Customer Reviews

The Shield Ring

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Rosemary Sutcliff's books woke my passion for history as her books inspired me to study and learn what was fact and what was fiction in her stories. As a historian, I wondered at the little north west corner of Saxon England that did not come immediately under the Norman yoke as the rest of England did. I wondered at the leader, warriors and people that defied the Normans and held the Lake district against the invaders for so many years.

The Shield Ring is the story of that people and that struggle. Norsemen and Saxons stand together in an ever weakening band of warriors that time and again throw back the steadily increasing strength of the Normans. Against all odds they fight the seemingly hopeless battle to retain their freedom and their land.

We may never know the true story of that hard fought defensive campaign by Saxon and Viking against the Normans but in this book we come to know the spirit of the people who did. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Though intended for youth, adults will enjoy it as well. This is a wonderful book written by a master story teller.

A lot of people refer to Rosemary Sutcliff books as childrens books. To that I say , if this is a childrens book I don't ever want to grow up!

Wether you are a Rosemary Sutcliff fan , have an interest in history, historical fiction or you just love a good read, this book is for you.

Once again we are removed to a time long ago when the world was a much different place.

Centering on a group of Vikings from a northern lake district she weaves a tale with so much realism and emotion that you could almost believe you were there.

As usual her historical research is spot on along with the depth of characters and the interaction between them.

Rosemary shows an unrivalled understanding of human nature that makes for an excellent read, especially when set in such a romantic yet harsh reality.

I have been Rosemary Sutcliff fan for years and I can honestly say I have never been so happily lost in a book as I was in this one.

I am a big fan of Rosemary Sutcliff, but this was one of my favourites of her books. What I love about Sutcliff is that she writes about parts of history usually neglected by history books, and she presents them in a very real way. I feel like I'm IN a viking stronghold, or facing the enemy. I feel like I'm living and breathing in the book, and that it is my life; it is how it ought to be. Somehow she leaves me with a deep sense of having lived someone else's life and being able to relate to them - which is the ultimate dream any author/authoress has for the reader, I think. This book is especially good.

This book and I go back a long way. In the sixth grade, I remember coming across this book in our not-so-big school library. Reading the back cover, I thought to myself "Hmm...Vikings, Saxons AND Normans! How can I go wrong?". I then read through this book, devouring each page as the story unfolded and it fired my imaginatio for this seldom recorded bit of history. When I was moving on in the eighth grade, our library held a book sale to raise some funds and this same book was on the table! I bought it and have kept it with me for almost 30 years now and I'm proud to say that my oldest son has just started reading this. I hope his imagination is inspired in the same way that mine was with this classic book.

I read this book as a companion to the Camulud Chronicles by Jack Whyte, It is of the same time period, and gives an insight into the lives of the Northsmen, who are the enemies of the prime players in the other books--and to the armies of Normandy. For those reasons, it is worth the read, but as a stand-alone novel, I wouldn't bother.

Rosemary Sutcliff's books woke my passion for history as her books inspired me to study and learn what was fact and what was fiction in her stories. As a historian, I wondered at the little north west corner of Saxon England that did not come immediately under the Norman yoke as the rest of England did. I wondered at the leader, warriors and people that defied the Normans and held the Lake district against the invaders for so many years.
The Shield Ring is the story of that people and that struggle. Norsemen and Saxons stand together in an ever weakening band of warriors that time and again throw back the steadily increasing strength of the Normans. Against all odds they fight the seemingly hopeless battle to retain their freedom and their land.

We may never know the true story of that hard fought defensive campaign by Saxon and Viking against the Normans but in this book we come to know the spirit of the people who did. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Though intended for youth, adults will enjoy it as well. This is a wonderful book written by a master story teller.