Search

Search only in certain items:

GK
Grail Knight: (Outlaw Chronicles, #5)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Book number 5 in Angus Donald's 'The Outlaw Chronicles' series, and by now the pattern is well established in that all the stories are split into sections, with each section presented as the elderly Alan Dale recalling his younger days spent with that (now) most-famous of all English outlaws: Robin Hood himself.

At the start of this, Alan is newly married and enjoying life in his new manor with his wife. It's not long, however, before he is thrust back into action when word comes that The Knights Templar are holding himself responsible for gold stolen (by Robin, in a previous novel - possibly [b:King's Man|943289|King's Man (Viking, #3)|Tim Severin|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328870438s/943289.jpg|928226]) as it was his promissary note that Robin copied and forged.

Following the burning down of his manor, and with the failing health of his wife who is carrying his unborn child, Alan, Robin and a bunch of assorted misfit companions go off in search of that most medieval of all legends: the Holy Grail itself. In Alan's case, he hopes it can save his wife; in Robin's case: well, he's just after the money!

Another solid entry, even if (to my mind) none have been as strong as [b:Outlaw|17333533|Outlaw|Ted Dekker|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1364009572s/17333533.jpg|24064806].
  
KM
King's Man (The Outlaw Chronicles, #3)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I first heard of/read Angus Donald about 2, maybe 3, years ago, when I read his novel <i>Outlaw</i> - a visceral retelling of the Robin Hood legend - and which proved to be one of the best 'new' books I read that year.

I also read the sequel to <i>Outlaw</i>, <i>Holy Warror</i> - in which Robin and his men travel to the Holy Land to fight in what would become known as the Third Crusade - but found it was not quite as good as its predecessor.

The third novel in the series - <i>King's Man</i> - is a return to form. Set back in England and, like the previous two novels, presented as the elderly Alan Dale retelling the story of his younger days, this novel takes the struggle between Richard the Lionheart and his brother Prince John for the throne as its bedrock. With Richard imprisoned on his return journey home from the Holy Land - a historical fact also used as the basis for the famous novel/film <i>Ivanhoe</i> - the throne of England is left vulnerable. Most of the Robin Hood legends acknowledge this fact; in most of them Robin remains loyal to King Richard, with this novel no exception. As a partial result, Robin is once again outlawed and once again takes up his old ways ...

Looking forward to the next installment!
  
40x40

Dean (6927 KP) rated True Grit (2010) in Movies

Feb 16, 2018  
True Grit (2010)
True Grit (2010)
2010 | Action, Drama, Western
Good Western
A very good and enjoyable film, nevertheless it didn't quite hit the heights I thought it would after all the hype. I haven't seen the '69 John Wayne version but imagine this is a lot "grittier". It's a good story, the acting especially from Bridges as the old scruffy US Marshall and the young girl is superb to watch with a witty script to boot. It just felt a little short and lacking a bit more action to be the epic master piece it has been heralded as. A very good film indeed but not up there in the westerns dept with Unforgiven, The Outlaw Josey Wales.
  
Sexual Personae: Art And Decadence From Nefreititi To Emily Dickinson
Sexual Personae: Art And Decadence From Nefreititi To Emily Dickinson
Camille Paglia | 1991 | Art, Photography & Fashion, Gender Studies, History & Politics
(0 Ratings)
Book Favorite

"Camille Paglia is one of the most controversial feminists of all time, and also one of the most compelling. This mammoth book, put very shortly, examines the representation of sexuality in Western art. But it also goes into fierce discussion about religion, literature, art history, psychology, the brutal forces of sex and nature, and the amorality and pornography present in great art. As someone who personally writes a lot about sex work, one of my favorite lines in the book is, “The prostitute is not, as feminists claim, the victim of men, but rather their conqueror, an outlaw, who controls the sexual channels between nature and culture.”"

Source