The Silver Branch (Paperback)

~ (Author) "On a blustery autumn day a galley was nosing up the wide loop of a British river that widened into the harbour of Rutupiae..." (more)
Key Phrases: hospital block, great spear, courtyard door, Aunt Honoria, Caesar Constantius, Painted People (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Superb...Enthusiastically recommended." --The Horn Book

Product Description

More than a century after The Eagle of the Ninth leaves off, two cousins join the Roman side in the fight against a tyrannical British emperor.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 2nd printing edition (September 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374466483
• ISBN-13: 978-0374466480
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #252,393 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #57 in	Books > History > Europe > England > Ancient
  #80 in	Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Fiction > Ancient Civilizations

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Silver Branch, June 8, 2001

A Kid's Review

Want a riveting historical-fiction novel with a plot that is better than most? If so, the Silver Branch is a book for you. Set in Roman Britan, over a century after the first book in the series, The Eagle of the Ninth, the book paints a picture of the life of two Romans, who seek to overthrow a tyrannical emperor who has separated himself, and Britan, from Rome. Rosemary Sutcliff has indeed woven a story whose plot is exceedingly diverse and well thought-out. The book gives the reader a gripping plot in which the reader is given a picture of the Roman world. The book paints a vivid picture of a Roman town, Legion, a gladiator fight, and the Roman's enemies the Saxon barbarians. Rosemary Sutcliff has the gift of being able to write very good historical novels.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nobody can beat Rosemary Sutcliff, February 4, 2000

By A Customer

I found this book to be fantastic. I love the time and setting, but it was much more than that. The characters are all so real and alive, the historical events are so accuratly portrayed, and, most of all, the writing is excellent. Rosemary Sutcliff has fast become one of my very favorite authors, and I would definately reccommend this book to almost anyone, especially if you have any interest in the Roman Empire or Britian/early British history. (I only might not reccommend this to some kids, because the writing isn't always so easy, and they might get bogged down or confused)

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars sutcliff is not just for kids, September 22, 1998

By A Customer

This is the second in a loosely linked trilogy (the 1st and 3rd books are 'Eagle of the Ninth' and 'The Lantern Bearers'), and is arguably the best of the three. Sutcliff's narrative is evocative and colorful, and the story is both engaging and full of surprises. If the book has any fault it is in a certain license taken with actual historical events, but since the setting is a very obscure period of Roman-occupied Britain, the liberty is easily overlooked. If you are a Sutcliff fan (and I have yet to meet anyone who has read her who isn't!) you will love this book!