The Eagle of the Ninth

by Rosemary Sutcliff

Rosemary Sutcliff (1920-1992) was a legend of historical fiction for kids, writing many books set in Roman Britain. The Eagle of the Ninth is about a centurion, Marcus, who goes on a quest to find out what happened to the Roman legion led by his father, who mysteriously disappeared beyond Hadrian’s Wall in northern Britain. It’s a spooky story, based on a real mystery: the disappearance of Legio IX Hispana from the historical record.

Recommendations from our site

“This, for me, is the best historical novel ever written about ancient Rome. I actually only read it for the first time as an adult but it’s often regarded as a classic for children, although I don’t think Sutcliff herself divided her work into ‘for children’ or ‘for adults’. Whichever way you look at it though, it’s a brilliant, often incredibly tense adventure story and a beautiful piece of writing that really makes you feel as if you’re there in the dark, damp British landscape of the second century. The Eagle of the Ninth tells the story of a Roman officer, Marcus Flavius Aquila, who sets off on a dangerous journey to discover the fate of his father’s missing legion – the Ninth – which has mysteriously disappeared to the north of Hadrian’s Wall. As far as I’m aware, many scholars now believe there was nothing ‘mysterious’ in the Ninth’s apparent disappearance from the historical record and that they probably simply got posted elsewhere… But I wouldn’t let that stop you, for one nanosecond, from enjoying Sutcliff’s story.” Read more...

The Best Classics Books for Children

Annelise Gray, Children's Author

Although it was first published in 1954, Rosemary Sutcliff’s The Eagle of the Ninth has stood the test of time. Set in Roman Britain along Hadrian’s Wall, part of its appeal is that it partially based on a true story: a Roman legion really did mysteriously disappear.

Narrator: Charlie Simpson

Length: 4 hours and 32 minutes (abridged)

Ages: 9 and up

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