The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

 

 

I was doing some writing this morning and suddenly I felt like one of the children looking into the wardrobe to Narnia.  Of course I had a look around the books at home and I found The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.  I never read this one but I did read Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair and The Last Battle a long time ago.  Am I too old now to read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe?  Wasn't it a great title for a book?  It was published in 1950. 

 

It's - it's a magic wardrobe.  There's a wood inside it, and it's snowing, and there's a Faun and a Witch and it's called Narnia; come and see.  (Lucy says to the other children)

 

On the subject of fantasy, I finished reading Sword at Sunset by Rosemary Sutcliff.  It's her interpretation of the legend of King Arthur.  In this book Arthur is called Artos the Bear who tried to unite Britain to drive the Saxons, the Sea Wolves and the Picts out.  He succeeded in doing this for a while and became a Caesar, Emperor of Britain.  Guinevere appears in the book as a daughter of a chieftain who Artos marries for her dowry of one hundred horses and to protect her honour.  Lancelot could be Artos' captain and minstrel Bedwyr with whom Guenhumara falls in love.  Of course that his wife and captain should betray him so almost breaks Artos.  Artos' son Medraut (Mordred) is the bane of his father's life.  In the end Artos kills Medraut in battle but he has mortally wounded his father. 

 

It wasn't the easiest book to get into but when I did get into it I really enjoyed and I'm glad I've read it now.

 

What to read next?  I also read a couple of Emma Donoghue's books. 

 



Mordred

Mordred by Kamille Freske

Sir Mordred has held my interest for a couple of weeks and I wanted to write my next sonnet about him.  I didn't find much out about him online.  He was the bastard son of Arthur by Morgause (some say by Morgan le Fay).  Morgause was Arthur's half sister.  It is unclear whether the King raped Morgause or whether she mistook him for her husband or enchanted him.

I found it interesting to try and play devil's advocate by understanding how Mordred might have felt growing up and how he became the villain of the tales.  In pursuing this vein of thought I discovered that Rosemary Sutcliff wrote some books on Arthurian legend (which I have ordered a trilogy of) and another she wrote is called Sword at Sunset.  Hint hint, if anyone wants to get me a Christmas present I'd love this book!  I was a huge fan of Sutcliff when I was 11 and 12 and The Eagle of the Ninth left a lasting and good impression on me.

It's been another productive week for me as I finished a different poem I have been working on since Sunday tonight too.   I think I'll move onto Lancelot next maybe. 

Mordred

Child you are learning to detest this world,
roaming the forests alone and forming
a genesis from rumour and half told
truths. I sigh to see you old becoming.
With a heart full of negativity
you are lost in the flames of revenge, fate,
despair and self loathing. Depravity
would seem to be an inherited trait.
This land will one day be yours to govern
and you will take a queen that is not yours
to hold when Arthur is on soil foreign;
your father and uncle by ill powers.
Still now a boy for your mother to mould,
if only innocence could hate unfold!

Orla Fay