Now although I'm forsaken, I won't be cast down

[sovay]

I spent the day after Thanksgiving observing what selkie calls Leftoversgiving: I brought turkey and other accoutrements to rushthatspeaks and we hung out for the evening, in part with nineweaving, talking books and movies and childhood reading, looking for female-focused Arthuriana that was not written by Marion Zimmer Bradley, and discovering the existence of Kennedy & Boyd's Naomi Mitchison Library, yes, please. Autolycus does not seem to have killed my computer by tipping half a mug of water across it this afternoon in pursuit of my turkey sandwich. I hope to spend at least a portion of my weekend writing about Ida Lupino's The Hitch-Hiker (1953), which I watched for Erev Thanksgiving. Maybe I will just spend a day not doing anything first. Have some links.

1. I was enjoying this article on the malleable myth of Robin Hood even before it came out swinging for Michael Curtiz's The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). It gives me an excuse to link genarti's "Merrily in Springtime," still one of my all-time favorite retellings. I did archery seriously for seven years and I approve.

2. Usually I want a teleporter for film festivals or theater, but this time I want it for this exhibit at the British Museum: I Am Ashurbanipal. One of my favorite professors at Yale was always apologizing, semi-seriously, for studying the Assyrians. He also used to apologize for listening to Wagner. I treasure my memories of watching him juggle clementines and sing the national anthem of the GDR, tragically not at the same time.

3. I recommend all of Nicholas Lezard's "On Being a Jew-ish Schoolboy," but I was especially struck by the distinction with which he follows up a schoolfellow's taunt that his familial if not personal Jewishness made him "good enough for the ovens": "Technically, according to the Nuremberg Laws, my interlocutor was incorrect. Mischlinge zweiten Grades, or one-quarter-Jewish, would in 1935 have made me still eligible for German citizenship—though it would have been an uncomfortable time, I suspect." Maybe just because I have at times referred to myself as a Mischling, because I have had other people unwantedly evaluate my historical chances for me, drawing the lines from different sides. His later remark about shibboleths reminded me of Natasha Solomons' Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English (2010).

4. This article on biscuits sent me down a rabbit hole of looking for soft flours in New England, but it looks as though King Arthur has us covered with either their cake flour or their even softer self-rising flour. I never before noticed that they label their products with their gluten content. I really appreciate it.

5. Very belatedly, I have learned that Liz Bourke included one of my stories in her imaginary anthology To Wreck and Reign. I'm honored to be part of that garland. I just wish it existed in print.

Comments

[thisbluespirit]

Autolycus does not seem to have killed my computer by tipping half a mug of water across it this afternoon in pursuit of my turkey sandwich.

But who won the turkey sandwich? ;-)

[sovay]

But who won the turkey sandwich?

I ate it! Just very quickly, because I had to blot water off my laptop and turn it upside down, which I really would have been fine with not having to do.

[thisbluespirit]

Well done! (And commiserations to Autolycus.)

ETA: Oh, and re. the Arthurian thing, I'm reminded of Fay Sampson's Herself. (It's been a very long time since I read the quartet plus this one, and I have a feeling there's probably some odd stuff in there, but #5 is both a retelling of the story by Morgan herself and, in alternate chapters, Morgan le Fay's commentary on every other version of the Arthurian myths over time, which stuck in my mind ever since.)

[sovay]

Oh, and re. the Arthurian thing, I'm reminded of Fay Sampson's Herself.

Thank you! We ran into mention of those last night (I just blanked when recounting the list to skygiants—I slept very badly for the third night in a row, which is why I am doing nothing productive at all with my day) but had not previously heard of them. That does sound worth checking out.

[cmcmck]

We have a problem with the Assyrian exhibition as we can only get down to London once while it is still on and it clashes with the Anglo Saxons at the British Library.

Ah me! Which way to turn?

[lauradi7dw]

I have been following the BL A-S exhibit on twitter. I tried to find a catalogue of the exhibit in their online bookshop but struck out. I will try again. I presume one doesn't get to touch the objects, so I am consoling myself with the thought that having seen a few of them in glass cases before, and some in photos, it's almost as good.

[cmcmck]

We used to live just outside London and could pretty much pick up on everything, but since moving much further north and west (Shropshire) we have to be a bit more choosy.

I think the Saxons will win out as my first degree was in early English literature and husbandly person is happy with either.

[sovay]

I think the Saxons will win out as my first degree was in early English literature and husbandly person is happy with either.

I hope you enjoy it!

[skygiants]

...so what female-focused Arthuriana did you find?

[sovay]

...so what female-focused Arthuriana did you find?

Because we were trying to come up with a counterweight to Bradley, we were looking for Arthuriana focused around female characters rather than just Arthuriana written by women, which unfortunately took out Mary Stewart, Phyllis Ann Karr, and Jane Yolen except in short stories. (She expanded a number of her Arthurian short stories into novels, but as far as we can tell it never happened with her major feminist retelling, "Evian Steel.") We counted Elizabeth E. Wein because of Morgause and later Goewin and rushthatspeaks remembered that Nancy Springer had written a Morgan le Fay novel; we weren't sure about Jo Walton because her relevant novels are so heavily reimagined from the traditional Matter of Britain, but then again we really didn't want to throw out Pamela F. Service or Naomi Mitchison for the same reason, Joan Aiken ditto, although we are now ranging very far from your standard retelling. The internet then informed us that we should also be looking at Vera Chapman, Sharan Newman, Persia Woolley, and Joan Wolf—one of whom we had previously heard of—and Catherine Rockwood specifically recommended Gwyneth Jones. So that's still a small body of work to start with, but it's much more than we were able to come up with on our own and strongly suggests there's more out there than half an hour of Googling can turn up. I just now remembered that Tanith Lee's "Into Gold" is female-focused stealth Arthurian, but it is again a novella rather than a novel. I would be very surprised if there weren't more short stories; they're just harder to find.

[cyphomandra]

I read the first two Persia Wolley books and the Sharyn Newmans when I was on a teenage Arthurian binge, but it takes a lot for me to like Guinevere and so i haven’t retained much of an impression of them, although I think I liked them. Parke Godwin’s Beloved Exile is Guinevere after the death of Arthur, struggling to hold the kingdom together - third in his trilogy.

[sovay]

I read the first two Persia Wolley books and the Sharyn Newmans when I was on a teenage Arthurian binge, but it takes a lot for me to like Guinevere and so i haven’t retained much of an impression of them, although I think I liked them.

Data point appreciated nonetheless!

Parke Godwin’s Beloved Exile is Guinevere after the death of Arthur, struggling to hold the kingdom together - third in his trilogy.

I remember that one! I think it skipped my mind because we were looking at female authors. I haven't read it since the first time, also in middle or high school. Does it hold up?

(Are any of Rosemary Sutcliff's Arthurians female-centric? I mostly read her Aquila novels, which means I got The Lantern Bearers and Sword at Sunset in the overlap and nothing else that I can remember.)

[cyphomandra]

Does it hold up?

I also haven't re-read it since then - I think I liked it but was overwhelmed by melancholy

I am having trouble thinking of any female-centric Rosemary Sutcliffs! She did do a Tristam and Iseult re-telling, but I haven't read it.

Gillian Bradshaw's Down the Long Wind trilogy also has the third book narrated by Gwenhyfar (first two are Gawain/Gwalchmai). I have to confess to being annoyed it wasn't Gawain (I have gone through various phases of fondness for most of the Arthurian pantheon but he was the one I liked first, when I encountered him in Roger Lancelyn Green's Sir Gawain and the Lady Ragnell) and don't think I've judged the book fairly. I do really like the first two and should probably give the third another go, as I've only read it once.

[sovay]

Gillian Bradshaw's Down the Long Wind trilogy also has the third book narrated by Gwenhyfar (first two are Gawain/Gwalchmai).

Thank you again! I have not read those, but I have really fond memories of Bradshaw's The Dragon and the Thief and The Land of Gold.

[selidor]

I just finished reading Bradshaw's trilogy for the first time! The third book is a hard read as it is in the Depressing Phase of Mordred making everything fall apart. Could honestly have used some tighter editing, but it is a good key-mistress version of Gwenhyfar.

[sovay]

The third book is a hard read as it is in the Depressing Phase of Mordred making everything fall apart. Could honestly have used some tighter editing, but it is a good key-mistress version of Gwenhyfar.

I will take both of these factors into account and probably read the trilogy. Thank you for the timely drive-by!

[lauradi7dw]

0. Elizabeth Wein?

2. We recently watched a 2009 travelogue by Rick Steves about Iran. One of the main museums has relatively few exhibits, because most of the good atuff was hauled away by Europeans. I've seen the permanent Assyrian stuff in the BM and felt sad about it while watching the travel show, thinking it should be repatriated. Not going to happen.

4, I wondered why the article didn't mention Red Band flour (what my grandmother used) or Martha White (with Hot Rize). Gled to hear about King Arthur. I tend to use whole wheat flour for biscuits, so I didn't expect them to flake up in the traditional way.

[sovay]

0. Elizabeth Wein?

We got her! See above to skygiants.

I've seen the permanent Assyrian stuff in the BM and felt sad about it while watching the travel show, thinking it should be repatriated. Not going to happen.

I hate the argument that ancient sites are morally fair game to be looted because their treasures aren't safe on their home ground, and then the Islamic State bulldozed most of Nineveh (and Nimrud, and Palmyra, and Hatra, and Dur-Šarrukin, and Mosul), and none of it would have happened without the War on Terror, which succeeded as well as any war on an abstraction ever has. I got to Yale in the fall of 2003 and the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations was holding emergency panels about the American destruction of world heritage sites. Now we just outsource it.

I wondered why the article didn't mention Red Band flour (what my grandmother used) or Martha White (with Hot Rize).

I'm glad to hear both of those are also available around here.

QFMFT

[jesse_the_k]

the War on Terror, which succeeded as well as any war on an abstraction ever has

You have such a way with words!

Re: QFMFT

[sovay]

You have such a way with words!

Thank you.

[gwynnega]

I'm glad your computer is unscathed by Autolycus's turkey sandwich incursion.

Yay Naomi Mitchison Library!

Looking forward to your Ida Lupino write-up.

[sovay]

I'm glad your computer is unscathed by Autolycus's turkey sandwich incursion.

Me, too. It was terrifying. I flipped it immediately and filled it with paper towels.

Yay Naomi Mitchison Library!

We had no idea! I was trying to find out if Mitchison's To the Chapel Perilous (1955) had been reprinted recently and the answer turned out to be no, but then we found all those other titles! We haven't even read most of them. It looks amazing.

(I used to have the reprint of To the Chapel Perilous. Then I lent it to someone, I can't even remember who, ten or twelve years ago, and I've never seen it since. I really miss it.)

Looking forward to your Ida Lupino write-up.

Thank you! I hope you can put up with a pre-Code detour first, because I think that's happening.

[gwynnega]

Pre-Code detours are always welcome!

[dhampyresa]

THank you for the links but also "politicians have recently used [Robin Hood] as a poster boy for tax cuts" LOLWHAT

[sovay]

but also "politicians have recently used [Robin Hood] as a poster boy for tax cuts" LOLWHAT

I KNOW RIGHT.

[lemon_badgeress]

Autolycus does not seem to have killed my computer by tipping half a mug of water across it this afternoon

My heart legit stopped, or it felt like it. Bertie Owens CLEARLY loves you a LOT.

[sovay]

My heart legit stopped, or it felt like it. Bertie Owens CLEARLY loves you a LOT.

He is one hell of a computer.

[thanate]

Carol Anne Douglas has a lesbian Lancelot series, the first of which is Lancelot, Her Story. I haven't read them, but I know Sherwood Smith really liked them.

[sovay]

Carol Anne Douglas has a lesbian Lancelot series, the first of which is Lancelot, Her Story.

Oh, cool! Thank you!

[jesse_the_k]

Thank you for reminding me of C.A.D., whose work I really appreciated when I was young and read o.o.b. cover-to-cover every month.

Carol Ann meditates on Lancelot at the laundromat
https://www.carolannedouglas.com/blog/hamlet-in-the-laundry-room-lancelot-in-the-living-room

[sovay]

Carol Ann meditates on Lancelot at the laundromat

That's wonderful. Thank you.

[kathmandu]

Yes, King Arthur flour company is serious about providing top-quality and minority-interest flours. When I was growing up they were the only provider of whole-wheat flour in the supermarket, and we're still very brand-loyal to them now.

[sovay]

When I was growing up they were the only provider of whole-wheat flour in the supermarket, and we're still very brand-loyal to them now.

Nice! We've used their all-purpose flour for years.

[selkie]

I told you about that when it happened, or maybe I just pitched a bitch about the basilisk story not having been recently anthologized. It was all the same thing at the time.

*plops some allspice berries and spearmint into rectified spirits for you* Merry weekend.

[sovay]

I told you about that when it happened, or maybe I just pitched a bitch about the basilisk story not having been recently anthologized. It was all the same thing at the time.

I mean it when I say I would pay money for that anthology to exist, even knowing I'd get a contributor's copy. There is good stuff in there that isn't me.

*plops some allspice berries and spearmint into rectified spirits for you* Merry weekend.

Hey, allspice.

[selkie]

I’m not sure what is supposed to happen with/to the spearmint particularly in relation to the quinine bark, but we’ll find out in a few weeks. Or die trying.

[sovay]

I’m not sure what is supposed to happen with/to the spearmint particularly in relation to the quinine bark, but we’ll find out in a few weeks.

Is this a recipe or are you experimenting?

[selkie]

It’s a method with suggested ingredients and the understanding that some traditional bittering agents are unfriendly to humans. Will link at home! Brew-up included mint, sage, allspice, clove, lemon rind, blindness-inducing spirits. Haven’t decided if the suspension syrup will be white sugar, Demerara or maple-based.

[sovay]

Haven’t decided if the suspension syrup will be white sugar, Demerara or maple-based.

Demerara!

(I trend heavily toward rum in almost all things drink-related, unless I can trend toward whisky that tastes like a peat burn.)

[selkie]

You can drink all my share of the motor oil spirits, although I don't mind rum in things I'm eating. Mother in Law and Uncle in Law are serious WASP cocktailers, so bespoke bitters seemed to be a thing to make. If they don't come out as paint thinner, I will save considerable samples for whenever I get to see you next.

We may die.

(Going down next week: the fruitcakes, a little late.)

[ashlyme]

Out of the Mitchisons, I've only read Memoirs of a Spacewoman. I should track down more of her speculative fiction.


I'd love that anthology to exist too. Can't believe I've missed out reading this story of yours...!

[sovay]

Out of the Mitchisons, I've only read Memoirs of a Spacewoman. I should track down more of her speculative fiction.

The Delicate Fire (1933) is the one rushthatspeaks made sound unmissable for me, but I would read anything of hers, really, especially anything new. There were titles in that library we hadn't even known were a thing.

I'd love that anthology to exist too. Can't believe I've missed out reading this story of yours...!

Well, its home magazine did fold, which makes it harder to find, and it's never been reprinted, which is another reason I want this anthology to rexist. Enjoy!

[asakiyume]

I really like the idea of imaginary anthologies --I like seeing what stories people bring together. There's an art to what things you put together, and things can take on new colors by their companions. And it's great to be remembered and appreciated in that way!

I'm glad King Arthur has you covered. It's the flour I use; I get the impression it's an upright, honorable company, too--as if taking that name made them have to behave well.

Re: The Hitch-Hiker, I'll be interested in your take, having enjoyed <user name="osprey_archer'>'s.

[sovay]

--I like seeing what stories people bring together. There's an art to what things you put together, and things can take on new colors by their companions. And it's great to be remembered and appreciated in that way!

I like this way of thinking about reprint anthologies. I hope it's the aesthetic of most of them.

It's the flour I use; I get the impression it's an upright, honorable company, too--as if taking that name made them have to behave well.

Same! They've been our default flour for years. I'm glad I don't have to switch to make biscuits.

Re: The Hitch-Hiker, I'll be interested in your take, having enjoyed osprey_archer's.

I'm really going to try. I'm going through a very bad patch of not sleeping right now and this week is also busy.

[jesse_the_k]

Much thanks for (3)--now that my parents are dead I must carry on understanding what it means to be secular, and Jewish, in the here and now.

King Arthur is the best when it comes to gluten-free flours--they have a separate mill that wheat never darkens. I just got back from the market with some. Confusingly, they do market "Oat Flour" (which is milled in their wheat zone) as well as "GF Oat Flour."

[sovay]

Much thanks for (3)--now that my parents are dead I must carry on understanding what it means to be secular, and Jewish, in the here and now.

You're very welcome. It's something I think about a lot, too.

King Arthur is the best when it comes to gluten-free flours--they have a separate mill that wheat never darkens.

Oh, that's nice. I just thought of them as all-purpose flour! I've been so happy to discover they offer all these other things.