I started writing a review of this retelling of the sad, beautiful story of Tristan and Iseult. And then the review turned into my own retelling. And then it turned into something that I didn't feel quite up to sharing with the world. And so. If you need the bare outlines of the story, here it is. The story of King Marc, Tristan and Iseult underpins that of Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot. Sutcliff's retelling is romantic, stately, heartbreaking, classical, shot through with the occasional dart of humour, and often startlingly sexy for a book aimed at children.And beyond, Iseult sat among the piled cushions, combing her hair that was red as hot copper in the smoky torchlight.She said, “Put out that torch. It has served to guide you to me, and the moon is better for keeping secrets.” And laid aside her silver comb and held out her arms to him.There is also an emotional nuance that surprises me - a wisdom about the complicated ways we love:For Tristan also, the months and the years went by. He had thrust Iseult of Cornwall from his life; and he had found a kind of peace that was sometimes almost happiness with Iseult White-hands. He had never told her of the other Iseult, but she had always guess the meaning of the woman’s ring that hung round his neck, and because she loved him she knew the rest without being told, and knew when he turned from the owner of the ring, and did all she could to heal the hurt, and yet could not help being glad that the hurt was there for her healing.In her introduction, Sutcliff writes that she attempted to strip the story back to some of its original Celtic fierceness and darkness, and in doing so, made one very significant change:In all the versions that we know, Tristan and Iseult fall in love because they accidentally drink together a love potion which was meant for Iseult and her husband, King Marc, on their wedding night. Now the story of Tristan and Iseult is Diarmid and Grania, and Deirdre and the Sons of Usna, and in neither of them is there any suggestion of a love potion. I am sure in my own mind that the medieval storytellers added it to make an excuse for Tristan and Iseult for being in love with each other when Iseult was married to somebody else. And for me, this turns something that was real and living and part of themselves into something artificial, the result of drinking a sort of magic drug.So I have left out the love potion.Because everyone else who has retold the tale in the past eight hundred years has kept it in, it is only fair to tell you this. I can only tell the story in the way which feels right to me in my own heart of hearts.The love potion makes Tristan and Iseult characters; pawns to the narrative, helpless to their fates. Without the potion, they are human: loving and flawed, seeking happiness in one another, seeking honour in the world, wanting not to hurt anyone, stumbling and falling - falling together, falling apart - and losing it all.
CELTIC ETERNAL TRIANGLE This Brittanic hero, beloved of two beautiful young women both named Iseult, emerges as a valiant youth and amazing champion, despite the added medieval trappings of later versions. The star-crossed lovers are destined to love only each other, yet to be wed to other partners for the sake of Honor--critical to the code of celtic chivalry. Torn between his home in Lothian (Scotland), his heart in Cornwall, and his duty in Brittany, young Tristan craves action, adventure and far-flung fame. Further complicating the plot, he wins Iseult in fair combat, yet may not claim her for himself. Too late he discovers that the core of his being is pledged to this red-haired princess, the bride for his liege lord, the King. This ageless story of ill-fated romance speaks to us across the centuries, thanks to Sutcliff's superb linguistic tapestry of passionand betrayal of honor; she intertwines revealing understatement with gracious descriptions of both terrestrial and maritime settings. No need has she for the famous love potion--taken as a remedy for sea sickness by King Marc's loyal vassal. Tristan's "crime" is all the more heinous because in medieval literature the most sacred human relationship was not that of father-son, but of uncle-nephew; thus to betray one's uncle (or 2nd father) is unthinkable and reprehensible. Tristan and Iseult's anguished lives and broken hearts are the result of their own actions and unbridled emotions, not a brew consumed in error. Tristan may roam the celtic world all his life, but he can never pluck her image from his noble heart. Only the reader may judge which of the two damsels--Iseult of Cornwall or Iseult of the White Hands--loves him more. Or does his greater injury. This edition could be slightly improved if it included a map of his journeys, since most Americans are not that familiar with Brittanic geography. But the tale is timeless, the narrative exquisite and their love survives beyond the grave. For adult readers with youthful hearts--no matter your age. (February 9, 2013. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)
What do You think about Tristan And Iseult (1991)?
As always, Rosemary Sutcliff is brillant! I love her ability to weave a story together and make you feel as if you lived in the Dark Ages. This one, while not her best, was a very enjoyable read and was a different look at the traditional tale. It is usually strung into the Arthurian legends, but Sutcliff has extracted it and breathed life into it once again, harking back to the full legend that was around long before King Arthur.Tristan is bored with his life as a Prince. So he begs his father to allow him to travel the world, and the first place he travels is Cornwall. There King Marc becomes a dear friend and companion. But soon enough the Irish-Cornish war flares up and the King of Ireland demands a one-on-one fight to determine the victor. Tristan sets out to fight the Morholt, the greatest Irish fighter (and considered the best in the known world). After a heated battle, Tristan wins, but is sorely wounded. King Marc agrees to set his dear friend adrift in a boat on the ocean with only his sword and his harp for company. Soon he drifts to the Irish shore. There Iseult (the best woman of the herbs) attends to his wounds and sends him on his way. On returning to Cornwall, Marc decides it is time for him to marry. The condition however, is that his bride must have hair the colour of the hair brought to him by the Swallows: Copper. Tristan again sets out, but gets blown off course and ends up in Ireland. There after defeating a dragon, finds Iseult (the one of the Swallows' hair) and takes her back to Marc. Unfortuneately, on the way to Cornwall they fall in love... While I really liked this story, my biggest bone to pick with it, is with the ending. I thought it was such a paltry end, almost as if Sutcliff had tired of the story and wanted some appropriately stupid ending to finish off the lovers. Very Romeo and Juliet.
—Lady Knight
One of my favourite books of all time, it was given to me as a birthday present as a child. Not only is it beautifully and almost lyrically written, but it contains the most gorgeous intricate pen and ink drawings by my favourite illustrator, Victor Ambrus.Tristan and Iseult feature as only a brief chapter in the story of King Arthur. Rosemary Sutcliff has cleverly given them freedom and life to tell their own story. If you love tales of romance, mythology, bravery, daring and battle, you will love this.Think I'll go and read it again...
—Ali Isaac
eh. I like the idea of giving the story a YA-friendly rewrite but Sutcliff changes some pretty major things without a particularly good reason. You can like the love potion or not but it IS a major part of every retelling of the story (until very recenly). And then there's a lot of random de-womaning. Blanchefleur and Iseult's mother's roles are eliminated. And why call Tristan "Tristan of Lothian" instead of "Tristan of Lyonesse?" They might be different names of the same place but like the lov
—Tiffany
