| Title | : | Quentin Durward |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1426426569 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781426426568 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 492 |
| Publication | : | First published May 17, 1823 |
The young Scottish adventurer
Quentin Durward Reviews
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Ostensibly the story of a young Scottish adventurer in fifteenth-century France circa 1468, leaving his native land of Scotland after a blood feud with neighbors wipes out his entire male family and embarks to visit his only uncle still above ground. The relative is a bodyguard in the elite unit for King Louis x1 probably the most intelligent French monarch in history but unscrupulous stating it mildly.The real main character in the fascinating yet obscure novel now, however quite popular when published in 1823 especially in La France. His machinations beyond belief as the ruler dresses like a peasant than the powerful king of a nation, rejecting pretentious displays in the royal court as he chooses those with ability even from the lower class than the nobles who lack this. Which embarrasses the aristocracy when their perceived inferiors without manners and rich garments, still they are beneath the intellect of those, the unsophisticated. King Louis nicknamed the Spider or a more flattering, the Cunning moniker, big rival to his unloved cousin Charles the Bold Duke of Burgundy his vassal technically, nevertheless striving to make himself king of a new nation. Quentin Durward is nineteen walking through France to find his maternal Uncle Ludovic Lesley (Le Balafre) strong, capable, a leader in the archers, a foreign bodyguard of the king but not his nephew's equal in the brain department. The clever sovereign uses the lad to help foment trouble in the wealthy Flemish city of Leige under the control of Charles nonetheless has rebellious tendencies. Sending the recent recruit in the Scottish guard on a mission to take two runaway royals to Flanders to escape a forced marriage to a rogue not Isabelle, Countess of Croye with her aunt Lady Hameline they will seek the bishop of Leige's protection. On the long march from Tours the Countess and Quentin fall in love after many hazardous experiences , surprised? Naturally not the real reason, Louis wants to weaken Charles and thus compels the narrative to excitement as the saga unfolds, by some fictional people, the dates are wrong but the events are mostly historical. Carnage is in the final chapters of course the most memorable in Sir Walter Scott's book he was the popularizer of this genre. A good view of changing times as chivalry fades and eyes see the brutal existence of life on earth.
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I recently watched the Hollywood movie version of Quentin Durward (in several Youtube installments), starring Robert Taylor, Kaye Kendall, and Robert Morley; and I decided to pick up a used hard-bound copy to read in the original literary format. Even after having read barely 70 pages of the book, including the 33-page "Introduction", I was able to affirm that for once Hollywood captured the book's droll, ironic humor, especially in the on-screen characterization of Louis XI (aka the "Spider King") as he was portrayed by Robert Morley.
I found myself chuckling aload at several passages in the introduction alone, in which Scott spends 31 pages describing a visit to France during a decline in his fortunes and his dismay at the ensuing conversion of his neice, Christian, to Catholicism, and her subsequent enrollment in a convent, and at his fifty-year-old Aunt's marriage to a French pop-in-jay described as looking "as if one pair of half-extended compasses had been placed perpendicularly upon the top of another, while the space on which the hinges revolved quite sufficed to represent the body ... the rest was mustache, pelisse, and callico trouser."
Scott eventually got around to the point of having an introduction, where (after 30+ pages) his host's remote Scottish lineage and extensive library of illuminated works on French history became the inspiration for this story about a Scottish adventurer's exploits during the era when Louis XI's Pre-Machiavellian intrigues solidified France into a modern state while simultaneously putting the final nails in the coffins of both feudalism and the obsolescent "code of chivalry."
I finally finished the book, and it maintained its droll irony and dead-pan gallows-humor throughout! Very amusing - not at all what I had expected from Sir Walter Scott of all people. -
Incredible!
My 7th Scott novel in as many months. The fastest paced and most action packed i have read so far. A novel of great chivalry, romance and adventure. Scott shows himself again to be the all-time master of the historical novel. Really looking forward to learning more about French history after this. Was reading a review by Victor Hugo where he writes in ecstasy at the genius of Scott and the brilliance of Quentin Durward. It was as a major hit in continental Europe in its day, a childhood favourite of the Great Dostoevsky. The Scott novel I would most recommend to those unfamiliar with his work. -
I have to admit I was a little surprised by how engaging, exciting, and funny this historical novel by Sir Walter Scott was. This novel, written in 1823, tells the story of Quentin Durward, a wandering Scottish nobleman who goes to France to make his fortune and ends up serving in the Scottish Guard of the French King, Louis XI. Quentin is as noble and true and chivalrous as Louis is sneaky, cruel, and out for number one, but together they make a pretty good team and a very satisfying story. Also includes a damsel in distress, some pointedly two-faced religious devotions, and some pretty racist comments about the gypsies.
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Šiek tiek nuspėjamas, bet įdomus ir įtraukiantis istorinis romanas, kuris pasakoja apie jaunojo Kventino Dervardo nuotykius XV amžiaus Prancūzijoje ir Burgundijoje. Romane pinasi tikri istoriniai įvykiai ir autoriaus pramanai, o skaitant susidaro įspūdis, kad ši istorija iš tikro kažkada galėjo įvykti...
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قصة ممتعة دون عمق
تصلح لقراءة عابرة -
This novel should have been called Louis XI, but then no one would have read it.
I actually enjoy Sir W's flow of words, and in his depictions the medieval period is just what one would wish it to be; but as usual I ended up disappointed with the book. King Louis of France is an interesting character and he and his accomplices and opponents have absorbing dialogues, but Quentin and his lady love are just like the illustrations (by C. Bosseron Chambers) in my edition - obviously artificial and sometimes laughably posed. And there's no closure to any of the meaningful events or characters in the story. As soon as the guy gets the girl, 'nuff said, I guess.
I highly recommend envisioning the actors Rufus Sewell as King Louis
and Jason O'Mara as the Duke of Burgundy.
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Quentin Durward is well born and handsome and serves as an archer in the elite Scots Guard of King Louis XI. This novel gives a great flavour of fifteenth century France, and a real feel for the characters of both Louis XI and his rival Charles the Bold of Burgundy.
Although Scott novels nearly always features a handsome young Scotsman and a conventional love affair, this is nevertheless well done and doesn’t fall into too much cliché. Quentin is very hot tempered and prickly and this makes him flawed and therefore real. The heroine is splendid: she has a great deal of mettle and is no milk and water Jane Austen type weed. A number of gypsies feature, and usually meet unpleasant ends. Scott portrays them as simultaneously attractive and repellent, and Quentin’s mixed relationship with one of them ends in real pathos.
The mutual admiration between Scotland and France has never been matched by anything similar between England and France. It is perhaps for that reason that this novel caused a sensation in France, and was very well received in Scotland, whereas it got a distinctly chilly reception in England. I think English reviewers were just being curmudgeonly Francophobes. I loved this, and think it Scott’s best historical novel since Ivanhoe. While I read it, I was fully immersed in the fifteenth century: and that for me is a lot more congenial than being in the twenty first. -
I read this long ago and liked it very much.
The story is about a young archer, Quentin Durward, who leaves his native Scotland to serve in the Scottish Guard of Louis XI of France. As security detail he accompanies the beautiful Isabelle De Croye of Burgundy on a journey to Flanders. The lady is promised in marriage to quite a few men within the story: first to an odious nobleman in the Burgundy court, then to a bandit, next to the Duke of Orleans. When she refuses the Duke, he promises her to whoever will kill the bandit she was once to marry. Quentin, true romance hero that he is, performs this task admirably and thereby gains Isabell's love and hand in marriage. This was quite long. An enjoyable cloak and dagger novel with lots of historical detail about 15th-century France and Scotland. -
This is an enjoyable historical romance. Scott's strength is character portrayal, where portrayal is the operative word, because he paints his colourful characters with words. They are vivid, they are larger than life. Having read several of his novels now I realise that he works according to a template of hero, damsel in distress, scheming villain, atheist and the like. however, his depiction of Charles the Bold of Burgundy and Louis XI of France known as the Spider King, is powerful and highly enjoyable. There is a fair amount of humour and much of the grotesque. Scott does not shy away from the horrors of the time without dwelling on them in any malicious manner. He interweaves fictional and historical characters, which is presumably the particular skill of the successful historical novelist.
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My second favorite of Scott's work---next to Ivanhoe. A good action/adventure story set against the interesting backdrop of 1400s France. The conflict between King Louis and Charles of Burgundy was fun for me to read about, but anyone can enjoy characters like Lady Hamelina and the naive, honest hero, Quentin Durward himself. The book has more humor than you'd expect, and that's a plus.
I recommend this to anyone interested in trying out Scott's other novels--besides Ivanhoe. -
فارس من اسكتلندا
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Love ..Love this story
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I really liked the book, maybe not Scott's most popular thing but surely one of the finest.
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Frankreich zur Zeit der Regirung von Louis XI (1461-1483) und Karl der Kühnen (1433-1477). Quentin Durward ist der letzte Spross einer adligen schottischen Familie, die von einem rivalisierenden Klan ausgerottet wurde. Quentin überlebte den letzten Angriff nur knapp und durfte weiterleben unter der Bedingung, Mönch zu werden, damit die Familie Durward mit ihm endet. Das Mönchsdasein ist aber so gar nicht Quentins Berufung, er flüchtet nach Frankreich zu seinem Onkel Ludovic Lesley, Le Balafré, der als Schütze und Bodygard für Louis XI arbeitet. Zunächst ziert sich Quentin in den Dienst des Königs zu treten, der nicht den besten Ruf hat und daher würde ein Dienst für Louis XI gegen Quentins Ehrenkodex verstoßen. Durch gewisse Umstände dazu gezwungen tritt Quentin doch bei den schottischen Schützen ein und purzelt die Karriereleiter hoch, nicht ahnend, dass der König seine ehrenhafte Naivität für seine Zwecke ausnutzen will, den die reiche Erbin Isabelle de Croye hat am französischen Hof um Hilfe gebeten, weil sie nicht den Mann heiraten will, denn ihr Lehensherr ihr dazu bestimmt hat. Die Lage ist gespannt, Louis XI muss Isabelle los werden, will er keinen Ärger mit Karl dem Kühnen. So beauftragt er Quentin, Isabelle zu Karls Schwager, dem Bischof von Liege zu bringen, organisiert aber gleichzeitig einen Überfall auf diese durch den Banditen captain William de la Marck, damit dieser Karl ablenkt und beschäftigt, während Lousi die Bürger von Liege aufwiegelt. Die Liebe jedoch, macht ihm einen Strich durch die Rechnung.
Quentin ist 19 Jahre alt, voller Ideale, hochfahrender Ideen und unglaublich naiv. Mit seinem Gutgläubigkeit und Ehrpusseligkeit geht er einem manchmal auf die Nerven und Isabelle ist auch nicht besser. Walter Scott hat diese Geschichte sicherlich auch nicht sonderlich ernst genommen und eher mit einem Augenzwinkern geschrieben, denn er lässt in diesem Roman eine junge Frau vor den dümmlichen Ritterromanzen voller Liebe und Ehre explizit warnen. In dieser Warnung zieht er seinen eigenen kompletten Plot einmal so richtig durch den Kakao:
"Mabel took the opportunity to read a long practical lecture to Trudchen upon the folly of reading romances, whereby the flaunting ladies of the Court were grown so bold and venturous, that, instead of applying to learn some honest housewifery, they must ride, forsooth, a-damsel erranting through the country, with no better attendant than some idle squire, debauched page, or rake belly archer from foreign parts, to the great danger of their health, the impoverishing of their substance, and the irreparable prejudice of their reputation. "
Auch Quentin wird vom König darauf hingewiesen, dass die Romanzen über Palladine, die er so gerne liest unrealistisch sind und er sich diese gleich mal aus dem Kopf schlagen soll:
"I can allow thee like a youth, who hath listened to romances till he fancied himself a Paladin, to form pretty dreams for some time, but thou must not be angry at a well meaning friend, though he shake thee something roughly by the shoulders to awake thee."
Um was ging es Scott dann, wenn er die romantische Rittergeschichte selber ins Lächerliche zieht, den ganz ehrlich, das Geschichtchen ist schon eher dünn und kommt an andere Romane Scotts nciht ran, weder in der Charakterisierung seiner Figuren noch in der Komplexität des Plotts. Dieser Roman, der auch auf dem Kontinent ein Bestseller war ist nur oberflächlich eine klassische mittelalterliche Rittergeschichte, voller Ehre, Liebe, Galanterie, denn er hat einen anderen Auftrag, einen Bildungsauftrag. Ja Bildungsauftrag! Normalerweise muss ich in solchen Romanen vieles das mir unbekannt ist nachschlagen. Das erspart Scott dem Leser. Er gibt weite Exkurse in denen er die Geschichte kurz unterbricht und dem Leser erklärt, wie die tatsächliche historische Konstellation war und wo er aus dramaturgischen Gründen abgewichen ist. Historische Personen, die als Vergleich in Dialogen erscheinen, werden in Klammern mit einem kurzen Abriss ihres Lebens versehen. Man lernt, dass "cards were invented for the amusement of an insane king" und "The Fairy Melusina […]is closely interwoven with the legends of the Banshee and Mermaid".
Erneut kramt Scott seine Deutschkenntnisse hervor, ist dismal aber so net, diese Dialoge seinen Landsleuten zu übersetzen, was sich für deutsche Leser ein wenig lustig liest, wenn man zu deutschen Passagen die englische Übersetzung in Klammern bekommt, das klingt sehr karriert.
"Du bist ein comische man [thou art a droll fellow]," said the lanzknecht, "I swear."
Dennoch blitzt auch in diesem Roman Scotts Genialität durch. In jedem Seiner Romane findet man etwas, dass sich auf die heutige Zeit anwenden lässt und schon fast Prophetisch anmutet, so auch in diesem sonst eher durchschnittlichen Roman:
"When I reflect with what slow and limited supplies the stream of science hath hitherto descended to us, how difficult to be obtained by those most ardent in its search, how certain to be neglected by all who regard their ease; how liable to be diverted, altogether dried up, by the invasions of barbarism; can I look forward without wonder and astonishment to the lot of a succeeding generation on whom knowledge will descend like the first and second rain, uninterrupted, unabated, unbounded; fertilizing some grounds, and overflowing others; changing the whole form of social life; establishing and overthrowing religions; erecting and destroying kingdoms."
Scott sagt hier die digitale Revolution voraus und wie das für jeden verfügbare Wissen Staaten stürzen und Regierungen entmachten wird!
Witzig ist der Schluss. Ich empfand ihn zunächst als unbefriedigend. Scott äußert sich dazu persönlich, warum er diesen Schluss so gewählt hat und meint, wem der nicht passt, soll eben einen anderen schreiben:
"I will not, therefore, tell more of this matter, but will steal away from the wedding, as Ariosto from that of Angelica, leaving it to whom it may please to add farther particulars, after the fashion of their own imagination. "
Fazit: Ein durchwachsener Roman. Die Geschichte an sich ist vorhersehbar, ausgelutscht und sehr platt. Die Charakterisierung der Personen kommt an andere Romane Scotts nicht heran, hier wimmelt es von Archetypen. Hier geht es eher darum etwas über die Regierungszeit von Louis XI zu lernen und dabei mit einer kleinen Liebesgeschichte unterhalten zu werden. Ein Bildungsroman, der das Genre der romantischen Rittererzählung ein wenig auf die Schippe nimmt, was den meisten Lesern auch Filmemachern jedoch entging.
Zur deutschen Kindle Ausgabe:
Sie entstammt dem Spiegel Gutenberg Projekt und ist eine alte, schreckliche, entstellende Übersetzung.
Das einführende, wichtige Vorwort des Autors fehlt.
Sämtliche erklärende Einschübe des Autors fehlen. Das Buch wurde auf die reine Rittergeschichte zurückgestutzt und hat somit mit dem Original nur noch wenig zu tun. Sie ist wohl am ehesten als gefällig gekürzte Version zu bezeichnen. Ich kann nur dringend empfehlen, nach einer gescheiten, vollständigen Übersetzung zu suchen, oder die englische Kindle Ausgabe zu lesen. -
While it is expedient to use the marker ‘historical novelist’ for Scott, the term, without assessment, is ambiguous. His earliest novel, Waverley, dealt with the Jacobite rising of 1945, and though in one sense historical, he was able to formulate the background from the memories of living people whom he had met in the Highlands. Once he had exhausted the popular appeal of a period, he hurried to seek another.
Among these novelties many give a pride of place to Quentin Duward, which deals with the France of Louis XI, for in that novel he captured the attention of Europe.
Critics have eulogized, saying that never was Scott’s narrative more brilliant. In Louis he reveals a character more restrained than is usual with him.
In this novel, he takes his plot to France, as also his Scottish archers with him. More than once he returned from these wanderings, geographical and temporal, to employ Scotland as his scene.
Louis XI is portrayed as a cunning, malicious and credulous man who is also discreet and capable at the same time. He stands in sharp contrast to his vassal and enemy, the violent and impetuous Charles the Bold of Burgundy.
The story is concerned with the intrigues by which Louis Xl attempts to procure with the assistance of William de Ia Marck, the Wild Boar of the Ardennes, the revolt of Liege against Charles; with the murder of the bishop of liege; and with the famous visit of Louis XI to Charles at Peronne and their temporary reconciliation.
A so-so experience! This was taken up be me a couple of days back while I was in between books.
Felt quite pretentious and off. -
Sous le règne de Louis XI, un jeune noble écossais désargenté arrive en France. Il va se retrouver mêlé aux intrigues entre le roi et la Bourgogne, dans une atmosphère de complots et de suspicion.
J’ai été attirée par ce livre, car j’y voyais un roman d’aventures se passant au Moyen Âge, mêlant l’épique à l’Histoire.
Malheureusement, j’ai trouvé les personnages archétypaux voire insipides. J’ai eu le même sentiment en lisant le livre le plus connu de l’auteur, Ivanhoé. C’est dommage, avec une telle matière : une époque que souvent nous connaissons mal.
J’ai souvent soupiré pendant la lecture. Les livres de l’auteur ont très mal vieilli : des héros très (trop) chevaleresques, des nobles dames évanescentes voire transparentes, des méchants très méchants .... On ne ressent rien pour les personnages, et les rebondissements sont aberrants. Dans le même genre, Alexandre Dumas sait beaucoup mieux susciter l’enthousiasme. -
Sir Walter Scott spent time in France studying French history. This book takes place in the 15th century and tells a story in which King Louis XI of France and Charles, Duke of Burgundy are key participants. Scott admits that he has changed dates of events for purposes of his plot, but it gives a good idea of what life was like. Quentin Durward, a young Scottish archer (Louis used Scottish archers as part of his bodyguard) gains the king's favor and is commissioned to escort Countess Isabelle of Croye to safety from a marriage she does not want. Complications ensue, not the least of which is the attraction the two young people have for each other. However, their personal freedom is limited by the will of their superiors. Quentin has principles and a good heart, but he must prove he is a good soldier, and he will have many adventures before the fates of the key players are settled. This is one of Scott's best books.
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This wonderful book follows the adventures of youthful Quentin Durward, a young Scotsman seeking fulfillment in 15th century France during the reign of the diabolical Louis XI. Sir Walter combines an exciting story line, richly defined characters, betrayal and redemption, and sparkling (if somewhat dated) prose to produce a timeless tale. I've nitpicked other Scott work for such things as impenetrable dialect and slow pace, but this book excels in all areas. Highly recommended for those who like such things. Be sure to read Scott's introduction to the book for historical context.
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Great action, good humor and a picturesque setting as Scott always delivers. But for this one, also a nice introduction to a period of French history less well known to me - the mid 15th century while the King of France was still struggling with Burgundy to weld together the modern French state. Many memorable characters from Quentin who is like a younger, Scottish D'Artagnan, the always composed, perfectly cynical Louis XI and the well-meaning but utterly rash Charles of Burgundy, down to the comic relief of Louis' mismatched pair of over-worked executioners.
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Some kind of achievement for me.
Finally, read "Quentin Durward" by Walter Scott in original and expand my English vocabulary with about 50 words, that would be useful for reenactment ).
Great book, definitely the good read, as it was in my childhood.
PS. Historical notes and references alongside the text are great too. -
Aunque me perdía un poco con las trapisondas políticas y traiciones de unos y otros, la historia es entretenida sin ser apasionante. Y está muy bien escrita. Hay que reconocer que Quintín tenia habilidad para estar siempre en el lugar oportuno en el momento adecuado, sin él, el rey Luis XI hubiese salido muy mal parado.
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Интригующее начало постепенно сменяется тягучестью сюжета, прекрасный классический стиль автора начинает постепенно надоедать - как много уже прочитано о старых добрых временах... Прошло, видать, для меня время рыцарских романов - хочется чего-то более современного.
