''Gerfalcon'' is a
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...
novel by
Leslie Barringer
Leslie Barringer (1895–1968) was an English editor and author of historical novels and historical fantasy novels, best known for the latter.
Life
Barringer was a Quaker, born in Yorkshire, England. He served in an ambulance unit during World W ...
, the first book in his three volume
Neustrian Cycle. The book was first published in 1927 by
Heinemann Heinemann may refer to:
* Heinemann (surname)
* Heinemann (publisher), a publishing company
* Heinemann Park, a.k.a. Pelican Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
See also
* Heineman
* Jamie Hyneman
James Franklin Hyneman (born Se ...
in the United Kingdom and
Doubleday in the United States. Its significance was recognized by its republication in 1973 by
Tom Stacey
Tom Stacey FRSL (11 January 1930 – 24 December 2022) was a British novelist, publisher, screenwriter, journalist and penologist. He was a prominent member of White's.
Early life
Stacey attended Wellesley House School (1938–1943), origina ...
in the UK and in March, 1976 by the
Newcastle Publishing Company
The Newcastle Publishing Company was a Southern California-based small trade paperback publisher founded by bookstore owner Al Saunders, active from July 1971 through October 1992, under the editorial direction of Robert Reginald and Douglas Menv ...
in the US, as the seventh volume of its celebrated
Newcastle Forgotten Fantasy Library
The Newcastle Forgotten Fantasy Library was a series of trade paperback books published in the United States by the Newcastle Publishing Company between 1973 and 1980. Presumably under the inspiration of the earlier example set by the Ballantine A ...
series. This Newcastle edition was reprinted twice, once by Newcastle itself in 1977 and once by
Borgo Press
The Borgo Press was a small publishing company founded by Robert Reginald in 1975 funded by the royalties gained from his first major reference work, ''Stella Nova: the contemporary science fiction authors'' (1970).
That same year Reginald met M ...
in 1980.
Plot
The novel is set around the fourteenth century in an alternate
medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...
France called
Neustria
Neustria was the western part of the Kingdom of the Franks.
Neustria included the land between the Loire and the Silva Carbonaria, approximately the north of present-day France, with Paris, Orléans, Tours, Soissons as its main cities. It late ...
(historically an early division of the
Frankish kingdom
Francia, also called the Kingdom of the Franks ( la, Regnum Francorum), Frankish Kingdom, Frankland or Frankish Empire ( la, Imperium Francorum), was the largest post-Roman barbarian kingdom in Western Europe. It was ruled by the Franks dur ...
). Raoul, the young heir to the barony of Marckmont (described as "a blend of elf and owl and boy") grows up to become a sensitive, intelligent young man who prefers reading and song to the so-called knightly virtues of war and slaughter. At seventeen, he takes off on his own and thus begin a series of adventures that will both test and mature him. Along the way, he falls in love, survives attempted murder, saves Red Anne (Mistress of the Witches' Coven of the Singing Stones), and is forced to join the household of the brigand Count Lorin de Campscapel, Red Anne's lover. Raoul's life at the Campscapel's castle is one of constant danger. Only after many more thrilling incidents does he finally comes into his inheritance.
Contents
Chapter headings of the 1927 edition:
#Shadows at Sanctbastre.
#Tourney at Belsaunt.
#The moors of Nordenay.
#The Singing Stones of Hastain.
#The hold above Alanol.
#Face Campscapel face death.
#The forest of Honoy.
#Parley at Montenair.
#Assay towards Saulte.
#Street of Anvils.
#A viscount comes home.
#Raoul's day.
#The marshes of Marckmont.
#The crags of Ger.
Reception
''
The Illustrated London News
''The Illustrated London News'' appeared first on Saturday 14 May 1842, as the world's first illustrated weekly news magazine. Founded by Herbert Ingram, it appeared weekly until 1971, then less frequently thereafter, and ceased publication in ...
'' called the book "a moving story, faultlessly treated" and "a mediæval romance strongly to be recommended" which "
e spirit of the Middle Ages moves through."
["The Bookseller's Window," in ''The Illustrated London News'', Oct. 22, 1927, p. 740.]
Notes
External links
Full text of ''Gerfalcon'' at the Internet Archive
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gerfalcon
1927 British novels
British fantasy novels
British alternative history novels
Novels set in France
Novels set in the 14th century
Heinemann (publisher) books