Croesus, the king of Lydia (modern-day western Turkey, more or less) was the first foreign king to conquer part of Greece. Prior to him raiders only took plunder and stole women, says Herodotus. Croesus wasn’t the rightful king of Lydia, … Continue reading →
Herodotus opens with an explanation that his goal, in setting down his Histories, is twofold. First, he preserves the deeds of men that might otherwise be forgotten, and should not be forgotten because they were cool and impressive. But second … Continue reading →
Way back in 2012 when I began my Dionysian imitatio (look it up, nerds) of Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte D’Arthur, I promised that afterwards I would cover the Three Kingdoms, by Luo Guanzhong. However, upon reflection and examination I’ve decided … Continue reading →
So, that was a thing that happened, huh? After lots of meandering, the story of the Death of Arthur really got started in Book XX, and in Book XXI we have the deaths not only of Arthur, but also Gawaine, … Continue reading →
So the Archbishop and the hermit-knights break out their funeral wagon, last used to transport Guenever’s body. They load Launcelot onto it, and take the Knight of the Cart on one last cart-ride, across the land to his old home, … Continue reading →
Malory flashes forward seven years. Everything is the same, except Launcelot has become a priest. The hermits have become a regular little monastery of quiet introspection and contemplative meditation. One morning, at breakfast, Launcelot tells his fellow-hermits that he had … Continue reading →
Launcelot finds Guenever easily; she hasn’t been living as an incognito nun, just as a nun. He strides into her cloister, and when she sees him she faints! The nuns with Guenever help her back up. “Oh, thanks,” she says. … Continue reading →
Hey, remember Sir Launcelot? Remember how he’s been conspicuously absent for the last few chapters? Turns out he’s been chilling in Benwick this whole time. He got the letter from Sir Gawaine but assumed it was just Gawaine being a … Continue reading →
“Sire!” calls Bedivere, as the magic barge’s gangplank retracts all by itself and Arthur, up on deck, lies down with his head in Morgan’s lap. “Sire! What will happen to me? I’m the last Knight of the Round Table!” “You’re … Continue reading →
“Well, darn,” says Sir Lucan. “C’mon, let’s get the king’s body out of here,” says Sir Bedivere. “Those looters are going to be coming through here soon.” Lucan and Bedivere pick up Arthur, and did I mention before that Lucan … Continue reading →
