Sword at Sunset

This brilliant reconception of the Arthurian epic cuts through the familiar myths and tells the story of the real King Arthur: Artos the Bear, the mighty warrior-king who saved the last lights of Western civilization when the barbarian darkness descended in the fifth century. Artos here comes alive: bold and forceful in battle, warm and generous in friendship, tough in politics, shrewd in the strategy of war—and tender and tragically tormented in love. Out of the interweaving of ancient legend, fresh research, soaring imagination, and hypnotic narrative skill comes a novel that has richly earned its reputation as a classic.

For fourteen centuries the story of Arthur was a legend, misted over by the tradition of romantic hero-tales. But Arthur was real--a man of towering strength, a dreamer and a warrior who actually lived, fought and died for his impossible dream. Now Arthur is brought to passionate life in Sword at Sunset.

For fourteen centuries the story of Arthur was a legend, misted over by the tradition of romantic hero-tales. But he was real--a man of towering strength, a dreamer and a warrior--who actually lived, and fought, and died for his impossible dream.

The man whom legend calls Arthur of Britain combined the best of Roman civilization with the fierce dedication of his Celtic ancestors.

Down through the generations his passionate determination to preserve the values of decency and freedom against the darkness of barbarism has been a clarion call that speaks to the best in humankind.

Children's Literature

The legendary tale of King Arthur, his Knights of the Round Table, and the magical world of Camelot has mesmerized audiences of all ages for centuries. What would this story be like if readers discovered the realistic truths to life in this time period? In this book, the strong and independent warrior known as Artos the Bear wields a powerful sword made of metal and sweat that conjures triumphs throughout his lands as he defends his people. Artos is not unlike King Arthur, minus the mystical help of Merlin. This realistic version leaves out the beauty of the tale and focuses on the blood and guts of the time when survival amounts to being the meanest and most powerful. Even our hero is mean, leaving hardly a morsel for the monks who had helped him when he left the Abbey. Although Rosemary Sutcliff depicts the story with a more accurate pen, it lacks the beauty of the legend. Between the Old English touches and the constant time changes, young readers could get lost easily and then struggle to figure out where they should be. Because the story also includes Elizabethan language, adult themes and sexual content, it is geared for a more mature high school reader or an adult. For a sophisticated reader, the descriptive prose and accurate research done to produce the book would result in the gaining of knowledge and, possibly, breathless enjoyment in experiencing life during this time period. Penned over 20 years ago, Sutcliff's classic has survived many culture changes and will still find an audience in the 21st century. Reviewer: Julia Beiker

Rosemary Sutcliff wrote more than 40 historical novels for young adults—including The Eagle of the Ninth, The Silver Branch, The Lantern Bearers, The Sword and the Circle, and Black Ships Before Troy—five adult novels, and several books of nonfiction.