The Lantern Bearers [Paperback]

The last of the Roman army have set sail and left Britain forever, abandoning it to civil war and the threat of a Saxon invasion. Aquila, a young Legionnaire, deserted his regiment to stay behind with his family, but his home and all that he loves are destroyed. Years of hardship and fighting follow, and in the end, there is only one thing left in Aquila's lifehis thirst for revenge . . .

The Lantern Bearersis the winner of the 1959 Carnegie Medal in Literature.

Rosemary Sutcliff(1920-1992) wrote dozens of books for young readers, including her award-winning Roman Britain trilogy,The Eagle of the Ninth,The Silver Branch, andThe Lantern Bearers, which won the Carnegie Medal.The Eagle of the Ninthis now a major motion picture, The Eagle, directed by Kevin MacDonald and starring Channing Tatum. Born in Surrey, Sutcliff spent her childhood in Malta and on various other naval bases where her father was stationed. At a young age, she contracted Still's Disease, which confined her to a wheelchair for most of her life. Shortly before her death, she was named Commander of the British Empire (CBE) one of Britain's most prestigious honors. She died in West Sussex, England, in 1992.

Discussion Questions

1. Aquila deserts the Roman army when the last troops are recalled to Italy. Why does he feel that he is fighting a personal battle of divided loyalties? His father tells him, Rome has done too much of thinking what is comfortable. [p. 10] How does this statement suggest his father's loyalties? At what point does Aquila know that his battle of loyalty must be fought alone?

2. Aquila prepares his Roman troops for embarkation, and briefly considers asking Callistus, his Commandant, to dismiss him. Why does he think that Callistus will understand his need to stay in Britain? And how does he know that the Commandant will refuse? Discuss his decision to desert the Roman army. He isn't sure that he has made ló,