Posted by Rosemary Sutcliff’s novel, The Silver Branch, Folio Society’s 2004 edition, is beautifully drawn by Roman Pisarev. This illustration is of little Cullen.
As Anne in comments below has highlighted, “this illustration shows the moment when Flavius and Justin present their ‘tatterdemalion’ Lost Legion, gathered together after the death of Carausius, to Constantius’ astonished Praetorian Prefect, Asklepiodotus. Among the ‘reckless disreputable crew’ is ‘little Cullen, with his Silver Branch in the girdle of his tattered motley, holding the wingless Eagle proudly upright, but standing himself on one leg like a heron,which somewhat spoiled the effect’ “.
You can buy this edition of the book from the Folio Society’s website. There is also a stunning version of The Eagle of the Ninth, probably Rosemary Sutcliff’s most famous novel which, you can also buy here.
(To regular readers: We are republishing and developing some November and December posts because of a glitch in the system which seemed to prevent them being indexed. This post was prompted and further helped by comments from Anne thank you!.)
When Dominic originally posted about “The Silver Blade” I was trying to remember whether the “Lost Legion” was the name Flavius and Justin gave their crew. I picked up my copy of the book to check, and it immediately fell open at the page with the piece about little Cullen from which I’ve quoted. Serendipity!
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This illustration shows the moment when Flavius and Justin present their “tatterdemalion” Lost Legion, gathered together after the death of Carausius, to Constantius’ astonished Praetorian Prefect, Asklepiodotus. Among the “reckless disreputable crew” is “little Cullen, with his Silver Branch in the girdle of his tattered motley, holding the wingless Eagle proudly upright, but standing himself on one leg like a heron,which somewhat spoiled the effect”.
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thank you again!
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