avid_d's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.25
nicktomjoe's review against another edition
5.0
All the hallmarks of a great novel by Sutcliff are here: fast-paced and unflinching battle scenes; a keen eye on the weather and landscape; desperate lives finding hope where they can… While close to Malory’s Le Morte Darthur, Sutcliff creates a humanist narrative where transcendent magic is largely explained by cultic practice, and the practicalities of holding a failing culture together weave in and out of the principal characters’ motivations.
This is a far cry from the late medieval retellings: c5th Britain, and Rome has retreated, leaving fragments of structure and cultures, disused forts and half ruined palaces. Artos, Sutcliff’s Arthur, is acclaimed Caesar with “a tattered cloak.. almost, but not quite, of the imperial purple.” It is up to a complex alliance of Romano-British leaders to try and hold out against Saxon encroachment and internal treachery in the hope that every small victory allows “something to survive.” We know how this will end: Arthur is betrayed by his son and dies in the arms of Bedevere, here known as Bedwyr, Sutcliff’s version of the “ill-formed knight.”
What she gives us is essentially a story of hope, trust, and the contrary expressions of despair and betrayal, played out at a political and a personal level. The principal character, Artos, makes a mistake early in his life which casts a deep shadow over his relationship with Guenhumara his wife, his friends - and which will cost him his life. The internal struggle of Artos is laid bare for us to see, even where the man himself is incoherent or incapable. These agonising ambiguities form the psychological backbone to the rise and fall of the protagonist amid the tatters of Roman Britain.
Sutcliff’s nods towards her own books (notably the rest of what is now known as the Eagle of the Ninth series but also Sun Horse Moon Horse) are engaging, even puzzling, and show her trying to create a coherent narrative stretching back into a confused period in history. Bleaker than The Lantern Bearers (yet clearly related to it) and more brutal especially in its depiction of violence towards women and the bloodiness of battle, Sword at Sunset is nonetheless a story of hope for dark times, one of the most enduring myths of Britain re-presented in a believable and engrossing fashion by a major storyteller.
This is a far cry from the late medieval retellings: c5th Britain, and Rome has retreated, leaving fragments of structure and cultures, disused forts and half ruined palaces. Artos, Sutcliff’s Arthur, is acclaimed Caesar with “a tattered cloak.. almost, but not quite, of the imperial purple.” It is up to a complex alliance of Romano-British leaders to try and hold out against Saxon encroachment and internal treachery in the hope that every small victory allows “something to survive.” We know how this will end: Arthur is betrayed by his son and dies in the arms of Bedevere, here known as Bedwyr, Sutcliff’s version of the “ill-formed knight.”
What she gives us is essentially a story of hope, trust, and the contrary expressions of despair and betrayal, played out at a political and a personal level. The principal character, Artos, makes a mistake early in his life which casts a deep shadow over his relationship with Guenhumara his wife, his friends - and which will cost him his life. The internal struggle of Artos is laid bare for us to see, even where the man himself is incoherent or incapable. These agonising ambiguities form the psychological backbone to the rise and fall of the protagonist amid the tatters of Roman Britain.
Sutcliff’s nods towards her own books (notably the rest of what is now known as the Eagle of the Ninth series but also Sun Horse Moon Horse) are engaging, even puzzling, and show her trying to create a coherent narrative stretching back into a confused period in history. Bleaker than The Lantern Bearers (yet clearly related to it) and more brutal especially in its depiction of violence towards women and the bloodiness of battle, Sword at Sunset is nonetheless a story of hope for dark times, one of the most enduring myths of Britain re-presented in a believable and engrossing fashion by a major storyteller.
alexactually's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
zena_ryder's review against another edition
5.0
This book is narrated in the first person which, as usual, bothered me — at least at first. With first person narration, it seems to me that the reader is never quite "in" the action, but only looking back on it from a distance. And there are parts of the story that the narrator chooses to skip over, and other parts that are recounted in unrealistic detail (given that it’s ostensibly from the narrator’s memory) which adds to the feeling of not really being part of the action. However, I got used to the narration, and despite this pet peeve of mine, I absolutely loved this book and felt sad when I’d finished it.
There is no magic and no Merlin in this book; it is not a fantasy story. It is historical fiction, portraying King Arthur as if he was a real person — a figure that Sutcliff calls Artos. There are real events depicted in the book, such as the Battle of Badon and various other attempted invasions by the Saxons. There is lots of fascinating historical detail in the book, and Sutcliff does a masterful job of bringing alive the Britain of around 500 CE.
I got very attached to Artos and his Companions (Bedwyr, Cei, Gwalchmai, etc) as well as his wife, Guenhumara. There are two particularly heartbreaking episodes in the book. The first is when Artos’ and Guenhumara’s baby daughter dies; the second is when Artos discovers that Guenhumara and Bedwyr have betrayed him and fallen in love. It is painful to go through those experiences with Artos, and I miss him now the book is finished.
Sword At Sunset is fantasic, and has joined the list of my all time favourites.
There is no magic and no Merlin in this book; it is not a fantasy story. It is historical fiction, portraying King Arthur as if he was a real person — a figure that Sutcliff calls Artos. There are real events depicted in the book, such as the Battle of Badon and various other attempted invasions by the Saxons. There is lots of fascinating historical detail in the book, and Sutcliff does a masterful job of bringing alive the Britain of around 500 CE.
I got very attached to Artos and his Companions (Bedwyr, Cei, Gwalchmai, etc) as well as his wife, Guenhumara. There are two particularly heartbreaking episodes in the book. The first is when Artos’ and Guenhumara’s baby daughter dies; the second is when Artos discovers that Guenhumara and Bedwyr have betrayed him and fallen in love. It is painful to go through those experiences with Artos, and I miss him now the book is finished.
Sword At Sunset is fantasic, and has joined the list of my all time favourites.
rgreatreader's review against another edition
4.0
This is a fine historical fiction novel. There are some very touching, emotional parts.
It's not really an Arthurian novel, though, despite the blurb. It's a story about some people who share names with characters from the Arthurian stories, but you can't take away everything about those stories that makes them what they are, except the names and the bare bones of a single plot, and still call it Arthurian.
It's not really an Arthurian novel, though, despite the blurb. It's a story about some people who share names with characters from the Arthurian stories, but you can't take away everything about those stories that makes them what they are, except the names and the bare bones of a single plot, and still call it Arthurian.
codalion's review against another edition
4.0
Slow and stumbling at the start of it, but pretty involving once it gets in its swing--and compelling too. I think nothing tore at my heartstrings quite so much as Gault and Levin, and particularly Levin's part in the conclusion of that story, but Bedwyr and Artos came pretty close.
applequinn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
alexctelander's review against another edition
4.0
SWORD AT SUNSET BY ROSEMARY SUTCLIFF: The late Rosemary Sutcliff was a prolific writer from the 1950s through the 1970s, publishing a number of children's books, including the Eagle of the Ninth series and a series of Arthurian novels, as well as over twenty other children's books on historical subjects. She also penned nonfiction works and adult fiction, including Sword at Sunset, originally published in 1963 and re-released on May 1st of this year.
Sword at Sunset features an introduction by Canadian author Jack Whyte, writer of the successful Camulod Chronicles, a nine-book series beginning several generations before Arthur was born. Whyte freely admits that when he first discovered Sword at Sunset it changed his life, which becomes all too clear when one has read both authors. The characterization, the tone, and the painstaking attention to historical detail and accuracy are prevalent in both works, to the point where one might think Whyte owes Sutcliff more than an introduction and homage.
In Sword at Sunset, Sutcliff creates a world where the Roman legions have left Britain, yet the sense of Romanitas remains strong, especially in the noble characters of Ambrosius and Artos the Bear. They retain not just the armor, style of combat, and the Roman military organization, but a superior, almost arrogant sense of belonging to something that was once great and could be again. Sutcliff's early medieval world is not as “dark age” as normally depicted in fiction, but thriving with trade and societal infrastructure across Europe still seemingly intact. Artos the Bear spends the beginning of the book traveling to southern France where he looks to purchase strong breeds of horses to bring back to Britain to create a strong cavalry force to fight against the invading Anglo Saxons and maintain the British control and rule.
While it is not completely clear how Artos the Bear has risen to such great prominence, he nevertheless has the backing of the people, which spurs him on to defeat the Saxons in many battles. Sutcliff introduces many familiar characters from the Arthurian world, though there is no Merlin or Lancelot (the latter originally an addition made by Chrétien de Troyes in the twelfth century), but an important appearance is made by Arthur's incestuous sister Medraut (or Morgan). Sword at Sunset reads like a historical military text with its calculated and descriptive battle scenes that make the world come alive, to the point where the reader may indeed believe such events transpired in the fifth century, leaving the common storylines of romance and chivalry out of the story completely, much as they were in the original time of Arthur.
For more book reviews, and author interviews, go to BookBanter.
Sword at Sunset features an introduction by Canadian author Jack Whyte, writer of the successful Camulod Chronicles, a nine-book series beginning several generations before Arthur was born. Whyte freely admits that when he first discovered Sword at Sunset it changed his life, which becomes all too clear when one has read both authors. The characterization, the tone, and the painstaking attention to historical detail and accuracy are prevalent in both works, to the point where one might think Whyte owes Sutcliff more than an introduction and homage.
In Sword at Sunset, Sutcliff creates a world where the Roman legions have left Britain, yet the sense of Romanitas remains strong, especially in the noble characters of Ambrosius and Artos the Bear. They retain not just the armor, style of combat, and the Roman military organization, but a superior, almost arrogant sense of belonging to something that was once great and could be again. Sutcliff's early medieval world is not as “dark age” as normally depicted in fiction, but thriving with trade and societal infrastructure across Europe still seemingly intact. Artos the Bear spends the beginning of the book traveling to southern France where he looks to purchase strong breeds of horses to bring back to Britain to create a strong cavalry force to fight against the invading Anglo Saxons and maintain the British control and rule.
While it is not completely clear how Artos the Bear has risen to such great prominence, he nevertheless has the backing of the people, which spurs him on to defeat the Saxons in many battles. Sutcliff introduces many familiar characters from the Arthurian world, though there is no Merlin or Lancelot (the latter originally an addition made by Chrétien de Troyes in the twelfth century), but an important appearance is made by Arthur's incestuous sister Medraut (or Morgan). Sword at Sunset reads like a historical military text with its calculated and descriptive battle scenes that make the world come alive, to the point where the reader may indeed believe such events transpired in the fifth century, leaving the common storylines of romance and chivalry out of the story completely, much as they were in the original time of Arthur.
For more book reviews, and author interviews, go to BookBanter.
feralshojo's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I had a bit of trouble with the character of Artos here - the language Sutcliff gave him is too flowery and poetic for a 4th century war chief who spends most of his time swinging a sword.
However, I really liked Bedwyr.
And I liked the very gritty and realistic feel of the story, there were no fantastic elements of the Arthurian Legend like Merlin or magic or lake ladies... it's a good historical novel though if you want your Arthur with a bit more realism.
As for the emotional impact - the part of a book that makes or breaks it for me - , I'd say so-so. I could not really connect to Artos, but was quite taken with Bedwyr.
I had a bit of trouble with the character of Artos here - the language Sutcliff gave him is too flowery and poetic for a 4th century war chief who spends most of his time swinging a sword.
However, I really liked Bedwyr.
And I liked the very gritty and realistic feel of the story, there were no fantastic elements of the Arthurian Legend like Merlin or magic or lake ladies... it's a good historical novel though if you want your Arthur with a bit more realism.
As for the emotional impact - the part of a book that makes or breaks it for me - , I'd say so-so. I could not really connect to Artos, but was quite taken with Bedwyr.
yeats_2019's review against another edition
3.0
Took a while to read this one as although I liked her earlier novels about roman Britain and the end of empire, this story of artos the bear dragged quite a bit. I think it was partly because it was hard to see the difference between The Britons and the Saxons.
Still, an interesting take on the Arthur legend.
Still, an interesting take on the Arthur legend.