Tristan and Iseult

Source - Wikipedia

When I chanced upon a first edition paperback of this tragic tale at NPL, I realized that it was time to read this book at least once. And thankfully the copy I picked up was a rare edition…a translation of the original by Joseph Bedier. Unfortunately though I couldn’t recall the foreword although it was well written.

Tristan is born prince of Lothian to King Rivalin and a princess of Cornwall. The prince is so named by his mother who shortly dies. And this is just the beginning of the many tragedies that mark Tristan’s life. The prince grows up to be handsome knight, leaves his kingdom to serve King Mark of Cromwall, his uncle and only living relation. Tristan’s undying devotion and bravery earn him enemies at court who fearing his growing power pressurize King Mark to marry. And Tristan is goaded into winning Iseult, the fair and pretty maiden of Ireland as a wife for his aging uncle. A dabble with the love potion gone wrong, Tristan and Iseult irk their fates by throwing themselves into a nicely doomed affair. After many foiled attempts, the affair does come to the notice of King Mark who blindly condemns the lovers and takes the harshest of measures to separate the lovers. Tristan moves to Brittany and marries Iseult of the White Hands, a namesake both in beauty and well name while Iseult of Ireland returns into the good books of her husband. How a seemingly simple happy ending turns into one of the greatest tragedies of all times forms the rest of the story. And so I closed the book quietly as I realized the folly of naming my 3rd dog and Pomeranian Tristan.

Tristan is a beautiful name but a beauty attached with tragedy. As for the knight himself, he struck me as a guy who was perpetually grieving and I felt sorry for him for getting his fate sealed on the day of his birth. That apart, the qualities that bring him glory also mark his end. And with that conclusion I decided not to over analyze his actions nor those of Iseult’s.

The story originates from an Irish legend, a celtic romance between a knight and a beautiful maiden and was passed down generations in the form of poetry. While this tragic tale has been adapted and retold in various forms across Europe, the 19th century opera version composed by Richard Wagner takes the cake and is considered one of the most beautiful and influential pieces of music. A must read for patrons of classic literature.

Ragnarok

Every culture, every religion has its set of myths and legends, a resultant of the tales and adventures of people who seem to have existed before us… perhaps a race of superhumans. Who can be sure right?! Whatever the stories maybe, the way you present them to your readers makes all the difference between a great story and a not-so-great one. And A.S.Byatt does just that…weaving an enchanting tale that speaks of the end of Norse gods.

A thin child finds herself evacuated to a German countryside with her family during WWII. Her father is away fighting while her mother is busy protecting the family. Everyday the thin child walks to school through a meadow often stopping by admire and analyze nature, and on most nights she reads, with the exception of those where she lays listening to the drone of the bomber planes. And then the thin child begins to read about Ragnarok, the final battle of the gods. The book begins with Yggdrasil, the great tree of life which extends from heaves to Midgard to the underworld. It is followed by Randrasil, the gigantic kelp in the ocean and  the birth of the Norse gods – Odin, Baldur, Loki, Frigg and their beautiful fortress in Midgard. The 2nd part of the book describes the dealings of the gods, their whims and follies, the birth of Loki’s fearsome children while the final part describes the final battle between the gods. The battle is neither elegant nor long-drawn but brutal and swift marking the end of gods and the anti-gods.

The tale with its lyrical tone is spun into the musings of the thin girl, her imagination paints a vivid, vibrant picture of the beauty and horrors of Midgard, Asgard and the netherworld that surround Midgard. The sun and the moon being chased by the wolves is so reminiscent of the Indian myths surrounding the cause of solar and lunar eclipses. The bounty of the tree of life and the kelps left me wanting for more words to devour. The tale presents the contrast between order and chaos as seen through the eyes of Odin and Loki, brothers yet enemies standing on opposite ends of a spectrum…one strives for order and peace while other strives to create chaos. Whether its out morbid curiosity or morbid desire to take revenge, we never know.

This book was a delightful read, light yet dark, intense yet light and I enjoyed agreeing with the thin child’s thoughts, her analysis of the gods especially of Loki who both frightens and arouses her curiosity. Byatt refers to Wilhelm Wagner’s work “Asgard and the Gods”, deemed as one of the earliest works on Norse mythology written in German. The book served as an inspiration to Byatt and seems to have influenced her writing style as well. And with this I conclude my musings on this book. A definite must-read and a must-have in your personal library. Wish I could find a first edition!

Curtain

Curtain in many ways is the grand finale, the final work from a brilliant author! It marks the end of Hercule Poirot, both the series and the great detective himself same as it marks the end of a performance or a cinema. And more significantly it marks the end of Agatha Christie’s writing or so my research says. The book marks the final adventure of Poirot and his dear friend Arthur Hastings, and incidentally it occurs at Styles, the place that marked Poirot’s beginnings as a private detective. It is also the place which connects Hastings to Poirot.

Moving onto the story – Hastings reaches Styles at the behest of Poirot, now old and crippled but ever actively on the hunt for the murderer. Narrated by Hastings, the story recounts his emotions at seeing his old friend nearing his end, his apprehensions for his youngest daughter’s future with little snippets thrown in about his life following his wife’s demise. The 2 friends reminisce about old times especially their first meeting at Styles at great length, now converted to a hotel, and then Poirot recounts 5 murders which occurred in the most mysterious and vaguest of circumstances…vague being the victim’s relative were convicted leaving the murderer at large.

Based on Poirot’s analysis, the duo discover the key qualities of the suspect and begin observing the rest of the group for signs of possible murder precursors. When a murder occurs right under their noses, Poirot realizes that he must act then or never. And with that concludes the beautiful adventure of one of the greatest detectives in classic crime fiction. I couldn’t help but feel that this story was a farewell of sorts from the author herself for it must’ve been difficult for her knowing that it would probably be one of the last books she’d write. However, Ms. Christie writing style was beautiful and almost poetic lulling me into a trance. As for Poirot, deterioration of his physical health didn’t slow down nor deter his keen sense of observation and study of human thought & behavior in any manner. His “little grey cells” served until the very end, helping him nab the almost perfect murderer while letting him get away with the perfect crime as well. A well-fitting end to Monsieur Hercule Poirot! My only grouse is I haven’t gotten hold of his first adventure – The Mysterious Affair at Styles nor the short stories.

Camille or The Lady of the Camellias

Camille was first published in 1848 and later converted to plays which have gained popularity over the novel. The novel’s well-written introduction proves to be a valuable guide and sets context on the contents and timeline of this novel. The author Alexander Dumas fils makes references to the tale of Manon Lescaut and Chevalier Des Greiux highlighting the contrasts between the characters and lifestyles of the 2 courtesans as well as their lovers.

Narrated by an unknown person, the novel begins with the death of Marguerite and the auctioning of her personal possessions by her creditors.  It is followed by the arrival of Armand Duval in Paris, and the narrator goes on to describe Duval’s efforts to exhume and re-bury Marguerite all of which adds a macabre twist to the story. Afterwards the chapters are narrated by Armand as he divulges his past to the unknown narrator and the story goes thus -

Marguerite is a well known courtesan in Paris and is, both admired and feared by men and women alike. Dumas attributes this to Marguerite’s strong yet sensitive spirit which akin to the delicacy of the Camellias creates an alluring persona. And Armand like many others before him falls hopelessly in love with Marguerite.

Dumas depicts Marguarite in a favorable light comparing her persona and presence to the light and delicate nature of the camellias yet she is shown to possess a strong spirit that is pure…untainted by her profession. And just as the camellias wither in a day, so is Marguerite’s death depicted…a result of her enduring suffering from tuberculosis. And in a bid to pacify the astonished audience and to leave no doubt of his disapproval of a Courtesan’s life, Dumas smartly attributes Marguerite’s suffering to God’s will…the final judgement perhaps.  The novel when taken without this allegory is a beauty in itself but takes on a heavy note once you start to ponder. The only exception to Armand’s character is that unlike the others before him, he proves his unwavering love by admitting his shortcomings freely and tracing Marguarite’s last moments until the very end.

Camille is also notable for its brilliantly detailed depiction of the parisian life and the world of courtesans during the 19th century in France. The book by itself is quite descriptive but it may also help to read it with the aid of a guide. Camille is definitely well worth the read and an addition to the personal collection!

Murder on the Orient Express

Agatha Christie’s books have been long pending in my TBR pile…so on my last trip to NPL I was delighted to discover “Murder on the Orient Express” and “Death on the Nile”.

A brief overview of this 1934 mystery – Hercule Poirot is returning to England with his friend M. Bouc on the Orient Express from Constantinople. The train, unusually crowded for that part of the year, comprises of passengers from different nationalities and professions – a governess, an army captain, a princess and her maid, a nun and various other personalities. One morning the passengers wake up to find themselves snowed in with a dead passenger. Seems that the victim was one Mr. Ratchett, a vile cruel man who is wanted dead by many. M. Bouc hands over the case to Poirot and it is up to Poirot to uncover the identity of the murderer and appearances can be deceptive as they say!

Elaborating the story any further will only water down the suspense and so I’ll contend myself if writing an overview. I liked Agatha Christie’s writing for the impeccable manner in which she introduces the characters and the backdrop where the murder occurs, presents the brief background of the victim & the suspects intertwined with Poirot’s investigations and analysis, and then concludes the plot in a neat and concise manner. Nothing more nothing less. Nor is it overtly dramatic.

Poirot is probably my most favorite detective for the sheer reasons mentioned above. The cool, polite, subtle and unruffled mannerism in which he handles his cases as well as the murderers makes the book a delightful read. This uniqueness in character is what sets Poirot apart from his contemporaries and other famous detectives. The books is definitely worth reading and adding to your collection!