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The Dolphin Ring Cycle #2
The Silver Branch
Violence and unrest are sweeping through Roman Britain. Justin and Flavius find themselves caught up in the middle of it all when they discover a plot to overthrow the Emperor. In fear for their lives, they gather together a tattered band of men and lead them into the thick of battle, to defend the honor of Rome. But will they be in time to save the Emperor . . .
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1957
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2076 people want to read
About the author
Rosemary Sutcliff
107 books677 followersRosemary Sutcliff, CBE (1920-1992) 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 once commented 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 naval bases where her father was stationed as a naval officer. She contracted Still's Disease when she was very young and was confined to a wheelchair for most of her life. Due to her chronic sickness, she spent the majority of her time with her mother, a tireless storyteller, from whom she learned many of the Celtic and Saxon legends that she would later expand into works of historical fiction. Her early schooling being continually interrupted by moving house and her disabling condition, Sutcliff didn't learn to read until she was nine, and left school at fourteen to enter the Bideford Art School, which she attended for three years, graduating from the General Art Course. She then worked as a painter of miniatures.
Rosemary Sutcliff began her career as a writer in 1950 with The Chronicles of Robin Hood. She found her voice when she wrote The Eagle of the Ninth in 1954. In 1959, she won the Carnegie Medal for The Lantern Bearers and was runner-up in 1972 with Tristan and Iseult. In 1974 she was highly commended for the Hans Christian Andersen Award. Her The Mark of the Horse Lord won the first Phoenix Award in 1985.
Sutcliff lived for many years in Walberton near Arundel, Sussex. In 1975 she was appointed OBE for services to Children's Literature and promoted to CBE in 1992. She wrote incessantly throughout her life, and was still writing on the morning of her death. She never married.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/rosema...
Born in West Clandon, Surrey, Sutcliff spent her early youth in Malta and other naval bases where her father was stationed as a naval officer. She contracted Still's Disease when she was very young and was confined to a wheelchair for most of her life. Due to her chronic sickness, she spent the majority of her time with her mother, a tireless storyteller, from whom she learned many of the Celtic and Saxon legends that she would later expand into works of historical fiction. Her early schooling being continually interrupted by moving house and her disabling condition, Sutcliff didn't learn to read until she was nine, and left school at fourteen to enter the Bideford Art School, which she attended for three years, graduating from the General Art Course. She then worked as a painter of miniatures.
Rosemary Sutcliff began her career as a writer in 1950 with The Chronicles of Robin Hood. She found her voice when she wrote The Eagle of the Ninth in 1954. In 1959, she won the Carnegie Medal for The Lantern Bearers and was runner-up in 1972 with Tristan and Iseult. In 1974 she was highly commended for the Hans Christian Andersen Award. Her The Mark of the Horse Lord won the first Phoenix Award in 1985.
Sutcliff lived for many years in Walberton near Arundel, Sussex. In 1975 she was appointed OBE for services to Children's Literature and promoted to CBE in 1992. She wrote incessantly throughout her life, and was still writing on the morning of her death. She never married.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/rosema...
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July 2, 2018
The Roman province of Britannia, 292 AD
Justin is an introverted, awkward young military surgeon. His family line, Aquila, has been connected to Britannia for two hundred years, but he has never set foot there till now. A Celtic leader named Curoi, called Carausius in Latin, has declared himself emperor of Britannia and the northern part of Gaul; he has gained temporary recognition from actual Emperor Maximian in honor of Carausius’ sea victories. (By now, the Roman Empire has become a Tetrarchy).
Justin is immediately befriended by a red-headed soldier named Flavius—who turns out to be his cousin, Marcellus Flavius Aquila, direct descendant of Marcus from The Eagle of the Ninth. Flavius is thrilled to meet a kinsman from the Continental branch of the family, and both lads live at the ancestral homestead Marcus and Cottia built when they’re not in the barracks.
One of those whom Justin heals in the infirmary is Evicatos, an exiled Hibernian (Irish) warrior. Cases like his demonstrate Justin’s skills as a doctor and bring him, and his inseparable cousin, to the notice of Carausius himself.
But when Justin and Flavius witness an apparent act of treachery by Carausius’ minister of finance, Allectus, the world as they know it is upended. It’s up to these two, their dignified great-aunt Honoria, Evicatos, a Hibernian jester, an idealistic Centurion, a fussy little man and the boy he rescued from slavery, a washed-up former gladiator, and a small group of elderly farmhands to restore order in Britannia…
Content Advisory
Violence: The penultimate chapters are consumed by battle. Sutcliff largely bypasses literal gore in favor of Justin’s psychological state, which is rather intense and harrowing. After the battle, we see two characters die, one of whom was particularly lovable and heroic.
Two other characters, both older men whom the heroes look up to, are (separately) stabbed to death off-page. Justin is haunted by how he imagines these deaths, with knives glinting in the torchlight. A character who witnessed his adopted father figure die says that the man’s enemies “cut him down like a badger.”
Sex: Nothing. And this is a novel about the ancient Romans.
Language: Nothing.
Substance Abuse: The characters generally opt for beer or wine rather than water, because the drinking water supply back then was a sanitation nightmare.
Politics and Religion: Anthoninus draws an ichthys on the hearth. He looks at Justin and Flavius, gets no reaction, and wipes the symbol away again.
Nightmare Fuel: Justin is severely claustrophobic and has a number of near-panic attacks in small spaces.
Conclusions
A solid look at a period of Roman and British history that I knew very little about. This book is less adventurous and more warlike than its predecessor, The Eagle of the Ninth, but its characters are just as lovable, its familial relationships and friendships are just as strong, its mysteries are just as alluring, and its inner sense of moral integrity cannot be argued with. I’m super excited to continue this series.
Justin is an introverted, awkward young military surgeon. His family line, Aquila, has been connected to Britannia for two hundred years, but he has never set foot there till now. A Celtic leader named Curoi, called Carausius in Latin, has declared himself emperor of Britannia and the northern part of Gaul; he has gained temporary recognition from actual Emperor Maximian in honor of Carausius’ sea victories. (By now, the Roman Empire has become a Tetrarchy).
Justin is immediately befriended by a red-headed soldier named Flavius—who turns out to be his cousin, Marcellus Flavius Aquila, direct descendant of Marcus from The Eagle of the Ninth. Flavius is thrilled to meet a kinsman from the Continental branch of the family, and both lads live at the ancestral homestead Marcus and Cottia built when they’re not in the barracks.
One of those whom Justin heals in the infirmary is Evicatos, an exiled Hibernian (Irish) warrior. Cases like his demonstrate Justin’s skills as a doctor and bring him, and his inseparable cousin, to the notice of Carausius himself.
But when Justin and Flavius witness an apparent act of treachery by Carausius’ minister of finance, Allectus, the world as they know it is upended. It’s up to these two, their dignified great-aunt Honoria, Evicatos, a Hibernian jester, an idealistic Centurion, a fussy little man and the boy he rescued from slavery, a washed-up former gladiator, and a small group of elderly farmhands to restore order in Britannia…
Content Advisory
Violence: The penultimate chapters are consumed by battle. Sutcliff largely bypasses literal gore in favor of Justin’s psychological state, which is rather intense and harrowing. After the battle, we see two characters die, one of whom was particularly lovable and heroic.
Two other characters, both older men whom the heroes look up to, are (separately) stabbed to death off-page. Justin is haunted by how he imagines these deaths, with knives glinting in the torchlight. A character who witnessed his adopted father figure die says that the man’s enemies “cut him down like a badger.”
Sex: Nothing. And this is a novel about the ancient Romans.
Language: Nothing.
Substance Abuse: The characters generally opt for beer or wine rather than water, because the drinking water supply back then was a sanitation nightmare.
Politics and Religion: Anthoninus draws an ichthys on the hearth. He looks at Justin and Flavius, gets no reaction, and wipes the symbol away again.
Nightmare Fuel: Justin is severely claustrophobic and has a number of near-panic attacks in small spaces.
Conclusions
A solid look at a period of Roman and British history that I knew very little about. This book is less adventurous and more warlike than its predecessor, The Eagle of the Ninth, but its characters are just as lovable, its familial relationships and friendships are just as strong, its mysteries are just as alluring, and its inner sense of moral integrity cannot be argued with. I’m super excited to continue this series.
November 28, 2021
2.5/5 Estrellas
Últimamente busco novelas históricas ambientadas en la antigua Roma, pero en épocas y escenarios no demasiado trillados. Este es el caso de este libro ambientado en la provincia de Britania, hacia el año 292 d.c.
La obra se encuadra en una serie de novelas escritas por esta autora, ya fallecida, en que distintos miembros de la familia Aquila, se ven implicados en eventos relevantes de la historia de la isla, siempre haciendo honor la tradición militar de la familia.
La primera entrega está relacionada con la búsqueda de la Novena Legión Hispana, desaparecida en las brumas al norte del muro hacia el 120 dc (aunque eso está ahora en entredicho), por parte de Marco Aquila, antepasado del protagonista de la actual entrega, Marcelo Flavio Aquila. Este libro fue llevado al cine con el título de La Legión del Águila, mediocre film con Channing Tatum haciendo de Aquila, pero siempre entrañable a los que nos gusta todo lo romano.
Esta es la 3ª entrega de la serie y, en ella, el mundo romano está al mando de la 1ª Tetrarquía, con Diocleciano y Maximiano como emperadores intentando poner orden en el maltrecho Imperio tras la profunda crisis del siglo III. Sin embargo poner orden es harto difícil, en 286 el comandante de la Classis Britannica en el mar del Norte, Carausio, competente y brillante, pero de oscuro origen, es acusado de corrupción por Maximiano, se rebela y se proclama Emperador de Britannia y parte del norte de la Galia.
Carausio se mantiene en el poder 7 años, más o menos tolerado por los dos emperadores, ya que es competente, y defiende y fortifica la isla de forma eficaz (buscad fotos de Portus Adurnis, un fuerte estupendamente conservado en la costa sur de Inglaterra), contra el ataque de los piratas sajones que ya tienen en el punto de mira este territorio, casi un siglo y medio antes de su desembarco definitivo.
En 293, Alecto, su ministro de finanzas, asesina a Carausio y se proclama a su vez Emperador......lo cual colma el vaso del Imperio que pone en marcha su maquinaria militar al mando del César Constancio (padre de Constantino), para desalojar al usurpador (como si Carausio no lo fuera).
Y aquí, más o menos, empieza la historia del libro, con la salvedad que todo esto me lo he currado yo, porque en el libro casi no se menciona nada de la situación en el Imperio y muy poco en la isla.
Falla la ambientación de forma estrepitosa, fallan los personajes, falla la trama, simple y tediosa por momentos, falla la traducción de forma estrepitosa (hay párrafos que ni se entienden) y lo que podría haber sido una novela de aventuras estupenda (estoy pensando en Uhtred), desemboca en una mediocridad absoluta.
Totalmente prescindible.....al menos me he repasado un pedacito de historia que no conocía.
Últimamente busco novelas históricas ambientadas en la antigua Roma, pero en épocas y escenarios no demasiado trillados. Este es el caso de este libro ambientado en la provincia de Britania, hacia el año 292 d.c.
La obra se encuadra en una serie de novelas escritas por esta autora, ya fallecida, en que distintos miembros de la familia Aquila, se ven implicados en eventos relevantes de la historia de la isla, siempre haciendo honor la tradición militar de la familia.
La primera entrega está relacionada con la búsqueda de la Novena Legión Hispana, desaparecida en las brumas al norte del muro hacia el 120 dc (aunque eso está ahora en entredicho), por parte de Marco Aquila, antepasado del protagonista de la actual entrega, Marcelo Flavio Aquila. Este libro fue llevado al cine con el título de La Legión del Águila, mediocre film con Channing Tatum haciendo de Aquila, pero siempre entrañable a los que nos gusta todo lo romano.
Esta es la 3ª entrega de la serie y, en ella, el mundo romano está al mando de la 1ª Tetrarquía, con Diocleciano y Maximiano como emperadores intentando poner orden en el maltrecho Imperio tras la profunda crisis del siglo III. Sin embargo poner orden es harto difícil, en 286 el comandante de la Classis Britannica en el mar del Norte, Carausio, competente y brillante, pero de oscuro origen, es acusado de corrupción por Maximiano, se rebela y se proclama Emperador de Britannia y parte del norte de la Galia.
Carausio se mantiene en el poder 7 años, más o menos tolerado por los dos emperadores, ya que es competente, y defiende y fortifica la isla de forma eficaz (buscad fotos de Portus Adurnis, un fuerte estupendamente conservado en la costa sur de Inglaterra), contra el ataque de los piratas sajones que ya tienen en el punto de mira este territorio, casi un siglo y medio antes de su desembarco definitivo.
En 293, Alecto, su ministro de finanzas, asesina a Carausio y se proclama a su vez Emperador......lo cual colma el vaso del Imperio que pone en marcha su maquinaria militar al mando del César Constancio (padre de Constantino), para desalojar al usurpador (como si Carausio no lo fuera).
Y aquí, más o menos, empieza la historia del libro, con la salvedad que todo esto me lo he currado yo, porque en el libro casi no se menciona nada de la situación en el Imperio y muy poco en la isla.
Falla la ambientación de forma estrepitosa, fallan los personajes, falla la trama, simple y tediosa por momentos, falla la traducción de forma estrepitosa (hay párrafos que ni se entienden) y lo que podría haber sido una novela de aventuras estupenda (estoy pensando en Uhtred), desemboca en una mediocridad absoluta.
Totalmente prescindible.....al menos me he repasado un pedacito de historia que no conocía.
May 3, 2018
An oldie set in yet more olden days. My friend Allison basically said I hadn't lived until I read the book, so I was definitely going in with some high expectations. I really enjoyed the story, though I disliked some of the violence... I could picture it too well. I'm definitely impressed with Sutcliff's talent for description!
December 15, 2024
Magnificently, shiningly glorious.
August 7, 2018
This was a dang good book.
I'll be honest, it wasn't quiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiite as much to my taste as The Shield Ring (mostly because The Shield Ring is utterly perfect for me)--but still. IT WAS A DANG GOOD BOOK.
The characters:
- Justin. Oh, Justin. My child. Smol and anxious, low of self-esteem; and let me tell you, I RELATE HARDCORE. There were so many scenes where I ached inside, knowing just how scared and inadequate he felt. But there ain't nothing wrong with this boy's heart. He is a brave and brilliant surgeon, a gentle healer of the sick and fierce defender of the weak; and I salute him proudly. (Roman salute, obviously, 'cause this is a Roman book. :-P)
- Flavius. Gotta tell you, I'm not 100% sure whether he was competing for Soldier of the Week™ or Ultimate Mom Friend™ . . . but either way, he wins at life. You go, buddy. <3
- Aunt Honoria. Let us have a moment of silence for the unparalleled awesomeness of this feisty, saucy octogenarian. She is Queen, and all must bow before her.
- Emperor Carausius. I . . . was not emotionally prepared. That is all.
- Paulinus. He was so very British, and so very darling, and then THINGS HAPPENED AND I HAD FEELINGS. No spoilers. Read the book :-P
- Pandarus. The freed gladiator. I cried, y'all.
- The Flower Girl. Can I just say . . . *tearful Leslie Knope voice* . . . "That--that was beautiful."
-
The plot:
- I'll be honest: this is where The Silver Branch fell just a tiny, tiny bit flat for me, personally. The plot was good, don't get me wrong; but it wasn't my favorite. Flavius and Justin didn't have a single clear goal for most of the book--and I totally get WHY that is, they were kicked out of the only life they knew (the Roman legions) and they're sort of lost and they're wandering around seeking a new purpose--but I just prefer a more focused plot for this type of book. (Like Eagle of the Ninth, where the goal is very simple and very clear.) Also, I will say, the story is much more strictly "military," in events and setting and so on, than the other Sutcliff books I've read; EOTN is about the IDEA of the Legions, but in TSB we're actually getting into the nitty-gritty of life and everyday business within the Roman army. Which is totally fine! It just doesn't suit me as well.
- HOWEVER. There were two major elements of the plot which I really, really, really loved. First, the "resistance" piece, where Justin and Flavius got involved with this big underground movement to push back against the usurping Emperor, eroding his base of power from beneath him. That was so cool!!! I adore underground resistance!! I love its focus on small and "insignificant" efforts, helping one victim at a time, hiding one fugitive at a time--because each person matters, and each little bit helps. And before you know it, you've set off a giant wave of change and helped bring down an entire freakin' regime. Way to go, Justin and Flavius . . . way to go! *high-fives*
- Second,
The themes:
- As always with Sutcliff, these were excellent. I was particularly inspired by the recurring theme of new and "strange" blends of courage--how we are capable of MORE THAN ONE KIND of bravery, even though we may think we only hold one very narrow kind in our heart. "I can charge the enemy in pitched battle, but I could never be a secret agent." "I can clean gushing bloody wounds without blinking, but I could never command a force of soldiers." And so the excuses go on. But it's a lie, really. We are capable of so much more . . . and God has a way of gently (or not-so-gently) nudging us to realize it. Justin and Flavius, I'm so proud of both of you. <3
- I was also fascinated by the theme of institutional decline--which was hinted at in EOTN, but emphasized much more strongly in this book. The Roman Empire is crumbling from within. Slowly, ever so slowly, but inexorably, too. And sure, there's pressure from without (the Saxon invaders, etc.), but Sutcliff shows that, more than anything, it's the deterioration of civic culture within the Empire that's truly fatal. By and large, the people (whether officers, soldiers, government officials, or common citizens) don't really care any more. The commitment to preserve the old institutions is lacking. And THAT is how the Empire is going to fall; and men like Emperor Carausius know it, and are trying to prepare for it. Fascinating. Also incredibly sad. To be honest, I'm almost afraid to read Book 3, The Lantern Bearers, because I know that's where it all goes down in flames . . .
Conclusion:
I am now a die-hard fan of Rosemary Sutcliff. There is no turning back. It is a permanent ailment. :-P But I wouldn't have it any other way.
I'll be honest, it wasn't quiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiite as much to my taste as The Shield Ring (mostly because The Shield Ring is utterly perfect for me)--but still. IT WAS A DANG GOOD BOOK.
The characters:
- Justin. Oh, Justin. My child. Smol and anxious, low of self-esteem; and let me tell you, I RELATE HARDCORE. There were so many scenes where I ached inside, knowing just how scared and inadequate he felt. But there ain't nothing wrong with this boy's heart. He is a brave and brilliant surgeon, a gentle healer of the sick and fierce defender of the weak; and I salute him proudly. (Roman salute, obviously, 'cause this is a Roman book. :-P)
- Flavius. Gotta tell you, I'm not 100% sure whether he was competing for Soldier of the Week™ or Ultimate Mom Friend™ . . . but either way, he wins at life. You go, buddy. <3
- Aunt Honoria. Let us have a moment of silence for the unparalleled awesomeness of this feisty, saucy octogenarian. She is Queen, and all must bow before her.
- Emperor Carausius. I . . . was not emotionally prepared. That is all.
- Paulinus. He was so very British, and so very darling, and then THINGS HAPPENED AND I HAD FEELINGS. No spoilers. Read the book :-P
- Pandarus. The freed gladiator. I cried, y'all.
- The Flower Girl. Can I just say . . . *tearful Leslie Knope voice* . . . "That--that was beautiful."
-
The plot:
- I'll be honest: this is where The Silver Branch fell just a tiny, tiny bit flat for me, personally. The plot was good, don't get me wrong; but it wasn't my favorite. Flavius and Justin didn't have a single clear goal for most of the book--and I totally get WHY that is, they were kicked out of the only life they knew (the Roman legions) and they're sort of lost and they're wandering around seeking a new purpose--but I just prefer a more focused plot for this type of book. (Like Eagle of the Ninth, where the goal is very simple and very clear.) Also, I will say, the story is much more strictly "military," in events and setting and so on, than the other Sutcliff books I've read; EOTN is about the IDEA of the Legions, but in TSB we're actually getting into the nitty-gritty of life and everyday business within the Roman army. Which is totally fine! It just doesn't suit me as well.
- HOWEVER. There were two major elements of the plot which I really, really, really loved. First, the "resistance" piece, where Justin and Flavius got involved with this big underground movement to push back against the usurping Emperor, eroding his base of power from beneath him. That was so cool!!! I adore underground resistance!! I love its focus on small and "insignificant" efforts, helping one victim at a time, hiding one fugitive at a time--because each person matters, and each little bit helps. And before you know it, you've set off a giant wave of change and helped bring down an entire freakin' regime. Way to go, Justin and Flavius . . . way to go! *high-fives*
- Second,
The themes:
- As always with Sutcliff, these were excellent. I was particularly inspired by the recurring theme of new and "strange" blends of courage--how we are capable of MORE THAN ONE KIND of bravery, even though we may think we only hold one very narrow kind in our heart. "I can charge the enemy in pitched battle, but I could never be a secret agent." "I can clean gushing bloody wounds without blinking, but I could never command a force of soldiers." And so the excuses go on. But it's a lie, really. We are capable of so much more . . . and God has a way of gently (or not-so-gently) nudging us to realize it. Justin and Flavius, I'm so proud of both of you. <3
- I was also fascinated by the theme of institutional decline--which was hinted at in EOTN, but emphasized much more strongly in this book. The Roman Empire is crumbling from within. Slowly, ever so slowly, but inexorably, too. And sure, there's pressure from without (the Saxon invaders, etc.), but Sutcliff shows that, more than anything, it's the deterioration of civic culture within the Empire that's truly fatal. By and large, the people (whether officers, soldiers, government officials, or common citizens) don't really care any more. The commitment to preserve the old institutions is lacking. And THAT is how the Empire is going to fall; and men like Emperor Carausius know it, and are trying to prepare for it. Fascinating. Also incredibly sad. To be honest, I'm almost afraid to read Book 3, The Lantern Bearers, because I know that's where it all goes down in flames . . .
Conclusion:
I am now a die-hard fan of Rosemary Sutcliff. There is no turning back. It is a permanent ailment. :-P But I wouldn't have it any other way.
September 25, 2019
I loved this even more than The Eagle of the Ninth, if that’s possible. Almost cried. My Sutcliff addiction is complete.
Read
January 12, 2016It's very noticeable, after reading a few of Rosemary Sutcliff's books in close succession, how her protagonists are never the 'strong' ones. In Song For A Dark Queen, it's narrated by the queen's harper, not one of her warriors or a member of her family or the queen herself. And within the context of the narrative, that makes perfect sense, but it's a slightly unexpected choice. In The Eagle Of The Ninth, the protagonist is lame in one leg because of an injury, and therefore struggles with chronic pain despite the fact it is almost healed. And here, the protagonist is an anxious, sickly surgeon (he wasn't healthy enough to be a soldier) with a stutter that gets worse when he's nervous.
It makes a change. It really does. And it also makes sense, reading the author bio of Sutcliff at the end of the novel which highlights the fact she was in a wheelchair for most of her life, affected by Still's disease.
I've spent most of my life hale and healthy, until recently. Unfortunately, long-term health issues got a lot worse and I've been kind of limited in what I could do the last year or so. I'm also anxious and prone to panic attacks and nervous breakdowns. A lot of the time, these limitations massively affect my mood. But they also impact my reading taste, because why would I want to read about strong, athletic characters saving the world / their family when I could read about disabled or injured characters doing the same thing by overcoming their difficulties and playing their strengths? I imagine it was a similar attitude that prompted Sutcliff to make those decisions about her characters, and I'm sincerely grateful for it.
It's refreshing to read a historical novel where the sickly or injured character isn't confined to their room while dashing young soldiers go around filling the plot criteria, perhaps out of pity or love for their fallen comrade. It's refreshing to read about somebody waking up with chronic pain in their leg and pushing through it to achieve something that most people thought was impossible, or struggling to communicate because of their nervousness but working through it to build friendships and alliances.
Sometimes Sutcliff's style isn't the easiest, and I always feel slightly lost for the first couple of chapters of her books as I try and adjust to the setting which is often very intense and a little bit difficult to understand (and I'm far older than the target audience of these books). This one was no exception, though that might have been because I haven't read anything in a few weeks due to a heavy workload from school, and I wasn't in the swing of it. But the story, especially how it linked so cleverly and carefully with the earlier book, The Eagle Of The Ninth, made it worth it. And I've already mentioned what I like so much about her protagonists.
So not the easiest read I've ever picked up from the children's shelves in the library and there's definitely no reason that it should be limited to that age group -- the writing and language is sophisticated, the characters are young but grown up, rather than being adolescents or children, and I'm sure it would appeal just as much to others my age (18) as to the ten-year-olds who frequent the children's section.
In future, I won't let myself be embarrassed when I check out those books.
It makes a change. It really does. And it also makes sense, reading the author bio of Sutcliff at the end of the novel which highlights the fact she was in a wheelchair for most of her life, affected by Still's disease.
I've spent most of my life hale and healthy, until recently. Unfortunately, long-term health issues got a lot worse and I've been kind of limited in what I could do the last year or so. I'm also anxious and prone to panic attacks and nervous breakdowns. A lot of the time, these limitations massively affect my mood. But they also impact my reading taste, because why would I want to read about strong, athletic characters saving the world / their family when I could read about disabled or injured characters doing the same thing by overcoming their difficulties and playing their strengths? I imagine it was a similar attitude that prompted Sutcliff to make those decisions about her characters, and I'm sincerely grateful for it.
It's refreshing to read a historical novel where the sickly or injured character isn't confined to their room while dashing young soldiers go around filling the plot criteria, perhaps out of pity or love for their fallen comrade. It's refreshing to read about somebody waking up with chronic pain in their leg and pushing through it to achieve something that most people thought was impossible, or struggling to communicate because of their nervousness but working through it to build friendships and alliances.
Sometimes Sutcliff's style isn't the easiest, and I always feel slightly lost for the first couple of chapters of her books as I try and adjust to the setting which is often very intense and a little bit difficult to understand (and I'm far older than the target audience of these books). This one was no exception, though that might have been because I haven't read anything in a few weeks due to a heavy workload from school, and I wasn't in the swing of it. But the story, especially how it linked so cleverly and carefully with the earlier book, The Eagle Of The Ninth, made it worth it. And I've already mentioned what I like so much about her protagonists.
So not the easiest read I've ever picked up from the children's shelves in the library and there's definitely no reason that it should be limited to that age group -- the writing and language is sophisticated, the characters are young but grown up, rather than being adolescents or children, and I'm sure it would appeal just as much to others my age (18) as to the ten-year-olds who frequent the children's section.
In future, I won't let myself be embarrassed when I check out those books.
December 27, 2024
5+ stars (8/10 hearts). Oh my heart. The first time I read this, I was very disappointed that it wasn’t about my old loves Ecsa & Marcus & Cottia & Cub. But pretty soon I was in love with Flavius & Justin and their story… and by the second reread, I totally forgot I was ever disappointed.
I loved the excitement and mystery, and of course the writing style—so witty and quiet and strong and vivid, and it was SO PERFECTLY Justin’s point of view—a bit wistful and thoughtful... And the theme was amazing!
I absolutely love Flavius and Justin on their own AND together. They’re both amazing and they complete each other so well. I love how Flavius is the brave leader and quick thinker, and how Justin is the reflective supporter and the courageous follower. I absolutely love Anthonius—so brave and noble and kind-hearted... I was sad that nothing came out of the mention of his being a Christian, but I love that tidbit. I loved Pandarus, and Cullen the hound, and Evicatos <33 and Paulinus... and Aunt Honoria... and the nurse... and oh, so many amazing characters again. And the Eagle!!! I love how it returns in this book, and the part it plays. It totally seems like a real character…
The ending here is absolutely SPLENDID. I don’t really have words… I loved this book so much and I am SO eager to read book 3 in this series. <3
Content: A few prayers/invocations to the gods.
A Favourite Quote: He was a man with a grudge against the world—a world that had denied him the promotion he thought it owed him. Justin was sorry for him; it must be hard to go through life bearing it a grudge[.]
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “I—was a surgeon[.]”
“You’re lucky[.] You’re wonderfully lucky. Most of us can only break things.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “You have come to the world’s end[.] I hope you like it.”
“I don’t very much,” Flavius said frankly. “But that is beside the point. I also don’t like the way the garrison bears itself on parade[,] and that is very much to the point.” …
“Well, there was a time when I thought the like. You’ll mend your ideas in time.”
“Either that, or the garrison of Magnis will mend its ideas,” Flavius said[.] “I rather think that it will be the garrison[.]”
I loved the excitement and mystery, and of course the writing style—so witty and quiet and strong and vivid, and it was SO PERFECTLY Justin’s point of view—a bit wistful and thoughtful... And the theme was amazing!
I absolutely love Flavius and Justin on their own AND together. They’re both amazing and they complete each other so well. I love how Flavius is the brave leader and quick thinker, and how Justin is the reflective supporter and the courageous follower. I absolutely love Anthonius—so brave and noble and kind-hearted... I was sad that nothing came out of the mention of his being a Christian, but I love that tidbit. I loved Pandarus, and Cullen the hound, and Evicatos <33 and Paulinus... and Aunt Honoria... and the nurse... and oh, so many amazing characters again. And the Eagle!!! I love how it returns in this book, and the part it plays. It totally seems like a real character…
The ending here is absolutely SPLENDID. I don’t really have words… I loved this book so much and I am SO eager to read book 3 in this series. <3
Content: A few prayers/invocations to the gods.
A Favourite Quote: He was a man with a grudge against the world—a world that had denied him the promotion he thought it owed him. Justin was sorry for him; it must be hard to go through life bearing it a grudge[.]
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “I—was a surgeon[.]”
“You’re lucky[.] You’re wonderfully lucky. Most of us can only break things.”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “You have come to the world’s end[.] I hope you like it.”
“I don’t very much,” Flavius said frankly. “But that is beside the point. I also don’t like the way the garrison bears itself on parade[,] and that is very much to the point.” …
“Well, there was a time when I thought the like. You’ll mend your ideas in time.”
“Either that, or the garrison of Magnis will mend its ideas,” Flavius said[.] “I rather think that it will be the garrison[.]”
February 14, 2020
A great follow up to The Eagle of the Ninth! And I left no time gap in between finishing one and starting the other. Not that The Eagle leaves you hanging. The books are stand-alone action stories, but when you fall in love with an author, her plot and characters, you don't want to waste any time in finding out what happens next; even if it is several generations later.
Cleanliness: the word "h*ll" is used twice. Contains some fight scenes and battle sequences - a few are described in sentence length but not overly detailed. Some native men are mentioned as not being fully clothed. The Roman gods are referenced and prayed to a few times.
*Note: I listened to the audio version of this book so this Cleanliness Report may not be as thoroughly detailed as other reports are. Also, some inappropriate content may have been forgotten/missed and not included in the report.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
Cleanliness: the word "h*ll" is used twice. Contains some fight scenes and battle sequences - a few are described in sentence length but not overly detailed. Some native men are mentioned as not being fully clothed. The Roman gods are referenced and prayed to a few times.
*Note: I listened to the audio version of this book so this Cleanliness Report may not be as thoroughly detailed as other reports are. Also, some inappropriate content may have been forgotten/missed and not included in the report.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
April 6, 2018
The Silver Branch by Rosemary Sutcliff is a wonderful young adult historical adventure novel that I dearly love. There are many reasons why, and I could go on forever about all of them. Instead, I'll jump between a few representative highlights of some elements I appreciate most.
My favorite part of this book is most definitely the characters. Flavius and Justin, especially, but also each of their friends - from strange little Cullen to tall and fabulous Evicatos of the Spear, from the great little Emperor to the inimitable Aunt Honoria. Even the villains and other evil characters are so well-written - realistic, believable, dastardly, complex, and never cliche - and the main villain and his henchmen are possibly the very best antagonists I've ever read in my life. I could go on for ages and ages about what I love about each of the heroes, but I'll focus on just a few prominent things - though be assured there are many more than these.
I love Flavius and Justin's character qualities - their incredible strength, goodness, commitment, loyalty, sense of duty, kindness, leadership, and courage. I love their good-natured, friendly, cheerful, and witty dispositions - Flavius in his fiery, bright way, and Justin in his own quiet, steady way. I love their close and brotherly friendship and the way they stick by each other, fighting alongside one another, through thick and thin. I identify with their loneliness and rejoice that they found each other and each gained a close companion who is much more than merely a friend or kinsman. I love stories of cousins, and there aren't enough in the world - and this is arguably my favorite one.
I love Flavius's great leadership, and Justin's as well - equally admirable in both although and because it comes easily to Flavius but not to Justin. Flavius is strong and valiant and is the first in every attack and the last in every retreat, as is Justin. Both of them are always with their men in the most dangerous place, fighting shoulder to shoulder with the rest and rallying them on to victory or defeat. I love Flavius's immense and laughter-ridden pride in his men, whether his cohort, his band of spies, or his motley, tattered "legion." I love the way he cares for his men as individuals like only a good leader can. There's a reason his men would follow him to the earth's end and back and through any battle or risk of death.
I love that Justin is a surgeon and a healer in every way - in title, heart, hands, mind, and very being. He's committed to doing his work to the best of his ability, and he always, always puts his medical duty and his patients first. He has incredible compassion, empathy, kindness, and care for people, and he has eyes to truly, deeply see them and a heart that cares and helps others. I love how he carries his surgical instrument case through everything he goes through, even beyond the seeming end of the world he knows. Without him ever saying so, the value he places on his career and his skill to live it out are vividly apparent in his every thought and action. I love that he's not strong in body but never lets that stop him. He was sickly as a child - part of what gave him his desire to be a surgeon - and he doesn't have physical strength or stamina, but he pushes on anyway, every bit as much as Flavius, and he never bows out of the fight. I identify with Justin so much - his identity as a healer and medical professional (though I'm not one quite yet); his insecurities, his feeling of not being good enough, and his low self-esteem; his compassion, empathy, kindness, and care; his desire and ability to help and heal others; and much more. I'm a tall, reasonably pretty female, and he's the opposite, but I recognize my heart and being in him.
I love this book's depiction of courage throughout, and it's one of my many favorite things about the characters and themes of The Silver Branch. Several of the characters exemplify this quality, and not just the two main heroes. Paulinus likes comfort and is timid and not at all adventurous, yet he risks mortal danger daily to fight for what he believes is right and save countless lives. Justin and Flavius know the danger, like Paulinus, and they at first do not want to join him in this task, but they can't help it in the end - their goodness and sense of justice win over their fear. They repeatedly make the difficult choice to continue Paulinus's work even when they could more easily refuse. And even before that, everything Justin and Flavius do speaks of their courage and refusal to do anything but what is right. They risk their lives to twice warn the emperor, to do Paulinus's work, and to fight in desperate battle to save the townspeople, the province, and countless individuals. Then there's Anthonius, who risks his own life to bodily defend the weak and helpless - and suffers the dangerous consequences for doing so. Then, after seeing the horrific danger first-hand, he makes the same courageous choice as Justin and Flavius - because he feels what they're doing is right and good. He also risks persecution for his faith but follows his Christ anyway, and I admire that as well - and I hope and trust that I would do the same. Their friends and comrades show courage as well as they fight alongside them. Each of these men, and others as well, risk death and terrible danger to fight for what's right - to fight corruption, wickedness, oppression, and darkness with light, justice, humanity, and kindness. That takes immense courage. These men stand up for what is right against overwhelming evil when most others want simply to stay safe and survive. To me, thought they are fictional, they represent real people throughout history and the world who have risked their lives to faithfully fight for what is right and true in the face of great danger and evil.
I love how extremely vivid and powerful the scenes and settings of The Silver Branch are. The pulsing tension of dark shadow shot with red flame; the pure beauty of marshes and birdsong, grassy hills and clouded skies; the soft, warm, golden lamplight; the bustling, colorful crowds and deserted natural expanses.
I love that Justin has an eye for small but significant details about people, places, and events. He truly sees things and people, and he thinks deeply about them. It shows in the few important details that are described in his narrative, details that have far, far deeper significance than they seem to have on the surface: a precious apple-tree, a half-finished chess game, a crimson "rose for the arena," Justin's instrument case, a battered gold eagle standard, a half-eaten radish, a leaf-bladed spear ringed with dangling white feathers, a sprig of rye grass, a green-painted dolphin sign, a faraway beacon gleaming red in the night, a country farm, a singed and crushed moth, a silver branch of tinkling bells, a green flawed emerald ring. And I could go on for even longer about the small vivid details that make each and every character incredibly real, alive, and human. These small details of people make the main and minor characters of Sutcliff and especially The Silver Branch the most lifelike characters I've ever read. They come to life in vivid relief with only a few descriptive details, and I can see every feature and movement of each person, which is rare for me.
I love that this book includes such wonderful female characters. Though they are on the page for much less time than the boys, they're all the more potent, vivid, and strong for that, since they're no less compelling than any of the men. Aunt Honoria is the most prominent and wonderful woman in this book, and she shines gloriously beside Flavius and Justin throughout. Aunt Honoria is amazing, and I adore her, admire her, and hope I become half the woman she is. She always keeps her cool and poise even in the most harrowing of situations - which is ironically the only time we see her - and rises to every challenge. I love her vivaciousness, her crooked but fabulous make-up, her generosity, her unique and lovely voice and laughter, her affectionate care for her nephews, her youth despite her age, her courage, and her immense strength of character. Other female characters appear for a total of only a few pages each, but they are themselves vivid, wonderful, and admirable. Vast and motherly Volumnia, the delicate and fragile "girl like a pale flower" who shows great courage and steadiness, and Manlius's courageous wife and other unnamed women who aid the heroes in their fight. I even love that romance is technically non-existent in this book - but I also love that there's still a barely perceptible hint of what may happen in the future, which I earnestly hope and believe must certainly take place someday.
I love the ending of this book. It's so perfectly bittersweet, and full of joy and tragedy, and it looks back on all the joys and sorrows of the rest of the book - battles and friends won and lost, hardships endured, victories and struggles. The final desperate battle is intense, heart-wrenching, and glorious. And I love how even though the heroes' fight has ended, they are given a new beginning and hope after it all.
I highly, highly recommend The Silver Branch to all readers of historical or adventure - and to any reader of any genre who loves compelling characters, suspenseful plots, and deep and beautiful writing.
My favorite part of this book is most definitely the characters. Flavius and Justin, especially, but also each of their friends - from strange little Cullen to tall and fabulous Evicatos of the Spear, from the great little Emperor to the inimitable Aunt Honoria. Even the villains and other evil characters are so well-written - realistic, believable, dastardly, complex, and never cliche - and the main villain and his henchmen are possibly the very best antagonists I've ever read in my life. I could go on for ages and ages about what I love about each of the heroes, but I'll focus on just a few prominent things - though be assured there are many more than these.
I love Flavius and Justin's character qualities - their incredible strength, goodness, commitment, loyalty, sense of duty, kindness, leadership, and courage. I love their good-natured, friendly, cheerful, and witty dispositions - Flavius in his fiery, bright way, and Justin in his own quiet, steady way. I love their close and brotherly friendship and the way they stick by each other, fighting alongside one another, through thick and thin. I identify with their loneliness and rejoice that they found each other and each gained a close companion who is much more than merely a friend or kinsman. I love stories of cousins, and there aren't enough in the world - and this is arguably my favorite one.
I love Flavius's great leadership, and Justin's as well - equally admirable in both although and because it comes easily to Flavius but not to Justin. Flavius is strong and valiant and is the first in every attack and the last in every retreat, as is Justin. Both of them are always with their men in the most dangerous place, fighting shoulder to shoulder with the rest and rallying them on to victory or defeat. I love Flavius's immense and laughter-ridden pride in his men, whether his cohort, his band of spies, or his motley, tattered "legion." I love the way he cares for his men as individuals like only a good leader can. There's a reason his men would follow him to the earth's end and back and through any battle or risk of death.
I love that Justin is a surgeon and a healer in every way - in title, heart, hands, mind, and very being. He's committed to doing his work to the best of his ability, and he always, always puts his medical duty and his patients first. He has incredible compassion, empathy, kindness, and care for people, and he has eyes to truly, deeply see them and a heart that cares and helps others. I love how he carries his surgical instrument case through everything he goes through, even beyond the seeming end of the world he knows. Without him ever saying so, the value he places on his career and his skill to live it out are vividly apparent in his every thought and action. I love that he's not strong in body but never lets that stop him. He was sickly as a child - part of what gave him his desire to be a surgeon - and he doesn't have physical strength or stamina, but he pushes on anyway, every bit as much as Flavius, and he never bows out of the fight. I identify with Justin so much - his identity as a healer and medical professional (though I'm not one quite yet); his insecurities, his feeling of not being good enough, and his low self-esteem; his compassion, empathy, kindness, and care; his desire and ability to help and heal others; and much more. I'm a tall, reasonably pretty female, and he's the opposite, but I recognize my heart and being in him.
I love this book's depiction of courage throughout, and it's one of my many favorite things about the characters and themes of The Silver Branch. Several of the characters exemplify this quality, and not just the two main heroes. Paulinus likes comfort and is timid and not at all adventurous, yet he risks mortal danger daily to fight for what he believes is right and save countless lives. Justin and Flavius know the danger, like Paulinus, and they at first do not want to join him in this task, but they can't help it in the end - their goodness and sense of justice win over their fear. They repeatedly make the difficult choice to continue Paulinus's work even when they could more easily refuse. And even before that, everything Justin and Flavius do speaks of their courage and refusal to do anything but what is right. They risk their lives to twice warn the emperor, to do Paulinus's work, and to fight in desperate battle to save the townspeople, the province, and countless individuals. Then there's Anthonius, who risks his own life to bodily defend the weak and helpless - and suffers the dangerous consequences for doing so. Then, after seeing the horrific danger first-hand, he makes the same courageous choice as Justin and Flavius - because he feels what they're doing is right and good. He also risks persecution for his faith but follows his Christ anyway, and I admire that as well - and I hope and trust that I would do the same. Their friends and comrades show courage as well as they fight alongside them. Each of these men, and others as well, risk death and terrible danger to fight for what's right - to fight corruption, wickedness, oppression, and darkness with light, justice, humanity, and kindness. That takes immense courage. These men stand up for what is right against overwhelming evil when most others want simply to stay safe and survive. To me, thought they are fictional, they represent real people throughout history and the world who have risked their lives to faithfully fight for what is right and true in the face of great danger and evil.
I love how extremely vivid and powerful the scenes and settings of The Silver Branch are. The pulsing tension of dark shadow shot with red flame; the pure beauty of marshes and birdsong, grassy hills and clouded skies; the soft, warm, golden lamplight; the bustling, colorful crowds and deserted natural expanses.
I love that Justin has an eye for small but significant details about people, places, and events. He truly sees things and people, and he thinks deeply about them. It shows in the few important details that are described in his narrative, details that have far, far deeper significance than they seem to have on the surface: a precious apple-tree, a half-finished chess game, a crimson "rose for the arena," Justin's instrument case, a battered gold eagle standard, a half-eaten radish, a leaf-bladed spear ringed with dangling white feathers, a sprig of rye grass, a green-painted dolphin sign, a faraway beacon gleaming red in the night, a country farm, a singed and crushed moth, a silver branch of tinkling bells, a green flawed emerald ring. And I could go on for even longer about the small vivid details that make each and every character incredibly real, alive, and human. These small details of people make the main and minor characters of Sutcliff and especially The Silver Branch the most lifelike characters I've ever read. They come to life in vivid relief with only a few descriptive details, and I can see every feature and movement of each person, which is rare for me.
I love that this book includes such wonderful female characters. Though they are on the page for much less time than the boys, they're all the more potent, vivid, and strong for that, since they're no less compelling than any of the men. Aunt Honoria is the most prominent and wonderful woman in this book, and she shines gloriously beside Flavius and Justin throughout. Aunt Honoria is amazing, and I adore her, admire her, and hope I become half the woman she is. She always keeps her cool and poise even in the most harrowing of situations - which is ironically the only time we see her - and rises to every challenge. I love her vivaciousness, her crooked but fabulous make-up, her generosity, her unique and lovely voice and laughter, her affectionate care for her nephews, her youth despite her age, her courage, and her immense strength of character. Other female characters appear for a total of only a few pages each, but they are themselves vivid, wonderful, and admirable. Vast and motherly Volumnia, the delicate and fragile "girl like a pale flower" who shows great courage and steadiness, and Manlius's courageous wife and other unnamed women who aid the heroes in their fight. I even love that romance is technically non-existent in this book - but I also love that there's still a barely perceptible hint of what may happen in the future, which I earnestly hope and believe must certainly take place someday.
I love the ending of this book. It's so perfectly bittersweet, and full of joy and tragedy, and it looks back on all the joys and sorrows of the rest of the book - battles and friends won and lost, hardships endured, victories and struggles. The final desperate battle is intense, heart-wrenching, and glorious. And I love how even though the heroes' fight has ended, they are given a new beginning and hope after it all.
I highly, highly recommend The Silver Branch to all readers of historical or adventure - and to any reader of any genre who loves compelling characters, suspenseful plots, and deep and beautiful writing.
Read
October 15, 2016Srebrna grana je vrlo solidan istorijski roman za decu koji se bavi onim istorijskim trenutkom kad se Rimsko carstvo već malo ljulja ali još nije počelo sasvim da se raspada (tako, treći vek). Kod nas je, mislim, dosta loše prošao jer su ga objavili em kao roman za odrasle, što ipak nije, em kao "drugu knjigu trilogije" što takođe nije, samostalan je roman i pored toga što je glavni junak praunuk onog iz "Orla Devete legije".
Rouzmeri Satklif piše ne samo pouzdano što se tiče istorije i sa uvek simpatičnim likovima već i sa velikim uživljavanjem u tadašnji svakodnevni život i uz lepe opise promena u vremenu i pejzažu. Pripovedanje utoliko jeste malo zahtevnije za današnju decu ali npr. neko od trinaest do petnaest godina ko voli stari Rim - trebalo bi da bude oduševljen.
I moram da dodam ovo o primerku (bibliotečkom) koji sam ja čitala. Pre mene ga je čitao neko ko je usput pravio dve vrste zabeleški: grafitnom i hemijskom olovkom. Grafitnom su podvlačene zanimljive rečenice i dodavane kritike apropo radnje ("nevešto konstruisano", "mnogo se guze naprazno") a hemijskom su stavljane zvezdice za... istorijske fusnote. Bodež saks? fusnota hemijskom, s etimologijom. Kukuruz (jedna od baš retkih omaški u inače iznenađujuće uspelom prevodu)? Ljutita fusnota "možda posle Kolumba i Kortesa!" Poglavlje o Karausiju? Na kraju poglavlja istorijska beleška o Karausiju preko celog praznog prostora, sitno ispisanih pola strane :) Razumem da to drugima smeta, meni je bilo drago i simpatično i sve vreme sam imala utisak da mi preko ramena knjigu čita neko poput mog razrednog (istoričara, normalno) iz gimnazije :)
Rouzmeri Satklif piše ne samo pouzdano što se tiče istorije i sa uvek simpatičnim likovima već i sa velikim uživljavanjem u tadašnji svakodnevni život i uz lepe opise promena u vremenu i pejzažu. Pripovedanje utoliko jeste malo zahtevnije za današnju decu ali npr. neko od trinaest do petnaest godina ko voli stari Rim - trebalo bi da bude oduševljen.
I moram da dodam ovo o primerku (bibliotečkom) koji sam ja čitala. Pre mene ga je čitao neko ko je usput pravio dve vrste zabeleški: grafitnom i hemijskom olovkom. Grafitnom su podvlačene zanimljive rečenice i dodavane kritike apropo radnje ("nevešto konstruisano", "mnogo se guze naprazno") a hemijskom su stavljane zvezdice za... istorijske fusnote. Bodež saks? fusnota hemijskom, s etimologijom. Kukuruz (jedna od baš retkih omaški u inače iznenađujuće uspelom prevodu)? Ljutita fusnota "možda posle Kolumba i Kortesa!" Poglavlje o Karausiju? Na kraju poglavlja istorijska beleška o Karausiju preko celog praznog prostora, sitno ispisanih pola strane :) Razumem da to drugima smeta, meni je bilo drago i simpatično i sve vreme sam imala utisak da mi preko ramena knjigu čita neko poput mog razrednog (istoričara, normalno) iz gimnazije :)
May 5, 2018
Intriguing story and style, amazing characters (ahh, my BABIES, Y'ALL), and definitely got my heart going. Another fantastic Sutcliff story!
April 10, 2019
3.5 Rosemary Sutcliff's writing style is rich and deep, but it was hard for us to follow this tale sometimes. I think this was very good but not quite as 5 star as her Arthurian books.
February 14, 2021
With each Sutcliff book, I am finding that they are best savored. You want to devour them because each story is so engaging, but it’s too risky to think you might miss something by doing so. The Silver Branch fulfilled all of my questy longings.
February 11, 2024
Why did I wait twenty years to read this book. I don’t know, but it was like coming home.
May 19, 2020
For those readers entirely unfamiliar with the work of Rosemary Sutcliff, The Silver Branch is the second in a series called The Eagle of the Ninth. The series begins with the book of that title and the other two books in the series are called Frontier Wolf and The Lantern Bearers. These four books - recently re-issued by Slightly Foxed in handsome hardcover editions - are set in England during the last years of Roman Britain. They are ostensibly for children, but they are aimed at the literary sweet spot (ages 12-14) where most children’s novels which win the Carnegie medal hit. (The Lantern Bearers won the Carnegie Medal in 1959 and the other books were short-listed for that prize.) Sutcliff said of her own work: “I would claim that my books are for children of all ages, from nine to ninety.”
I don’t think I would have enjoyed her books as a child, but my brother - who was obsessed with history, especially military history - would have loved them. I have minimal knowledge of Roman Britain, even now, so my experience of wading through my gaps of background knowledge was probably similar to that of your average 12 year old. Sutcliff does not ‘dumb down’ her books in any sense. She trusts her reader to follow her path; and by that, I mean that she doesn’t overly explain things. Like all of the 19th and 20th century classics, this book has the extensive vocabulary and sophisticated prose style which make the books wonderfully suitable for adult readers but probably a bit challenging for the age group for which they were intended. I would definitely recommend them for any older children or teenagers who have a keen interest in history.
The book is told from the limited third-person point of view, and the reader experiences the adventure through the character of Tiberius Lucius Justinianus - or ‘Justin’ as he is referred to by his friends. Justin is a junior surgeon, but he feels like he has let his father down by not following his footsteps into military command. He has a slight stammer; he’s not terribly brave or confident. In other words, he is an unlikely hero. In the first chapter ‘The Saxon Shore’, Justin arrives in Rutupiae (Sandwich, Kent) to take up his new posting in the Army Medical Corps. He meets a young Centurion called Marcellus Flavius Aquila and learns that they are kinsmen. The two young men, Justin and Flavius, will be joined together in their adventures for the rest of the book.
As Rome’s Empire crumbles, there is a jockeying for power in Britain - and this power struggle forms the main conflict of the book. Our two young heroes get sucked into the action when they overhear their Emperor’s chief staff officer collaborating with the Saxon enemy. I didn’t find the plot-line particularly captivating, but what I did enjoy was Sutcliff’s fluent writing style and her gift for characterisation. (The boys’ Aunt Honoria was my favourite character, but even the most minor characters were sketched with some detail and charm.) This book a huge departure from my usual reading taste, but I enjoyed it enough to want to continue with the series. Perhaps not immediately, but someday.
I don’t think I would have enjoyed her books as a child, but my brother - who was obsessed with history, especially military history - would have loved them. I have minimal knowledge of Roman Britain, even now, so my experience of wading through my gaps of background knowledge was probably similar to that of your average 12 year old. Sutcliff does not ‘dumb down’ her books in any sense. She trusts her reader to follow her path; and by that, I mean that she doesn’t overly explain things. Like all of the 19th and 20th century classics, this book has the extensive vocabulary and sophisticated prose style which make the books wonderfully suitable for adult readers but probably a bit challenging for the age group for which they were intended. I would definitely recommend them for any older children or teenagers who have a keen interest in history.
The book is told from the limited third-person point of view, and the reader experiences the adventure through the character of Tiberius Lucius Justinianus - or ‘Justin’ as he is referred to by his friends. Justin is a junior surgeon, but he feels like he has let his father down by not following his footsteps into military command. He has a slight stammer; he’s not terribly brave or confident. In other words, he is an unlikely hero. In the first chapter ‘The Saxon Shore’, Justin arrives in Rutupiae (Sandwich, Kent) to take up his new posting in the Army Medical Corps. He meets a young Centurion called Marcellus Flavius Aquila and learns that they are kinsmen. The two young men, Justin and Flavius, will be joined together in their adventures for the rest of the book.
As Rome’s Empire crumbles, there is a jockeying for power in Britain - and this power struggle forms the main conflict of the book. Our two young heroes get sucked into the action when they overhear their Emperor’s chief staff officer collaborating with the Saxon enemy. I didn’t find the plot-line particularly captivating, but what I did enjoy was Sutcliff’s fluent writing style and her gift for characterisation. (The boys’ Aunt Honoria was my favourite character, but even the most minor characters were sketched with some detail and charm.) This book a huge departure from my usual reading taste, but I enjoyed it enough to want to continue with the series. Perhaps not immediately, but someday.
August 24, 2018
Over 150 years have passed since Marcus Flavius Aquila discovered the lost eagle of the Ninth Legion (aka the Lost Legion) and during that time Britannia has gone through horrific convulsions. The northern tribes broke through Hadrian's Wall; the Romans abandoned the territory they conquered beyond Hadrian's wall and retreated behind it; Saxons raided the south-east coast; and the Romans built the Saxon Wall – a line of forts to keep the Saxons out their territory. To top things off, when Roman naval commander Marcus Aurelius Carausius learned that Emperor Maximian was going to execute him for corruption, he escaped to Britain with his army and declared himself Emperor of Britain and Gaul.
Tiberius Lucius Justinianus (aka Justin), a junior surgeon, walks into this mess in A.D. 292 when he is assigned to the Second Legion in Britannia while Emperor Carausius is still ruling. He meets a junior centurion, Marcelus Flavius Aquila, who was brought up in Britain, and the two discover they are cousins. Flavius also is directly related to Marcus Flavius Aquila. The two young Romans soon become fast friends.
When Justin and Flavius discover an assassination plot against the Emperor Carausius, they try to stop it. That's when the action begins. When their attempt fails, they're sent in disgrace to serve on Hadrian's Wall, then desert when they learn of a plot against their own lives. Soon they join a resistance group but flee when the Emperor discovers it. Life under the Emperor becomes worse and worse, especially after he recruits Saxons into his army. When the cousins learn that Maximian's co-emperor, Constantius, is going to invade Britain, they recruit a motley army, which becomes the Lost Legion, and join him when he lands.
I love Roman history and Sutcliff's descriptions of how the Romans and native Britons lived bring the period to life. I haven't found many novels set in Roman Britain. But I'm thrilled with Sutcliff's. I've read four already and many of her others are on my To Read shelf. I'm still surprised to find that Sutcliff's novels are classified as YA and not Adult. If the others are like this one, they'll be great reads.
Tiberius Lucius Justinianus (aka Justin), a junior surgeon, walks into this mess in A.D. 292 when he is assigned to the Second Legion in Britannia while Emperor Carausius is still ruling. He meets a junior centurion, Marcelus Flavius Aquila, who was brought up in Britain, and the two discover they are cousins. Flavius also is directly related to Marcus Flavius Aquila. The two young Romans soon become fast friends.
When Justin and Flavius discover an assassination plot against the Emperor Carausius, they try to stop it. That's when the action begins. When their attempt fails, they're sent in disgrace to serve on Hadrian's Wall, then desert when they learn of a plot against their own lives. Soon they join a resistance group but flee when the Emperor discovers it. Life under the Emperor becomes worse and worse, especially after he recruits Saxons into his army. When the cousins learn that Maximian's co-emperor, Constantius, is going to invade Britain, they recruit a motley army, which becomes the Lost Legion, and join him when he lands.
I love Roman history and Sutcliff's descriptions of how the Romans and native Britons lived bring the period to life. I haven't found many novels set in Roman Britain. But I'm thrilled with Sutcliff's. I've read four already and many of her others are on my To Read shelf. I'm still surprised to find that Sutcliff's novels are classified as YA and not Adult. If the others are like this one, they'll be great reads.
March 16, 2024
A good story that celebrates the classic virtues of honor, courage and sacrifice with an epic battle as its climax.
September 23, 2022
The Ninth Legion of Rome marches into the North of Albion, and disappears. The son of the Commanding officer decides to find out what happened to his father, and avenge his death if need be.
I felt like the setting was well done, but the anachronistic attitudes were not.
I felt like the setting was well done, but the anachronistic attitudes were not.
November 15, 2008
Up until very recently I was unaware that Eagle of the Ninth, one of my all-time favorite Sutcliff books had a sequel. This is not the first time something like this has happened to me, and it's very demoralizing. Anyway, I made haste and got out The Silver Branch to read immediately. And then it sat in my To Be Read pile for ages until I made myself read it because I had to return it. Well, made myself read it isn't quite the right phrase, because I enjoyed every minute of it (except when a certain character died, which was very traumatic--two certain characters, I suppose).
I've read enough Sutcliffs by now that I can pick up the thread. Rutupiae light, for example, is only briefly mentioned in this book, but anyone who's read The Lantern Bearers (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE) will know how important it is there. Similarly, there's the familiar old flawed stone with the dolphin carved in it. This book is a bit different from most of Sutcliff's though, in that it arguably has two main characters.
Justin (Tiberius Lucius Justinianus) has just been posted to Roman Britain as a surgeon to the Eagles who are supporting Carausius, the self-styled Emperor of Britain. He's excited because his family was originally from Britain. On his first day there he falls in with a young centurion about his age who turns out to be a cousin of his (Flauvius). And, as it further turns out, they are both descendants of Marcus Flavius Aquila, of Eagle of the Ninth fame (YAY!).
This being a Sutcliff novel, naturally they run into quite a bit of trouble. While I like Flauvius, Justin became the real hero of the novel for me. I think that's what Sutcliff intended (most of it is told primarily from his point of view), and it worked.
This is highly recommended for almost all ages (her prose is occasionally difficult). No bad content, except for a bit of violence.
Quotes:
"And above him towered the ramparts of Rutupiae: a grey prow of ramparts raw with newness, from the midst of which sprang the beacon-crested tower of the Light." (Okay, so I wrote that down solely for the Lantern Bearers reference. I love that book. I can't help it.)
"[Justin] was a friendly soul himself, but he was always gratefully surprised at any sign of friendliness from other people, and with his gratitude, his liking went out, hesitant but warm, to the red-headed centurion [Flauvius]."
"Here we are on the run, with the hunt up behind us and the world falling into shards around our ears and you bring your instrument-case away with you."
"The young Centurion, who had been completely still throughout, said very softly, as though to himself, 'Greater love hath no man--' and Justin thought it sounded as though he were quoting someone else."
I've read enough Sutcliffs by now that I can pick up the thread. Rutupiae light, for example, is only briefly mentioned in this book, but anyone who's read The Lantern Bearers (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE) will know how important it is there. Similarly, there's the familiar old flawed stone with the dolphin carved in it. This book is a bit different from most of Sutcliff's though, in that it arguably has two main characters.
Justin (Tiberius Lucius Justinianus) has just been posted to Roman Britain as a surgeon to the Eagles who are supporting Carausius, the self-styled Emperor of Britain. He's excited because his family was originally from Britain. On his first day there he falls in with a young centurion about his age who turns out to be a cousin of his (Flauvius). And, as it further turns out, they are both descendants of Marcus Flavius Aquila, of Eagle of the Ninth fame (YAY!).
This being a Sutcliff novel, naturally they run into quite a bit of trouble. While I like Flauvius, Justin became the real hero of the novel for me. I think that's what Sutcliff intended (most of it is told primarily from his point of view), and it worked.
This is highly recommended for almost all ages (her prose is occasionally difficult). No bad content, except for a bit of violence.
Quotes:
"And above him towered the ramparts of Rutupiae: a grey prow of ramparts raw with newness, from the midst of which sprang the beacon-crested tower of the Light." (Okay, so I wrote that down solely for the Lantern Bearers reference. I love that book. I can't help it.)
"[Justin] was a friendly soul himself, but he was always gratefully surprised at any sign of friendliness from other people, and with his gratitude, his liking went out, hesitant but warm, to the red-headed centurion [Flauvius]."
"Here we are on the run, with the hunt up behind us and the world falling into shards around our ears and you bring your instrument-case away with you."
"The young Centurion, who had been completely still throughout, said very softly, as though to himself, 'Greater love hath no man--' and Justin thought it sounded as though he were quoting someone else."
May 21, 2020
2020 Reread: Looking at my previous review of this book is kind of ironic. I missed a lot of the subtleties because I rushed through it, while this time I missed a lot of the subtleties....because it took me a week longer to read it this time around. The Great Coronavirus Reading Slump of 2020 strikes again! I did make it through this, but it was in short spurts because I just could not focus. Not the fault of the book. Maybe the THIRD time I read this, I'll be in the right headspace to enjoy it properly.
2017: Another well written installment in thus series. I'll admit that quite a bit if the subtle action bits were lost on me because I kind of rushed through this one a little because I was eager to begin rereading The Thief by MWT. However, it's obviously a classic worth a reread and I suspect I'll enjoy it more the second time around.
2017: Another well written installment in thus series. I'll admit that quite a bit if the subtle action bits were lost on me because I kind of rushed through this one a little because I was eager to begin rereading The Thief by MWT. However, it's obviously a classic worth a reread and I suspect I'll enjoy it more the second time around.
March 21, 2011
I cannot quite tell if this ties with "The Eagle of the Ninth" or comes in as a close second, but either way, it is a wonderful story. As with "The Eagle of the Ninth," Sutcliff has an amazing knack for showing emotion in the little things of the story, and for sweeping the reader off to yesteryear. Justin and Flavius are spectacular, and the smattering of lesser characters are each unique - Evicatos of the Spear, Aunt Honoria, Centurian Anthonius, Cullen the Fool, Paulinus, and, larger than life, Carausius.
June 26, 2024
3.5. Not as good as the Eagle of the Ninth but I still enjoyed it. The second half was better than the first!
January 1, 2025
Don’t read the historical note first if you don’t want a major plot twist revealed!
4.5
I loved the Eagle of the Ninth. I didn’t love this as much but it is still heart-warmingly heroic, beautifully written and historically interesting. And having read Eagle of the Ninth, every scene in which the battered eagle appeared had much more emotional resonance.
4.5
I loved the Eagle of the Ninth. I didn’t love this as much but it is still heart-warmingly heroic, beautifully written and historically interesting. And having read Eagle of the Ninth, every scene in which the battered eagle appeared had much more emotional resonance.
October 31, 2014
Well, the annoying thing about this book was the spoilers contained in the blurb, two on the back cover and another one on the page inside the front cover, giving away two major turning points in the book and effectively telling us something that doesn't happen until the last act, though it is the point the book has been building up to. It doesn't spoil the book by any means but it does nail down the direction of the book for you before you've even picked it up. The first spoiled turning point doesn't occur until about 100 pages in, for God's sake.
Anyway, The Silver branch, sequel to Eagle Of The Ninth, set a generation later, recounts the adventures of Justin and Flavius, young Roman officers posted to Britain where Carausias has proclaimed himself Emperor. Once a river-pilot, he rose to command the Roman fleet and absconded with it to Britain and overthrew the Governor. Now he's a valuable ally of the much-weakened Roman Empire against encroaching barbarians and sea-wolves and plans to strengthen Britain to the point where it can withstand the impending fall of Rome.
Justin and Flavius, good-hearted and good-natured youths, chance on a treacherous meeting while hunting on the coast. Reporting what they witnised, however, leads to an unexpected outcome. What follows is a tale of loyalty and betrayal, a stirring adventure that builds to a fiery climax under the battered and tarnished Eagle of the lost Ninth Legion.
Absolutely marvelous stuff. Sutcliff was the mistress of historical adventures, concealing a sophisticated understanding of the ancient world and its history under a deceptively simple and straightforward style of storytelling. The story twists and turns and runs its own course, and it helps if the sodding copywriter hasn't given any of the various twists and turns away.
Anyway, The Silver branch, sequel to Eagle Of The Ninth, set a generation later, recounts the adventures of Justin and Flavius, young Roman officers posted to Britain where Carausias has proclaimed himself Emperor. Once a river-pilot, he rose to command the Roman fleet and absconded with it to Britain and overthrew the Governor. Now he's a valuable ally of the much-weakened Roman Empire against encroaching barbarians and sea-wolves and plans to strengthen Britain to the point where it can withstand the impending fall of Rome.
Justin and Flavius, good-hearted and good-natured youths, chance on a treacherous meeting while hunting on the coast. Reporting what they witnised, however, leads to an unexpected outcome. What follows is a tale of loyalty and betrayal, a stirring adventure that builds to a fiery climax under the battered and tarnished Eagle of the lost Ninth Legion.
Absolutely marvelous stuff. Sutcliff was the mistress of historical adventures, concealing a sophisticated understanding of the ancient world and its history under a deceptively simple and straightforward style of storytelling. The story twists and turns and runs its own course, and it helps if the sodding copywriter hasn't given any of the various twists and turns away.
December 25, 2018
I don't know, this writing style just doesn't do it for me. It might be the detached feel; I just couldn't get into the characters, least of all Justin, and none seemed to be developed well at all.
It also could be the fact that I didn't really get the big picture of what was going on. Sure, I knew when there was a battle. But I didn't know for what they were fighting. I knew when Justin and Flavius were running from their enemy; but I didn't know why. I wasn't able to glean one whole overreaching plot. Maybe that's because I'm not familiar with the history of the Roman Empire in Britain, but I would have liked to learn some of it from this book, instead of being lost because I don't know it.
It's disappointing, because I'm sure the history of the Roman Empire is very interesting, and the ninth legion in particular. I was able to glean some of the factual history of the emperors, but none of the normal, everyday experiences of the soldiers or surgeons. All in all, I would have liked a little more explanations, more character development, and more clarity. And to top it all off, I was really disappointed when Jesus' followers were mentioned, but no one became Christians.
It also could be the fact that I didn't really get the big picture of what was going on. Sure, I knew when there was a battle. But I didn't know for what they were fighting. I knew when Justin and Flavius were running from their enemy; but I didn't know why. I wasn't able to glean one whole overreaching plot. Maybe that's because I'm not familiar with the history of the Roman Empire in Britain, but I would have liked to learn some of it from this book, instead of being lost because I don't know it.
It's disappointing, because I'm sure the history of the Roman Empire is very interesting, and the ninth legion in particular. I was able to glean some of the factual history of the emperors, but none of the normal, everyday experiences of the soldiers or surgeons. All in all, I would have liked a little more explanations, more character development, and more clarity. And to top it all off, I was really disappointed when Jesus' followers were mentioned, but no one became Christians.
March 5, 2016
Ich hatte "Der Adler der neunten Legion" in meiner Jugend gelesen und zugegriffen, als ich diesen Titel auf einem Bücherflohmarkt fand. Wie damals hat mich die Geschichte schnell in ihren Bann gerissen, nur dass ich jetzt mehr noch den soliden historischen Kontext zu schätzen weiß. Gleichzeitig sind mir heute aber einige Szenen aufgefallen, wo die Erlösung bzw. das Zusammentreffen der Figuren doch allzusehr dem "deus ex machina" gleicht. Vermutlich bin ich heute etwas anspruchsvoller geworden. Trotzdem, Rosemary Sutcliff bietet immer Unterhaltung erster Güte.
April 20, 2011
Woobies get banished to the Wall, end up saving Britain from the nasty tribeses on the Border. Gladiators die! Mysterious exiled Scots spy! Everything is PERFECT!
January 3, 2023
I started reading this book because I was looking for books with healers in them, particularly male healers. Healers in books are usually women, and I wanted to see how it works with guys. Goodness knows there's plenty of male nurses and doctors out there. Anyway, a friend recommended this book to me, and oh my.
Justin is the shy, sweet introvert you just want to wrap up in a blanket, because you know he's going to be heroic and get beat down for it. As a Junior Surgeon, he's kind of overshadowed by his charismatic cousin Flavius, who is a centurion. Both of them get thrown in with the little Emperor over and over until he wins their fealty. They try to tip him off that his second in command is an evil SOB, and he basically banishes them to the frontier ... or is that what happened?
After this, the book turns spy novel, with spies and informants and an underground resistance, and smuggling people to safety, ending in a heckin' climax straight out of a Hollywood flick. The book ties in heavily with the Eagle of the Ninth, with both Justin and Flavius being Marcus's great-grandchildren. And the writing is superb. Heck, I'm reading these just for the writing.
"Everyone’s attention was turned toward the Emperor, who was at that moment preparing to pour the second Libation to the gods. Everyone, that is, save Justin and Allectus. For some unknown reason, Justin had glanced again at Allectus; and Allectus was watching the moth. The moth was circling wildly nearer and nearer to one of the lamps which stood directly before the Finance Minister, its blurred shadow flashing about the table as it swooped and spun in dizzy spirals about the bright and beckoning flame, closer and closer, until the wild, ecstatic dance ended in a burst of shadows, and the moth spun away on singed wings, to fall with a pitiful, maimed fluttering close beside Allectus’s wine-cup. And Allectus, smiling faintly, crushed out its life under one deliberate finger. That was all. Anybody would crush a singed moth—it was the obvious, the only thing to do. But Justin had seen the pale man’s face as he watched the dancing moth, waiting for it to dance too near, seen it in the unguarded instant as he stretched out the precise forefinger to kill."
Justin is the shy, sweet introvert you just want to wrap up in a blanket, because you know he's going to be heroic and get beat down for it. As a Junior Surgeon, he's kind of overshadowed by his charismatic cousin Flavius, who is a centurion. Both of them get thrown in with the little Emperor over and over until he wins their fealty. They try to tip him off that his second in command is an evil SOB, and he basically banishes them to the frontier ... or is that what happened?
After this, the book turns spy novel, with spies and informants and an underground resistance, and smuggling people to safety, ending in a heckin' climax straight out of a Hollywood flick. The book ties in heavily with the Eagle of the Ninth, with both Justin and Flavius being Marcus's great-grandchildren. And the writing is superb. Heck, I'm reading these just for the writing.
"Everyone’s attention was turned toward the Emperor, who was at that moment preparing to pour the second Libation to the gods. Everyone, that is, save Justin and Allectus. For some unknown reason, Justin had glanced again at Allectus; and Allectus was watching the moth. The moth was circling wildly nearer and nearer to one of the lamps which stood directly before the Finance Minister, its blurred shadow flashing about the table as it swooped and spun in dizzy spirals about the bright and beckoning flame, closer and closer, until the wild, ecstatic dance ended in a burst of shadows, and the moth spun away on singed wings, to fall with a pitiful, maimed fluttering close beside Allectus’s wine-cup. And Allectus, smiling faintly, crushed out its life under one deliberate finger. That was all. Anybody would crush a singed moth—it was the obvious, the only thing to do. But Justin had seen the pale man’s face as he watched the dancing moth, waiting for it to dance too near, seen it in the unguarded instant as he stretched out the precise forefinger to kill."
July 23, 2018
Officially a sequel to The Eagle of the Ninth, but it stands on its own and takes place years later with a new generation of characters. It's shorter and feels a bit rushed to me - it doesn't take as much time up front to establish the world and set the scene - though some readers may prefer that it's more focused on plot. Maybe only 3.5 stars, but still a good read, and points because it's such an interesting time and place in history.
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