Eagle in the Snow: The Classic Bestseller

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In November 2016 Michael Morpurgo won the J M Barrie Award for his contribution to children’s literature.This award is given every year by Action for Children’s Arts to a “children’s arts practitioner” whose lifetime’s work has delighted children and will stand the test of time. Morpurgo doesn’t think that screens are going to take over from the printed word. “When ebooks came in, everyone thought there would be no (hard copy) books anymore. The ebook rose and rose — and then it flattened and it’s going down again. We are fascinated by the new.” The Eagle in the Snow by Wallace Beem really is The Little Book That Could. This is a historical “last stand” sort of novel taking place in the Waning years of the Western Roman Empire. The book revolves around General Maxiumus, a Roman General around the year 400 AD stationed high along Hadrian’s Wall in Brittania. Maximus is a true Roman who has never seen Rome, but he remains true to the Emperor of this period, Honorius (a despicable Emperor that played no small role in the weakening of Rome around this period), and his General Stilicho (one of the absolute greatest figures from Roman history). Despite growing reality of major barbarian incursion along the Wall, Maximus gets news from Stilicho that he is being moved to an area of even more importance: the Rhine River, where Germanic tribesman are amassing on the East bank of the River in terrifying strength, and they plan on crossing into Gaul and carving out some of Rome’s land for themselves. For now, the mighty Rhine keeps them at bay, but winter is coming and what will happen if it freezes over? En su contra, cuesta arrancar y adaptarse al estilo de Breem, el primer tercio se nos cuenta parte del camino del protagonista, necesario hasta cierto punto para conocerle mejor, pero creo que se invierten demasiadas páginas en una historia que no es demasiado interesante hasta que no alcanza las fronteras del Rin. Morpurgo’s gentle WWII tale is loosely based on a real British soldier who may or may not have spared Adolf Hitler’s life during WWI. ...The casual tone of the story the stranger tells is in compellingly sharp contrast to the powerful questions it raises about duty and honor. A couple of light twists at the end are not entirely unexpected. Morpurgo concludes the book with information about Henry Tandey, the real Billy Byron." — Booklist

Hope so,” said Ma, nudging me again because I was still staring. I couldn’t help myself. The station master came past our window then, waving his green flag, blowing his whistle, his cheeks puffed out so that his face looked entirely round, like a pink balloon, I thought. Then we were off, the train chuffing itself, wearily, reluctantly, into slow motion. You can also read about his life in War Child to War Horse,a collaborative biography with Maggie Fergusson. An extraordinary middle-grade novel about a the young man who met a young Adolf Hitler and could have stopped WWII, from the author of War Horse.

The powerful new novel from the master storyteller - inspired by the true story of one man who might have stopped World War II, it bears all the hallmarks of the next Morpurgo classic and is another stunning and resonant story of war and its impact on ordinary people. With discipline, deception, persuasion, and surprise, Maximus holds the line against an increasingly desperate and innumerable foe. Friends, allies, and even enemies urge Maximus to proclaim himself emperor. He refuses, bound by an oath of duty, honor, and sacrifice to Rome, a city he has never seen. But then circumstance intervenes. Now, Maximus will accept the purple robe of emperor, if his scrappy legion can deliver this last crucial victory against insurmountable odds. The very fate of Rome hangs in the balance. La ambientación soberbia. Lo grueso de la trama se desarrolla en diciembre, con nieve y frio para aburrir (el título del libro ya lo dice) y realmente nos mete el libro en faena. La angustia de la defensa en inferioridad de condiciones, el sufrimiento, el orgullo, el valor o la cobardía, las lealtades y las traiciones, las penalidades y los sentimientos de los personajes, de la legión XX en su conjunto …eso es lo que más vale, ahí se lleva las cinco estrellas y eso es lo que hace a este libro algo digno de ser leído.

Resumiendo, novela de legiones romanas con dos partes bien diferenciadas, una más calmada y pausada, en exceso diría yo, y una segunda trepidante y que si eres como yo, disfrutarás muchísimo más. Henry Tandey said in some press interview: "I didn't like to shoot a wounded man, but if I'd known who this corporal would turn out to be, I'd give ten years now to have five minutes' clairvoyance then." Desi a fost o lectura usoara, scriitura m-a emotionat indeajuns incat sa ma faca sa empatizez cu Billy si cu remuscarile lui, dar m-a lasat si cu multe semne de intrebare, al caror raspuns sigur nu il voi afla niciodata. As it turns out, nothing good if you’re a Roman. But Maximus is a true believer, and refuses to negotiate with this enormous horde of Vandal, Marcomanni, Alemanni, etc. tribesman. But this stranger was neat, and there was nothing neat about my grandpa. My grandpa was a scarecrow, with his hair always tousled—what there was of it—his hands and face grimy from delivering his coal, and that was after he had washed. This stranger had clean hands, and clean nails too, as well looked after as the rest of him.Personajes : creo que alguien los ensalza en sus críticas pero a mí sólo me han parecido reales dos : Máximo y Quito. Algo el obispo y el curator, pero poco más (creo que esta opinión es minoritaria, pero ahí queda) Además, hay muchos, muchos, muchos, y te pierdes en ocasiones. După război, poți să discuți ce e bine și ce e rău, dar în miezul luptei, soldații nu-și pun asemenea întrebări. Breem paints a very detailed and accurate picture of life in Maximus' world. This historical novel is as solid in its history as documentation and archaeology allowed in the late `60s, and the liberties taken seem to be few and forgivable. He draws a very vivid exposition of existence at the ends of the Roman earth. He elicits emotion through the subtle interplay between characters and through Maximus' monologue. His cousin Julian was brought up by his own parents as Julian's were forced to commit suicide by a usurping Roman Emperor. Julian also grows up to be a soldier, but at this point the cousins' paths diverge. Maximus and Julian represent two sides of a Roman coin - on one side is Maximus: the Empire, staunch, disciplined, loyal and forever Roman. On the other side is Julian: the Empire in decline, resentful, living-on-the-fringe, and consumed by hatred.

A son and grandson of actors, Michael has acting in his blood and enjoys collaborating and performing live adaptations of his books at festivals, concerts and theatres.

Ma nudged me and apologized for my rudeness before she turned on me. “How many times have I told you not to stare at people, Barney? Say sorry to the gentleman now.” It’s too dangerous, Barney,” she said, shaking my shoulders to make me listen. “Just go with Grandpa. Do as you’re told, please, Barney. I’ll find what I can, I promise.” Cine poate cataloga o fapta ca fiind corecta sau incorecta? Este suficienta ratiunea? Cum ramane cu empatia? Strainul le vorbeste despre Billy, un soldat-erou al Primului Razboi Mondial, care, desi a luptat vitejeste alaturi de camarazii sai si a primit multe medalii pentru actele sale curajoase, a lasat garda jos pentru o secunda, in timpul unei batalii, lucru care a dus, poate, la schimbarea cursului istoriei. Research, whoa loads of that going on around here. I can imagine the work that went into framing this novel bit by bit and I'm sure Mr Breem pulled out a fair amount of hairs in his writing of it. He did a great job in that regard and I applaud him for it.