The Lantern Bearers (Sutcliff novel) facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Rosemary Sutcliff |
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| Illustrator | Charles Keeping |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
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| Genre | Historical novel, children's adventure novel |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
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Publication date
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December 1959 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover; paperback) |
| Pages | 252 pp (first edition) |
| OCLC | 9405024 |
| LC Class | PZ7.S966 Lan |
| Preceded by | The Silver Branch |
| Followed by | Sword at Sunset |
The Lantern Bearers is an exciting historical novel for young readers by Rosemary Sutcliff. It was first published in 1959. The story takes place in Roman Britain during the 400s AD. This was a time when the Roman soldiers were leaving Britain for good. The book follows a young British Roman man's life after this big change. Rosemary Sutcliff won the famous Carnegie Medal for this book. This award celebrates the best children's book written by a British subject each year.
The Lantern Bearers is the third book in a series often called the Marcus series. This series started with The Eagle of the Ninth. The book explores big ideas like loss, feeling separated, and what it means to be loyal. These ideas are more complex than in the earlier books. Reviewers often suggest this book is best for slightly older readers. Even though it's a children's book, its sequel, Sword at Sunset, is for adults. Rosemary Sutcliff herself said her books are "for children of all ages, from nine to ninety." This book is also the first in the series that connects to the legends of King Arthur.
Contents
What the Title Means
The title of the book comes from a wise remark made by a character named Eugenus. He says, "We are the lantern bearers, my friend; for us to keep something burning, to carry what light we can forward into the darkness and the wind." This means that the main characters are trying to protect what they see as the light of civilization. They are fighting against the "darkness" of the Saxon invaders. This struggle is a very important part of the story.
Story Summary
The story is set in Britain after the Roman soldiers have left. This was a very difficult time. The land faced attacks from Saxon raiders and the Picts. There were also uprisings. Vortigern, a British-Celtic leader, had invited the Saxon leader Hengest and his tribe to help fight the Picts. He relied on the remaining Roman soldiers to control the Saxons. But Rome itself was in trouble and could not help Britain anymore.
Aquila's Journey Begins
The main character is 18-year-old Aquila. He is a Roman cavalry officer. Aquila is a descendant of Marcus Flavius Aquila. He serves at Rutupiae. The story starts when Aquila is visiting his family farm. His family includes his blind father Flavian, his younger sister Flavia, and loyal servants. Many Romans, including Aquila's father, hoped that Ambrosius Aurelianus could save Britain.
Aquila is called back to Rutupiae. There he learns that all Roman troops will leave Britain in just three days. Aquila is shocked. He has to choose between his duty to Rome and his love for his homeland. At the last moment, he decides to stay in Britain. He deserts the army. As the last Roman ships sail away, he lights the beacon at Rutupiae one last time.
A Terrible Attack
Two days later, Saxon raiders attack Aquila's farm. Aquila fights bravely and kills the Saxon leader. But he is outnumbered and captured. He is forced to watch as a big, blond Saxon takes his sister Flavia away. The raiders kill everyone else on the farm and burn it down. They tie Aquila to a tree, leaving him for the wolves. This was their revenge for him killing their leader.
Later, a group of Jutish raiders finds Aquila. They take him to Jutland, a land across the sea. Aquila spends almost three years as a captive. During this time, he learns something shocking. The Saxons who attacked his family were not random raiders. Hengest had sent them. This was revenge because Aquila's father and others had asked Rome for help against Vortigern and the Saxons. A bird-catcher had betrayed Flavian. Aquila often has visions of his sister screaming. He plans to return to Britain, find Flavia, and get revenge on the bird-catcher.
Return to Britain
Bad harvests force the Jutes to move to Britain. Aquila sails with them. He returns to find Rutupiae empty and ruined. With the Romans gone, Hengest now controls much of the land. Aquila plans his escape from the Saxon camp. By chance, he sees Flavia. She is now married to the man who took her. She even has a one-year-old child. Flavia helps Aquila escape. But she refuses to leave her new family. Aquila is heartbroken and bitter. He leaves alone.
He then meets a kind monk named Brother Ninnias. The monk lives alone in a forest. He is the only survivor of a Saxon attack on his abbey. Brother Ninnias helps Aquila. He removes the slave-ring from Aquila's neck and gives him food and shelter. Aquila learns that the bird-catcher had been forced to betray his father. The bird-catcher had died soon after. With no revenge to seek and his sister gone, Aquila feels lost. Brother Ninnias advises him to follow his father's path. He tells Aquila to offer his service to Ambrosius Aurelianus, the Prince of Britain.
A New Purpose
Aquila travels to Dynas Ffaraon, Ambrosius's stronghold in the Welsh mountains. He soon joins Ambrosius's special group of companions. But his past hurts make him wary of others. People start calling him 'Lone Wolf'. Ambrosius tries to unite all the people of Britain, both Celts and Romans, to fight the Saxons. Ambrosius asks Aquila to marry one of the daughters of Cradoc. This is a Celtic chieftain whose life Ambrosius once saved. This marriage would help unite the two peoples. Aquila chooses Ness, the younger and more spirited sister. At first, Aquila is not very interested in Ness. She also resents being taken from her home. But as years pass, Aquila learns to let go of his pain. He opens up to others, especially after his son is born. He names his son Flavian, after his father.
Over the years, there are many fights and uneasy truces. Finally, Ambrosius, with the help of his nephew Artos (Arthur) and Aquila, wins a big victory over the Saxons. During the battle, Aquila sees a young boy who looks like his sister. He tries to ignore it. But then he finds the boy unconscious. He realizes it is Flavia's son. With Brother Ninnias' help, he cares for the boy. He hides him from British soldiers. Then he sends the boy back to his mother with a message.
Later, Aquila tells Ambrosius what he did. This happens at a banquet celebrating Ambrosius becoming the High King of Britain. Ambrosius listens to the whole story and forgives him. Aquila finally feels free and at peace. He knows that the peace they have found will not last forever. But for now, he is content.
Why This Story Matters
This novel is set at the beginning of the Early Middle Ages. This was a time when the powerful Roman Empire was weakening. Tribes from the east were moving into Western Europe. The author uses this historical period to tell a realistic version of the famous King Arthur legends. The next book in the series, Sword at Sunset, continues this story.
Ambrosius Aurelianus, who is said to be Arthur's uncle, represents the old Roman ways. He tries to defend his homeland against what seems like an unstoppable invasion. The book also features other historical figures. These include Hengest and Horsa, the Saxon chiefs who invaded England, and Vortigern, a British king. Brother Ninnias might be based on the monk Nennius, who wrote a history called Historia Brittonum.
The book shows different points of view. It explores the anger of the Romano-British people who are being invaded. They see the invaders as evil. But it also shows the desperate needs of the tribes from the continent. These tribes faced poor harvests and starvation in their own lands.
