Month: March 2010

1963 Arthurian bestseller Sword at Sunset by Rosemary Sutcliff reviewed in New York Timesf Review of the Week:

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US paperback cover of Sword at SunsetOn April 5 in  1987 Patricia O’Conner wrote in The New York Times that: “Rosemary Sutcliff’s historical novel (Sword at Sunset) reinvents King Arthur, and the result, while far from the accepted legend, is ‘an expression of the purest affection for the Arthur of her heart’ ” as Robert Payne had said in The Book Review in 1963. He had written: ”He is a living presence who moves in a brilliantly lit and fantastic landscape only remotely connected with ancient England. And why not?”. Rosemary loved the fact that it went to the top of the UK adult fiction bestseller lists.

1974 Film Ghost Story with Marianne Faithfull co-written by Rosemary Sutcliff

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Ghost Story, a  film directed by Stephen Weeks in 1974, was co-written by Rosemary Sutcliff; or at least she has ‘story’ and ‘screenplay’ credits. I never saw the film, so never knew that the wonderful Marianne Faithfull was in it. (I keep moving this post up the blog so you see it because I am so amazed to havre discovered this!)

source: IMDb

The Economist praises Blood Feud by Rosemary Sutcliff

Anthony Lawton1 Comment

Every morning, at the same time, Rosemary Sutcliff would walk though to her study where, leaning on the walking stick she always used,  first she would open her post and then read the Daily Telegraph. I do not think that I ever saw her reading The Economist, nor indeed did I ever see a copy of it in her study in Sussex. But I am sure that she would have read and welcomed its review of Blood Feud in 1976:

The chasm between children’s and adults’ literature narrows to a crack in historical fiction. In Blood Feud it is scarcely visible at all,Read More »

Rosemary Sutcliff obituary (1920-1992) | The Independent newspaper reviews Rosemary Sutcliff life and work

Anthony Lawton1 Comment

Rosemary Sutcliff’s novels ‘set a new standard for children’s historical fiction because of their insight, passion and commitment’ said The Independent in its obituary in 1992 about the famous chidren’s author. Mind you, she wrote for adults too and some  books were marketed as adult historical fiction (like Sword at Sunset which topped the bestseller lists).Read More »

Twitterer reading Rosemary Sutcliff The Sword and The Circle for World Book Day

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Twitter is perhaps a wonderful thing? It tells me that Nicki is reading The Sword and the Circle for World Book Day. She twitted: 5 of 5 stars to The Saxon Settler by Rosemary Sutcliff. I have been urging people to read The Eagle of the Ninth for the day! If you use twitter, search under #worldbookday and see @shanaqui as well as @rsutcliff .