Disclaimer: ARC courtesy Netgalley and Osprey publishing. Also the book is illustrated but the ARC did not include all the illustrations. What illustrDisclaimer: ARC courtesy Netgalley and Osprey publishing. Also the book is illustrated but the ARC did not include all the illustrations. What illustrations there were great, but since not all were present I won’t be mentioning the illustrations in the review below.
My favorite Charlemagne stories are, without a doubt, the Italian Romances that feature the woman paladin Bradamante. There is also an adult level of humor in these translations. This volume in Osprey’s excellent series of Myths and Legends does mention the Italian Romances, yet does not include the R rated bits, making it an excellent introduction to the legends and history of Charlemagne and his knights.
The focus of most of the book is on the French material, be it historical record or myth. Each of the major Paladins gets a brief discussion and is paired with his companion (think BBF). In the profile his family history, historical connections, and details, like the names of his sword and mount, are listed. Charlemagne gets a nice huge section both in terms of the real man and mythic figure. The stories about the ring that ensnared him are here as all the historical details of conquests and battles.
What makes the series and this book as well, worth reading are the boxes and detail. While most retellings or description of Charlemagne and Roland just mention the Saracens as enemies, Osprey’s book offer details about them. It isn’t just simple the evil Other that must be destroyed. While their background is not as detailed as Charlemagne’s, the sense of culture and context is conveyed. Furthermore, while the Saga of Roland could not be reprinted in whole for this book, enough of the saga is included to give the reader a feel of it and allow the reader to decide whether or not to read the whole thing (you should read the whole by the way). The book does what is designed to do, introduce the legend and provide background. While designed for Middle School, it would be of aid to a high school or even college student who is confronting Roland and Charlemagne for the first time.
On a more personal note, I was so happy that Holger Dankse got his own chapter. I remember seeing him at Kornberg Castle and reading various stories about him. For those that don’t know, Holger is like the Danish version of Arthur but without so much baggage. He sleeps in Kornberg (Hamlet’s Elsinore) waiting for the time when Denmark needs him again. Hans Christian Andersen is quoted as well in this section. Cresswell’s section about Dankse is more developed than most others. Quite pleasing. This is furthered by later in the book with connections made to both Robert Browning and Stephen King.
The source section of the book is well done and includes website. If you have a child, or even a teen, who is expressing interests in heroes and legends, check out this volume and this series.
Perhaps the writing isn’t the most polished, but a good story nonetheless. The character of Bradamante does get a nice novel to herself. She’s a knighPerhaps the writing isn’t the most polished, but a good story nonetheless. The character of Bradamante does get a nice novel to herself. She’s a knight of Charlemagne. The love story between her and her husband make up part of the Orlando sequences. Her husband dies young. This book answers the question of what happens next. It was also good to see the appearance of the other woman knight, Bradamante’s sister in law and to see the women working together. There are strong women in this novel. The idea of fairy magic being too dangerous for humans was interesting. The book does have violence, but it would be suitable for teens....more
I guess I am the wrong type of audience for this comic book, sorry graphic novel. This edition collects the El Cid storDisclaimer: Read via Netgalley
I guess I am the wrong type of audience for this comic book, sorry graphic novel. This edition collects the El Cid stories that ran in Eerie magazine. In the 1970s, and, boy, can you tell that the comic ran in the 1970s.
I found the black and white illustrations to be far more compelling than the actually story lines. Perhaps this is because El Cid has a tendency to refer to women as his nymphs as opposed to actually acknowledging that women might have names. Quite frankly, I find the phrase delicate entrails to be a trend, well, irregular.
And I guess that is the problem that the modern women reader will have with this graphic novel. The female characters look alike with little clothes, strong thighs, and heavenly beasts. The Cid, who was known for his piety at least in legend, is little more than James Bond without the gadgets and wearing a cross instead of suits.
The best story, to my mind, is the first which is a version of Three Billy Goats Gruff, but the Cid in that version is radically different from the character that appeals in the other stories. The first story is also darker in terms of emotion, despite the fact that the Cid is the traditional knight and lack nymphs in this one. It has to do with tolls and cost, and possess a sense of humor that is not found in the other stories. In the later stories he is Conan, but by another name. I suppose that is fine, but it doesn’t work for me.
In terms of a curiosity as possessed by the reader, and in terms of artwork, this graphic novel is worth looking at. If you love those fantasy and science fiction women that have been their way into so many illustrations you will like this as well. But I can see why this succeed in the 70s, and not so much today. In terms of development of a genre, it is worth reading. The art is stunning at times.
The plot fails because it feels like the Cid realizes he is being a stand in for another type of character. This is not the movie with Sofia Loren and Charlton Hesston. It is pulp. Which in and of itself isn’t bad, but is an acquired taste. ...more
Geared mostly for YA, Knights presents stories intermixed with details about actual medieval knight hood. The stories are either Arthurian or GermanicGeared mostly for YA, Knights presents stories intermixed with details about actual medieval knight hood. The stories are either Arthurian or Germanic. It's not a bad book, but there are better ones out there....more
Lee's artwork with stories from myth and legend. What more do you want in book?Lee's artwork with stories from myth and legend. What more do you want in book?...more
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