Rosemary Sutcliff - Greek

[Hiddeninplainsight]

I am hoping some of you well read individuals will be able to give me some advice about Rosemary Sutcliffs Ancient Greek based books, and specifically whether or not any are of a similar ilk to the Eagle of the ninth in terms of linguistics complexity (and quality).

My DD tried the Eagle of the Ninth and has said she wants to read them but would like a dictionary book mark, or perhaps to try them on her kindle because they were tricky. Ancient Greece is her real passion and so I want to get her a kindle version of one of the Greek books as a starter (hoping they are available). We did try the Oddessy but it was a large illustrated version which isn't great in bed! Any recommendations for Rosemary Sutcliff or any other similar Greek based books would be very appreciated!

The Adventures of Odysseus by Hugh Lupton and Christina Balit is excellent and very engaging

How old is your dd?

Horrah! I have been hoping some Sutcliff fans might (or Greek myths/literature fans) might return from their holidays soon. Cake she is 8, but she is a very good and avid reader, and likes more complex plots and character development. Having finished all her paper books on holiday, she started back on Eagle of the Ninth, and is 1/3 of the way through, and enjoying it.

Major thank you! I will have a look at that one.

Major is that not going to be similar to the Rosemary Sutclif and Alan Lee one? I forgot to add that she has already read the Mary Pope Osborne ones (I forgot about those until I saw the name mentioned in one of the reviews), so she may not be interested in a re-telling of the Odyssey.

Personally I love rosemary Sutcliffe but probably aged 10. How about Michelle Paver's series I think they are called the outsiders? Boy and a girl and a lion cub in bronze age Greece? They are easier to read, shorter chapters etc but very gripping and summon up the atmosphere well.

Ah, definitely too young for The Bull From The Sea and the other one (prequel or sequel, I can't remember).

10yo ds has just this evening finished Rosemary Sutcliffe's version of Robin Hood, and I could not get him to shut up and go to sleep, he was so entranced by it and the differences between it and the twee more modern versions!

It is a shame the Mary Renault books are older - they would be great otherwise. Out of interest, what age are they suitable? I did a bit of reading on them and I gathered that they are adult books and some of the themes may be YA. Is that about right?

I would say YA, depending on the child's maturity. It's a long time since I read them, but IIRC the problem is not so much the sex, more the attitudes around it: very misogynistic and verging on abusive.

My 14yo is currently tramping up a LakeDistrict mountain, but I'll try to remember to ask her for recommendations when she returns. She, too, loves theGreek myths.

Have you come across The God Beneath the Sea? By Alan Garner I think - amazing retelling of the Greek myths, although the pictures before bed may be a bit too advanced - line drawings, very striking. The language is fairly advanced for an 8 year old, but if she is managing the eagle of the 9th, no problem.

Zvandelle that looks amazing! It is by Leon Garfield, and I think she will love it.

Cake I'd be really interested to hear what your DD suggests!

Yes, sorry, Leon Garfield, very poetic language, simply but beautifully told. The retelling of Pandors's box is still with me now...Enjoy!

Dd recommends this book. She still enjoys it as a teen. Everything by Marcia Williams is good, she says!

She reminds me that I gave her my 1970s copies of Roger Lancelyn Green's Greek myths and Egyptian myths, and recommended them, too.

Agree with YA for Mary Renault (love 'em). The King Must Die is the one you're thinking of, StepAwayFromCake.

Second Roger Lancelyn Green.