Reprint: The Flowers of Adonis by Rosemary Sutcliff

[filkferengi]

This is free for a few days, & I know she's popular hereabouts.

The Flowers of Adonis by Rosemary Sutcliff.

Rosemary Sutcliff CBE (14 December 1920 - 23 July 1992) was a British novelist best known for children's books, especially historical fiction and retellings of myths and legends. For her contribution as a children's writer Sutcliff was a runner-up for the Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 1974. Although she was primarily a children's author, some of her novels were specifically written for adults. Her other adult works include `Blood & Sand' and `The Rider of the White Horse'.

The 5th Century BC.

The Greek city-states are engaged in perpetual war.

But one man towers above the chaos.

His name is Alkibiades.

He is at once a pirate, statesman and seducer whose adventures rival those of Odysseus himself.

Citizen of Athens, friend of Socrates, sailor, warrior and inveterate lover, Alkibiades flees persecution in his native city to join the Spartan cause.

However, his brilliant naval and diplomatic victories on their behalf do not save him from the consequences of impregnating the Spartan queen, and once more he takes up the outcast's mantle.

Rosemary Sutcliff's thrilling historical novel charters the life of this Greek warrior, from his military climax to his violent demise.

"A fascinating character study told with skill and erudition" DAILY TELEGRAPH

http://www.amazon.com/Flowers-Adonis-Rosemary-Sutcliff-ebook/dp/B00MW7YJ8S/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flowers-Adonis-Rosemary-Sutcliff-ebook/dp/B00MW7YJ8S/

http://www.amazon.ca/Flowers-Adonis-Rosemary-Sutcliff-ebook/dp/B00MW7YJ8S/

earrings and more...

[kiscakat.livejournal.com]

Hello everyone!
I am new here – I stumbled across this site quite by accident, and am oh, so glad that I found it! I LOVE these stories – and it is so nice to find other, like-minded people who know how to recognize a truly amazing piece of literature! I have not had anyone to talk over the books with…but after reading many of the posts and threads, would like to bring up a few ideas that I have had over the years of enjoying these stories and see what others think of them. (Please forgive me if I write about something that you have already discussed and just point me in the direction of that particular thread.)

1.Earrings: Is there something more to the earring in the stories than first meets the eye?
Evidence:
(A) In the stories, Gen has stolen many earrings (placed them alters) and given Irene a pair of earrings.
(B) Later, in KoA, he dances with the Lady Themis’s little sister, Hero, and when she tells him her father will wonder what he sees to admire, he tells her: “That’s easy. Tell him I like your earrings.” (p.156)
(C) After he is wounded, Gen allows Hero to be admitted to his room and talks quietly with her. When she leaves, Costis hears Gen say to her “I hope your father appreciates what a good friend you are to me.” (p.204)
(D) And I need to read ACoK again, but I believe that there is at least one earring reference in that book as well.

So, I am beginning to believe that there will be more to this than meets the eye…perhaps Gen is pulling together a group of trusted people to work for him and one means of identification (for the women at least) is the earrings that they wear…

2. Opinions, please, on the following idea: Gen asked the gods if he was really supposed to be king…and their answer was unequivocally “Yes”
My reasoning:
(A) In KoA, there is a scene (Chapt.5) where Gen flips a coin over and over – and it keeps landing on “lilies.” This means that Gen is to rule. (“Heads I rule, lilies you do.” Attolia responds, “Lilies, you rule, heads, you throw again.”) Gen is disgusted and throws the coin out when he leaves the room. (The implication is that gods were controlling the outcome of the coin toss.)
(B) He spends time sitting in a chair – looking in the direction of Eddis (homesick)
(C) Then, later in the book Gen storms off to the temple with a letter he has written for the great goddess. The priestess tells Gen the goddess already knows his question and won’t allow him to enter the temple to ask it. The Oracle comes out and snatches the letter out of Gen’s hand, tears it in half, and hands it back saying only, “Your answer.” All that is left on the page is the signature “Attolis.” (p. 140)

3. Could Irene be pregnant?
Evidence/Reasoning behind this thought:
(A) When Costis is talking with Aris in the bar (p.148-149), Aris points out that Gen hasn’t forced the issue of heirs. (Of course, we know there’s no need for him to…)
(B) Then, take p. 87 where Costis and Gen have been sparring and Gen hits Costis with the sword and gives him the rest of the day off:
“That’s better. Keep up that obedient attitude and you could be Captain of the Guard someday. It’s true, the queen would never have you, but we could both be assassinated, and you could be captain to my heir. Don’t give up hope just because the chances are slim.”
(C) p.185-186: Gen is being stitched up by the Dr. after the assassination attempt, Irene faints, and Gen goes crazy and only calms down when he registers the words “The queen is fine!” Now, for a long time I thought that she was just bother by the site of his blood b/c of all that had transpired between them in the past…but, with the other lines, could it also be that she is already pregnant? Just a thought…

more Rosemary Sutcliff love

[filkferengi]

Here's another link from the Bujold list, an interview with Rosemary Sutcliff:

http://d.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/text/interview-with-rosemary-sutcliff