Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

If you are like me, you probably love reading Arthurian novels. I can't explain why, but I find the chivalric period to be full of bravery, courage and romance. Alas, as with almost everything that occurs in my life, I discover this love somewhat late (why did this fascination not occur in my college years?).

Anyway, this past weekend I picked up a little book called Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and was totally enchanted by it. Told in the tradition of old English alliterative style, this novel may be hard for some who used to read in the traditional prose style - although, IMHO, it is way easier than Beowulf.

Sir Gawain opens with a feast on New Year's Day at King Arthur's court. Suddenly, a mysterious green knight enters the hall and challenge anyone to hit him with an axe - on a condition that a year from now, that same person has to endure a similar stroke from him. Well, Sir Gawain got up (really, after King Arthur himself was going to accept the knight's challenge) and with one stroke, slashed the green knight's neck so that his head rolls around on the floor.

Not to be deterred by this minor incident (of having no head!), the green knight walks over, picks up his head, hops on his horse, and with his head still in one hand, said to Sir Gawain that he looks forward to their meeting in the next year at a place called the Green Castle.

What follows are some of the most tantalizing events from Sir Gawain's journey to his stay at one of the castles to the king's wife seducing Sir Gawain. The author's description of the hunting scenes, the feasts and even the encounters between King's wife and Sir Gawain are most enjoyable to read. Particular the hunting of the deer - or shall I say, the cutting up of the deer is quite detailed - so this was how they hunt in the 1300s.

The book is relatively short - so nothing like Homer's epic - and one can finish within a day and reread it again!

Sir Gawain is not just a pleasurable read - at the end of the book, it also explores questions about chivalric code, what it means to be a knight...lest what it means to be an honorable person at that period.

At last, I wholeheartedly endorse this book if you are interested in a) Arthurian romance or b) just looking for a good, magic filled book.