THE SHINING COMPANY

Prosper, the son of a Welsh chieftain, is delighted to be chosen to join the war band of King Mynyddog the Golden as a shieldbearer to Prince Gorthyn, one of the 300 warriors sent to crush the Saxon invaders in 600A.D. Sutcliff's story, narrated by Prosper, is based on THE GODODDIN, a poem written by the bard Aneirin to elegize the fallen warriors. Johanna Ward's narration is clear and precise, although the use of a female narrator for the shieldbearer makes Prosper sound very effeminate. The story will appeal to readers of historical fiction or fantasy, as the rich language and strong Welsh dialect give the story a mythic air. B.F. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 02]