The Eagle of the Ninth

As soon as I saw this audiobook listed I snapped it up! I had first read the book over 30 years ago and it had a fond place in my memory, therefore I had always planned to read it again. I was delighted to see it listed on Audible and I was not disappointed.

The story is terrific - a real adventure with likeable characters and a real sense of history. The pace of the story is also very pleasing and the addition of some very pleasant music to punctuate the chapters is a nice touch.

This book was originally written for children/young teenagers and I was 11 when I first read it. Now in my 40s, I still found it a great story. And the narration was excellent too!

My favourite Audible download to date!

Although I read this book many years ago I found the audio version spellbinding. It is a great adventure story for any age but an iconic book of heroism for youngsters. As a teacher I read sections of it to classes over the years to encourage them to seek the book out once I returned it to the school library. I used to get wonderful feedback. With some trepidation I choose the audio verson so that I could enjoy having the book read to me on my long journeys. It was beautifully read with the magic of the times recaptured. I frequently found myself sitting in my car in car parks or even outside my own house unable to move until I heard the end of that chapter. I did find it frustrating not being able to call it up chapter by chapter as it appeared to be saved in large chunks which were difficult to navigate.

This would not have been a usual choice for me but having enjoyed the new film of this book - 'The Eagle' - I thought I would give this a try. So glad I did! Following the adventures of Marcus Aquila, the young Roman centurion who was injured on his first posting as a garrison commander and who then decided to search for eagle standard of his father's missing legion, I became completely absorbed in his quest. As he travels through the wilds north of Hadrian's Wall with his companion Esca, he comes to terms with his own injury and restores his father's good name. Simply written but with lovely evocative descriptions of the countryside, each chapter is separated by atmospheric music which is unusual but works beautifully. Recommend this as a good family listen.

This was an awesome listen. Very entertaining and exciting. I enjoyed it very much. Highly recommended to everyone.

I really enjoyed the book and when I heard that last sentence, I wondered if it was leaving a door open for a sequel seems as if the story was not over?

Accidentally downloaded but decided to read the book and found it very entertaining I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the narration was fantastic

I still have the hardback copy of this book which I bought with my pocket money in the early sixtys plus a couple of other Rosemary Sutcliffe books about the same period. I have enjoyed listening to the audio of this story and will probably loan it to my Grandsons, I hope more of her books are added to the audio list.

As with another reviewer I suspect that this is aimed more at children than adults. It had little depth or content. Good for kids - but avoid if you are a bit bigger.

This is just an opion and i'm aware most people loved this book but i found it to be quite childish. The narration was stilted and the music annoying. I may have got this wrong and this is ment to be a childrens book but i don't remember seeing anything about sutible age ranges in the synopsis. Anyway if your between 12 and 15 i think you'd love it any older and i'd recomend you try Bernard Cornwell's Arthur Trillodgy

Enjoyable listen kept me interested, but a touch too innocent.