As you read the reviews on Bookshop Talk, you'll notice that every review is positive. No, we're not a bunch of literary
pushovers who love everything we pick up; we just see no point in telling you about a book if we didn't like it.

December 14, 2013

THE EAGLE OF THE NINTH by Rosemary Sutcliff, 1954


In A.D. 119 the Ninth Roman Legion marched north into the wilds of Britain beyond Agricola's Wall and disappeared without a trace. Fifteen years later, Marcus Flavius Aquila, the son of the unit's commander, embarks on a quest to recovers the lost eagle standard on the Ninth, symbol of a legion's- and his family's- honor. (Goodreads)

Review by Emily, avid bibliophile

THE EAGLE OF THE NINTH is one of those books. You know, the ones where you forget you're even seeing words on a page. Somehow, while I was reading it, I felt that I really was in ancient Britain, with Marcus, the injured centurion, and his friend Esca. The descriptions are so wonderfully evocative of the place, the time, and the situations that Marcus and Esca face.

But the story is more than just its setting. It's a tale of honor lost that must be regained, and of the lengths that Marcus must go to in order to find the symbol of that honor.

Marcus' father was a legionary in the Ninth Roman Legion, which disappeared beyond the boundaries of Rome's influence. Their standard was lost with them, and Marcus is determined to bring it back.
  
Market: Young Adult Fiction
Language: Mild
Sensuality: None
Violence: Moderate
Mature Themes: Family honor, pride

1 comment:

Jaina said...

I absolutely love this book. The movie, however, has another thing coming. There are more books by the author set in the same world, but I haven't gotten around to reading them yet, :)