Sunday 14 June 2020

In The Old Phoenix

A Midsummer Tempest, x-xi.

At the end of x on p. 89, Rupert and Will enter the Old Phoenix.

xi, on pp. 90-96, is headed:

THE TAPROOM OF THE OLD PHOENIX.

When Taverner has greeted the two Royalists and led them upstairs, the narrative shifts to the "...couple at one of the little tables." (p. 91) Both speak English but with strange accents. We will shortly realize what those accents are. She addresses him as "Holger." (p. 93) He addresses her as "Valeria." (p. 94)

Thus, A Midsummer Tempest is a crossover not only between two Shakespeare plays (see Literary Crossovers) but also between two other Andersonian works and it also provides the setting for two later short stories. Much is focused through these few pages, like sunlight through a lens.

1 comment:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

One thing I remember was how Rupert and Will were TENSE as they entered the Old Phoenix, with hands on sword hilts and glaring watchfully around the room. Naturally, they were still being alert for possible enemies.

A pity we only see Holger Danske briefly in that Old Phoenix interlude!

Ad astra! Sean