Most Popular Books by Rosemary Sutcliff

When a Roman ship is wrecked off the coast of Britain, an infant, Beric, is the only survivor. He is rescued by a British tribe who raise him as their own until they can no longer ignore his Roman ancestry. "How Beric survived...is not only incredible but gripping, convincing fiction." --"The Horn Book"

Grendel prowled in, hating all men and all joy and hungry for human life. So swift was his attack that no man heard an outcry; but when the dawn came, thirty of Hothgar''s best and noblest thanes were missing. Only Beowulf, foremost among warriors, has the strength and courage to battle with Grendel the Night-stalker. In this thrilling re-telling of the Anglo-Saxon legend, Rosemary Sutcliff recounts Beowulf''s most terrifying quests: against Grendel the man-wolf, against the hideous sea-hag and, most courageous of all - his fight to the death with the monstrous fire-drake.

His kingdom was magical, his knights were loyal, and his life was filled with adventure. . . . Young Arthur Pendragon became High King of England the instant he pulled the mysterious sword from within the stone. He unlocked the magic within the sword Excalibur, and won the heart of the Lady Guenever. At his side through quests and adventures were the Knights of the Round Table—among Gawain, who faced certain death at the hands of the Green Knight; Percival, who learned that it took more than a victory on horseback to win a place at the Round Table; and Lancelot, who daily felt a passion he was forced to hide. And over them all ruled Arthur, true King. . . . "Stands far beyond any Arthurian collection for young readers."—Times Literary Supplement "Other than Malory, I can think of no better introduction to the whole sweep of Arthurian stories."—School Library Journal, starred review

For Greek myth fans, those who can’t get enough of the D''Aulaires'' Book of Greek Myths, and readers who have aged out of Rick Riordan, this classroom staple and mythology classic is perfect for learning about the ancient myths! As the gods and goddesses of Olympus scheme, the ancient world is thrown into turmoil when Helen, the most beautiful woman in all of Greece, is stolen away by her Trojan love. Inflamed by jealousy, the Greek king seeks lethal vengeance and sends his black war ships to descend on the city of Troy. In the siege that follows, history’s greatest heroes, from Ajax to Achilles to Odysseus, are forged in combat, and the brutal costs of passion, pride, and revenge must be paid. In the end, the whims of the gods, the cunning of the warriors, and a great wooden horse will decide who emerges victorious. Homer''s epic poem, The Iliad, is one of the greatest adventure stories of all time and Rosemary Sutcliff''s retelling of the classic saga embodies all of the astonishing drama, romance, and intrigue of ancient Greece. Don’t miss The Wanderings of Odysseus, the companion to Black Ships Before Troy, and follow Odysseus on his adventure home. This book has been selected as a Common Core State Standards Text Exemplar (Grades 6-8, Stories) in Appendix B.

''I saw riders with black eyesockets in glimmering mail where their faces should have been, grey wolfskins catching a bloom of light from the mist and the moon; a shining company indeed, not quite mortal-seeming.'' Many years after King Arthur defeated the Saxons, the tribes of Britain are again threatened by invaders. Prosper and his loyal bondsman, Conn, answer the call of King Mynydogg to join a highly skilled army - the Shining Company. Led by the gallant Prince Gorthyrn, the company embark on a perilous but glorious campaign. An epic tale of battles and bravery from the acclaimed historical storyteller, Rosemary Sutcliff.

Jestyn the Englishman had once been Thormod the Viking''s slave, but after saving Thormod''s life he became his shoulder to shoulder man and sworn brother in the deadly blood feud to avenge Thormod''s murdered father, a feud that would take them all the way to Constantinople.

"All that has been so much admired in Miss Sutcliff''s writing--her concern with the nature of courage, the marvellous ease with which she moves within an historical situation, the power and beauty of her style--flower together to produce a single astonishing experience." --The Guardian "The old High Priest dipped a finger in the blood and made a sign with it on Phaedrus''s forehead, above the Mark of the Horse Lord." So began the ceremony that was to make young Phaedrus, ex-slave and gladiator, Horse Lord of the Dalriadain. Phaedrus had come a long way since the fight in the Arena that gained him his freedom. He had left behind his old Roman life and identity and had entered another, more primitive, world--that of the British tribes in the far north. In this land of superstition and ancient ritual, of fierce loyalties and inter-tribal rivalry, Phaedrus found companionship and love, and something more--a purpose and a meaning to his life as he came fully to understand the dark significance of the Mark of the Horse Lord. First published in 1965 but long out of print, The Mark of the Horse Lord has been acclaimed by many readers as the finest of Rosemary Sutcliff''s many novels, imparting true insight into the nature of leadership, identity, heroism, loyalty, and sacrifice. Rosemary Sutcliff (1920-1992) wrote over 40 novels for young adults, including Black Ships Before Troy, The Wanderings of Odysseus, and The Eagle of the Ninth; five adult novels, including Sword at Sunset; and several books of nonfiction.

A classic tale of adventure and bravery charting the transformation of Robert of Locksley into Robin Hood, the outlaw of myth and legend. Join Robin and his band of Merry Men as they battle injustice and seek to defeat the villainous Sheriff of Nottingham and Guy of Gisborne.

Drem longs for the day he will win his Warrior Scarlet. But with a withered spear arm, how will he take part in the ritual Wolf Slaying which will prove his worth as a man of the tribe? With over forty books to her credit, Rosemary Sutcliff is now universally considered one of the finest writers of historical novels for children. Winer of the Carnegie Medal and many other honours, Rosemary was awarded a CBE in 1992 for services to children''s literature.

For Greek myth fans, those who can’t get enough of the D''Aulaires'' Book of Greek Myths, and readers who have aged out of Rick Riordan, this classroom staple and mythology classic is perfect for learning about the ancient myths! King Odysseus and the Greeks have triumphed over the Trojans. At long last, they are able to set sail for home and the loving family Odysseus left behind. But for the heroic king, the return voyage holds hazards far greater than any he faced during the war. Forced by treacherous winds into unknown seas, Odysseus and his crew must face deadly perils: the flesh-eating Cyclops, Circe and her deadly enchantments, and the soul-chilling Land of the Dead and more. Rosemary Sutcliff’s reimagining of the classic epic The Odysseus is woven through with a spectacular cast of men, magicians, and monsters. Odysseus’ harrowing journey home to his family and kingdom tests the limits of his strength, and the power of his will. Homer''s epic poem, The Odyssey, is one of the greatest adventure stories of all time and Rosemary Sutcliff stays true to the classic tale and characters in this authentic retelling rich with drama, magic, and heroism. Don’t miss Black Ships Before Troy, the companion to The Wanderings of Odysseus, and follow Odysseus and his crew as they fight in the epic battle against the Trojans.

Rosemary Sutcliff''s starkly simple retelling of the uniquely tragic and romantic story of the warrior Tristan and his love for the fair Iseult of Ireland, his uncle''s chosen bride.

Along with his faithful dog Argos, eleven-year-old Hugh Copplestone decides to leave his Aunt and Uncle''s house after one beating too many, and heads for Oxford to seek his fortune. When he meets a group of strolling players along the way, Hugh joins them, becoming part of their acting troupe. A new life meeting jugglers, puppet players, quack doctors and ballard singers starts for Hugh as the Players travel the country, and, as one of the Dusty-Feet, Hugh also experiences the freedom and fellowship of life on the road.

The boy who takes up the spear and shield of Manhood on this day will become the most renowned of all the warriors of Ireland, men will follow at his call to the world''s end, and his enemies will shudder at the thunder of his chariot wheels. So the ancient prophecy went, and as the boy Cuchulain heard it, he went forward to claim the weapons of his manhood. This is the story of how he became the greatest of heroes - the Hound of Ulster.

It had never seemed important during their boyhood that Simon Carey was for Parliament and his friend Amias Hannaford a royalist. But when Civil War breaks out, they find themselves fighting on different sides. Finally the day comes when the friends must put their friendship to the test.

This indispensable classic, Rosemary Sutcliff''s The Eagle of the Ninth--an adventure story that unfolds in Roman Britain, published in 1954--set the standard for all historical fiction for children that came after. EVERYMAN''S LIBRARY CHILDREN''S CLASSICS. In the second century AD, the Ninth Legion marched into northern Britain to suppress a rebellion of the Caledonian tribes and was never heard from again. The young Roman officer Marcus Aquila sets off on a perilous journey to find out what happened to the legion in which his father served, and--if possible--to salvage its eagle and its honor. Accompanying him is Esca, his freed slave, with whom he gradually develops a deep and remarkable friendship that crosses the boundaries of conquest and colonialism. An unforgettable story of adventure, humanity, and the mysteries of the past.

''We are the scum and the scrapings of the Empire. They tipped out the garbage-bin of the Eagles to make us what we are.'' In disgrace after a mistake that cost the lives of half his men, Alexios arrives in Castellum. It''s his first command, but it isn''t really a promotion. The Frontier Wolves who man this outpost in the far north of Roman Britain are a fierce and savage bunch, a far cry from the regular legions he''d served in before. Alexios will only survive if he learns to understand them and win their respect - and he''s determined to try.

Randall is an unloved and unwanted orphan kennel boy at Arundel Castle. And then, one fateful day, he upsets the new Lord''s mettlesome horse. Against the violent and turbulent backdrop of Norman England, Sutcliff tells the moving story of a young boy who is wagered and won in a game of chess between a lord and a minstrel . . .

This brilliant reconception of the Arthurian epic cuts through the familiar myths and tells the story of the real King Arthur: Artos the Bear, the mighty warrior-king who saved the last lights of Western civilization when the barbarian darkness descended in the fifth century. Artos here comes alive: bold and forceful in battle, warm and generous in friendship, tough in politics, shrewd in the strategy of war—and tender and tragically tormented in love. Out of the interweaving of ancient legend, fresh research, soaring imagination, and hypnotic narrative skill comes a novel that has richly earned its reputation as a classic.

The Abbey of New Minster means safety to Lovel. It is the reign of Henry I in England, and the monks protect Lovel from the people who think that, because of his crooked back and healing skills, he must be a witch. And, he has nowhere else to go. Then he meets Rahere, the King’s Jester, in the abbey – and makes a bargain that will take Lovel to London, to establish a life of his own at the great hospital of St Bartholomew.

Threatened by a tide of invaders, the last of the Roman Auxiliaries are to leave Britain forever. But Aquila, a young legionnaire, chooses to stay behind, in order to join the fight to save his native land.

"First published in Great Britain by The Bodley Head 1961"--Copyright page.

Rosemary Sutcliff’s Carnegie Medal-winning Roman Britain Trilogy continues more than a century after the events of The Eagle of the Ninth (The Eagle) in The Silver Branch as two cousins join the Roman side in the fight against a tyrannical British emperor. Violence and unrest are sweeping through Roman Britain. Justin and Flavius find themselves caught up in the middle of it all when they discover a plot to overthrow the Emperor. In fear for their lives, they gather together a tattered band of men and lead them into the thick of battle, to defend the honor of Rome. But will they be in time to save the Emperor...

Rosemary''s Sutcliff''s absorbing collection of stories cover the fall of Londinium to the building of Hadrian''s Wall, and the final departure of the Romans from Britain. Set at the time of the Roman occupation of Britain, they follow the fortunes of one family over three hundred years. All soldiers, they are linked by the Capricorn bracelet, first worn by the centurion Lucius for distinguished conduct, then handed down through the generations.

The Ninth Legion marched into the mists of northern Britain-and they were never seen again. Four thousand men disappeared and their eagle standard was lost. It''s a mystery that''s never been solved, until now . . . So begins the story of The Eagle of the Ninth, set against a backdrop of Roman Britain and featuring a young soldier, Marcus Aquila, who sets off into the unknown north to find out what happened to the lost legion. Following on from this are The Silver Branch in which two young soldiers uncover a plot to overthrow the Emperor, and The Lantern Bearers which is set at a time when the Romans are leaving the shores of Britain and tells of Aquila who, having served in the Roman army, is now returning home to his farm-but when he gets there everything he knows and loves has been destroyed and so he sets out to seek revenge. To have three such exciting stories in one volume is a treat for fans old and new.

The second part of Rosemary Sutcliff''s retelling of the Arthurian legend, which began with The Sword and the Circle. The Knights of the Round Table undertake their greatest exploit, the quest for the Holy Grail, which is a turning point in the lives of Sir Lancelot and his son Galahad.

From the moment he is born, Lubrin Dhu is different and his unusual talent for drawing places him even further apart. So when his tribe is conquered and Lubrin is appointed its mouthpiece, he is treated with the utmost suspicion. What is the bargain that Lubrin has struck with the enemy lord? And why does he make a horse - a huge horse, high up on the hillside, cut out of the chalk? How can this set his people free?

The life of Boadicea (Boudicca), queen of the Iceni, who led them and other British tribes in a valiant but futile revolt against the Romans in 62 A.D.

Can the Fellowship of the Round Table survive Mordred''s treachery? After years of Arthur''s fair rule, evil has come to Camelot. Mordred, Arthur''s illegitimate son, is determined to destroy the Round Table and gain the throne for himself. He will use whatever tools he can—mutiny, force, even the rumors of a love between Lancelot and Queen Guenevere. In the end, there is only one place for the battle to be lost or won: the bleak plain of Camlann, where Arthur and his knights of the Round Table fight for their lives. "Sutcliff is superb in the fluency with which she re-creates a period; her characters come alive . . . and her style is intense and flowing in this grave and poignant conclusion."—Bulletin of the Center for Children''s Books, starred review "Other than Malory, I can think of no better introduction to the whole sweep of Arthurian stories."—School Library Journal, starred review

If only she''d been born a boy, Tamsyn would never have been sent away to Uncle Gideon''s - the armourer''s - house when her grandmother died. She could have stayed by the wild sea that she loved with her Uncle Martin, the ship merchant. But instead, she is bound for busy, bustling Tudor London, and the armourer''s house, far from the coast and far from her beloved ships. Homesick and lonely in the loud family of cousins, it isn''t until she meets the strange old Wise Woman that Tamsyn is finally promised her "heart''s desire"...

It is seventeenth-century Scotland, and the Covenanters – those wanting religious freedom from the dictates of English rule – are gathering strength. Hugh Herriott, fresh from a Covenanting background, finds himself working for redcoat Colonel Claverhouse and his Lady Jean: first as the stable-lad and in later years, as galloper to Claverhouse. The tension mounts between the two sides of the divided country. Claverhouse, with Hugh always by his side, leads his troops in bloody battle against the Covenanters, through forest and valley, village and town, victory... and loss.