Sword at sunset, by rosemary sutcliff, takes a different look at the tale of arthur and his knights. Click to read more about sword at sunset by rosemary sutcliff. Sword at sunset is a vision of the legendary king arthur as the man he might really have been. People and places in sword at sunset rosemary sutcliff. In 1972 her book tristan and iseult was runnerup for the carnegie medal. Sword at sunset by rosemary sutcliff historical novels info.
May 01, 2008 the gritty realism and emotional power of rosemary sutcliff s writing places sword at sunset in a place of its own. Sword at sunset first published in great britain in 1963 by hodder but a romanobritish war leader, to whom, when the barbarian darkness came flooding in, the last guttering lights of. Rosemary sutcliff author rosemary sutcliff wrote more than 40 historical novels for young adultsincluding the eagle of the ninth, the silver branch, the lantern bearers, the sword and the circle, and black ships before troyfive adult novels, and several books of nonfict. Lists all rosemary sutcliffs books titles every title by her, an author, historical novelist and childrens writer, listed thematically and alphabetically.
Artos, the arthur character, says he wishes his whole army was homosexuals. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The arthurian legend has taken on the dimensions of a cult, intensified by the popular success of the once and future king and its musical version in camelot. Fans of historical fiction will recognize in sutcliff a kindred spirit. It is a speculativehistorical version of the legends of king arthur. Anyone familiar with the various versions from malory on, will be beguiled by this blend of history and legend and poetry. With the lantern bearers rosemary won the carnegie medal in 1959. Basing her work on research about an actual man, artos, who lived on the british isles, a story emerges that resembles the arthurian legend. Sword at sunset rosemary sutcliff works archive of. In a 1986 interview she said, i would claim that my books. Interweaving ancient legend and celtic history, this novel chronicles the life of king arthura man of towering strength, a dreamer, and a warriorwho lived, fought, and died for his impossible dream.
Sword at sunset by rosemary sutcliff, first edition abebooks. Sword at sunset suggests what the historical arthur and his world might have been like. Sword at sunset rediscovered classics kindle edition. The odd book out is the fifth, sword at sunset, now published in a new edition to. Written in a style that needs concentration and focu. The first person narrative grated, the total unfamiliarity and.
This sequel to the lantern bearers unexpectedly jumps into all sorts of more adult content, such as a steamy incestuous seduction scene. The important dominant theme throughout is found in the amazing recreation of the times. For fourteen centuries the story of arthur was a legend, misted over by the tradition of romantic herotales. Sword at sunset rediscovered classics kindle edition by sutcliff, rosemary, whyte, jack. Buy sword at sunset rediscovered classics reprint, unabridged by rosemary sutcliff isbn. Sword at sunset rosemary sutcliff works archive of our own. Buy a cheap copy of sword at sunset book by rosemary sutcliff. Just send us an email and well put the best up on the site. One of her few historical novels written specifically for adults, it is her interpretation of the legend of king arthur this is the first novel that sutcliff wrote using a firstperson singular point of view for her story. One of her few historical novels written specifically for adults, it is her interpretation of the legend of king arthur.
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