Sutcliff, Rosemary. Sword song.SUTCLIFF, Rosemary. Sword song. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Sunburst. 272p. map. c1997. 0-374-46984-9. $6.95. JS To quote the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, September 1998: Rosemary Sutcliff Rosemary Sutcliff (December 14, 1920 - July 23, 1992) was a British novelist, best known as a writer of highly acclaimed historical fiction. Although primarily a children's author, the quality and depth of her writing also appeals to adults, she herself once commenting that she died in 1992, when the first draft and much of the revision of this manuscript was complete. Her godson god·son n. A male godchild. godson Noun a male godchild Noun 1. godson - a male godchild godchild - an infant who is sponsored by an adult (the godparent) at baptism , with the help of her editor, prepared the story for publication, and thus we have another excellent historical novel from this acclaimed ac·claim v. ac·claimed, ac·claim·ing, ac·claims v.tr. 1. To praise enthusiastically and often publicly; applaud. See Synonyms at praise. 2. British writer. Sutcliff returned to the Norsemen for Sword Song, telling of Bjarni, expelled from his settlement when he was 16 years old, wandering Wandering See also Adventurousness, Bohemianism, Journey, Quest. Ahasuerus German name for the Wandering Jew. [Ger. Lit. the seas and coasts of Western Scotland and Ireland, earning his way as a swordsman. When his five years of banishment banishment: see exile. Banishment Acadians America’s lost tribe; suffered expulsion under British. [Am. Hist.: Jameson, 2; Am. Lit. are up, he is a man of some hard-earned wisdom, with a woman he cares for to help him build a farm and settle down. A map is provided at the beginning of the book, and I frequently consulted it as I read, with some place names the same as modern ones (Dublin, Orkney). It seems that Bjarni's settlement, Rafnglas, is about where Blackpool is today. The times he lives in are transitional: Norsemen are raiding the coastal settlements, making pacts with or fighting the Picts and others, settling where they can and defending their territory from other Norsemen. It is a time when the Norse gods are competing with the White Christ, and Christianity is winning many converts, including Bjarni, who agrees to the first step of conversion before baptism baptism [Gr., =dipping], in most Christian churches a sacrament. It is a rite of purification by water, a ceremony invoking the grace of God to regenerate the person, free him or her from sin, and make that person a part of the church. , being prime-signed by a priest. Knowing Sutcliff's scholarly reputation, we can be assured that she has correct details from this historical period. My only concern, especially for American readers, is that Bjarni's world is so removed from their own--at least British YAs are familiar with the topography topography (təpŏg`rəfē), description or representation of the features and configuration of land surfaces. Topographic maps use symbols and coloring, with particular attention given to the shape and elevations of terrain. of the story and they would have studied the Viking culture in social studies classes. Still, I believe that the narrative is a strong one, which will appeal to readers who like historical adventure. And the great emotional story here is actually one of a boy and his dog, which certainly has a wide appeal. Book-talking will help, as it always does. Claire Rosser, KLIATT J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers. S--Recommended for senior high school students. |
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