(no subject)

[owl]

I'm reading at the minute Rosemary Sutcliff's series of novels set in Roman Britain (starting with The Eagle of the Ninth). I'm going slowly through Frontier Wolf at the minute, because next after that is The Lantern Bearers and, ow!

Incidentally, it was only this evening that I finally made the connection between the cognomen Aquila and the big birds stuck up on the poles. I haven't the slightest excuse for it, seeing as the characters repeatedly refer to the Legions as the Eagles, and I had explicitly made the connection between 'Aquila' and the family nose. :)

I don't seem have a suitable icon for this, really; I'm using Ireland, north because it has a few bits of Britian showing at the sides.

Also, is coughingbear ok?

Comments

SUTCLIFF novels

[valkyrie4clex.livejournal.com]

It's been a long time since i read these books but I think the main character in the EAGLE of the NINTH is followed by his descendants up through the final one that ends around the time of ARTHUR (ARTUROS) and the final battle. I read these books when i was in high school (1964-1968). My latin teacher had them in the back of the room for us to take out library style and I really enjoyed her realistic approach to the time periods that have been romanticized in books and movies. There was a side book about a young Briton who becomes a slave in Rome and eventually makes his way back to Britain (can't remember the title now) but it is also very good.
It's so nice to see that people are still finding her books and getting the word out about them.

Re: SUTCLIFF novels

[owl]

Yes, _The Lantern Bearers_ goes right up to the start of the Arthur story, and Aquila and Flavian are definitely in the direct line of Marcus Flavius Aquila.

I think I've read the one about the young slave, but I can't remember the name either. Caradoc? Madoc? Or perhaps I'm thinking of something else....