Synopses & Reviews
“There was a smell of blood mingling with the smell of burning that still clung about scorched timber and blackened thatch, and a great wailing rose from the watching crowd. The old High Priest dipped a finger in the blood and made a sign with it on Phaedrus’s forehead, above the Mark of the Horse Lord.”
So began the ceremony that was to make young Phaedrus, ex-slave and gladiator, Horse Lord of the Dalriadain. Phaedrus had come a long way since the fight in the arena that gained him his freedom. He had left behind his old Roman life and identity and had entered another, more primitive, world—that of the British tribes in the far north. In this world of superstition and ancient ritual, of fierce loyalties and intertribal rivalry, Phaedrus found companionship and love, and something more—a purpose and a meaning to his life as he came fully to understand the significance of the Mark of the Horse Lord.
First published in 1965, The Mark of the Horse Lord, set in second-century Britain, has been acclaimed by many readers as the finest of Rosemary Sutcliff’s many novels, imparting true insight into the nature of leadership, identity, heroism, loyalty, violence, and sacrifice.
Review
“The total assurance of the writing indicates an author fully in command of her power.” —Times Literary Supplement
Synopsis
The long siege of Troy is over, and the city is in ashes. Heroic King Odysseus can finally return to Ithaca, but the voyage home holds terrors far greater than any he faced during the Trojan War. Storms have thrust Odysseus's ship into unknown waters. Here he must confront not only the blunders of his crew, but far stranger perils: the one-eyed, flesh-eating Cyclops; Circe, the enchantress with the power to turn men into swine; the unnerving trip through the Land of the Dead. And when he finally reaches home, he finds his palace overrun by loutish suitors fighting to win the affections of his adored wife Penelope. Odysseus has one last thrilling battle to fight before he can reclaim his wife and his kingdom. Rosemary Sutcliff's vivid transformation brings Homer's Odyssey to life for a new generation. While simplified, the story is never dumbed down, making it an excellent introduction to Greek mythology for readers of all ages.
Synopsis
For fans of D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths and readers who enjoyed Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey, comes a retelling by a master storyteller and an award-winning illustrator that evokes the golden age of mythical Greece.
The long siege is over, and Troy lies in ashes. The black ships of the Greek war-host set sail for home. But for heroic King Odysseus of Ithaca, the return voyage holds hazards far greater than any he faced during the Trojan War. Forced by ill winds into unknown seas, Odysseus and his crew must contend with ever-stranger perils: the flesh-eating Cyclops, Circe with her deadly enchantments, the soul-chilling Land of the Dead.
Woven through with a spectacular cast of men, magicians, and monsters, Odysseus' harrowing journey home to his family and kingdom tests the limits of his strength, and the power of his will.
" Sutcliff] retells Homer's Odyssey with
thrilling drama...The story of the hero's long years of wandering...has the mythic power of everyone's search for home... and she]
fuses epic grandeur with a direct simplicity that will bring the universal story home."-
Booklist "
An intimate portrait of a man...Readers will enjoy this classic adventure."-
SLJ
"Rosemary
Sutcliff has done a great service...by warmly and carefully abridging two classics that many people find difficult to tackle in their original form. Not only has she broken the long tales into tolerable and interesting chapters, she has smoothed out the language while
keeping true to all of the original drama and excitement."-
Parents Express From the Hardcover edition."
Synopsis
For Greek myth fans, those who can't get enough of the D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths, and readers who have aged out of Rick Riordan, this classroom staple and mythology classic is perfect for learning about the ancient myths
King Odysseus and the Greeks have triumphed over the Trojans. At long last, they are able to set sail for home and the loving family Odysseus left behind. But for the heroic king, the return voyage holds hazards far greater than any he faced during the war.
Forced by treacherous winds into unknown seas, Odysseus and his crew must face deadly perils: the flesh-eating Cyclops, Circe and her deadly enchantments, and the soul-chilling Land of the Dead and more.
Rosemary Sutcliff's reimagining of the classic epic The Odysseus is woven through with a spectacular cast of men, magicians, and monsters. Odysseus' harrowing journey home to his family and kingdom tests the limits of his strength, and the power of his will.
Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey, is one of the greatest adventure stories of all time and Rosemary Sutcliff stays true to the classic tale and characters in this authentic retelling rich with drama, magic, and heroism.
Don't miss Black Ships Before Troy, the companion to The Wanderings of Odysseus, and follow Odysseus and his crew as they fight in the epic battle against the Trojans.
Synopsis
A master storyteller and an award-winning illustrator evoke the golden age of mythical Greece in this spirited retelling of
The Odyssey.From the Hardcover edition.
About the Author
Rosemary Sutcliff wrote more than 40 novels for young adults, including Black Ships Before Troy, The Wanderings of Odysseus, and The Eagle of the Ninth; five adult novels, including Sword at Sunset; and several books of nonfiction. Scott O'Dell wrote over thirty books, mostly historical fiction, including the perennial bestseller Island of the Blue Dolphins.