The Lantern Bearers, Rosemary Sutcliff
The Lantern Bearers, Rosemary Sutcliff
4 Rating(s)
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The Lantern Bearers

Author: Rosemary Sutcliff

Narrator: Johanna Ward

Unabridged: 8 hr 40 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/29/2008

Synopsis

When the last of the Roman Auxiliaries leave Britain forever, they abandon the country to internal strife and the menace of invasion by Saxons. These are dark days indeed for Aquila, a young Roman officer who returns to his family villa to find all that he loves destroyed by the invaders. He escapes slavery only to learn that his sister has married a Saxon, and the knowledge fills him with bitterness. It takes many years of hardship and strenuous fighting under the Roman-British leader Ambrosius before Aquila finds a measure of contentment, learned partly from the kind and gentle Brother Ninnias, partly from the loving loyalty of his wife Ness, and partly from an encounter with his sister’s son who is fighting with the enemy. This exciting chronicle, full of stirring incident and bitter conflict, brings to vivid life the turbulent period before the Dark Ages.

About Rosemary Sutcliff

Rosemary Sutcliff (1920–1992) was born in Surrey, England. A voracious private reader, she left her regular studies at fourteen to attend art school. In 1950 her first children’s book was published, and from then on, she devoted her time and talents to writing children’s historical novels. Many of her books are set in Roman Britain, a period that particularly interested her. She received the OBE in 1975 and, in 1992, was awarded the CBE. She was still writing on the morning of her death at the age of seventy-two.

About Johanna Ward

Johanna Ward (a.k.a. Kate Reading) is an Audie Award–winning narrator and has received numerous Earphones Awards from AudioFile magazine. She is also a theater actor in the Washington, DC, area and has been a member of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company since 1987. Her work onstage has been recognized by the Helen Hayes Awards Society, among others. She and her husband live in Hyattsville, Maryland, with their two children.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Joy on March 19, 2016

Rosemary Sutcliff's books so often bring a strange, tearful, lovely lump to my throat, and a strange, gut-wrenching mist to my eyes that tugs at my heart strings so beautifully. How does she do it, I wonder? 'I sometimes think that we stand at sunset,' Eugenus said after a pause. 'It may be that the......more

Goodreads review by Sarah on April 25, 2019

Britain, late 4th Century A.D. Aquila is in the Roman Army. When word reaches Britain that all troops have been recalled to fortify the city of Rome against continental barbarians, Aquila expects to ship out with the rest of the soldiers. But the young man can’t bear to leave his elderly father and......more

Goodreads review by Supriya on April 20, 2011

Boys' Own melancholia, immensely sad and bittersweet. It's interesting that a story that pits the ~British~ against vile marauding Saxons (how Tolkien would have frowned) should consistently strike a note of such Nordic stoicism, the urging of the fight in the face of all honour and chance of glory......more

Goodreads review by Olivia on February 21, 2021

"Why should a deserter take the trouble to light Rutupiae Beacon?" Aquila demanded, and his voice sounded rough in his own ears. "Maybe in farewell, maybe in defiance. Maybe to hold back the dark for one more night." I've come to the conclusion that Rosemary Sutcliff, on the whole, is not......more

Goodreads review by Allison on March 24, 2025

Wonderful - one of my favorites. Content: Several violent scenes. In one scene the main character is stripped by his male captives. His sister is carried away by raiders and it is later revealed that she has a child - only mentions her captive as 'her man', not her husband this scenario is unclear an......more

Quotes

“A spellbinding historical adventure.” Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

“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.” Historical Novels Review

“This is an exciting chronicle full of stirring incident and bitter conflict. With her customary skill, Rosemary Sutcliff brings vividly to life the turbulent period of her story, the time when the last of the Romans in Britain were struggling to carry forward what light they could into the Dark Ages that were to follow.” Henry Z. Walck, Inc. 

“A book that rewards careful reading and that tells a good story.”  Kirkus Reviews

Awards

  • Carnegie Medal for Literature
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