But Ms. Sutcliff has done such a wonderful job in showing us Aquila’s life both before and after, that even though he is not a likable character, one cannot help rooting for him.

By and by he acquires a wife and a son, but nothing can take away the awfulness of what happened to him. Eventually, however, he finds a certain kind of peace, and the last image of the book is both consoling and realistic. This book won the Carnegie Medal in 1959. More than just a fictional account of history, this book engages the reader at a deep level, forcing us to feel the agony of the difficult choices Aquila has to make. Five stars.

Out of these two facts, Rosemary Sutcliff has written a wonderfully resonant story about hard choices, bravery and the ways in which that bravery is rewarded. Or not. Along the way, she creates a protagonist who is a real hero, but does not see himself that way.

Marcus Flavius Aquila has only fragmentary memories of a father whom he adored. Because he lost that father at the age of 8, when, in 117 AD, the father marched north with the Ninth Legion and was never heard of again. Marcus wants to know what happened to his father. And out of that longing, Ms. Sutcliff spins a thread.

THE EAGLE is an impressively researched novel with lots of period detail to draw you into the world of the Roman Empire of circa 127 AD. But Ms Sutcliff is also a brilliant stylist who uses adjectives so brilliantly, you are glad she didn’t edit them out as we are so often told to do. Five stars.

To celebrate, her ladyship’s memoirs THWARTED QUEEN will be going out on a virtual book tour in the Month of May with Pump Up Your Books. A fitting tribute to Lady Cecylee, whose birthday falls on May 3rd. (She will be 596 years old). Please help me in wishing her a Happy Birthday!

Just wanted to let you know this will be my last post until June (apart from the odd book review). As you read this, I’m in Sicily doing research for a forthcoming novel. Can’t tell you much about it (except that it is set in Sicily), because I haven’t written a word of it yet. I’ve been learning Italian for the past several months so that I can converse with the people there and hear their stories. Will post photos on Facebook & Flickr when I return.

Have a wonderful May!

Image: A snow-capped Mt. Etna, taken from the Saracen Castle above Taormina, Sicily, April 2012

I want to thank you all for your support during my recent giveaway. Over FIVE HUNDRED of you requested ROSE OF RABY. And one hundred and thirty of you have put it onto your to-read list. Thank you for your support!

The winner of this giveaway is Kirsten of Indiana, who will get a SIGNED COPY of ROSE.

Enjoy!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Rose of Raby

by Cynthia Sally Haggard

Giveaway ends April 15, 2012.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

So it was with a sense of anticipation that I opened the pages of this novel, because a larger-than-life character would naturally inspire larger-than-life drama in the pages of this novel. No? Unfortunately, not exactly.

What is wonderful about this novel is the delineation of character, especially those of Frederick and his wives, especially his morganatic fourth wife Bianca.

What doesn’t work so well is the method of telling this story. The novel opens in 1194, when Frederick is born, and trundles on through 56 years until he dies in 1250. It is not possible for a novelist to cover this amount of time without resorting to narrative summary. However, the whole novel is cast in this way. What I mean by that is not that there are no scenes (there are plenty of them), but that the scenes are not dramatic enough. There is not enough raw emotion on the page. There is not enough conflict. So Frederick’s larger-than-life character is curiously muted. Which is a pity, because his story lends itself to some memorable screaming matches (which I would have enjoyed)! Three stars.

I want to thank you all for your support during my recent giveaway. Nearly SEVEN HUNDRED of you requested THE GILDED CAGE. And one hundred and twenty of you have put it onto your to-read list. Thank you for your support!

The winner of this giveaway is Lenny of Maryland, who will get a SIGNED COPY of CAGE.

Enjoy!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Gilded Cage

by Cynthia Sally Haggard

Giveaway ends April 14, 2012.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

I’ve also been busy in the blogosphere. I’ve done two guest interviews with Morgen Bailey and with Stephanie Moore. Stephanie not only came to me to ask for an interview, but she’s hosting a giveaway of THWARTED QUEEN, which ends April 11. If interested, please go to: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/847094-interview-with-author-cynthia-haggard-giveaway.

Have a great week!

I want to thank you all  for your support during my recent giveaway. Over EIGHT HUNDRED of you requested TWO MURDERS REAPED. And two hundred and twenty-three of you have put it onto your to-read list. Thank you for your support!

The winner of this giveaway is Kelley of Michigan, who will get a SIGNED COPY of MURDERS.

Enjoy!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Two Murders Reaped

by Cynthia Sally Haggard

Giveaway ends April 13, 2012.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Just wanted you all to know that TWO MURDERS REAPED, Book Four of my series THWARTED QUEEN has been shortlisted for the First Horizon Award. First Horizon is an award presented under the Eric Hoffer Award umbrella for superior work by debut authors.

TWO MURDERS REAPED is the story of the last 35 years of the life of Lady Cecylee Neville (1415-1495), after her husband’s death. For those of you who enjoyed Anne Easter Smith’s novel which takes us up to Richard of York’s death, this book finishes the story:

What would you do if you had to decide between your son or your two grandsons? Who lives? Who is murdered?
Meet Cecylee Neville (1415-1495) mother to two Kings of England, who brings us the family saga of the Yorks, Lancasters & Nevilles whose family feud started the Wars of the Roses.

Here is the link: http://www.hofferaward.com/HAFirstHorizon.html

Her Ladyship is delighted!