by Rosemary Sutcliff

Rosemary Sutcliff (1920-92) is generally considered one of the finest authors of historical fiction for young people; many critics view her as the undisputed master of the genre. The details of her early life would have a major impact on her novels. She contracted Still’s Disease, a form of rheumatoid arthritis, at the age of two, and suffered through hospitalizations, painful operations, and frustrating physical limitations throughout her life. Not surprisingly, many of her characters struggle and succeed at overcoming handicaps and the stereotypes that often accompany them. Born in Surrey, England, Sutcliff developed a love of the countryside as a child and spent most of her adult life in the South Downs, the area directly south of London extending roughly from Winchester to Eastbourne. A strong sense of place and the relationship between...