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After the death of his father Galwyn Varianus goes to work on his uncle's ship where he is shamefully bullied by his uncle and the crew alike. Then one day he helps to ferry a British lord and his companions across the Narrow Sea (the English Channel). The British lord is actually Artos, Comes Britannorum, often known as King Arthur, but Anne McCaffrey avoids referring to him in this way as she is trying to distance herself from the Hollywood picture of Arthur. Galwyn has a gift for languages and, when they arrive at Burtigala (the modern Bordeaux), Galwyn is sent by his uncle to escort Artos and his companions to their inn and interpret for them. Galwyn makes himself so useful that he continues to act as interpreter for the next few days.
Artos is on a special mission. He is bound for a horse fair in the Pyrenees where he hopes to buy some black Libyan mares and stallions from which he hopes to breed the warhorses he needs to drive the Saxons back into the sea.. Galwyn helps him to buy the horses he will need for the journey to the Pyrenees and Artos notices that Galwyn is better with 'the horses of the land than the horses of the sea.' After some problems with his uncle Galwyn is eventually accepted by Artos into his service.
Artos makes his purchases at the horse fair and returns to Britain where the horses are taken to a farm outside Chester. There Galwyn meets the old horseman Canyd Bawn who proceeds to teach Galwyn all he knows about herbs and healing and, above all, about horses' hooves. Galwyn grew tired of hearing his constant 'No hoof, no horse.'
There are many problems to be overcome but chief among them is the fact that the Libyans keep going lame. The native British ponies are too small for warhorses, but they do not have trouble with their feet. But the Libyans are accustomed to rocky and sandy surfaces and their hooves need to be protected from the wetness of the British bogs and marshes.
Canyd sets to devising something to keep the Libyans' feet off the wet ground and eventually he comes up with what he calls a 'sandal' which is made of iron and which can be nailed to the hoof. Galwyn becomes his apprentice and later becomes a travelling smith to Artos.
The main interest of this book lies in its detail -- detailed descriptions of the great horse fair in the Pyrenees, details about the problems of shipping the great horses back to Britain and, above all, details about the creation of the horseshoes. Some may say that the book could do with a stronger story element but as far as I am concerned it does not need one. For me the story of the horseshoes has its own fascination and too many distractions could spoil it.
Nevertheless Anne McCaffrey has a subplot. This concerns the evil Iswy, who helps to take the Libyans to Chester. He wants to ride Artos' own stallion and is jealous when Galwyn is allowed to lead it. Eventually Iswy is dismissed and ever afterwards he is always trying to find a way to harm the Libyans. This subplot may be rather slight but it is all the book needs.
Anne McCaffrey has stuck to the historical
facts, such as they are, about Arthur. It is claimed that Arthur
brought Libyan horses from the horse fair in the Pyrenees. Anne
MaCaffrey has also been interested in horses and from her deep
equine knowledge she knows that carrying well-armed men and moving
over different surfaces from their native country would have caused
foot problems. She has also tried to find out all she can about
the history of farriery.
Comes with a historical note and a glossary.
This book is written in a fluent, easy style. It gives a fascinating account on an important aspect of history which is often ignored. Throughout the author's love of animals is apparent.
History aside, this is a treat for animal lovers.
11+ Young adult.
A highly original retelling of the Arthur legends.
Quite simply Philip Reeves has put forward the idea that the conventional stories of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are nothing more than the work of a 6th century spin doctor.
Gywna is a slave-girl. One night her master’s house is set on fire by a roving war band. Gwyna escapes and is found by the bard Myrddin. Myrddin finds out that she can swim and has a strange task for her. She remains hidden while Arthur and his men assemble on the banks of a river beneath a waterfall. Arthur wades into the river. Gwyna swims under water and, when she reaches Arthur, she thrusts up her arm and reveals a sword in her hand. Arthur takes the sword and waves it aloft –– and the legend is born.
Gywna stays with Myrddin. He dresses her as a boy and calls her Gwyn. She lives with the boys at Arthur’s court and travels with his war band. When she grows older Myrddin dresses her as a girl and says she is Gwyn’s cousin and she becomes hand maiden to Arthur’s queen. In this way the story manages to cover most of the facets of the Arthur story.
Later Gwyna forms a liason with the strange boy Peredur.By the time that Arthur is finally defeated and Myrddin dies she finds that she has learned enough from her old master to make her own way in life.
Myrddin is actually Merlin. PhilipReeves has given the names in a form of Welsh which was spoken before English. Myrddin believes that if he can only make Arthur strong the country would unite under him and there would be peace again. So he starts to try to build Arthur into a hero. But Myrddin is no magician. He is a trickster and a fraud. Arthur is no different from other leaders of war bands at the time. And as for the hall with the famous round table, it has a thatched roof and an earthen floor.
The modern Arthur legends are based on medieval romanticism but before that they no doubt had their roots in stories told on winter nights in smoky halls. Here lies Arthur may be guesswork and conjecture but nevertheless it has the ring of truth about it.
To be really appreciated the reader should have a good knowledge of the conventional Arthur stories.
Comes with notes on Arthur.
Highly recommended.
12+