Richard Barber (1) (1941–)

Apparently there are pictures of the Grail dating back to the mid 9th Century, and even earlier images of a Grail or Grail-like object. I had no idea. I thought it was purely a 12th Century thing. As well as these shadowy beginnings, the first half of the book looks at the literature that created the legend. Barber thoroughly covers Chrétien to Malory but really focuses in detail on the period 1190-1240. There’s a handy graph at the back that shows works vs time. His analysis is really good. They were a couple of points where I thought he hadn’t made his point, but on the whole, where I had read the book he was talking about, I found I agreed with him. In the world of my head this means that we are both right.

In the second half he looks at the resurgence of interest, covering scholarship, literature, and the arts. He also covers esoterica and tries to keep a straight face, bless ‘im, but there some funny moments.

This is the first non-fiction book on the subject that I’ve read, but I’m having trouble imagining a better one. It should probably be required reading for anyone interested in the subject. I should imagine that there are many people who will not agree with his conclusions. I think that Barber argues honestly enough for people to make up their own minds.… (mais)

Edward of Woodstock, eldest son of Edward III and known as “The Black Prince”, was instrumental in the 100 Years War between England and France; he fought valiantly at the battle of Crécy, captured King John II of France at Poitiers, and defeated a Franco-Spanish force at the battle of Najera, restoring Pedro of Castile to his throne. Unfortunately for England, he died relatively young, before his father, and his young son Richard took the throne as Richard II, precipitating the War of the Roses.

This is a selection of original documents relating to Edward’s life – letters home from him and people in his entourage, and more complete documents from contemporaries Geoffrey le Baker and “the Chandos Herald”. They’re hagiographic glorifications of Edward, and don’t give much information on his personality or military strategy, but they’re where anybody would start. Readable enough, given the 14th-century language. A map of France in the front matter but no notes or index.… (mais)

Detta är en historik över de medeltida västeuropeiska kungarnas maktdemonstrationer: de offentliga spektakel då de skulle visa upp sig i all sin världsliga prakt och storhet. Tre olika former presenteras, även om de gärna kombinerades: intåget i en stad, den offentliga festmåltiden samt tornerspelen.

Av dessa är de första de troligen minst bekanta: det var vanligen främst en händelse när kungen för första gången besöka en viss stad, och var ett känsligt tillfälle då såväl kungens överhöghet som stadens privilegierade status skulle bekräftas; vanligen framfördes olika enklare skådespel eller pantomimer. Festmåltiden är mer begriplig, även om också denna på olika sätt var överlastad: maträtterna verkar ibland ha varit mindre viktiga än diverse konstiga anordningar som de skulle serveras med, och till slut tycks även ätandet i viss mån överskuggats av skådespel.

Turneringen är en av klichéerna när det kommer till medeltiden, med diverse moderna varianter. Tycker man inte om att folk leker riddare kan man trösta sig med att redan riddarna själva gjorde det; en av bokens mest fascinerande stycken handlar om när man i den franska byn Le Hem lajvade kung Artur och riddarna runt runda bordet.

Annars är bokens benägenhet att gå in på detaljer dess stora svaghet. Den har mycket att täcka cirka fyrahundra år och flera länder – främst England, Frankrike (inklusive Burgund och Provence), men även Tyskland, Spanien och Savojen – och när den grottar ned sig i enstaka händelser så tappar den tempo och överblick. Det finns mycket spännande detaljer, men inte så mycket eftertanke.… (mais)