The Eagle of the Ninth cover art

The Eagle of the Ninth

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The Eagle of the Ninth

By: Rosemary Sutcliff
Narrated by: BBC Radio 4
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About this listen

A BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatization of Rosemary Sutcliff's The Eagle of the Ninth. Around 117 AD, the Roman Ninth Legion was ordered to put down an uprising among the Caledonian tribes. Four thousand men vanished without a trace into the swirling mists of the north of Roman Britain. Many years after their disappearance, a young centurion, Marcus Aquila, sets out to discover the truth about what happened to the legion and to its First Cohort Commander - his father.

This edition is published by arrangement with Oxford University Press.

©1954 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)1954 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd Action & Adventure Historical Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction Fiction

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All stars
Most relevant
I read this recently having enjoyed it hugely as a child. Reading it again as an adult did not disappoint. Will read with my 10 year old.

So good

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I would have enjoyed it better if it had been a straight reading of the book rather than an abridged dramatised version with a lot of huffing and puffing along the way.

Too much huffing and puffing …

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I first read this book when I was about 12 I read it again just recently and realise how good it was it’s a really good story and this particular performance is very good indeed.

My childhood friend.

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good story but this dramatisation is dated in style and the music between chapters was irritating

old fashioned adaptation

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If this book wasn’t for you, who do you think might enjoy it more?

Someone who has never read the book.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

The performance was fine, the adaptation woeful After about 10 minutes we were halfway through the book, and there was a key episode that involves 3 main characters i the book (4 if you include the wolf). Only one of them was present as the others had not been introduced.

What character would you cut from The Eagle of the Ninth?

No need to, the adaptation has done a spiffing job of that on its own.

Any additional comments?

If you have read and loved the book do not go near this.

I could not finish it

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