Rosemary Sutcliff had vision. Not only did she have vision, but she could share it with her readers. She could immerse us in detail, not only of the natural world, with the facility of Tolkien, but in period detail such clothing or architecture. And she did so with a seamless facility; nothing feels forced or awkwardly shoehorned into place to artificially provide color and verisimilitude.
The Eagle of the Ninth is an excellent example, its excellence all the more remarkable because it was one of Sutcliff’s earliest books. It is also only the third book of hers I’ve read, an oversight I intend to correct (though what I first read left an indelible impression.) It tells the story of Marcus, a cohort commander posted to Britain who searches for the lost Eagle of the Ninth Legion, which marched north nearly twenty years before and disappeared, a legion of which Marcus’ father was a centurion.
Sutcliff immediately drops the reader into Second Century Britain, with its sights, sounds, and smells; its juxtaposition of Roman and British cultures, both the positive and the violently lethal. She does fine with the characters as well. Marcus is likable and his motivations clear. Everyone should have an Uncle Aquila. And Esca provides a window into the mind of the native British. Even with minimal violent action scenes — confined primarily to the beginning and end of the book — Sutcliff maintains tension and the reader’s interest. It is Young Adult fiction, true, but it doesn’t suffer because of that. Another author, writing for adults, might have made it grittier, bloodier. But that wouldn’t have necessarily improved the story.
My only quibble — and it is a minor one — is that Marcus appears to possess anachronistically enlightened views for a Roman of his time and station. Again, this does nothing to hinder the story or my enjoyment of it.
I vaguely recall seeing the movie based on this, a Channing Tatum vehicle titled The Eagle. I don’t remember much about it, so other than mentioning its existence, I can’t really comment. But in a post about the book, the movie ought to at least be recognized.
Did you know there was a short film based on one of my stories? Well, there was.
I’m a tad bit under the weather today, so I will cut this short. But before I go, please buy my books. Thanks.