The Mark of the Horse Lord

by Rosemary Sutcliff

Paperback, 2006

Status

Available

Call number

823.914

Genres

Collection

Your library

Publication

Front Street Press (2006), Paperback, 289 pages

Description

Juvenile Fiction. Historical Fiction. HTML: "There was a smell of blood mingling with the smell of burning that still clung about scorched timber and blackened thatch, and a great wailing rose from the watching crowd. The old High Priest dipped a finger in the blood and made a sign with it on Phaedrus's forehead, above the Mark of the Horse Lord." So began the ceremony that was to make young Phaedrus, ex-slave and gladiator, Horse Lord of the Dalriadain. Phaedrus had come a long way since the fight in the arena that gained him his freedom. He had left behind his old Roman life and identity and had entered another, more primitive, world�??that of the British tribes in the far north. In this world of superstition and ancient ritual, of fierce loyalties and intertribal rivalry, Phaedrus found companionship and love, and something more�??a purpose and a meaning to his life as he came fully to understand the significance of the Mark of the Horse Lord. First published in 1965 but long out of print, The Mark of the Horse Lord has been acclaimed by many readers as the finest of Rosemary Sutcliff's many novels, imparting true insight into the nature of leadership, identity, heroism, loyalty, and sacrifice… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member gwernin

A wonderful exploration of sacred kingship from the inside. One of her best.

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LibraryThing member atimco

This perfectly written piece of historical fiction is worthy of its author, the inimitable Rosemary Sutcliff. In The Mark of the Horse Lord, she weaves a compelling tale of a gladiator turned king among the Dalriads of Roman Scotland. Phaedrus, freed from the arena, is soon drawn into another and

perhaps deadlier arena of war between the Pictish tribes, who are struggling for supremacy between the worship of the Sun God and that of the Earth Mother.

It's been too long since I have savored Sutcliff's writing. Her dialogue rings true, her history is flawless, and she doesn't shy away from the harsher, bloodier aspects of the period. Yet somehow her characters never lose their touch with the reader. They remain relatable across oceans of time, custom, and religion and I always come away from her novels feeling slightly awed at her ability to balance historical fidelity with more modern sensibilities.

Without giving anything away, I was rooting very hard for a different ending. But it was beautifully done.

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LibraryThing member quondame

More on the Celtic than the Roman side of the Romano-British books of Rosmary Sutcliff, this is the best of them that I have read this year, with a strong moving core that pushes pass the co-incidence of appearance that involves Phaedrus with the Dalriadains, to create a cohesive and telling

narrative. There is a really great chariot battle scene!

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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend

An interesting look at a man who grows to adulthood as a slave and gladiator and when he gets his wooden sword and freedom is offered a chance to be a celtic chief, he's identical to the heir, only the heir has been blinded by an enemy. He gets involved with the people of this tribe what the future

holds isn't always obvious or easy to deal with.

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LibraryThing member PollyMoore3

Rosemary Sutcliff at the height of her powers. I read this as a youngster, but have got far more out of it as an adult. This edition however lacks Charles Keeping's bold black Sixties style illustrations which I remember added to the atmosphere. Vivid, fast-paced adventure set amongst warring Picts

and Scots in the parts of Scotland the Romans never managed to subdue, north of the Antonine Wall. Phaedrus the gladiator accepts his destiny, to become leader of the clan of the Horse Lord, having an uncanny likeness to their lost chieftain Midir. There's a witch-goddess woman to defeat, and a love interest with the witch's daughter. Builds to a tragic yet triumphant ending.

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LibraryThing member DinadansFriend

Rosemary Sutcliff is at the top of her form, in this story of adventure on the northern frontier of the Roman empire in the fourth century. An interesting story of Romans trying to substitute one of their own for a chieftain of the Scotti, there's betrayal, and noble self sacrifice. Even adults

find this one interesting.

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LibraryThing member quigui

This is another book that the basic premise was brilliant, but its execution was not so. The story it's still good, but I did not enjoy the writing.

It's not a happy-ever-after story, but I found the end fitting, albeit sad. I liked the main character Phaedrus a lot (how couldn't I, a huge red head

gladiator?), but I felt more drawn to a secondary character, Conory. I wish there was more about him in it.

My biggest complaint about this book is that there seems to be almost no female characters at all. There are two that are named, one is the evil usurper of the throne, the other her daughter whom the main character has to marry. And that is almost all there is to them.

It was nice, but I had hoped it would be better.

Also at Spoilers and Nuts

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