Be Specific About Of Books The Lantern Bearers (The Dolphin Ring Cycle #4)
| Title | : | The Lantern Bearers (The Dolphin Ring Cycle #4) |
| Author | : | Rosemary Sutcliff |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Deluxe Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 307 pages |
| Published | : | January 1st 2007 by Oxford University Press (first published 1959) |
| Categories | : | Historical. Historical Fiction. Fiction. Young Adult. Childrens. Adventure. Mythology. Arthurian |
Rosemary Sutcliff
Paperback | Pages: 307 pages Rating: 4.1 | 2117 Users | 168 Reviews
Representaion As Books The Lantern Bearers (The Dolphin Ring Cycle #4)
Rosemary Sutcliff's books so often bring a strange, tearful, lovely lump to my throat, and a strange, gut-wrenching mist to my eyes that tugs at my heart strings so beautifully. How does she do it, I wonder?'I sometimes think that we stand at sunset,' Eugenus said after a pause. 'It may be that the night will close over us in the end, but I believe that morning will come again. Morning always grows again out of the darkness, though maybe not for the people who saw the sun go down. We are the Lantern Bearers, my friend; for us to keep something burning, to carry what light we can forward into the darkness and the wind.'
This line, coming from the tail end of this book, is one of the exact reasons through themes that I liked this book so, so much! It is hard to place its poignancy and quiet, tragic splendor into words, or pry with rough fingers too deeply, lest the harp-magic and golden sadness of it all crumbles. But Sutcliff writes magnificently, sadly, achingly, and so often I felt a dull sense of sadness with Aquila and the rest at the thought of how it must have been for the Romans to leave, abandon, Britain and let them fend off the Saxons alone. I didn't know, when I started this book, where Aquila's story would take him.Unfamiliar as I am with this part of British Roman history, I drank in the strong history storyline, wondering with pounding heart what *does* happen. The story is written, in typical Sutcliff fashion, in an understated way. But oh! So poignant and moving. And the characters. . .at first I thought I would be unhappy with the way Aquila seemed to live in constant bitterness. . . and yet, I understood his pain, and in the end, and through the gentle brown Holy Man, a Christian monk, he does find an eventual healing and balm for the soul that made me quietly glad. Sutcliffe extells in characters. . . there is Flavia, and there is Ness and Mannow - Dolphin's son, Artos, the gentle monk, Mull and the Prince of Britain. . . so many characters that warmed my heart and made me love them like old friends.
Now, I must lay my hand on another Rosemary Sutcliff! Any suggestions?
List Books Conducive To The Lantern Bearers (The Dolphin Ring Cycle #4)
| Original Title: | The Lantern Bearers |
| ISBN: | 0192755064 (ISBN13: 9780192755063) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Series: | The Dolphin Ring Cycle #4, The Roman Britain Trilogy #3 |
| Setting: | United Kingdom |
| Literary Awards: | Carnegie Medal (1959) |
Rating Of Books The Lantern Bearers (The Dolphin Ring Cycle #4)
Ratings: 4.1 From 2117 Users | 168 ReviewsDiscuss Of Books The Lantern Bearers (The Dolphin Ring Cycle #4)
WHAATTT I was positive this was going to be a three-starred disappointment and then WHABANG it is suddenly one of the most beautiful books of all time.I read this book when I was in college... (40 years ago... yikes), and I STILL remember it!! I may try to read it again, but it made a huge impact on me. It was about a young man whose family was killed/abducted by an invading army. (Saxons/barbarians) He retreated into the hills and lived on dreams of revenge. When he comes across his sister, she has married one of the "ravishers," has a child by him, and is unwilling to leave her family. This book really made an impression on me, making me see
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 Celtic-Roman
Rosemary Sutcliff's books so often bring a strange, tearful, lovely lump to my throat, and a strange, gut-wrenching mist to my eyes that tugs at my heart strings so beautifully. How does she do it, I wonder? 'I sometimes think that we stand at sunset,' Eugenus said after a pause. 'It may be that the night will close over us in the end, but I believe that morning will come again. Morning always grows again out of the darkness, though maybe not for the people who saw the sun go down. We are the
Definitely a more contemplative story line and more multi-dimensional depth with the character development than the first two books had. A good read but I enjoyed the first two books in the series more.Cleanliness: the use of "b*st*rd" for an illegitimate child. "D*mn" and "h*ll" used a handful of times. The Roman gods are referenced and prayed to a few times. Contains multiple battle sequences and they are more detailed than the previous books. A young man is mentioned as having no clothes. A
It is sad - bitterly sad. But I loved it. I loved Aquila, the broken, bitter Dolphin. I loved the Minnow, and Tess, and Flavia. Tess and Flavia will have a place in my heart, maybe a sad one but a place nonetheless. I felt for them. There were tears in my eyes as I finished.One of my favorite quotes (there were many): "'I sometimes think that we stand at sunset,' Eugenus said after a pause. 'It may be that the night will close over us in the end, but I believe that morning will come again.
This is really a YA book, but the writing and sentiments are very adult. Although its the third in a trilogy, it works just as well as a standalone book. Set in the Dark Ages. Aquila is a British born soldier for the Roman Army who deserts when the Romans leave the British shores for good.Why should a deserter take the trouble to light Rutupiae Beacon? Aquila demanded, and his voice sounded rough in is own ears.Maybe in farewell, maybe in defiance. Maybe to hold back the dark for one more night.
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