🐬 Sutcliff Ask Meme 🐬

[verecunda]

Happy 100th birthday to beloved author Rosemary Sutcliff (born December 14, 1920). In honour of the occasion, I’ve put together a Q&A (also posted on Tumblr) for any admirers of her books to take part in.

Rules: answer the questions, tag anyone who you think might want to play along, and - if you like - add a question of your own.

1. Your favourite work by Sutcliff.
2. Your favourite bearer of the dolphin ring.
3. A supporting or background character you love.
4. Your favourite animal companion.
5. Is there any setting you find especially memorable?
6. Wild geese flighting and striped native rugs: is there a classic Sutcliff motif that never fails to warm your heart when it appears?
7. The natural world is a vivid presence in all her work. Is there any particular nature description that sticks in your mind?
8. Biggest tearjerker. (Happy or sad tears!)
9. How did you first discover Sutcliff?
10. What is it about her work that appeals to you the most?
11. A book that deserves more love.
12. A book you haven’t read yet, but want to.
13. Which book(s) would you love to get a film or TV adaptation?
14. Is there any historical period, incident, or figure you wish she’d written about?
15. Rec a Sutcliff-themed fanwork (fic, art, vid, etc.) to share with fellow fans.

And lastly, just out of interest... how far is it from Venta to the mountains?

Comments

[isis]

Oh, this is a DELIGHTFUL set of questions, and I hope many people do answer!

[regshoe]

Oh, what a lovely idea, and these are great questions—thanks for posting :D And happy birthday to Sutcliff!

[hyarrowen]

1. Favourite work – The Shield Ring. It was the first one I ever read, and I loved the active girl POV character.

2. Favourite dolphin ringbearer – Marcus.

3. Supporting or background character – Cottia

4. Favourite animal companion – the wildcat in “the Mark of the Horse Lord”. I’m just a cat person!

5. Memorable setting – the Lake District in The Shield Ring, especially the ship-ridge where Bjorn and Frytha keep watch.

6. Do I have a favourite recurring motif? Hmm, no. They tend to remind me that I’m reading a book, instead of living it.

7. The aforementioned mountain ridge in The Shield Ring, and the stream where they sail boats with Ari Knudson.

8. Biggest tearjerker – the long-drawn-out fall of Roman Britain. There’s a desperate sense of nostalgia for what (like Numenor) wasn’t so great in the first place.

9. First encounter - kids’ section of my local library; I thought the hardback cover of The Shield Ring looked good. I was right about that!

10. The biggest appeal is the sense of immersion in the past. I read a lot of her books in pre-internet, pre DVD days, and there was time to really get involved, almost to wallow. It’s something I try to emulate in my fics.

11. A book that deserves more love. Hmm. Honestly, I think they all get the love!

12. A book I have yet to read – Blood and Sand. It’s on my bookshelf but it’s intimidatingly large, and also I tend to bounce off her adult works. But I’m told it’s good.

13. I would love to see an adaptation of The Shield Ring…

14. Gaps in her writing – I think she might have written good falconry stories, given how very accurately she painted a falconer. https://rosemarysutcliff.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/rosemary-sutcliff-minature-paining-the-falconer-1952.jpg

15. I like Carmarthen’s “Beyond the Mists” http://archiveofourown.org/works/566140 - The Eagle of the Ninth, with plesiosaurs!

how far is it from Venta to the mountains?

No, you’ve got me there…

[chantefable]

Thank you for sharing your opinions! ♥