169:(the most northerly town in the Roman Empire). He is soon after approached by representatives of the Dal Riada, who ask him to impersonate their king in an effort to win back tribal leadership from a usurper queen. Phaedrus is persuaded, accepts the role of Midir, the original prince whose eyes were put out by the queen, preventing him from ruling, and receives a signifying tattoo on his forehead, the eponymous Mark of the Horse Lord. The stage is then set for a struggle between King and Queen, between Dal Riada and
354:
366:
29:
261:
The Dal Riada eventually win, the
Caledones are dispersed, but the Queen flees and finds refuge in a Roman frontier fort. An attempt to assassinate the Queen is made with the help of the true Midir, in which both die, and Phaedrus is captured by the Romans. He is offered freedom at a great cost to
262:
the Dal Riada, referencing back to the discussions of Pax Romana and Roman treatment of the native tribes. Phaedrus instead opts to sacrifice himself for the survival of his adopted people, punctuating the concept of responsibility and the
406:
281:, revolving around conflicting cultures, and the duties assumed and performed by individuals within those cultures. The duties of a king are shown in many of her novels, including
331:
as the best
English-language children's book that did not win a major contemporary award when it was originally published twenty years earlier. It is named for the
403:
223:
of previous kings. He lives among the Dal Riada, developing trust and understanding with some who recognise him for an impostor, most who do not.
393:
486:
429:
137:. Like many Sutcliff novels, the plot is driven by a crisis of leadership, hinging on acceptance of the ultimate responsibility of a
980:
269:
The theme of the novel is built around an individual struggling to find identity and belonging, similar to
Sutcliff novels such as
1000:
975:
990:
985:
580:
532:
397:
328:
520:
1005:
238:
of the World), as the Dal Riada struggle to defend their frontier. Other geographical features encountered include
479:
358:
747:
444:
995:
899:
611:
553:
594:
472:
344:
656:
306:
The novel also contains elements of
Anthony Hope's earlier Ruritanian novel of a substitute prince,
688:
604:
271:
189:
165:. He receives his wooden-foil, i.e. his freedom after winning a fight-to-the-death in the arena of
60:
922:
885:
704:
664:
185:
150:
890:
680:
513:
201:
879:
805:
308:
289:
425:
8:
618:
370:
332:
797:
672:
496:
166:
111:
42:
426:
Article about
Rosemary Sutcliff at the Historical Novels Info website; paragraph 15
299:
263:
220:
138:
173:, between the Sun God and the Great Mother; a theme used in many Sutcliff novels.
936:
696:
587:
560:
539:
433:
410:
283:
247:
969:
727:
464:
335:, which is reborn from its ashes, to suggest the book's rise from obscurity.
324:
177:
122:
115:
312:. The red hair of both substituting heroes is just one of the resemblances.
294:
231:
226:
A war ensues between the Dal Riada and the
Caledones, who are portrayed as
158:
180:, learning his role from the original prince Midir and the culture of the
235:
219:. Phaedrus is crowned king in a ceremony where he places one foot on the
216:
170:
28:
846:
193:
546:
277:
255:
251:
243:
130:
126:
239:
197:
154:
205:
211:
A revolt ensues against the Queen, and the Dal Riada capital of
212:
134:
459:
227:
181:
162:
215:
is retaken, but the queen escapes to her kin amongst the
71:
781:(1973), illus. Charles Keeping (later, Richard Cuffari)
184:. Several historical subjects are discussed, including
18:
1965 historical novel for children by
Rosemary Sutcliff
342:
230:. The fighting occurs across the countryside around
110:is a 1965 historical novel for children written by
860:(1987), illus. Charles Keeping—omnibus edition of
967:
293:, and have been credited as being influenced by
494:
480:
460:Official website with more on book and author
793:(1975), by Sutcliff and Margaret Lyford-Pike
445:Historical Novel Society: Rosemary Sutcliff
487:
473:
27:
389:
387:
652:(Oxford, 1950), illus. C. Walter Hodges
421:
419:
968:
384:
176:Phaedrus spends time in a town on the
468:
416:
13:
676:(1952), illus. by C. Walter Hodges
14:
1017:
453:
398:Children's Literature Association
329:Children's Literature Association
751:(1967), illus. Michael Charleton
364:
352:
266:developed throughout the novel.
907:(1995, posth.), illus. Alan Lee
876:The Minstrel and the Dragon Pup
763:(1970), illus. Richard Lebenson
144:
878:(1993, posthumous), illus. by
801:(1976), illus. Charles Keeping
748:The High Deeds of Finn MacCool
737:(1965), illus. Charles Keeping
708:(1960), illus. Charles Keeping
700:(1958), illus. Charles Keeping
692:(1955), illus. Richard Kennedy
684:(1953), illus. Richard Kennedy
668:(1951) illus. C. Walter Hodges
660:(1950) illus. C. Walter Hodges
438:
402:See also the current homepage
129:who becomes involved with the
1:
1001:Oxford University Press books
858:The Best of Rosemary Sutcliff
839:(1986), illus. Rachel Birkett
720:(1961) illus. Charles Keeping
394:"Phoenix Award Brochure 2012"
377:
981:Children's historical novels
827:(1981), illus. Victor Ambrus
809:(1977), illus. Shirley Felts
787:(1974), illus. Victor Ambrus
775:(1972), illus. Victor Ambrus
769:(1971), illus. Victor Ambrus
757:(1968), illus. Victor Ambrus
743:(1967), illus. Victor Ambrus
650:The Chronicles of Robin Hood
7:
991:Novels set in Roman Britain
986:Novels by Rosemary Sutcliff
714:(1960), illus. Douglas Relf
612:The Light Beyond the Forest
338:
153:-gladiator Red Phaedrus, a
22:The Mark of the Horse Lord
10:
1022:
905:The Wanderings of Odysseus
866:The Mark of the Horse Lord
854:(1987) illus. Jane Johnson
734:The Mark of the Horse Lord
321:The Mark of the Horse Lord
149:The story revolves around
107:The Mark of the Horse Lord
976:British children's novels
914:
815:(1977), illus. Laslzo Acs
657:The Queen Elizabeth Story
642:
635:
570:
503:
315:
95:
87:
77:
67:
56:
48:
38:
26:
605:The Sword and the Circle
323:won the inaugural, 1985
204:, and the viewpoints of
188:and the laying-waste of
125:and tells the tale of a
898:(1993, posth.), illus.
896:Chess-dream in a Garden
889:(1993, posth.), illus.
886:Black Ships Before Troy
773:Heather, Oak, and Olive
755:A Circlet of Oak Leaves
432:9 February 2011 at the
400:. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
192:after subjugation, the
930:Rider on a White Horse
837:Flame-coloured Taffeta
779:The Capricorn Bracelet
767:The Truce of the Games
600:The Arthurian Trilogy
514:The Eagle of the Ninth
252:Firth of the War Boats
1006:1965 children's books
944:The Flowers of Adonis
880:Emma Chichester Clark
852:A Little Dog Like You
819:Song for a Dark Queen
806:Sun Horse, Moon Horse
791:We Lived in Drumfyvie
718:Beowulf: Dragonslayer
409:20 March 2012 at the
359:Children's literature
333:mythical bird phoenix
309:The Prisoner of Zenda
290:Sun Horse, Moon Horse
843:The Roundabout Horse
741:The Chief's Daughter
665:The Armourer's House
996:1965 British novels
724:The Hound of Ulster
627:The Shining Company
619:The Road to Camlann
581:The Lantern Bearers
533:The Lantern Bearers
505:Eagle of the Ninth
200:'s battles against
114:. It won the first
23:
673:Brother Dusty-Feet
595:Tristan and Iseult
234:(described as the
121:It takes place in
21:
963:
962:
959:
958:
643:Children's novels
521:The Silver Branch
497:Rosemary Sutcliff
196:and its effects,
112:Rosemary Sutcliff
103:
102:
88:Publication place
43:Rosemary Sutcliff
1013:
761:The Witch's Brat
640:
639:
489:
482:
475:
466:
465:
447:
442:
436:
423:
414:
391:
369:
368:
367:
357:
356:
355:
348:
300:The Golden Bough
264:sacrificial king
221:carved footprint
208:on all of this.
202:General Agricola
139:sacrificial king
99:Print (hardback)
79:Publication date
63:historical novel
31:
24:
20:
1021:
1020:
1016:
1015:
1014:
1012:
1011:
1010:
966:
965:
964:
955:
937:Sword at Sunset
923:Lady in Waiting
910:
862:Warrior Scarlet
726:(1963), illus.
712:Bridge Builders
697:Warrior Scarlet
631:
588:Sword at Sunset
566:
561:The Shield Ring
540:Sword at Sunset
499:
493:
456:
451:
450:
443:
439:
434:Wayback Machine
424:
417:
411:Wayback Machine
404:"Phoenix Award"
401:
392:
385:
380:
375:
365:
363:
353:
351:
343:
341:
318:
284:Sword at Sunset
186:Lollius Urbicus
147:
135:Earra-GhĂ idheal
96:Media type
80:
34:
19:
12:
11:
5:
1019:
1009:
1008:
1003:
998:
993:
988:
983:
978:
961:
960:
957:
956:
954:
953:
950:Blood and Sand
947:
941:
933:
927:
918:
916:
912:
911:
909:
908:
902:
900:Ralph Thompson
893:
882:
873:
855:
849:
845:(1986) illus.
840:
834:
828:
822:
816:
813:Shifting Sands
810:
802:
794:
788:
785:The Changeling
782:
776:
770:
764:
758:
752:
744:
738:
730:
721:
715:
709:
701:
693:
685:
677:
669:
661:
653:
646:
644:
637:
633:
632:
630:
629:
624:
623:
622:
615:
608:
598:
591:
584:
576:
574:
568:
567:
565:
564:
557:
550:
543:
536:
529:
524:
517:
509:
507:
501:
500:
492:
491:
484:
477:
469:
463:
462:
455:
454:External links
452:
449:
448:
437:
415:
382:
381:
379:
376:
374:
373:
361:
340:
337:
317:
314:
146:
143:
101:
100:
97:
93:
92:
91:United Kingdom
89:
85:
84:
81:
78:
75:
74:
69:
65:
64:
58:
54:
53:
50:
46:
45:
40:
36:
35:
32:
17:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1018:
1007:
1004:
1002:
999:
997:
994:
992:
989:
987:
984:
982:
979:
977:
974:
973:
971:
951:
948:
945:
942:
939:
938:
934:
931:
928:
925:
924:
920:
919:
917:
913:
906:
903:
901:
897:
894:
892:
888:
887:
883:
881:
877:
874:
871:
867:
863:
859:
856:
853:
850:
848:
844:
841:
838:
835:
832:
831:Bonnie Dundee
829:
826:
823:
820:
817:
814:
811:
808:
807:
803:
800:
799:
795:
792:
789:
786:
783:
780:
777:
774:
771:
768:
765:
762:
759:
756:
753:
750:
749:
745:
742:
739:
736:
735:
731:
729:
728:Victor Ambrus
725:
722:
719:
716:
713:
710:
707:
706:
702:
699:
698:
694:
691:
690:
686:
683:
682:
678:
675:
674:
670:
667:
666:
662:
659:
658:
654:
651:
648:
647:
645:
641:
638:
634:
628:
625:
621:
620:
616:
614:
613:
609:
607:
606:
602:
601:
599:
597:
596:
592:
590:
589:
585:
583:
582:
578:
577:
575:
573:
569:
563:
562:
558:
556:
555:
551:
549:
548:
544:
542:
541:
537:
535:
534:
530:
528:
527:Frontier Wolf
525:
523:
522:
518:
516:
515:
511:
510:
508:
506:
502:
498:
490:
485:
483:
478:
476:
471:
470:
467:
461:
458:
457:
446:
441:
435:
431:
427:
422:
420:
412:
408:
405:
399:
395:
390:
388:
383:
372:
362:
360:
350:
349:
346:
336:
334:
330:
326:
325:Phoenix Award
322:
313:
311:
310:
304:
302:
301:
296:
292:
291:
286:
285:
280:
279:
274:
273:
267:
265:
259:
257:
253:
249:
245:
241:
237:
233:
229:
224:
222:
218:
214:
209:
207:
203:
199:
195:
191:
187:
183:
179:
178:Northern Wall
174:
172:
168:
164:
160:
156:
152:
142:
140:
136:
132:
128:
124:
123:Roman Britain
119:
117:
116:Phoenix Award
113:
109:
108:
98:
94:
90:
86:
82:
76:
73:
70:
66:
62:
59:
55:
51:
47:
44:
41:
37:
33:First edition
30:
25:
16:
949:
943:
935:
929:
921:
915:Adult novels
904:
895:
884:
875:
870:Knight's Fee
869:
865:
861:
857:
851:
842:
836:
830:
824:
818:
812:
804:
796:
790:
784:
778:
772:
766:
760:
754:
746:
740:
733:
732:
723:
717:
711:
705:Knight's Fee
703:
695:
687:
679:
671:
663:
655:
649:
636:Other novels
626:
617:
610:
603:
593:
586:
579:
571:
559:
552:
545:
538:
531:
526:
519:
512:
504:
440:
371:Roman Empire
320:
319:
307:
305:
298:
295:James Frazer
288:
282:
276:
270:
268:
260:
225:
210:
175:
148:
145:Plot summary
120:
106:
105:
104:
15:
872:(1958–1965)
825:Eagle's Egg
244:Loch Fhiona
236:Shield boss
213:Dun Monaidh
167:Corstopitum
970:Categories
847:Alan Marks
798:Blood Feud
554:Sword Song
378:References
194:Pax Romana
155:red haired
61:Children's
572:Arthurian
547:Dawn Wind
495:Works by
327:from the
278:Dawn Wind
256:Glen Croe
240:Loch Abha
217:Caledones
171:Caledones
131:Dal Riada
127:gladiator
118:in 1985.
68:Publisher
891:Alan Lee
430:Archived
407:Archived
339:See also
232:Cruachan
198:Calgacus
190:Valentia
49:Language
689:Outcast
345:Portals
272:Outcast
206:Tacitus
161:, half
52:English
952:(1987)
946:(1969)
940:(1963)
932:(1959)
926:(1957)
868:, and
833:(1983)
821:(1978)
316:Awards
254:, and
250:, the
246:, the
39:Author
681:Simon
248:Cluta
228:Picts
182:Celts
159:Roman
157:half
151:slave
57:Genre
428:.
287:and
275:and
163:Celt
83:1965
297:'s
133:of
72:OUP
972::
864:,
418:^
396:.
386:^
303:.
258:.
242:,
141:.
488:e
481:t
474:v
413:.
347::
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.