Apart from his Big Four - van Rijn, Falkayn, Flandry and Everard - Poul Anderson created several major characters, including Anson Guthrie and Rupert of the Rhine. See also Is Rupert Right? Although Rupert appears in only a single novel, A Midsummer Tempest, that novel is the culmination of a trilogy and Rupert is also mentioned in the second of the two Old Phoenix short stories.
It is always interesting to compare how another author presents the same historical figure:
"That bastard whoreson, Rupert, swept immediate down the hill, charged with the Deville's fyre.
"In his wake, a thousand Royalist bloodhounds: pikemen and mercenarie rabble at the command of this devious childe."
-Paul Jenkins, John Constantine: Hellblazer, no. 91, "Riding The Green Lanes" (New York, 1995), p. 1, panel 4.
Jenkins describes not the historical Battle of Edgehill but its well-attested ghostly reenactment, like a Valhalla with fighting but no feasting.
Kaor, Paul!
ReplyDeleteI think that should be Anderson's Big FIVE, considering how large and frequent a role Anson Guthrie (or his downloads) played in the four HARVEST OF STARS books.
Well, I would not expect the rebel Parliamentarians to have a high opinion of Prince Rupert! I would expect some to respect his courage and abilities as a soldier, however.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
ReplyDeleteI don't think Guthrie ranks as high as the Four. But he is deffo in a 2nd rung with Gratillonius and Rupert.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
ReplyDeleteI can agree with that. Guthrie definitely should be in the second rung of characters created by Anderson, along with Gratillonius and Prince Rupert.
Ad astra! Sean