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The Lantern Bearers (Eagle of the Ninth) [Paperback]

Rosemary Sutcliff (Author), Charles Keeping (Illustrator)
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: 1 Feb 2007 | Series: Eagle of the Ninth
The last of the Roman army have set sail and left Britain for ever, abandoning it to civil war and the threat of a Saxon invasion.

Aquila deserts his regiment to return to his family, but his home and all that he loves are destroyed. Years of hardship and fighting follow and in the end there is only one thing left in Aquila's life - his thirst for revenge . . .

Rosemary Sutcliff's books about Roman Britain have won much acclaim and the first in the trilogy, The Eagle of the Ninth, has now sold over a million copies worldwide. The author writes with such passion and with such attention to detail that the Roman age is instantly brought to life and stays with the reader long after the last page has been turned.

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The Lantern Bearers (Eagle of the Ninth) + The Silver Branch (Eagle of the Ninth) + The Eagle of The Ninth
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Product details

  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: OUP Oxford; New Ed edition (1 Feb 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0192755064
  • ISBN-13: 978-0192755063
  • Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 2.4 x 19.9 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 104,785 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Review

This is historical fiction at its best. Post Roman Britain comes alive in this novel. The characters are all believable and no matter how small a part they play they are complete-as is the plot-no strands are left loose. (The Historicals Novels Review )
Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
AQUILA halted on the edge of the hanging woods, looking down. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
20 reviews
4.8 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A historical story without rose-tinted spectacles. 12 Aug 2000
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This story, which hints at the beginning of the Arthur myth, combines historical detail with a surprisingly complex and at times bleak portrait of a "hero" damaged by all that he has had to live through. The pace is fast, with the tale covering about 30 years in total. The author does not skirt around the implications to one person of living in a period of history marked by huge upheaval and conjures up life, love, death, war and betrayal on the brink of the Dark Ages so vividly that you can almost smell the woodsmoke. A fascinating, moving and challenging book.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Possibly my favourite book for children 20 Dec 2007
By Alexa VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
This is not just for children, however, since Sutcliff never patronises her readership. It is an epic story, covering its hero's life from an idealistic young Roman officer, to a mature veteran, contemplating his adult son's future in post-Roman Britain.

As usual with Sutcliff's 'outsider' heroes, Aquila does not have an easy time! Sutcliff's heroes do not win glorious victories; instead they show a deeper heroism in what they endure, and they mature under adversity.
After the first few chapters, Aquila has lost everything - having deserted his legion in order to protect his family and home, within days his family is destroyed, leaving him without honour, and living first to rescue his sister (who has been carried off), and then for revenge. When even this is taken from him, he must decide what to do with his life...

Sutcliff is really able to capture the values and attitudes of her characters; there is never the jarring moment, as happens often in historical novels, where anachronistic attitudes intrude. Instead she takes us into the dark, and often savage world they inhabit. Don't expect easy answers then: this is a stirring, and exciting tale, but problems do not disappear, and real decisions have to be made. Aquila's relationships are dealt with in a mature manner - by this I do *not* intend code for explicit sexual references (there are none), but that there is no 'happy-ever-after' romance either.

Less bleak than some of Sutcliff's stories - Aquila does, in the end, find a measure of peace - the dark tone may mean that it is unsuitable for younger children.

However it's inspired portrayal of a society in transition, as the Roman troops depart from Britain, leaving the Romano-British inhabitants struggling to retain Roman values in the face of Saxon invasion, is not to be missed.

(Look out for a 'cameo' appearance of Arthur - Rosemary Sutcliff was one of the first authors to portray him, not as the courtly king of French romances, but as a plausible historical figure.

As is said to Aquila by one of his sword comrades: "You and I they will forget utterly, though they live and die in our debt. Ambrosius they may remember a little; but HE - he is the king they make songs about!")

n.b. This is the third (*not* the first) book of the series. However, it is not necessary to read them in order, as they stand alone. Each book is about a different character at a different time, linked by the dolphin insignia they share.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The third and maybe the best 16 May 2010
By Elizabeth Gowers
Format:Paperback
The third, and maybe the best, of the Aquila family series set in Roman Britain. The Romans are almost a memory in a military sense. The legions are gone, and auxilliary troops are left. Vortigern is High King and has invited the Saxon wolf over the threshold to help defend against the Picts and northern raiders, and they demand a high price. Aquila has followed the family military trend and is a Decurion of Horse stationed at Rutupiae. His blind father Flavian is the custodian of the family farm. Aquila has a sister Flavia and they are very close in age and affection.
Then life falls apart, and Aquila is forced into a journey which leaves him hardened,embittered and searching for a place to be and a cause to fight and believe in. This story does not patronise young people and crosses the age barrier. We follow Aquila into his late thirties, the loyalties and relationships he forges in place of the old ones. We live the adventures he survives and the battles he fights. With Aquila we see the development of the boy and young man who may have been King Arthur - Artos Aurealanus. Superb and moving story telling.
The journey of Aquila continues in Sword at Sunset, which focuses on Artos.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars The Lantern Bearers
This book the last in the trilogy of the (eagle of the ninth) was as good, if not better than the first two. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Hilt
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book well written
Although fiction fully believable and really brings to the reader how it was in those times. Rosemary Sutcliff although writing for the younger reader has this adult as a firm fan
Published 1 month ago by Sepp
4.0 out of 5 stars A good historical story.
An interesting story about a time that we are very hazy about, with a plot that keeps moving, and compelling.
Published 3 months ago by Richard Mann
5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful historical yarn
The Roman Empire is close to collapse, and she has deserted Britain to the Barbarians. Aquilla in turn has turned his back on Rome, preferring to desert the Eagles and remain in... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Pryce
4.0 out of 5 stars My opinion
The third book in Mary Suttcliff's trilogy about Roman Britain. It takes place at the time of the Anglo Saxon invasions at the end of the Roman occupation of Britain with the... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Steve
5.0 out of 5 stars Best of the series so far.
I cannot recommend a more beautiful, poignant book. It is a parable of life itself, although few will endure more tragedy than the hero, Aquila. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Jonathan Soye
5.0 out of 5 stars First class, enduring historical fiction
The Roman Britain trilogy of novels by Rosemary Sutcliff

THE EAGLE OF THE NINTH 1954
THE SILVER BRANCH 1957
THE LANTERN BEARERS 1959

There can be... Read more
Published 21 months ago by BlackBrigand
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping and haunting
As the last legions are withdrawn and the darkness of barbarism falls over Roman-Celtic Britain a brave band of warriors fight to be the lantern bearers of civilisation, and a... Read more
Published 22 months ago by AJ-99
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping and Poignant
A marvellous book that captures the great changes in these islands following the fall of Rome. The sense of doomed heroism from a flawed and very human main character is... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Allan Davy
5.0 out of 5 stars Best of the three
Having read the 'Eagle of the Ninth' and the 'Silver Branch' this last book of the trilogy is in my opinion the best. Read more
Published on 25 April 2011 by TVR-Andy
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