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Myths and Legends #10
Charlemagne and the Paladins
Symbolically, the quintessential English feudal monarch is King Arthur, but stories of Charlemagne and his Knights' quests throughout Christian Europe had a much wider impact. Amidst the chaos and violence of Europe in the eighth century, Charlemagne became king of the Franks and slowly established an empire the likes of which had not been seen since the days of the Romans. As Charlemange's power grew, so did the stories attached to his name.
This book explores the myths and legends of the great king Charlemagne, from the stories about his mother, Bertha Bigfoot, and his youthful adventures with the thief, Basin, to his fantastical journeys to Jerusalem and Constantinople. It also retells the stories of his most famous knights, the Paladins. These brave warriors were all heroes in their own right, and included many famous names such as Roland, Ogier the Dane, Oliver, Archbishop Turpin, and Renault of Montalban who rode the famous steed, Bayard. Together with his Paladins, Charlemagne established a court to rival Camelot and led the Christian kingdoms of Europe in their ongoing struggles with the armies of the East. Although this great ruler eventually passed away, quietly in his bed, the legends say that he now sits on his golden throne beneath the mountain, waiting until the need of his people calls him forth again.
This book explores the myths and legends of the great king Charlemagne, from the stories about his mother, Bertha Bigfoot, and his youthful adventures with the thief, Basin, to his fantastical journeys to Jerusalem and Constantinople. It also retells the stories of his most famous knights, the Paladins. These brave warriors were all heroes in their own right, and included many famous names such as Roland, Ogier the Dane, Oliver, Archbishop Turpin, and Renault of Montalban who rode the famous steed, Bayard. Together with his Paladins, Charlemagne established a court to rival Camelot and led the Christian kingdoms of Europe in their ongoing struggles with the armies of the East. Although this great ruler eventually passed away, quietly in his bed, the legends say that he now sits on his golden throne beneath the mountain, waiting until the need of his people calls him forth again.
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 28, 2014
Disclaimer: 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.
Crossposted at Booklikes.
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.
Crossposted at Booklikes.
July 13, 2020
Good as a starting point about the epical story about Charlemagne and his paladins, might champions of justice and Christendom. This work mainly describe in a very simple way about some brief adventures concerning King Charlemagne and his Paladins, mainly Roland, Oliver and few others.
In a very honest way, main subject of this read is basically the legendary Charlemagne than the real one, so you will see some giants, griffins, magic and wizards featuring some of the short tales contained in here. The author gives some context and hostorical views but is lacking a deep explanation.
I was a bit dissapointed, but what it is inside this book is enough to guarantee a great read.
In a very honest way, main subject of this read is basically the legendary Charlemagne than the real one, so you will see some giants, griffins, magic and wizards featuring some of the short tales contained in here. The author gives some context and hostorical views but is lacking a deep explanation.
I was a bit dissapointed, but what it is inside this book is enough to guarantee a great read.
December 29, 2014
Charlemagne & the Paladins is another in the generally excellent MYTHS AND LEGENDS series from Osprey Publishing, this one written by Julia Cresswell and illustrated by Miguel Coimbra. Charlemagne & the Paladins displays the usual strengths of the series: a nicely condensed version of the story, informative sidebars, an easy to read style, and a good collection of complementary artwork.
The introduction begins by describing the wide geographic and cultural reach of stories about Charlemagne and his paladins, gives a bit of historical detail about the real-life emperor and his heirs, describes the process of “mythistory,” “where fact and fiction feed into each other,” and finally explains how most of the text will be made up of the French tales.... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
The introduction begins by describing the wide geographic and cultural reach of stories about Charlemagne and his paladins, gives a bit of historical detail about the real-life emperor and his heirs, describes the process of “mythistory,” “where fact and fiction feed into each other,” and finally explains how most of the text will be made up of the French tales.... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
December 10, 2017
I know little about the stories of Charlemagne, and very little about his Paladins, as I have closer ties with the stories of Arthur & Merlin.
However this book provides a good basis for understanding some of the stories, and the links to Roland (who I don't think I've heard of before), and the making of an empire.
All very intersting, well presented, and very pretty pictures and paintings. Well worth a read.
However this book provides a good basis for understanding some of the stories, and the links to Roland (who I don't think I've heard of before), and the making of an empire.
All very intersting, well presented, and very pretty pictures and paintings. Well worth a read.
December 13, 2017
Some few things are suspect, such as saying the Magyars hit Paris, or that the HRE started in 1271, or that the Lombard Iron Crown'continues to be used' in Italy; and a few other suspect claims regarding history. However, the mythology is, like the other works in this series, fun to read and easy to understand; the original artwork is also splendid still.
April 21, 2022
A light resource book with images that ground some of the myth in modern life, reinforcing that these legends matter, even though I only came by them third-hand. I especially enjoyed the origin story of hippogriffs.
December 8, 2014
'Charlemagne and the Paladins' is another great entry in the Osprey Myths and Legends collection. This time around a subject is tackled that seems to have fallen out of favor.
I was always more of a King Arthur and Robin Hood fan, so was much less familiar with the tales of Charlemagne. The reasons for that are explained, but it's not because the stories aren't as fantastical. Charlemagne was a historical figure, but there are many fictional stories about Charlemagne and his paladins. The most famous of these is Roland (and I have read The Song of Roland), but we do meet Guy of Burgundy and Ogier the Dane. We learn the names of their swords and horses and battle trumpets. We also see how these stories look in the Italian versions and in Robert Browning's poem Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came, which served as a sort of inspiration for Stephen King's character of Roland Deschain in his Dark Tower series.
As well as text, there are plenty of illustrations, photographs and woodcuts to go along with the text. I continue to love this series for it's ability to be so concise in nature. There is a lot of information packed in here as well as the illustrations. The bibliography was a bit briefer this time around, but that is likely due to the briefer amount of modern work about the subject.
I was given a review copy of this ebook by Osprey Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
I was always more of a King Arthur and Robin Hood fan, so was much less familiar with the tales of Charlemagne. The reasons for that are explained, but it's not because the stories aren't as fantastical. Charlemagne was a historical figure, but there are many fictional stories about Charlemagne and his paladins. The most famous of these is Roland (and I have read The Song of Roland), but we do meet Guy of Burgundy and Ogier the Dane. We learn the names of their swords and horses and battle trumpets. We also see how these stories look in the Italian versions and in Robert Browning's poem Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came, which served as a sort of inspiration for Stephen King's character of Roland Deschain in his Dark Tower series.
As well as text, there are plenty of illustrations, photographs and woodcuts to go along with the text. I continue to love this series for it's ability to be so concise in nature. There is a lot of information packed in here as well as the illustrations. The bibliography was a bit briefer this time around, but that is likely due to the briefer amount of modern work about the subject.
I was given a review copy of this ebook by Osprey Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.
December 21, 2014
Charlemagne and the Paladins (Myths and Legends #10)
by Julia Cresswell
Looking at the diverse legend of Charlemagne, the first ruler to unite the area that will become Europe, how his story has grown over the centuries. His history is only known in poetry and verse from generations after his life. Like Arthurian legends Charlemagne and his companions the Paladins have been taken by many authors given little changes to the stories and the characters.
This book looks into the stories comparing them to the little history that has survived the ages. The characters are described in detail showing the different versions and ideals that each of the paladins was to exhibit. The art work alone would make this a collector’s item for any lover of art.
by Julia Cresswell
Looking at the diverse legend of Charlemagne, the first ruler to unite the area that will become Europe, how his story has grown over the centuries. His history is only known in poetry and verse from generations after his life. Like Arthurian legends Charlemagne and his companions the Paladins have been taken by many authors given little changes to the stories and the characters.
This book looks into the stories comparing them to the little history that has survived the ages. The characters are described in detail showing the different versions and ideals that each of the paladins was to exhibit. The art work alone would make this a collector’s item for any lover of art.
May 25, 2014
3.25 Stars
A condensed beginner's guide to Charlemagne and his Paladins that includes both history and legend as well as how the myths changed over time. There's some nice artwork and the author includes a bibliography.
Net Galley Feedback
A condensed beginner's guide to Charlemagne and his Paladins that includes both history and legend as well as how the myths changed over time. There's some nice artwork and the author includes a bibliography.
Net Galley Feedback
Want to read
July 3, 2014Received from Osprey Publishing 7/3/14.
December 23, 2014
very abbreviated
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews