Rosemary Sutcliff

Rosemary Sutcliff (14 December 1920 – 23 July 1992) was an English novelist best known for children's books, especially historical fiction and retellings of myths and legends. Although she was primarily a children's author, some of her novels were specifically written for adults. In a 1986 interview she said, "I would claim that my books are for children of all ages, from nine to ninety."

Rosemary was born in East Clandon, Surrey, and spent her early youth in Malta and other naval bases where her father was stationed as a naval officer. She contracted Still's Disease at a very young age, which confined her to a wheelchair for most of her life, leading to a solitary childhood and adolescence.

Her studies initially led her towards a promising career as a miniature painter, but she began to write in her early twenties. A friend submitted one of her manuscripts to a publisher, sparking her long professional literary career.

She published over fifty works in her lifetime, predominantly historical novels aimed at young readers, yet appreciated by all ages. Her most notable work, "The Eagle of the Ninth," is set in Roman Britain and was adapted into a film in 2011.

Sutcliff received several awards, including the prestigious Carnegie Medal for "The Lantern Bearers." She was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her contributions to children's literature.

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