Category: Novels, Stories & Books

Rosemary Sutcliff was an internationally renowned writer of historical novels, for children, young adults and adults. She also wrote stories for children. This category compiles the posts on this blog by title.

Rosemary Sutcliff’s Knight’s Fee re-read by Australian fantasy author Garth Nix in 2007! | Sutcliff Discovery of the Day

Anthony Lawton1 Comment
Hardback Cover 1960 of Rosemary Sutcliff's historical novel for children and young adults, Knight's Fee

The things you learn with Google alert, which is sometimes a year or two late …! Rosemary Sutcliff’s  Knight’s Fee was being read in 2007 around this time by author Garth Nix. Described by the promoters, Jarrold department store, as one of the world’s great fantasy writers”, he will in fact be signing copies of  The Violet Keystone in Norwich today!

A full-time writer since 2001, he was born in 1963 in Melbourne, Australia. He has worked as a literary agent, marketing consultant, book editor, book publicist, book sales representative, and bookseller. His books include the award-winning fantasy novels Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen; and the cult favourite YA SF novel Shade’s Children.

And Knight’s Fee? In short, the story is set against the violent and turbulent backdrop of Norman England. A young ill-treated boy who is wagered and won in a game of chess between a lord and a minstrel …

Rosemary Sutcliff’s novel Rider of the White Horse loved by Australian writer Alison Stuart

Anthony Lawton3 Comments

Alison Stuart describes herself as a ‘writer, lawyer, traveller, mother, wife and cat person!’ She  lives in Melbourne, Australia. Her ‘passion is for the period of the English Civil War’ and she has two published novels set in that era. She has written :

‘Rosemary Sutcliff was probably my biggest influence growing up with her Rider of the White Horse, sending me on a quest to learn all I could about Sir Thomas Fairfax’.

Sources: her website, blog and historical fiction books

RSC Morte D’Arthur and Arthurian novel Sword at Sunset by Rosemary Sutcliff

Anthony Lawton4 Comments

The knight Bedevere, played by James Traherne in the RSC production of  Morte D’Arthur, returns Arthur’s sword Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake after his final battle. He carries Arthur onto the barge that sails to Avalon after he is mortally wounded by Mordred. The RSC note that Bedevere appears in Rosemary Sutcliff’s 1963 best-selling Arthurian novel  Sword at Sunset as Guenever’s lover, rather than Launcelot.

Charlotte loves Rosemary Sutcliff’s The Queen Elizabeth Story | Sutcliff Review of the Week

Anthony Lawton1 Comment

Charlotte thinks that  Rosemary Sutcliff’s children’s historical novel The Queen Elizabeth Story is  “a lovely book, full of thick description and vivid character and history made real. And its magic is aided and abetted by the wonderful drawings of C. Walter Hodges“, her  “favourite children’s book illustrator.” Charlotte was writing a review on the Charlotte’s Library blog.


What really made this book for me, when I was young, was Adam. He was my first book love ( I was nine), and I am awfully fond of him still. He is lame, but so gallant and kind that Perdita doesn’t notice it…and in a scene I especially love, he invites a sad and lonely Perdita to a private banquet at the manor, where he makes the lords and ladies of a tapestry come alive for her in a glorious magical wonderful-ness.

Film, Books, TV, Radio | The Eagle (of the Ninth) | Rosemary Sutcliff

Anthony Lawton2 Comments

Rosemary Sutcliff (1920-92), author of The Eagle of the Ninth book, now a film due in February 2011 to be called The Eagle, as well as a TV and radio series, wrote some sixty children’s books, historical novels, and stories. This blog reviews and covers all the books by Rosemary Sutcliff: every book for children, adults and young adults, and related TV, radio and films (movies) of the books. Read More »