The Lantern Bearers (Eagle of the Ninth, #3)

My rating:

add to my books

The Lantern Bearers (Eagle of the Ninth #3)

by Rosemary Sutcliff

4.03 · rating details · 370 ratings · 47 reviews

The last of the Roman army have set sail and left Britain for ever, abandoning it to civil war and the threat of a Saxon invasion. Aquila deserts his regiment to return to his family, but his home and all that he loves are destroyed. Years of hardship and fighting follow and in the end there is only one thing left in Aquila's life - his thirst for revenge . . . Rosemar...more

Paperback

Published January 1st 2007 by Oxford University Press (first published 1959)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce

Carnegie Medal Winners

9th out of 72 books — 18 voters

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

Best Historical Fiction Set in UK and Ireland

136th out of 453 books — 272 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 667)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Nov 04, 2011

Joan rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Sutcliff fans, historical fiction fans

Shelves: historical-fiction, j-books, english-history

This is a retelling of the story of the period of King Arthur's beginnings, while he was still a child through young man. However, the story is about Aquilla, a Roman Legionaire who realizes at the last minute he can't leave the only home he and his family have ever known, to go to Rome. He deserts and goes back home. Only to have the Saxons swoop down on his home, slaughter his father and father's dog and other servants Aquilla has grown up with, leave him to be eaten by wolves, and drag off hi...more

like 1 like

· see review

Apr 20, 2011

Supriya rated it

Boys' Own melancholia, immensely sad and bittersweet. It's interesting that a story that pits the ~British~ against vile marauding Saxons (how Tolkien would have frowned) should consistently strike a note of such Nordic stoicism, the urging of the fight in the face of all honour and chance of glory lost. But in a very English way, what could be more sentimental? This novel could only have been written after two World Wars, after all.

I love Sutcliff's version of Arthuriana (the young Ce...more

like 1 like

· see review

Apr 02, 2011

ambyr rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: acquired—bought-new, author—female, genre—historical-fiction, own—currently, protagonist—male, age—ya

If Eagle of the Ninth is the story of learning that there's no going back, The Lantern Bearers is the story of struggling to find a way forward. Except instead of Marcus, with his "kingfisher summer" of friends and quintessential resilience, we have Aquila, by far the darkest, brooding, and least nice of Sutcliff's heroes.

This is a hard book to read. Even when Aquila starts to find small scraps of joy on a personal level, there's still the inescapable fact that this is the tw...more

like 2 likes

· see review

Oct 06, 2010

Brian rated it

Shelves: teenage-ya, childrens

The third in the sequence of loosely-related books that began with The Eagle Of The Ninth, The Lantern Bearers, which won the Carnegie Medal in 1959, is a more sophisticated, more adult book than its predecessors.

Set in the fifth century AD, amid the chaos that followed upon the departure of the Roman legions from Britain, it tells the story of the impact of the Saxon invasion on one Romano-British family, and in particular on one of its members, Aquila, descendant of Marcus, the he...more

like 2 likes

· see review

Jun 20, 2009

Mary added it · review of another edition

More YA history lessons from the meticulous researcher, Rosemary Sutcliff. A chronological listing of her novels: http://www.amazon.com/Rosemary-Sutcli...

THE LANTERN BEARERS begins an historically based interpretation of the King Arthur legend. In 446 the Romans withdraw from Britain and the Saxons flood in. For the 20-some years covered in this story, the battle over British land continues between Ambrosius, of half Welsh and half Roman heritage, and Hengest, the great Saxon war-lord...moreMore YA history lessons from the meticulous researcher, Rosemary Sutcliff. A chronological listing of her novels: http://www.amazon.com/Rosemary-Sutcli...

THE LANTERN BEARERS begins an historically based interpretation of the King Arthur legend. In 446 the Romans withdraw from Britain and the Saxons flood in. For the 20-some years covered in this story, the battle over British land continues between Ambrosius, of half Welsh and half Roman heritage, and Hengest, the great Saxon war-lord. Another significant player is Artos, the Bear, better known to us today as Arthur, nephew of Ambrosius and bastard son of his dead brother.

From a war scene:
"The Saxons were so near now that he could see the white gleam of the horse's head borne on a spear-shaft that was Hengest's Standard, and hear plain above the wuthering of the wind in his ears the formless smother of sound that was the voice of an advancing host. A Saxon war-horn boomed, and was answered by the higher, brighter note of the Roman trumpets.... The Saxon war host came rolling on, not fast, but remorselessly, shield to shield, with Guitolinus's Light Cavalry scouring on either side.... They were within bowshot now, and there came a sudden flicker of movement among the knot of archers behind the British spearmen, and a flight of arrows leapt out over the spears to plunge into the advancing battle-mass of the Saxons. For a few moments the enemy ranks had the look of a barley field hit by a sudden squall, as men staggered and dropped in their tracks; but the rest closed their torn ranks and pressed on, yelling. The British longbowmen got in one more flight, before the Saxon short-bows came into range; and after that the deadly hail of arrows was a two-way thing, tearing its gaps in the British ranks as it had torn them in the Saxon. And in the midst of the killing hail, the two hosts rolled together, seeming at the last instant to gather themselves like two great animals, then spring for each other's throats.... They rolled together with a shock that seemed as though it must shake the very roots of the fortress hill." (239-40)(less)

like 1 like

· see review

Sep 06, 2010

Rebecca Radnor rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction-ya, british-uk, roman, slavery

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. A historical telling of the events thought to lead up to the Myth of Arthur. It's a bit long for Young Adult book but appropriate for good readers. Set in the 5th century, the book begins with Rome's withdrawal from Britain and ends with the creation of the boundaries that essentially cut England in half along a diagonal by the 9th century (see map below), splitting it between the local Celtic/Roman/English population on south/west side and the Viking/Saxon invaders in the north/east. Follows ab...more

· see review

Aug 23, 2011

Mary rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Um - wow! This third book in the trilogy takes place 150 years after the second, again focusing on two young people who are Marcus's direct descendants. This time, Aquila, 18, is ordered to leave Britain as the Roman forces pull out. But he cannot. He can't leave his father, sister, and home undefended from the raiding Saxons. But his attempt to defend them is, it seems, a total failure. His father is killed, his sister carried off as a slave, and Aquila himself is left to die. He ends up a slav...more

· see review

Jul 24, 2011

Gary Land rated it

This is the third and final volume of Sutcliff's Roman Britain trilogy, although each book stands independently of the others. Unlike the previous two volumes, this book does not have a tension-filled chase. Rather, it is a brooding atmospheric account of Britain after the departure of the Romans and the coming of the Saxons. Aquila, a Roman officer, decides to desert when his army leaves his homeland. Only a few days later the Saxon's kill most of his family and take him away to Jutland as ...more

· see review

Nov 30, 2011

Abby rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

This book is not one where every moment is fascinating or one where there is constant action. It is a view of one man's life, his journey from boy to man. Being the story of a life, it is not always fast paced. However, every word, every glance means something. And in the end, we are shown the simple, truly important things of the world.

There's also a whole lot of battling, which isn't necessarily always my favorite. However, who doesn't get chills reading of the glorious charge-the...more

· see review

Jul 13, 2011

Dana Stabenow rated it

I don't know how I missed reading this trilogy until now. I like them all a lot, but this one, the concluding one, in particular. Brilliant to set the beginning of the novel with the departure of the last Romans from Britain. The senses of inevitability and betrayal are so real, you get the feeling it must have happened just this way, and you'll love the last lighting of the Pharos and the legends that grow and follow it. The heart breaks for Aquila and his multiple losses and the bludgeonin...more

like 1 like

· see review

May 11, 2011

SA rated it

Shelves: 2011

Oh my god, I didn't think I could enjoy this trilogy more, but how wrong I was. I loved the first two--great stories--but this, this was just utterly epic. The chronological transition of Aquila over time from being a young decurion to being the loyal lieutenant of Ambrosius was just fantastic; the world was thoroughly and lovingly rendered. The understanding that you were reading of, essentially, the creation of the modern British state was omnipresent and the whole story was incredibly well cr...more

· see review

May 14, 2011

Sally rated it

Shelves: fiction

This was a lovely book, historical fiction about ancient Britain. In this story, a young man decides to stay in Britain when his Roman army is withdrawing from the area. He finds and serves Ambrosius, the rightful ruler, as they fight the Saxon barbarians who are relentlessly battling for power and land. Sutcliff writes in a beautiful, understatedly powerful manner. There is no sentimentality here; these are noble characters who command respect and admiration. I appreciate learning more abo...more

· see review

Dec 10, 2010

Megan rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: heroic-heroes, historical-fiction, family, freedom-and-slavery, war, english-420

This is a bit of an anomaly in the young adult category. In his late teens Aquilla is a Roman soldier who abandons his legion to stay in Britain with his family. But the legions have barely been withdrawn from the country when the Saxon invaders destroy Aquilla's home, murder his father, and carry off his younger sister. Following this early climax time passes quickly. Aquilla escapes thralldom and joins in the effort to fight off the invasion, he marries and struggles to build meaningful relati...more

· see review

Jan 18, 2009

Aarti rated it

Plot Summary:
Aquila served in the Roman cavalry and came home to Britain for a short vacation to see his family. Shortly after his arrival, he heard that Rome was deserting Britain because it was too much trouble to defend. Aquila deserts the army and stays behind to defend his home. However, the Saxons soon raid his home; his father is killed, his farmstead burned to the ground, his sister kidnapped and he is taken as a slave. He lives in the Saxon camp for several years, honing his hatre...morePlot Summary:
Aquila served in the Roman cavalry and came home to Britain for a short vacation to see his family. Shortly after his arrival, he heard that Rome was deserting Britain because it was too much trouble to defend. Aquila deserts the army and stays behind to defend his home. However, the Saxons soon raid his home; his father is killed, his farmstead burned to the ground, his sister kidnapped and he is taken as a slave. He lives in the Saxon camp for several years, honing his hatred of those that betrayed his family and hoping for a chance at revenge.
When the chance to escape finally arrives, he seizes it and goes off to find the man who turned traitor on his father. That man, however, has already died and Aquila is left adrift, unsure now what motivates him to live. Seeing very little else to do with his time, he offers his fealty to Ambrosius, the Roman favorite to unite Britain and drive out the Saxons. He spends the rest of his life working for him, training horses, fighting battles and eventually marrying and having a child.
But he's a difficult man who holds his anger and bitterness inside, to his own detriment. he has few friends, his family hardly knows him, and he cannot forget his sister. The Lantern Bearers is more a story about one man's journey of self-discovery and forgiveness than it is a prequel to the Arthurian legend we all know and love.

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book. Aquila is a very troubled and angry man. It is painful to see how isolated he is in his life, and how deeply he feels it. The most moving passages in the book, for me, were the ones in which he felt the huge gap that existed between him and his son. He would sometimes try to bridge it, but he felt it was so far a jump to make that he often missed his chance to do so. He doesn't make it easy for those around him to like him, but we, the readers with access to his self-doubt and distress, can't help but sympathize.

While Aquila is by far the centerpoint of this story, there are several meaningful and well-constructed secondary characters. The one I liked most was the monk, Brother Ninnias. He is so patient and forgiving and kind; I think he does a lot to help soothe Aquila's wild emotions. Ambrosius, too, is a larger-than-life character; he is a king that the people love and die for. And, waiting in the wings of destiny, there is Artos.

I enjoyed reading this prequel to Arthurian legend because it was really fun and interesting to see Arthur as a young person, and not at all as the centerpoint of a story. Instead, we get glimpses of him that hint at what is to come, but he is in the background.

I also thought that Sutcliff described the life of women in the time period very well. None of them are allowed to make their own decisions and most lead lives they would never choose for themselves. But they make the best of it and try to be happy in a very inhospitable world. While women also were very much in the background of this novel, they were believable and interesting.

Truncated from full review at:
http://aartichapati.blogspot.com/2009/10...(less)

· see review

Oct 11, 2011

Maureen E rated it

Shelves: classics, historical, young-adult-and-childrens, simply-superb

This was the first book by Sutcliff I read. I’m so glad it was. If it had been Mark of the Horse Lord or Bonnie Dundee, I’m not sure I could have gone on. This is the story of Aquila, who deserts his legion as they leave Britain for the last time. It has a marvellous bittersweet quality to it, a sense of things ending and things beginning. As with so many of Sutcliff’s stories, the main character loses the life he thought he (and they are almost always he) was going to have, but discovers anothe...more

· see review

Feb 07, 2011

Nikki rated it

Shelves: greek-roman, historical-fiction-alternatehistory, children-s-and-ya

I didn't like this when I was younger, and reading it now, I have no idea why. It's the usual fare for Rosemary Sutcliff: a well researched story set in post-Roman Britain, drawing on real sources -- Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia, mostly, but perhaps also Wace and Layamon's Bruts. It concerns the parts pre-Arthur -- Hengist and Horsa, Vortigern and Ambrosius... It begins just as the Romans leave Britain for the last time, and covers a period of pushing back against the Saxons and their kind. T...more

like 1 like

· see review

Apr 05, 2008

Erfan rated it

This book is intensely about change and hope in the wide scope of a country's history, while telling that story in marvellous, dramatic and realistic close-up of one man's life. He is a young man at the outset of the story. Unlike most of Rosemary Sutcliffe's books, it covers a lot of years of his life before the end of the book.

I picked this tale to review next because the end of the story so beautifully ties up the themes of hope, reconciliation and wholeness as well as honour and ...moreThis book is intensely about change and hope in the wide scope of a country's history, while telling that story in marvellous, dramatic and realistic close-up of one man's life. He is a young man at the outset of the story. Unlike most of Rosemary Sutcliffe's books, it covers a lot of years of his life before the end of the book.

I picked this tale to review next because the end of the story so beautifully ties up the themes of hope, reconciliation and wholeness as well as honour and loyalty in a changing life amidst huge political reversals, akin to the upheavals faced by many nations in the present day, though excluding the modern issues of ecology and resources under threat that were not concerns at that time - land, one culture resisting invasion, life and personal freedoms were the issues at stake in the story.

Aquila makes a stunningly brave choice at the start of the book, only to face an immediate, total upturn in his life. The rest of the book tells of his fortune, his country's and ultimately his family's too, bringing the reader full circle at the end. Aquila's tale is one of feelings not easily dealt with, and that is one of the threads that is powerfully told by the end - and a reason I highly recommend this story. (As always, I dislike telling plot to illustrate my experience because I myself like a story to be unknown to me before I read.)

All his life my father read 'The Sword in the Stone' every year; I have a feeling that this is the book I will be turning to again and again. This passage near the end might convey a little of the language and character I love this author for:

'There was a feeling of quietness in him, a feeling of coming into harbour... No respite in this war, and maybe only darkness at the end of it. But for himself, now, in this present moment, he seemed to have come to a quiet place in which to rest a little before going on. He had all at once a feeling of great riches.'

Since I will probably not get to review them here I recommend 'Outcast' and 'Knight's Fee' as books that I found moving and will always be glad I read. The latter being elegiac in places, including a character death and loyalty tested and home among its elements.(less)

· see review

Sep 06, 2009

Relstuart rated it

· review of another edition

One of my Favorite Rosemary Sutcliff books. Several of her books are listed as young adult but frankly are so well written and sometimes deal with some pretty adult stuff I'm not sure why.

She effectively evokes the mood and scenes that draw you into the ancient British lands. While it has been many years I still remember the dolphin ring and the oath calling on the mountains to fall on the oath taker if they did not keep their word. Probably one that I could stand to re-read soon.

· see review

Jun 22, 2009

Katie rated it

Shelves: children-ya, fantasy, history

I didn't like this one as well as "The Eagle of the Ninth" and "The Silver Branch;" it was darker, sadder, and with more realism. Set in, what, the 6th century? after Rome pulled out of Britain. Also, it spans some 25 years, a real long time for a YA novel. But it's basically very good and makes me want to go to Wales.

· see review

Dec 02, 2008

Brita rated it

I thought this was a very good book. It took me a little while to get into it, mostly because it uses some old english terminology so it took a little while for me to read and then re-read to understand, but after I got going it really was a good book. I think it would be excellent for a book club discussion book. It had a lot of interesting ideas. I loved how it followed this man's change into adulthood and mid age. And how he changed because of his circumstances. Would definately recomme...more

· see review

Aug 06, 2011

Anne added it

I really struggled to get through this; even though I like the era and setting of the story.

The story is about an embittered man who stays that way the entire book; there is little joy in it. I like happy stuff. So....I guess it was an adventure, but just not one of her best.

· see review

Jan 18, 2012

Dawn Roberts rated it

Sutcliff is a gifted writer and storyteller! I loved this novel about Britain at the time of Roman withdrawal. Read this to Annika when she was in 1st or 2nd (!) grade! She re-read it herself this year in 6th, along with several other Sutcliff books.

· see review

Sep 10, 2009

Josh rated it

this is my favorite of Sutcliff's large writings on the vague British history between Roman imperial rule -> native rule -> and new invasions.

I luv teen fiction.
I luv old stories.
=
v.good for me.

· see review

Jan 14, 2009

Marilou rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

The Lantern Bearers tells of a British born soldier of the Roman Legion (4th century A.D.?) during the pull out of the Legions who were called back to save Rome from the invading barbarians. Aquila is at once a Brit, a Roman, and must deal with invading Saxons.

· see review

Jul 22, 2009

Microchiroptera rated it

There's something so solid about her characters- they're people captured in their real state, with barely the veneer of their own pretensions.

· see review

Apr 14, 2008

Annie rated it

Shelves: good-enough-to-own-and-read-over-ag

The image of the great beacon at Rutupiae burning one last time as the legions sail from Britain forever is one of Sutcliff's finest moments. This is the story of a world in transition; Brittania at the close of the Roman Empire and the beginning of what would one day be the British Empire. In between there is Arthur and in part, this story touches on that beginning as well, but mostly it is the tale of a young man forced to learn the hard way to adapt in the face of his world's collapse.
...more

· see review

Sep 16, 2010

Eyebright rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Anyone

Very good book, although still not as good as the first or
second, in my opinion. I love reading about Britian in the early days.

· see review

Jul 25, 2011

David rated it

Bitter hero seeking revenge grows up. Stirring. Great battle scenes and historical color. Sutcliff's classics hold up very well indeed.

· see review

Apr 07, 2011

Suzanne rated it

One of the bleakest and most depressing books ever. It is totally worth it.

· see review

Feb 01, 2011

Sarah rated it

I do enjoy her historical fiction. I think these books have been worthwhile.

· see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 22 23 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (17)

More editions...

Genres

Historical Fiction

41 users

Childrens

13 users

Young Adult

9 users

Fantasy

3 users

Adventure

3 users

Childrens > Middle Grade

2 users

European Literature > British Literature

2 users

Roman

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers Also Enjoyed

About Rosemary Sutcliff

Rosemary Sutcliff was a British novelist, best known as a writer of highly acclaimed historical fiction. Although primarily a children's author, the quality and depth of her writing also appeals to adults, she herself once commenting that she wrote "for children of all ages from nine to ninety."

Born in West Clandon, Surrey, Sutcliff spent her early youth in Malta and other na...more

More about Rosemary Sutcliff...

Books by Rosemary Sutcliff

Black Ships Before Troy: The Story Of The Iliad

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Pin It

Trivia About The Lantern Bearers

1 trivia question

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from The Lantern Bearers

“For a moment they stood looking at each other in the firelight, while the old harper still fingered the shining strings and the other man looked on with a gleam of amusement lurking in his watery blue eyes. But Aquila was not looking at him. He was looking only at the dark young man, seeing that he was darker even than he had thought at first, and slightly built in a way that went with the darkness, as though maybe the old blood, the blood of the People of the Hills, ran strong in him. But his eyes, under brows as straight as a raven's flight-pinions, were not the eyes of the little Dark People, which were black and unstable and full of dreams, but a pale clear grey, lit with gold, that gave the effect of flame behind them.” — 4 people liked it

“Quietness rose within Aquila, easing his wild unrest as the salve was cooling the smart of his gashed side. But that was always the way with Brother Ninnias-- the quietness, the sense of sanctuary, were things that he carried with him.” — 2 people liked it

More quotes…

Groups That Shelved The Lantern Bearers

Clean Reads

558 members

last activity Feb 07, 2012 07:12am

shelf: read

title link	preview: The Lantern Bearers
avg rating	preview: The Lantern Bearers Goodreads rating: 4.03 (370 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/149418.The_Lantern_Bearers?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172202428m/149418.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/149418.The_Lantern_Bearers?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff[/url]

The Lantern Bearers (Eagle of the Ninth #3)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Readers Also Enjoyed

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website