Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8701 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

Customer Reviews

The best book on Arthur, the real warrior behind the legend.
This is the best story yet written on the Romano-British cavalryman and leader whose deeds gave rise to the legend of King Arthur. In the days of my youth Rosemary Sutcliff's fiction for children opened the wonderous world of the people of Roman Britain. Sword At Sunset is NOT A JUVENILE FICTION BOOK despite including characters and continuing a story line from an earlier novel: The Lantern Bearers. MS Sutcliff brilliantly weaves what little actual knowledge we have with fictional details in a manner that brings Arthur out of legend and into life.

The story is that of Arthur's struggle to lead the Britons, both Celtic and Roman, against the invading Saxons. It is the story of the warrior brotherhood known as his 'Companions' as they battle to preserve the light of the dregs of Roman civilization in Britain against the darkness of the barbarians who would destroy it. The battles are realistic and the reader practically feels the blood, sweat, fear and courage of the fighting men. It is also a story of love, loyalty, betrayal and a horrible unspeakable sin, the consequenses of which could destroy all that Arthur holds dear. The story includes realistic events that would seem to explain an archeological mystery of the era and other events that give rise to important elements of the medieval legend.

MS Sutcliff takes us through Arthur's challenges as he strives to mount his men on the horses of his dreams, which he believes are the key to victory against the foot-bound Saxons. We follow him as he meets and befriends the men who will be his sword brothers as well as his meeting with the lady he grows to love, Guenhemara. We see Arthur confront a ghost from his past whom he knows will try to destroy him and whom his own honor will not allow him to destory in turn.

As a soldier and historian I had always wanted to write a historical novel of the Arthur behind the legend. I would have no Camelot, no round table, no magic or knights in shining armor. It would be a story o!f a Dark Age warrior fighting a desperate battle to hold back the night. To my small dismay and my great enjoyment I found that the master story teller who woke my passion for history had already done so.

I have read both Mary Stewart's and Jack Whyte's books on the Arthur behind the legend and I have enjoyed them and highly recommend them. Because of it's realism, the historical and military research so obviously put into it and the 'historical feel' of the story, I enjoyed Sword At Sunset even better.

Sword at Sunset
Since I read this book as a teenager it has been for me the definitive telling of the Arthur story. It is quite simply how it must have been. A book so good everyone should read it once, so laden with impending doom it is almost impossible to re-read. It is extraordinary that it is has been out of print so long, especially now there is a revived interest in the Arthurian legend and her other books are being re-issued.

A great book by a great writer
This is one of the most magnificent re-tellings of the Arthurian story, thrilling, moving tragic, authentic, it must at last be described as high and noble. All Rosemary Sutcliff's work is splendid, but this is the pinnacle.