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The Eagle of the Ninth Review

Although I don't know what it was like in Roman Britain in the 2nd Century AD, I have read a couple of books about this period, and, to me, this book does the best job of capturing life at that time. The author does a good job of bringing us back to that period and then telling a great story about that period.

As she mentions in the book's preface, the story is based upon two events, one that we are not sure of and another that we are. First the one that we are not sure of - in the 2nd Century AD, the 9th Legion was destroyed. Some say in Britain and others in Israel. This book takes the position that the legion was destroyed in Britain when it marched beyond Hadrian's wall to quell an uprising in northern Britain (or Scotland). Second, an Roman eagle was found in a town in England approximately one hundred years ago and it is assumed to be the eagle of the 9th legion (although this has not been confirmed). It was found as a result of some archeological digging in a town.

Based upon two premises, the author builds a story of what happened to the 9th Legion and how the eagle of the 9th came to be placed in a town in southern Britain.

The result is a well-written book that kept me interested from start to finish. I understand that a movie is planned for this book in 1Q2011. If it is anywhere near as good as the book, it will be worth the viewing.

The Eagle of the Ninth Overview

One of Rosemary Sutcliff's acclaimed books set in Roman Britain. The Eagle of the Ninth tells the story of a young Roman officer who sets out to discover the truth behind the mysterious disappearance of the Ninth Legion, who marched into the mists of northern Britain and never came back. Rosemary Sutcliff spent most of her life in a wheelchair, suffering from the wasting Still's disease. She wrote her first book for children, The Queen's Story, in 1950 and went on to become a highly respected name in the field of children's literature. She received an OBE in 1975 and died at the age of 72 in 1992.

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Customer Reviews

A Children's Book for Adults? - David Island - San Rafael, CA
Rosemary Sutcliff's "The Eagle of the Ninth" is a pleasant and often charming little read. It isn't literature, but it isn't pulp fiction either, although a weakly contrived story from time to time. The setting in Northern Roman Britain about A.D. 134 seems genuine enough, richly described and for all appearances historically honest. (Did they really have glass windows in their houses at that time as she often describes?) Is this book properly called historical fiction? Maybe. I read it before I knew anything about the author, but while reading, I often thought, "This is an odd bed-time story! Hmmmmm."

After the fact, I now know that Sutcliffe was a famous, highly honored, distinguished British author of children's books, 1920-1992. She was a scholar of ancient England, and her favorite period was Roman Britain. Her stories are considered historically accurate. She was disabled and used a wheel chair most of her life. She was single, never married. Wikipedia reports that she "wrote incessantly her entire life," and "was writing the morning of her death." She was, in her own words, "happiest when writing about Roman Britain." She is a much decorated and honored writer in England. "The Eagle of the Ninth" (part of a series, actually) was written in 1954, when she was 34 years old. Sutcliff explains that, later, when it took her 18 months to write another novel, she spent all those months "thinking like a man," so as to realistically depict the male perspective. "The Eagle of the Ninth" is also virtually 100% male. It's entirely a masculine story.

While the outline of the story is indeed one that -- on the surface -- could appeal to children, I can't think of any child or teenager, boy or girl, who would tolerate reading this sometimes ponderous story, especially the long (though beautiful) descriptions of nature, birds, sounds, smells, rivers, inlets, lakes, storms, views of the natural countryside, and all of the in-depth human and historical background that the story requires. These lengthy passages accompany an otherwise rather interesting action-adventure story, primarily involving 2 young men, Marcus and Esca, aged about 20 and 20-something. Some of the action is very well-done. The parts of the story about "Cub," the infant wolf, whose life was spared by Esca, and that Marcus tamed and raised as a dog, are sweet and nice. Children would indeed like those parts of the story. But few children, I think, would last through the duller, more academic and intellectual parts.

Given all that background (acknowledging that this book was written primarily for children), what's really fascinating about this story is its asexuality. It's as if the sexual nature of the characters never existed, perhaps necessary in 1954. However, the story is replete with hints and suggestions of man-to-man adoration, if not love, (but nothing whatsoever, mind you, of woman-man intimacy). Marcus, the Roman, and his freed slave Esca, the Brit --whose life Marcus saved -- spend the entire book together, virtually as an inseparable adventuresome male-buddy-couple, more often than not out in the wilderness together alone for days, weeks or months at a time. Esca is ostensibly Marcus' man-servant (he sleeps at the door on the floor inside Marcus' bedroom at night in the early parts of the story), and as the story evolves, Esca becomes Marcus' most beloved friend, and vice-versa. The main story line involves their spending the better part of a year traversing (in creative disguise), what is now Western Scotland in search of the lost Eagle (a Roman military symbol once belonging to Marcus' father's military unit), finding it (stealing it), and returning it, after great threat, hardship and travail, to Roman hands back on the safe south side of Hadrian's Wall. Their relationship, however, seems to be more than mere friendship. They are more than buddies. They deeply love each other, are completely devoted to each other, but at no time is anything made explicit or direct about their intimacy. Occasionally, Sutcliffe teases with descriptions of muscles, eye contact between the men, their sleeping on animal skins next to each other, their missing each other when one is absent, their abilities to anticipate the other's thoughts and actions, their concern for the other's safety and well-being, and other subtle suggestions of their absolute attachment to and involvement with each other. The coup de grace is at the end when Marcus a) causes Esca to be made a Roman citizen, b) decides to stay and live in England, and c) decides to buy a farm, d) on which to live happily ever after with Esca and the girl-child next door (age 14 at the end) of whom he is (unconvincingly) somewhat fond.

The historical context in which this story is written is important: 1954. Consider that Sutcliffe is in the early stages of developing a great career as a famous children's book author. Consider her background and life as a handicapped spinster. Consider the laws and mores about homosexuality at the time. Draw your own conclusions. "The Eagle of the Ninth" not a very good book, but it is a fantastic example of double-meanings cleverly imbedded a story intended and suitable for children -- but which might likely appeal to another huge audience: closeted gay boys and gay men of the Post-World-War-II era. For that alone, it's worth a read.

I give it a 3.0 on Amazon's rating scale.




An Excellent beginning to a series - Mike Palmer - Fairfield CT USA
I had read Eagle of the Ninth while in grade school shortly after it was initially published in the mid 1950's and subsequently read the other books of this series over the years. It is a relatively short book but one I have kept coming back to re-read over the years. I would recommend this book to anyone who has young children interested in Roman Britain or to adults who enjoy a well written book which can be enjoyed in a couple of evenings.

Another adult book written on the same subject is "Legion of the Mist" by Amanda Cockrell. Although this book is no longer in publication it is available used from a variety of booksellers. The book also deals with the demise of the Ninth Hispania at the hands of the combined tribes in the early years of the 2nd century AD. The perspective and overall story lines are different as the book is viewed from a first hand perspective rather than after the fact which is the perspective of "Eagle of the Ninth". It is an excellent book and highly recommended.




Grreat book! - J. W. Smith - Tomball, TX United States
I read this book to preview it for my 12 yr old son. Not only did I think it was a great book for him, I enjoyed reading it as well. A great story set in and interesting time of history.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 07, 2010 16:08:04