Tag: historical fiction

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.

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 »

Rosemary Sutcliff’s award-winning historical novel Song for a Dark Queen reviewed in The Times in 1978

Anthony Lawton2 Comments

Rosemary Sutcliff was astonished but delighted when her novel about Boudicca (often wrongly spelt Boadicea)  – Song for a Dark Queen -won The Other Award for fiction. It was an award for books which were determinedly egalitarian and respectful of women. She was not sure what those responsible for it would have thought of her Telegraph-reading Tory politics. Read More »

The limits of Google translation about Rosemary Sutcliff

Anthony LawtonLeave a comment

Trying to make sense of comments made on the previous Spanish post , I am faced with a comment that in translation is as follows:

Why, however romanófilo it one, give me I would not like the novel. You were giving me itchy with the description of the protagonists (so young and perfect) and the Manicheism good / bad. It will be as you say by the age of the novel, but one has their prejudices with these things. Although I suppose that’s a very good young adult novel set. Great review Valeria.