Sword at Sunset by Rosemary Sutcliff
A book review by Anne McFadgen
Sword at Sunset is a vision of the legendary King Arthur as the man he might really have been. Rosemary Sutcliff has created a compelling and memorable figure in Artos, a Romano-Celtic warrior prince who spends his life fighting to stem the tide of Saxon tribesmen who flood into Britain following the departure of the Roman army in the fifth century AD.
It’s an elegiac tale, bittersweet and poignant. The bright purpose and fierce joys of comradeship and victory which fill Artos' early years on campaign with his cavalry warband are eroded away over time by betrayal, weariness of spirit and a sense of inevitable defeat. However Artos can’t let go of his dream of a Britain united against the invaders. Taking a chance, he and his remaining Companions stake everything on one last, climactic battle.
Sutcliff draws inspiration from motifs central to Celtic mythology and, writing with an artist’s eye for color and detail, lovingly illuminates the landscape of Britain, the country which is the very heart of all Artos’ endeavours. (1963, reprinted 2008 with a foreword by Jack Whyte; 495 pages)
Excellent review - I now need to read this! I gobbled up every volume of Jack Whyte's Arthurian series and because he wrote the foreword to this one makes it all the more enticing!