This indispensable classic, Rosemary Sutcliff's The Eagle of the
Ninth--an adventure story that unfolds in Roman Britain, published in
1954--set the standard for all historical fiction for children that came
after. EVERYMAN'S LIBRARY CHILDREN'S CLASSICS.
In the second century AD, the Ninth Legion marched into northern Britain
to suppress a rebellion of the Caledonian tribes and was never heard
from again. The young Roman officer Marcus Aquila sets off on a perilous
journey to find out what happened to the legion in which his father
served, and--if possible--to salvage its eagle and its honor.
Accompanying him is Esca, his freed slave, with whom he gradually
develops a deep and remarkable friendship that crosses the boundaries of
conquest and colonialism. An unforgettable story of adventure, humanity,
and the mysteries of the past.