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 on English Civil War children’s book, historical novel Simon 1953

Anthony LawtonLeave a comment

Rosemary Sutcliff said about the historical accuracy of her children’s book Simon written early in her career in 1953, set in the English Civil War of the 17th century:

“Most history books deal with the final campaign of the civil war in a single paragraph, and the Battle of Torrington they seldom mention at all. In this story I have tried to show what that final campaign in the west was like, and to re-fight the battles fought over my own countryside. Most of the people I’ve written about really lived; Torrington Church really did blow up, with 200 Royalist prisoners and their Parliamentary Guard inside, and no one has ever known how it happened, though Chaplain Joshua Sprigg left it on record that the deed was done by ‘one Watts, a desperate villain’ “.

Rosemary Sutcliff children’s book Frontier Wolf inspires models | Sutcliff Discovery of the Day

Anthony LawtonLeave a comment

Rosemary Sutcliff’s books, such as Frontier Wolf, inspire not just children aged ‘8 to 88’ (her phrase), readers, teachers, archaeologists,  historians and film makers, but also makers of small model armies and soldiers. I found these models of German Auxiliary cavalry inspired by Rosemary Sutcliff children’s book Frontier Wolf.

Rosemary Sutcliff’s historical novel Dawn Wind on BBC radio in 1962

Anthony LawtonLeave a comment

Rosemary Sutcliff’s children’s and young adult book, and historical novel, Dawn Wind was dramatised by Felix Felton and  broadcast on BBC Radio as a six-part afternoon radio serial in 1962. It was directed by David Davis, with Simon Lack as the adult Owain. The young Owen, in the first two episodes, was Glyn Dearman, Kika Markham played Regina and Felton himself Einon Hen. Read More »

The Eagle of the Ninth film is hardest thing lead Channing Tatum has ever done

Anthony LawtonLeave a comment

The Eagle of the Ninth new film stars Channing Tatum, as Marcus, the hero. The film is based on the classic book of children’s literature by Rosemary Sutcliff. Channing Tatum  said in one interview, when asked about the film and the filming in the Highlands of Scotland:

“I’ve loved Kevin Macdonald’s movies for a while now, it was an amazing experience because he wanted to do something really different, he wanted to make all the Romans American, venturing off from Romans being this English-speaking very villainous type thing.Read More »

Boy Scouts read Bonnie Dundee by Rosemary Sutcliff

Anthony LawtonLeave a comment

This from the US Boy Scouts magazine Boys’ Life in January 1985 (page 19).

Mind you, there were competing demands on a boy scout’s time!

(Permission to reproduce being sought; first posted March 2, 2010 … still no answer!))