Sword At Sunset, US, Tor, Paperback, 1987
19 April 2005
Big-boned as a Jute's - Sword at Sunset
I don't own this copy, but the picture on the cover hints that the illustrator might well have read at least the opening pages of the book. It fits in with: '... my face looked back at me, distorted by the curve of metal, but clear enough in the light of the dribbling candles, big-boned as a Jute's, and brown-skinned under hair the colour of a hayfield when it pales at harvest-time." (page 15, 1963 edition) In addition, the sword on the left of the cover looks like a long-bladed spatha, which is actually correct for the period!
Sword At Sunset, US, Tor, Paperback, 1987
Sword At Sunset, US, Tor, Paperback, 1987
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2 comments:
Thanks for setting this up, Sandra! Sword at Sunset was one of the earliest Arthurian novels I ever read. (Possibly the second, right after Once and Future King) Ms. Sutcliff's novel ranks as one of my personal favorites. Even decades later I still recall the poignant scene of Artos grieving the death of his little daughter, Hylin.
Debra Kemp, author THE HOUSE OF PENDRAGON I: THE FIREBRAND
You're welcome, Debra!
The scenes that move me most are those to do with the death of Ambrosius. He chooses to go to his death much as a king-sacrifice. It spurred me to find out much more about the historical Ambrosisus, who is mentioned in a lot of the sources, including the earliest one (Gildas) who calls him 'a modest man'
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