The Eagle of the Ninth (1996) by Rosemary Sutcliffe

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A classic children's novel set in Roman Britain, The Eagle of the Ninth tells of the quest undertaken by a young Roman to go beyond Hadrian's Wall and into the north, trying to recover the famous Eagle of the lost Ninth Legion...
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[@janetmackinnon3411]

I heard this on the wireless as a child, and I have always remembered the legionaries' song, though the tune was different. (The use of "wireless" for "radio" will indicate my age!)

[@Davidf8L]

Thanks again for your work

[@1957bluebird]

Thank you. I am really enjoying so many productions you are sharing on your channel. 😊

[@MysticalMagpie-wo5fn]

Glad to hear it - many more to come, including a lot of adaptations of children's classics like this one, and plenty of historical adventures...

[@guyfawkes8384]

This is fantastic! I don't use that word often. Great story writing aside, the incredible audio transports you into the story. Hearing the outside sounds of nature, people yelling in the distance. It made it seem so much more real.

[@MysticalMagpie-wo5fn]

It's the sort of thing I love in radio - one of the very best examples is a BBC radio series of 'Bleak House' which was literally recorded in an old house so as many of the sound effects were 'real' as possible (just things like the sound of floorboards, or the opening of a window). Details can make a huge difference... Among my favourites on this channel, you might try Watership Down (2016) and Black Bartlemy's Treasure - both of them have really good sound design and feel very cinematic...

[@guyfawkes8384]

@@MysticalMagpie-wo5fn Thank you. I will check them out, as well.

[@davelawday6609]

Thoroughly enjoyable drama.. first class thank you ❤

[@duncanburbridge3742]

thank you magpie

[@Daeraxia]

I had this on tape as a child, just hearing those drums at the start is so nostalgic. I must have heard the start of this so many times.

[@cmdrcrimbo]

I thought this was written in 1956 or 1966 not 1996? Im pretty sure Rosemary Sutcliffe was long dead by 1996?

[@MysticalMagpie-wo5fn]

It's the date of the radio production - all of the dates on my videos relate to original production/transmission as theyre radio programmes.

[@janetmackinnon3411]

@@MysticalMagpie-wo5fn I remember a radio emission of this and I'm sure it was before 1960.

[@MysticalMagpie-wo5fn]

@@janetmackinnon3411 You're quite right - and in fact there were two BBC radio serials of the story in the 1950s - one for BBC Schools radio, and the other for Children's Hour (starring Marius Goring, no less!). The version I've uploaded here is from 1996.

[@gonova8412]

Best channel.