(no subject)

[rymenhild]

I started reading the twelfth-century Anglo-Norman Chanson de Roland at the beginning of the summer, but for various reasons did not get very far. I'm beginning again now, and I think I'm falling in love with the narrative. It has nearly everything I like in a story: treachery, bribery, acts of reckless stupidity, horns, swords, very affectionate men, and complex, morally ambiguous encounters between members of different religious groups.

Certain members of my friendslist (that means you, delamancha, genarti and silveraspen) might be interested in Roland's stepfather Ganelon, who betrays Roland and the French army to the Saracens. When he first appears in the Chanson, Ganelon wears grandes pels de martre, great furs of marten... or, shall we say, a marten broad cloak?

(To the uninitiated -- Marten Broadcloak is a villain and traitor in Stephen King's Dark Tower series, the hero of which is named Roland).

As for the very affectionate men... irisbleu had informed me that Roland and his companion (cumpaignun) Oliver were very close, but I didn't actually realize how close. See Roland's words to the dying Oliver, who, too delirious to recognize him, attacks Roland by mistake: Ja est ço Rollant, ki tant vos soelt amer! (This is Roland, who loves you so much!) Of course, Roland is married to Oliver's sister; there is one point in which Oliver, justifiably angry at Roland's recklessness, swears, "By my beard, if I ever see my sister again, you aren't going to sleep with her!"

Comments

[agonistes]

Ganelon wears grandes pels de martre, great furs of marten... or, shall we say, a marten broad cloak?

...

......

*starts laughing hysterically*

[rymenhild.livejournal.com]

You must, must, must read the Chanson.

[gramarye1971]

Oh, priceless. *grins and adds to 'Awesome If Creepy Literary Links' URL list*

[rymenhild.livejournal.com]

Sadly, the translations available on the Web aren't very good, but at least they're there. Enjoy.

[ajodasso.livejournal.com]

Nope, not married to her: betrothed to her. Wait till you read the part where Charlemagne & Co. get back to France. That's where it's made clear. Roland and Aude haven't actually consummated anything. It is all Teh Tragic and whatnot, except you're like, wow, this is just another girl who has no idea what action her intended really gets up to.

[rymenhild.livejournal.com]

That makes so much more sense -- thanks for the correction. Obviously I haven't gotten there yet.

By the way, I can't find your Roland/Oliver fics. Could you possibly link me to them, and to any others you happen to know about?

[ajodasso.livejournal.com]

They're in my memories under Rarities Market, but here are the links:

A Fragment

Trilogy: Accidents, Safe, and Rest for the Wicked.

(My fics are the only ones I know of.)

[elettaria.livejournal.com]

How odd, two days after someone posted in gayquakerparrot about a Victorian pair of lads, one of whom ends up conveniently married to the other one's sister, and I riposted by citing Captain Singleton, who does exactly the same in the penultimate line of the novel and asked if people knew any other incidences of this business of marrying your lover's Comrade in Arms' sister, this turns up. Most amusing. Come and post it, darling? "Very affectionate men", forsooth.

[rymenhild.livejournal.com]

Posted, and that's an awesome community.

[elettaria.livejournal.com]

*squints* I can't see it posted, for some reason. Did you post to the right place? Anyway, glad you like the look of it, we antipate having great fun there.

[plasticsturgeon.livejournal.com]

My favorite parts are when thousands of soldiers all faint in unison.

That's what I remember, anyway...haven't read it in ages.

[flintknappy.livejournal.com]

Things you like in a story ay.. :) They do sound rather entertaining. I would say though, there aren't nearly enough horns or swords in regular daily life. The rest of the stuff, interestingly enough, is often present.