The "Chivalry Today Girls" model our logo T-shirts at the 2011 Tournament of the Phoenix. The shirts are available to supporters who donate $25.

Chivalry Today needs your help. Our program – the website, our podcast, and the educational talks and presentations we offer to schools, libraries, camps, and other groups – is funded strictly by voluntary donations. And this year, the contributions provided by our fans and podcast listeners are falling way behind. In short, we need your help to pay our bills – the production, maintenance and upkeep of everything we have to offer.

For those who are generous enough to support us with their donations, we offer various appreciation packages to show our gratitude – and with each season of our podcast (which is now in its sixth year of production) we try to offer something new and interesting.

We know there are a lot of people in our audience, with a lot of different sorts of interest in the ideals of chivalry – from fantasy literature fans to students of historical sword combat. That’s exactly why we’re offering a new sort of “rewards program” that allows you to tailor the appreciation gifts you’ll receive when you make a financial contribution to our program to suit your particular interest in the history, literature and philosophy of the code of chivalry. We call it our Choose Your Rewards appreciation program.

Ready to make a donation? Well, we hope so! (You can do it by just clicking that big red Piggy Bank button on the right side of the screen.) And if you are, here’s what you have to choose from (all the items are shown in the picture below) at various contribution levels:

See something you like? With the Sixth Season's "Choose Your Rewards" contributor appreciation program, you can choose from among $150 worth of rewards items you receive when you make a donation to the program.

For A Donation Of $25:

You’ll receive a Chivalry Today logo T shirt (modeled above by the lovely Lady Judges from the 2011 Tournament of the Phoenix World Joust), and a Chivalry Today logo insulated travel mug. (A value of $35 for just $25.)

For A Donation Of $50:

You’ll receive a Chivalry Today T shirt and travel mug (as above) plus you can take your pick of one of three titles in the Pop Culture And Philosophy series, published by Open Court Books:

• The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy,
• The Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy, or
• Martial Arts and Philosophy (which includes the chapter Sir Aristotle and the Code of Chivalry by Chivalry Today’s podcast host Scott Farrell).

(A $57 value for a $50 donation.)

For A Donation Of $75:

You’ll receive all of the above – a T shirt, a travel mug, and choice of one of the Pop Culture And Philosophy titles – plus:

A copy of the CD Enchanted Realms, a collection of medieval/Celtic acoustic folk music by the duo Scot Ryder and Lady Ivy (an album that is not available in stores, or even through on-line music download services!), and;

Along with the CD, you have your choice of either:

A) For enthusiastic readers of fantasy, and the eternally young-at-heart, a pair of novels: Fire, Bed, and Bone (a story of adventure in the 14th century through the eyes of a knight’s hunting hound) by Henrietta Brandford, and Castle Diary (a journal of a year in the life of a knight’s squire in the 13th century) by Richard Platt;

-Or-

B) For fans of military history, arms and armor collectors, or practitioners of historical martial arts, a DVD: The Myth of the Sword, a look at the design, evolution, and use of the sword as a weapon in medieval and Renaissance history, narrated by acclaimed weapons expert Hank Reinhardt. (You can see an excerpt of the video below.) (A value of up to $89 for just a $75 donation.)

NEWLY ADDED: For A Donation Of $100:

You’ll still get all of the above (T shirt, mug, choice of Pop Culture And Philosophy title, music CD, Candlewick book package/Myth of the Sword DVD)  plus:

I) A $20 gift certificate good for any in-stock (not custom order) merchandise at Historic Enterprises, one of the leading suppliers of medieval and Renaissance re-enactors worldwide;

- Or -

II) A hardwood sword-hilted practice dagger from Purpleheart Armoury, etched with the Chivalry Today logo on the blade.

No matter what level of support you can give to Chivalry Today – $25, $50, $75 or $100 – we hope you’ll find that the “choose your rewards” donor appreciation program makes your financial contribution even more rewarding … and enjoyable!

How do you make your donation? Easy! Just use the red Piggy Bank button on the right-hand side of this page to make your contribution quickly and easily on-line. (And be sure to tell us which of the options you’d like in the notes section of the donation page.) We thank you for your support – and we hope you enjoy the offerings here on our webpage, and our sixth season of the Chivalry Today podcast, which couldn’t happen without you.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Related posts:

1. Join The “50 By 50″ Drive – Don’t Let Chivalry Today Die
2. Wearing Chivalry On Your Sleeve
3. Chivalry, Aristotle, CS Lewis & Martial Arts

Phillip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart) and Carmen Sternwood (Martha Vickers) in a scene from The Big Sleep (1946).

In this episode: Scott explores the dark streets of one of the most overlooked genres of chivalric literature – the private eye story – with author and publisher Charles Ardai. Mr. Ardai is founder of Hard Case Crime Books, and his short story The Home Front won an Edgar Award in 2007 for outstanding mystery fiction. Mr. Ardai recently uncovered a rumored (but long-lost) manuscript by James M. Cain, one of the pioneers of early 20th century detective fiction (along with Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler) called The Cocktail Waitress, which he is currently editing and preparing for publication.

(A note for those who maybe confused by the title of this episode: “We Never Sleep” was the motto used by private investigator and security man Allan Pinkerton in the 1870′s. When allegedly nonfiction accounts of some of Pinkerton’s exploits were published, they started to create a market for American readers interested in the doings of the “private eye.”)

Quicklinks – use the links below to learn more about the books, videos, products, and programs mentioned on this episode of the podcast:

• Hard Case Crime Books – Explore the full catalog of crime fiction titles they offer, including novels by Stephen King, Lawrence Block, and Mickey Spillane;
• Read the full text of Charles Ardai’s award-winning story The Home Front on-line;
• Donate to Chivalry Today and get some great appreciation gifts as part of our Sixth Season “Choose Your Rewards” donor appreciation program.

Help support the Chivalry Today podcast

Your contribution of any amount makes the Chivalry Today Podcast possible, and helps make Chivalry Today presentations available to schools, libraries and youth groups as part of our ongoing educational outreach program.

If you enjoy our podcast offerings, please take a moment to help keep them coming.

Chivalry Never Sleeps: The Private Eye and the Knight

Seedy gin joints and filthy city alleys lit by stark streetlamps. Saps, switchblades and snub-nosed six guns. Men in dark fedoras and stained trench coats, and blonde-bombshell women with strong wills and weak morals …

Bill Waterson's cartoon character Calvin occassionally played the role of a make-believe detective "Tracer Bullet" in the comics.

These are just a few of the more distinctive features of a genre of literature and film we’ve come to know as the crime novel, or the detective story. From books written in the early 20th century like The Malteese Falcon and Farewell, My Lovely, to more recent film interpretations like Chinatown and L.A. Confidential, the noir detective story has become a staple of American film and literature. (Even Calvin, in the comic strip Calvin & Hobbes, fancied himself a gumshoe private eye from time to time as he tracked down homework-stealing villains as his noir alter-ego Tracer Bullet – a tribute to just how deeply entrenched that sort of character is in our cultural psyche.)

Now at first you might wonder what private eyes and urban crime stories have to do with discussions of the code of chivalry. But scratch the surface just a little bit, and you’ll find that hidden under that trenchcoat, “roscoe,” and fedora is, in fact, a knight in shining armor.

Consider: In early drafts of Raymond Chandler’s work, detective Philip Marlowe was named (instead) Philip Malory in homage to the Arthurian tales written by Sir Thomas Malory in the 15th century, which inspired Chandler’s writing.

And in an article in The New Yorker in 1931, literary critic Dorothy Parker compared Dashell Hammet’s detective character Sam Spade to Sir Lancelot.

In fact, the connection between the knightly characters of the Age of Chivalry and the hard-boiled detectives and private eyes of modern crime fiction is pretty clear, once you start looking for it. The black knights and evil sorceresses may have become mob bosses and femme fatales, but in both cases these are stories of heroes struggling to follow a code as they move through a dark world of temptation and corruption in a quest for justice.

So just what do private eyes and detective stories have to teach us about the ideals of chivalry – in both literary tradition and real life? Are these stories that reaffirm the presence of a code of honor on the hard city streets? Or do we come away with the message, to paraphrase Philip Marlowe in The Big Sleep, that “knights have no meaning; this world isn’t a place for knights”?

In this episode, Scott speaks with author and crime novel expert Charles Ardai about the character of the private eye and the code of chivalry.

Learn more with these links

• Want to learn more (a lot more) about the literary history and development of the detective novel? Spend some time at the DetNovel website – an on-line overview of the entire history of the genre from Prof. William Marling of Case Western University;
• Purchase a collector’s edition of The Big Sleep and Farewell My Lovely by Raymond Chandler;
• Learn more about the chivalric character of detective Phillip Marlowe at The Thrilling Detective website;
• Read an essay about themes in The Big Sleep (including images of knights and ideals of chivalry) by Robert Moss on a website dedicated to analysis of Raymond Chandler’s writing.

Related posts:

1. A Flourish in the Desert
2. Generosity and the Exchange Student
3. Podcast 36: Chivalry á la Shalott

(They are) All furnish’d, all in arms;
All plumed like estridges that with the wind
Baited like eagles having lately bathed;
Glittering in golden coats, like images;
As full of spirit as the month of May,
And gorgeous as the sun at midsummer;
Wanton as youthful goats, wild as young bulls.
I saw young Harry, with his beaver on,
His cuisses on his thighs, gallantly arm’d
Rise from the ground like feather’d Mercury,
And vaulted with such ease into his seat,
As if an angel dropp’d down from the clouds,
To turn and wind a fiery Pegasus
And witch the world with noble horsemanship.

Placed alongside the illustration of a mounted knight in his finery from the famous Lutrell Psalter (written in the mid-14th century), you get a pretty vivid picture of what Prince Hal and his company of mounted warriors must have looked like on their way to the Battle of Shrewsbury.

But, in our presentation, the reading also raised some questions: Could a knight in armor “vault into his seat”? Weren’t armored knights slow and heavy? Didn’t a knight need a winch or a crane to lift him into the saddle?

This notion, of course, was only emphasized by one of the film clips we showed – Falstaff’s soliloquy on “honor” from the movie Chimes At Midnight – which actually had a scene of knights being hoisted into position via pulleys on the tree branches!

Of course, we explained that this perception was done for comic effect, and has no basis in reality – and just to drive the point home, here is a marvelous 45-minute lecture, graciously provided by the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, called How To Mount A Horse In Armor & Other Chivalric Problems, given by Dirk Breiding, curator of arms and armor. He explains not only did medieval knights have both the capability and the technology to get onto horseback without the use of a block-and-tackle (a simple step works quite nicely, thanks), but also addresses the often-mistaken perception in the difference between Renaissance armor (i.e., the “classic knight in shining armor”) and true medieval armor.

Related posts:

1. Chivalry, Terrorism and Knights in Shining Armor at Ground Zero
2. Real Knights, Real Chivalry: Part 1
3. Chivalry & The Arrow of Light

Quicklinks — Use the links below to learn more about the events and activities featured in this podcast episode

• Make arrangements to attend the first annual CombatCon, June 24-26 in Las Vegas, Nevada;
• Visit the Higgins Armory Museum to experience their Castle Quest;
• Share your plans, photos, and videos of your Summer of Chivalry on our Facebook page.

Segment 1: An Interview with Jared Kirby — Chivalry at CombatCon

Scott interviews Jared Kirby, accomplished actor (he appeared in a recent production of Macbeth with the York Shakespeare Company), fight choreographer, and president and organizer of the first annual CombatCon to talk about historical European martial arts, Victorian stick fighting, Jedi knights, zombies, and steampunk fiction. What do all of these things have in common? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is: The code of chivalry. The spirit of romance, honor, and heroism is the underlying foundation of nearly all the events, presentations, and workshops that attendees will be enjoying at CombatCon.

You can learn more about Jared Kirby’s impressive background in acting, fight arrangement, and directing at his website, The Art Of Combat.

It’s not too late to make plans to attend CombatCon in Las Vegas, Nevada, June 24-26. The Tuscany Hotel is offering special weekend rates to CombatCon attendees.

Segment 2: Castle Quest At The Higgins Armory Museum

Characters like the knight, lady, archer, and castelain are waiting at the Higgins Armory Museum to give visitors a tour through the Castle Quest.

Scott is joined by Devon Kurtz, director of education and public programs at the Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester, Mass., to talk about the museum’s new exhibit Castle Quest, which opened just in time for Summer 2011 vacationers. The display gives visitors an opportunity to see life inside a medieval castle through the eyes of the people who call it home – from the knight and the lady to the stable hands, grooms, and archers.

Castle Quest is just one of the engaging, interactive exhibits you’ll find when you visit the Higgins Armory Museum. You can find a full listing of the events and activities going on in the museum on the exhibits page of the Higgins website.

The Higgins Armory Museum also offers courses and workshops in historical fencing and sword combat as part of their Academy of the Sword program. Sword-fighting enthusiasts and re-enactors who live on the West Coast (which is a bit far for commuting to the Higgins for lessons) might wish to join Chivalry Today’s Knight School Historical Sword Combat program on Friday evenings at San Diego’s Team Touche Fencing Center.

What Are You Doing This Summer (of Chivalry)?

Got big plans this summer? If you know of an event that would be of interest to Chivalry Today’s fans and podcast listeners – a Renaissance faire, a lecture or talk on medieval history, a screening of an independent movie with a fantasy theme, or any activity or event that relates to the ideals of chivalry — then share it with a post on the Chivalry Today Facebook Page.
Or, if you’ve been to an event or site that you want to share with everyone – a festival, battlefield, performance, town, or castle – post your vacation pictures or videos on the Facebook page for everyone to enjoy. Or, just post some thoughts on your summer reading list: What book(s) are you enjoying at the beach or park that are taking you away into a realm of chivalry? We want to know more about your Summer of Chivalry!

Coming Next Month in Summer of Chivalry Part 2

We’ll take a trip to the acclaimed Getty Museum in Los Angeles for an exhibition of medieval clothing and fashion, and a walk down the runway with a 14th century “clotheshorse”; and we’ll explore one of the most famous (and fatal) deeds of arms of the late Middle Ages as we prepare for a re-enactment of the Combat Of The Thirty in August in a field just north of Pittsburgh, Penn.

Related posts:

1. Summer Is Knight Time
2. Summer Of Chivalry Podcast: Part 2
3. Episode 26: Swords, Fighting Manuals and the Code of Chivalry

Fans of historically based television programming on the History, Discovery and National Geographic Channels will immediately recognize Loades from his many appearances as an expert commentator on a variety of shows. Perhaps just as recognizable as his face, however, is Loades’ eager and enthusiastic voice as an advocate of active, engaging historical studies. His philosophy is based on the premise that history can’t be truly understood from a distance – and Swords And Swordsmen is written in precisely this vein. The book straddles eras from Ancient Egypt during the rule of Tutankhamen (in 1336 B.C.) to the military careers of J.E.B. Stuart and Gen. Custer. Almost every chapter focuses on a sword representative of a specific historical era, using the weapon to delve deeply, and sometimes very personally, into the background of a historical figure who carried and used the blade (or, at the very least, who probably carried and used one much like it).

In this way, readers learn about figures as prominent as King Henry V, Oliver Cromwell and George Washington, but also meet some lesser-known characters like King Raedwald of the East Angles, Japanese warlord Uesugi Kenshin, and Hussar Lt. Henry Lane who fought in the Battle of Waterloo. In each case (and many more) Loades figuratively lays the reader’s hand on the hilt of the peculiar weapons carried by these notable (and in some cases, “notorious”) individuals, and brings to life the struggles, desires, triumphs, and ideals that informed their use of the sword.

Interesting as that is, however, the thing that truly sets Swords And Swordsmen apart from other military history surveys is Loades’ ability to reference his own experiences in the use of swords and the implementation of historical fighting techniques. What’s it like to stand in a Viking-age shield wall, steal through the night like a ninja, or lead a cavalry charge with sabre in hand? Loades provides first-hand accounts of such incidents, drawn from his own experiences as a fight coordinator, stunt man, and historical interpreter – and his up-close, practical applications of swords in battle (simulated battle, at least) helps to shatter some long-held myths about swords and the warriors who used them.

Yet this personalized view of historical weaponry is (to use the appropriate metaphor) a double-edged sword: Although it lends a sense of liveliness to Loades’ writing, it also lays out a tempting path to bypass documentable historical detail. Still, Loades generally does an admirable job of avoiding the “they must have done things like I did” assumption that, particularly in the lack of real historical evidence, can too often lead experimental historians astray.

But a sword is more than merely a lethal tool. Throughout Swords And Swordsmen, Loades’ individual perspective similarly lends a unique air of authenticity in discussing not just the technical details of historical weapons and tactics, but also the principles and ideals that lie behind the image of the sword as the symbol of a champion, a protector and a “knight in shining armor.” Recognizing how the chivarlric ideals have mutated throughout the ages, Loades infuses his study of the sword with observations of the sense of chivalry and honor that both inspired and were affected by (and, frankly, were just as often ridiculed or ignored by) figures such as Henry V, Emperor Maximilian, Shakespeare, Napoleon and J.E.B. Stuart (to name just a few).

From its earliest pages to its epilogue (which treats the sword in its modern incarnation from a 19th century dueling implement to the modern sport of fencing), Swords And Swordsmen makes it clear that no study of the design, function and symbolism of the sword can be entirely complete without an understanding of the code of chivalry, and vice-versa.

• Learn more about Mike Loades and his work as an experimental historian, fight arranger, director and author at his website, and on his Facebook page.
• Listen to Mike Loades interviewed by Chivalry Today Program Director Scott Farrell on Episode 48 of the Chivalry Today Podcast.

Below: Watch a segment from the BBC television program Weapons That Made Britain, featuring Mike Loades commentary on the swords of the Wars of the Roses and the decisive Battle of Barnet (1471).

Click here to view the embedded video.

Related posts:

1. Podcast 48: Chivalry And Swordsmen
2. Swing A Sword With Chivalry (Today!)
3. Episode 26: Swords, Fighting Manuals and the Code of Chivalry

The new book Martial Arts And Philosophy, published by Open Court Books as part of their Pop Culture And Philosophy series, uses the practices of martial arts like karate, judo and boxing to explore and illuminate many principles of philosophy. The book includes my very own chapter entitled Sir Aristotle and the Code of Chivalry, which examines the remarkable similarities between C.S. Lewis’s writings on the virtues of chivalry, and the system of virtue ethics described by Aristotle in his work The Nicomachean Ethics.

This review, reprinted from the blog Older Is Wiser, reminds us that the study of philosophy and the hard-punching, sword-swinging martial arts aren’t as far apart as you might think.

As this book shows, martial arts have benefits other than just being good in a fight

Martial arts and philosophy sound, at first, a strange mix. A bit like concrete and apples, perhaps, or squirrels and rockets. But as this book, edited by philosophers-cum-martial artists Damon Young and Graham Priest, shows, the two have a great deal in common. Not least, the fact they both still have a lot to offer our dumbed down, anti-intellectual world.

For example, did you know that Judo has a lot in common with utilitarianism? Or that the code of chivalry took its cues from ancient Greek thought? That fencing is the loneliest art because it is full of deception? Or that Nelson Mandela credits his self-discipline and virtue to what he learned in the boxing ring?

Some of the chapters – each by a writer with their own tale of fighting to tell – are great to read. For example, Patricia Petersen’s chapter, on martial arts and feminism, makes a strong case for both. (Even though karate, like feminism, is seen as dreadfully 1970s in some circles.)

Then there is Gillian Russell’s gleefully thorough hatchet job on the martial arts’ worst delusions. Mocking all those styles that claim to give the student magic powers and all that blind obedience to ‘masters’, it stands out as a call for reason over today’s new age wishful thinking.

And Scott Farrell’s defence of western swordplay and knightly values is well argued, but also fun to read, as you would expect from someone who wears chain mail in his spare time.

It helps that the book dodges the dry tone of some academic texts. Instead, it is clear and readable to those who are neither black belts nor who strictly know who Wittgenstein was. This is in fact the book’s great strength. The layman really can pick it up, learn something new and enjoy it into the bargain.

True, some of the authors have arguments that will make you curse. In the end, fighting is fighting, and you do have to wonder whether punching people in the face can make you a better person, for all what some of the chapters say.

Yet that’s the point. You’re not meant to agree with all the book says. You’re meant to come up with your own arguments, find out things for yourself and, of course, disagree when you want to.

What the book proves is that good philosophy and martial arts do in fact have a lot in common. Both embody a sort of structured conflict, and both – at their best – put great stead in testing your beliefs and not taking nonsense at face value.

The book is also timely. In the wake of the Browne report, which recast universities as engines of the economy with barely a mention for the humanities, Martial Arts And Philosophy serves as a sort of riposte. It shows us that philosophy, and martial arts, still have much to offer us.

Related posts:

1. Chivalry, Aristotle, CS Lewis & Martial Arts
2. Podcast 46: Philosophy of Martial Arts and Chivalry
3. Fists, Swords And Philosophy

Mindless killers – that’s a phrase that has been used by more than a few historians to describe medieval knights, those supposed practitioners of the code of chivalry. But the fact is, while “killers” maybe mindless, real soldiers (that is, those devoted to mastering any sort of martial art) need to be very mindful of what they’re doing. Remember, medieval knights were encouraged to spend many hours in quiet, reflective prayer (a practice that many took very seriously), just as samurai and other warriors of Oriental cultures practiced forms of “mind focusing” meditation.

The fact is, studying a martial sport – whether it’s karate or kendo, collegiate fencing or the new trend in “Western martial arts” – requires a more serious and different kind of focus than other sports. This isn’t to say football, tennis or rugby don’t require mental discipline, but in recreational sports like those, you aren’t working with equipment and techniques that are actually intended to cause physical harm. (At least, no tennis player I’ve ever spoken to has been taught to parry and riposte with a racquet.)

Martial arts, on the other hand, demand a unique sense of control on both a physical and mental level. If you’re practicing joint locks or sword thrusts, you must be in control of both body and mind in order to avoid doing harm to a friendly sparring partner – while at the same time understanding how to employ those techniques to full effect if necessary.

This is why so many martial arts philosophies – including the code of chivalry – place such emphasis on anger control, and mental tranquility as a response to pain, fear or aggression. Viewed through the lens of philosophy, martial arts become not a test of skill with fists and swords, but a mental sparring match with an inner opponent – the out-of-control mind. If you can “keep your cool” while someone is trying to punch, throw or stab you … then you can face just about any adversity life can throw at you with ease.

The new book Martial Arts And Philosophy takes a serious look at the moral, ethical and social principles that go into the practice of combative sports and skills - including Scott Farrell's chapter on the philosophy of chivalry.

Of course, there’s much more to the combination of fighting and philosophy than this – as demonstrated in the recently published book Martial Arts And Philosophy from Open Court Books. The book is a marvelous exploration of the age-old, culturally transcendent struggle to meld combative arts with systems of philosophy and morality ranging from Plato and Descartes to Zen Buddhism and the code of chivalry. (The book includes my own chapter Sir Aristotle And The Code Of Chivalry.)

Martial Arts And Philosophy reminds us that, despite appearances, martial arts are solitary activities – they allow us to confront our own foibles and shortcomings, if we have the courage to do so. It reminds us that the reason we bow to, or salute an opponent before a training or sparring session is not out of some misplaced sense of sportsmanship – it’s because the person across the arena, the one who’s about to attack you with everything they’ve got, is giving you a chance to become a better person.

And that’s the ultimate goal of any philosophy, no matter how many bumps and bruises it takes to get there.

Check this out: Recently the United States Marine Corps has implemented a meditation program for its soldiers. The Corps says that studies have shown that even just a few minutes of quiet mindfulness each day can help soldiers improve “mental clarity, problem-solving skills and emotional control.” The techniques of martial arts and philosophy are still benefiting these modern-day knights in shining armor.

Chivalry Today is taking on the Martial Arts

You can join the Chivalry Today “Knight School” Western Martial Arts Workshop (for youth and adults) being held at San Diego’s acclaimed Team Touche Fencing Center. These workshops are held regularly, based on student interest and registration, so contact Team Touche if you’re interested in discovering the ideals and values of chivalry through the techniques of medieval sword combat.

The next series of Knight School Western Martial Arts Workshops begins mid-November, 2010 — sign up now to reserve your place!

Related posts:

1. Squirrels And Rockets? “Martial Arts And Philosophy” Reviewed
2. Chivalry, Aristotle, CS Lewis & Martial Arts
3. Podcast 46: Philosophy of Martial Arts and Chivalry

Martial Arts and Philosophy contains a chapter on chivalry and martial arts by Scott Farrell.

So, Aristotle, C.S. Lewis and Bruce Lee decide to go to a jousting match …
Sounds like the beginning of a very strange joke, doesn’t it? But the fact is, that could well be the premise for one of the chapters in the forthcoming book, Martial Arts and Philosophy, which will be published by Open Court Press as part of its extremely popular Pop Culture and Philosophy series. The chapter, entitled Sir Aristotle And The Code Of Chivalry, uses the practice of Western martial arts – the “schools of defense” taught in medieval Europe – as a means of exploring the philosophy of chivalry and seeing how it compares with Aristotle’s virtue ethics and the spiritual doctrines of C.S. Lewis. The chapter will stand alongside several that use traditional Eastern martial arts, like karate, kung fu and ju-jitsu, as a means of exploring other aspects of philosophy.
If you’re a regular listener of the Chivalry Today Podcast, you may already be a fan of the Pop Culture and Philosophy series. In Episode 24, host Scott Farrell talked with Prof. Gary Hardcastle, editor of the volume Monty Python and Philosophy about how the iconic movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail reflects modern notions of the code of chivalry.
Martial Arts And Philosophy is edited by acclaimed philosopher Damon Young, himself an avid martial artist and author of the blog Darkly Wise, Rudely Great – Prof. Young’s piece The Strength of Civility also appears on the Chivalry Today website. We’re looking forward to having Prof. as an interview guest on the Podcast in Season Five, so listeners can enjoy hearing him and Scott compare notes on chivalry, martial arts and the larger topic of philosophy. Until then, we hope you’ll take the opportunity to pre-order Martial Arts and Philosophy today!

Related posts:

1. Squirrels And Rockets? “Martial Arts And Philosophy” Reviewed
2. Podcast 46: Philosophy of Martial Arts and Chivalry
3. Fists, Swords And Philosophy

Quicklinks — Learn more about the books and programs featured in this podcast episode by using the following links:
• Robin Hood: A Mythic Biography by Prof. Stephen Knight;
• Warrior Wisdom: The Warrior’s Path by Dr. Bohdi Sanders and Loren Christensen
• Along The Enchanted Way from Glancing Love

Help support the Chivalry Today podcast

Your contribution of any amount makes the Chivalry Today Podcast possible, and helps make Chivalry Today presentations available to schools, libraries and youth groups as part of our ongoing educational outreach program.

If you enjoy our podcast offerings, please take a moment to help keep them coming.

Segment 1: Women Exercise Their Chivalry

Does a woman have to be a powerless spectator to live by the customs of chivalry? The advice website Ask Men offered some suggestions as to how women can be chivalrous (and still ladylike) in the age of gender equality:
• Is Chivalry Still Alive? (And if so, do women play a part in it in today’s society?)
• Guys, see how you rate with Ask Men’s Top 10 Gentlemanly Gestures.

Segment 2: Robin Hood And Chivalry

Robin Hood is one of the most enduring legends of the Middle Ages, and these stories have evolved throughout the centuries to reflect the changing ideals of society. Prof. Stephen Knight joins Scott to talk about Robin Hood, from the first written legends of the 14th century, to the new movie version of the story (directed by Ridley Scott) which will give audiences a first depiction of the “hero-outlaw” in the post 9/11 world.

• Buy Robin Hood: A Mythic Biography by Prof. Stephen Knight;
• Read Prof. Knight’s translation (with Thomas Ohlgren) of one of the earliest Robin Hood tales, Robin Hood and the Potter, originally published in Robin Hood and Other Outlaw Tales;
• The Robin Hood Project (hosted by the Univ. of Rochester) presents many original texts of Robin Hood literature, from the Middle Ages to the 20th century;
• Allan Wright’s website Bold Outlaw offers many interviews and articles by Robin Hood specialists, including a photo gallery of the real Sherwood Forest, an interview with Prof. Stephen Knight, and a Beginner’s Guide to Robin Hood;
• Visit the website of Robin Hood The Movie with more details about the film, cast and crew;
• Below: Watch the trailer for Robin Hood, which opens in the U.S. on May 14, 2010.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Segment 3: Chivalry In Warrior Wisdom

• Buy The Warrior’s Path, the third and final installment in the Warrior Wisdom series by martial arts instructor Dr. Bohdi Sanders;
• Read more thoughts on chivalry and honor in Dr. Sanders’ blog, The Wisdom Warrior;
• Learn more about Dr. Sanders’ background and experience in the martial arts;
• Below, watch Bohdi Sanders video, Meditation on Wisdom.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Segment 4: The Music of Glancing Love

Learn more about the Gypsy/Celtic Renaissance duo Glancing Love at their website – plus, enter our drawing to win a free download of their latest album, Along The Enchanted Way, in Chivalry Today’s Listener Challenge for May.

Next Month on Episode 42: Scott talks with Prof. Philip Adamo, director of the Medieval Minnesota program at Augusburg College where high school students get to spend a week in the Middle Ages; plus, a conversation with William Gurstelle about “the art of living dangerously” and the craft of catapult building.

Related posts:

1. Podcast 40: Scouting With Chivalry
2. Chivalry and the Warrior Lifestyle
3. Podcast 37: Explorations Of Chivalry

Whatever the case, we know how difficult it can be to find that just-right gift for the chivalry enthusiast … and how heartwarming it is to see that look of joy and delight on the face of a loved one when they unwrap the perfect present (and they were expecting nothing but another lame gift card!).

So, for all of our friends, we provide the following holiday shopping guide – Chivalry Today style. Below, you’ll find some of the latest books, DVDs, CDs and other items sure to appeal to “knights and chivalry” enthusiasts … all broken down into relevant categories, because interest in chivalry can span a broad range of ages and subjects (as anyone who’s visited our website or listened to our podcast knows).

Click the following links to find gift guides filled with some of the latest and most popular items (and some old favorites as well) in these categories:

• Young Readers: Picture books and read-aloud stories for blossoming readers;
• Young Adult Readers: Books for middle-graders and teens (with enough depth and historical detail to appeal to adults as well);
• Arthurian Novels: Fiction drawn from current research into the history of the legends of King Arthur;
• Medieval Novels: Stories full of rich characters and historical details that bring the Age of Chivalry to life;
• Studies In Knighthood: Information on knights, medieval warfare and the authentic values of chivalry;
• Medieval Martial Arts: Authentic sword fighting and hand-to-hand combat techniques drawn from medieval manuals and interpreted by today’s leading scholars;
• Chivalrous Philosophy and Living: Timeless principles for honorable living, leadership, parenting and relationships in concert with the code of chivalry;
• Sounds Of A Medieval Christmas: Songs and music from medieval Christmas festivals and midwinter holy days.
• A Few Little Extras: Fun surprises that anyone with an interest in knights would enjoy!

Young Readers

The following four wonderful picture books make a great way to introduce the youngest readers to the colorful legends of King Arthur and the characters of Camelot.

• Merlin and the Dragons
• Young Arthur
• Young Guinevere
• Tales of King Arthur and the Round Table

Knight: A Noble Guide for Young Squires This pop-up book has so much great historical detail, it’s like taking a trip to the Middle Ages, no matter what age you are. (Learn more: Hear an interview with author Dugald Steer on Episode 25 of the Chivalry Today Podcast.)

Castle Diary A rousing diary of a year inside a medieval castle – through the eyes and words of a knight-in-training.

How Sir James Won His Armor Follow the life of a young squire as he grows into his armor – and his role as a knight.

Igraine the Brave A marvelously inventive story about a girl who becomes a knight to save her family and their magical library of singing books.

Young Adult Readers

Song of the Sparrow An updated version of the story of the Lady of Shalott in an authentic Arthurian setting. (Learn more: Hear an interview with Lisa Ann Sandell, author of Song of the Sparrow, on Episode 36 of the Chivalry Today Podcast.)

The Seeing Stone (Arthur Trilogy, Book One) An imaginative blending of Arthurian fantasy and medieval history in the story of a boy struggling to find his place in the world of 12th century England.

Here Lies Arthur A retelling of the story of King Arthur through the eyes of the characters who helped transform a simple warrior into a heroic legend.

The Sea of Trolls In the 8th century, a boy must go on a quest into the realm of Viking legends to learn his true identity.

Sisters of the Sword Two girls must learn the ways of the samurai in feudal Japan to protect their family honor – a great way of discovering the parallels between medieval knights and Japanese samurai, and the respective codes they lived (and died) by.

Princess Ben A story that turns the typical elements of the “medieval fairy tale” on their head as a girl learns to play the part of a demure princess by day and daring warrior by night in order to protect the kingdom she loves.

Adventures with King Arthur

Gwenhwyfar: The White Spirit (A Novel of King Arthur) A story of the challenges and sacrifices made by the woman who would become Arthur’s queen, by popular fantasy novelist Mercedes Lackey.

The Winter King A historically based retelling of the life of Arthur by acclaimed novelist Bernard Cornwell.

The Firebrand (The House of Pendragon, Book 1) King Arthur’s daughter battles Modred and continues the heroic tradition of her forbears after the Battle of Camlann.

Medieval Novels

Mystery writer Jeri Westerson takes a private eye story into the 14th century with her series featuring detective Crispin Guest, a disgraced knight seeking truth and redemption. (Learn more: An interview with author Jeri Westerson on Episode 16 of the Chivalry Today Podcast.)

• Veil of Lies
• Serpent in the Thorns

Azincourt A rousing account by Bernard Cornwell of the events and personalities that lead up to one of the most famous battles in medieval history.

The Wolf Hunt Gillian Bradshaw’s vividly detailed retelling of the medieval legend of the Bisclavaret – a 13th century werewolf tale.

World Without End Ken Follett’s brilliant account of life, love and ambition in the medieval world. (Learn more: Read a review of World Without End at Chivalry Today.)

The intriguing new series of mystery novels featuring the enigmatic Knights Templar in the time of the Crusades.

• The Alehouse Murders (Templar Knight Mysteries, No. 1)
• Death of a Squire (No. 2)
• Murder for Christ’s Mass

Studies in Knighthood and Chivalry

Holy Warriors A look at the often overlooked religious aspects of the ideals of chivalry, and how this warrior’s code became merged with the peaceful ideology of Christianity. (Learn more: Prof. Kaueper will be the interview guest on the Feb. 2010 edition of the Chivalry Today Podcast – be sure to listen in.)

A Knight’s Own Book of Chivalry An engaging translation of the Book of Knighthood of Geoffroi de Charny – an explanation of chivalry in the words of a knight of the 14th century.

Special Operations in the Age of Chivalry Tactical explorations of military operations in the Middle Ages beyond the usual tactical examinations of set-piece battles.

From Chivalry To Terrorism A look at the changing image of masculinity from the Ancient world to the 21st century, including the influences of chivalry in many eras. (Learn more: Read an excerpt on True Nobility from From Chivalry To Terrorism on Chivalry Today.)

Agincourt: Henry V and the Battle That Made England The latest scholarship into the shifting understanding of this iconic encounter from one of today’s most respected medieval historians.

Warriors: Season One A look at the weapons, tactics and values of warriors from nearly every culture and historical period on the planet, including several episodes of knights and medieval combat – hosted by Special Forces officer Terry Schappert.

History Channel Presents The Crusades A look at the Crusades and their influence on history and the image of knighthood.

The History Of Warfare series examines many important military encounters, including these episodes set in the Middle Ages – excellent narration distinguishes these productions, including several featuring the voice of Brian Blessed.

• Agincourt
• Hastings
• Viking Wars
• Stirling Bridge
• Bannockburn

Medieval Martial Arts

The Art of Medieval Swordsmanship A translation of the earliest illustrated manual of medieval hand-to-hand combat by Prof. Jeffrey Foregeng of the Higgins Armory. (Learn more: Hear an interview with Prof. Forgeng on Episode 26 of the Chivalry Today Podcast.)

These two translations of manuals of medieval sword combat provide authentic illustrations and descriptions of swordfighting from the masters of the period.

• Medieval Combat of Hans Talhoffer
• Codex Wallerstein

The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe An overview of the practices and symbolism of martial arts in the Middle Ages by Prof. Sydney Anglo of the University of Wales.

Fighting with the German Longsword A practical interpretation of medieval fighting techniques, based on studies of period manuals, accompanied by outstanding photography.

Reclaiming The Blade An acclaimed documentary detailing recent interest and scholarship into medieval martial arts and how they affect the image of swords, knights and heroes in today’s media. (Learn more: Hear an interview with Daniel McNicoll, director of Reclaiming The Blade, in Episode 30 of the Chivalry Today Podcast.)

Chivalrous Philosophy and Living

Batman and Philosophy: The Dark Knight of the Soul There is perhaps no more iconic image of the “knight” in modern literature and media than Batman – this book explores the ethical and philosophical elements of the tales of the Dark Knight and sheds light on how chivalry shapes the image of the hero in a world of moral ambiguity.

Choosing Civility Kindness, consideration and patience are hard to come by in today’s world – this bestselling book explains how and why these qualities can be restored in modern society. (Learn more: Listen to an interview with Prof. PM Forni, author of Choosing Civility, on Episode 33 of the Chivalry Today Podcast.)

The Right Thing: Conscience, Profit and Personal Responsibility in Today’s Business How do business leaders include a sense of ethics and honor into the corporate climate? This book explores the balance of competitiveness and conscience – a dichotomy that is at the heart of chivalry as a principle for ethical leadership.

Highest Duty: My Search For What Really Matters Few people would argue that Capt. Chesley Sullenberger is an example of a modern “knight in shining armor.” His thoughts on living a life of value provide tangible proof that chivalry still matters today.

The Narcissism Epidemic An investigation into the “me first” culture of today’s world, with a subjective understanding of the social importance of humility. (Learn more: Prof. W. Keith Campbell, co-author of The Narcissism Epidemic, will be an interview guest on the Jan. 2010 edition of the Chivalry Today Podcast – be sure to listen!)

Be the Pack Leader “Dog whisperer” Cesar Millan gives some thoughts about leadership and the surprisingly chivalrous ideals that go into pack mentality (Read Chivalry Goes To The Dogs, an excerpt from Cesar Millan’s book.)

Warrior Wisdom: Ageless Wisdom for the Modern Warrior Acclaimed martial artist Bohdi Sanders explores the universal elements of duty, restraint and responsibility that are the foundations of every warrior’s code.

Partly Cloudy: Ethics in War Prof. David L. Perry gives a frank and insightful examination on the changing face of global conflict and the principles of just and ethical military policy that are founded on the code of chivalry. (Read Chivalry And Humanity, an article by Prof. David Perry, on the Chivalry Today website.)

Raising Unselfish Children In A Self-Absorbed World A new look at how parents can instill a sense of service and responsibility – and the happiness and satisfaction that go with them – in their children.

Raising A Modern-Day Knight A guide for building a life-long sense of honor and respect in today’s children, based on the images and values of knighthood.

Sounds Of A Medieval Christmas

Medieval holiday festivals had a sound all their own. If you’re longing for something more traditional than the usual strains of Rudolph, Frosty and Silver Bells, check out these CDs and downloads that will help you celebrate Christmas like it’s 1199!

• Thys Yool CD and Download
• On Yoolis Night CD and Download
• Ancient Noels Download

A Few Little Extras

The Art of the Catapult Everything you need to craft a backyard siege engine – catapult, ballista or trebuchet. (Learn more: William Gurstelle, author of The Art of the Catapult, will be an interview guest on the June 2010 edition of the Chivalry Today Podcast. Be sure to listen!)

Castle Book and DVD Explore the design, building and defense of a medieval castle through the delightful artwork of David Macaulay.

Nova: Medieval Siege See the building of two full-size medieval war engines as part of Nova’s acclaimed “Secrets of the Ancient World” series.

Spamalot Soundtrack Toe-tapping tunes from the latest Broadway spectacular featuring King Arthur and his (very silly!) kn-nik-its!

Caracassonne This fun-for-the-whole-family tabletop game lets you explore the medieval world as you manage your own monasteries, cities, forests and roadways, planting crops and protecting the villagers against outlaws.

Happy (and Chivalrous!) Holidays from Chivalry Today.

No matter what holiday you celebrate this season, we here at Chivalry Today wish you joy and happiness, and thank you for helping us keep chivalry alive and well.

Related posts:

1. My Approach to Chivalry Today
2. School History Festival & Chivalry Today
3. Chivalry Today: You Made This Possible!

And now, fans of the Arthurian lore have another interpretation of the legends to consider: the series Merlin, which is airing on NBC Sunday nights. This show turns its focus backwards, exploring the “origin story” of Arthur (the young prince), Merlin (the budding wizard) and many of the other familiar characters in their formative years.

There are plenty of overviews and reviews of NBC’s Merlin on the web (including in The New York Times and the Boston Globe), so there’s no need to rehash the basic details of the premise here. More to the point might be some insight into how the concept of chivalry is treated in this series, and what the message of Merlin is for today’s world.

On one hand, Merlin falls into the realm of Arthurian stories founded on the premise that knights, quests, jousting and castles have to be “kid’s stuff.” As many reviewers have pointed out, the writing, acting and production of Merlin seems better suited for a Saturday morning adventure than for a prime-time network historical drama. Don’t look for any nuanced characterizations of heroes in the making, or subtle explorations of the challenges of following a code of honor (much less developing and establishing such a code – which could have been an intriguing subject in an “origin” story).

By making the world of Camelot a place of simplistic storylines and campy dialogue, perhaps Merlin is a not-too-flattering reflection of ethics in today’s society: Where children are taught to “play nice,” “be fair” and “do the right thing,” then turned loose in a world where those kinds of ideals are largely considered impediments to success. We might think of Merlin, on some level, as a cautionary reminder that in today’s world, decency, honor and chivalry are too often treated as “childish fantasies.”

On the other hand, perhaps the contemporary lesson of Merlin’s King Arthur can be found more in what isn’t there than in what is. For instance, don’t look for any foreshadowing of the sword in the stone in this tale — Arthur is already the acknowledged (and entitled) prince and heir of the realm. There won’t be any need for him to draw a magical sword to prove he’s next in line to be king.

Similarly, don’t expect Arthur’s prospective bride to be portrayed as a princess. Although Guenevere is traditionally characterized as the daughter of King Leodagrance, whose marriage to Arthur brings peace to the fractured realm (and, incidentally, a large, circular table to the halls of Camelot), in this version Gwen is a scullery maid to Morganna and daughter of a humble town blacksmith.

And along with the traditional story elements, another thing that seems to be missing in Merlin is a recognition of moral absolutes. In the course of the first few episodes, Merlin is told repeatedly: “There is no right and wrong, only what is.” (Another way of saying, “The ends justify the means.”) Is this most recent adaptation of the King Arthur legend a story that has been stripped of its foundational elements, thus reflecting a world at risk of being robbed of its core principles as well?

Ironically, there is one element of the traditional Arthurian storyline that does remain in Merlin: Beneath the palace of King Uther Pendragon, there is a cavern where “the great dragon” is imprisoned. (In the usual telling of the story, a pair of dragons resides beneath Uther’s tower, and their struggles cause an earthquake that topples the fortress — Merlin himself reveals the presence of these dragons to King Uther.)

In Merlin, when Merlin need advice and guidance, it is not to his mentor, Gaius the physician, he turns, but rather to this captive monster in its subterranean dungeon, last of the wise and powerful race of dragons that Uther exterminated by royal decree. Is this a subtle depiction of a society in which untrustworthy leaders have abandoned their sense of chivalry and honor in favor of tyranny and brute force? Where a young generation must grope in the darkness for tidbits of wisdom as their role models operate with little regard for the constraints of “right and wrong”? Where chivalry lies chained underground while amoral and self-centered rulers are given free rein in the sunlit world above?

Of course, this maybe focusing far too much philosophical analysis on a lighthearted action show. But if the legends of Camelot reflect cultural identity, then it seems the metaphor deserves consideration at least.

Only time will tell if Merlin has the depth to become a generational portrayal of the lore and ideals of Arthurian legend, or serves merely as a fun and campy (but ultimately forgettable) romp into the world of Camelot. But at least for now, anyone who enjoys the legends of chivalry, whether deeply thought or lighthearted, can enjoy a little touch of Arthur on Sunday nights.

Below: Anthony Head, who plays King Uther Pendragon in Merlin, talks about his role and the approach of the series.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Related posts:

1. A Taxing King Arthur Parabel
2. Episode 9: Finding Camelot With Chivalry Today
3. King Arthur By The Book

Fans of historical novels often cite Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth as a classic portrayal of the Middle Ages. Follett recently published an eagerly awaited sequel to that book, World Without End, which delved even deeper into medieval culture.

Journalist Chris Waddle wrote an excellent review of Follett’s latest medieval romp. And while his review has nothing directly to do with “chivalry,” it does provide some interesting food for thought about the similarities between the medieval world and the 21st century.

But there is a connection: Critics often say that chivalry has no relevance in today’s world; that it was an idealistic concept, born in a time of violence, superstition and repression, which is best left on the pages of history. But as Waddle discovered, while the Middle Ages was a violent, superstitious and corrupt time, it was not as different from modern society as we’d like to think. Peering back into the world of the 14th century, we find some very familiar institutions, challenges and attitudes looking back.

How can we think chivalry is irrelevant in a time that is so reminiscent, in so many ways, of the era which gave rise to the principle of chivalry in the first place?

Book Review: World Without End by Ken Follett

There’s something about the Middle Ages.

Think about our time. Think about their time. You can recognize the people, know them, feel with them.

The peopling inside the literary construction of World Without End» , though, is not done with your neat beginning-middle-end storyline. The plot sprawls from England to the Battle of Crecy to Florence and back via Avignon, Chartres and Paris.

Ken Follett is an international writer of modern suspense thriller-dillers. Except when he isn’t.

His previous exception is the renowned Pillars of the Earth» . That epic sends a wonder-of-the-age cathedral soaring skyward in countryside England during the 12th century, because a prior and his monastery peer wonderfully out from medieval gloom.

Religious and most other institutions two centuries later lose the light or can’t yet find their way forward in this sequel.

But a hodgepodge of children in the World grow up around a secret and come into their own by their mature years, each in his or her own way. Well, some do fall by the wayside.

The characters remind you of the All Saints’ Day hymn brightening this time of year:

“I sing a song of the saints of God … and one was a doctor, and one was a queen, and one was a shepherdess on the green … and one was a soldier, and one was a priest, and one was slain by a fierce wild beast … for the saints of God are just folk like me, and I mean to be one too.”

Can’t identify with the 14th century? Picture yourself in a Brueghel painting. You see a familiar populated-landscape, not a distant portrait.

Fall in line with Chaucer’s pilgrims marching off to Canterbury. You’ll know the way figuratively.

Or share stories while hiding from the plague with Boccaccio’s characters in The Decameron. Even the ribaldry will seem familiar.

Expect to compare the economic threat of our time, the lack of confidence in government and the demand for creative self-reliance.

Examine the peril of infants, the challenges of childhood and the sometime brutishness of old age.

Notice both eras are super-religious and steadfastly profane at the same time. Churches ever seek reformation while the irreligious constantly stimulate a renascence in art, science and trade.

We hold in common our foreign wars, more appealing to heads of state than to us plain folk. Then and now, government can grow overbearing.

And there’s the Black Death, the great antagonist in World Without End. We have AIDS but also cancer, heart disease and diabetes — more pronounced because of our life span and life habit.

Technology sets us apart from our ancestors, not our daily and mortal lives. Even so the engineering solutions in the cathedral town of Follett’s Knightsbridge inspire us.

At its length this is a lifestyle more than a book. So it should be.

We’re not reading about a distant time, a distant place, a distant folk. We’re experiencing ourselves through a novel.

So easily could we be medieval.

© 2008 Chris Waddle

About the author: Chris Waddle is director of the Knight Fellows in Community Journalism and president of the Ayers Family Institute for Community Journalism. You can read more of his writing at his blog OneJournalist.

Related posts:

1. C.S. Lewis: A Pioneer of Chivalry Today
2. Chivalry in Timeline – A Behind-the-Scenes Look
3. Chivalry, Terrorism and Knights in Shining Armor at Ground Zero

In movies and literature, the vampire and the knight in shining armor might seem like polar opposites. The knight is a bright, shining champion, while the vampire is a dark, dreadful monster. But take a closer look — today vampires are immensely popular, and like the brutal Gothic warriors of the Dark Ages, the character of the vampire is undergoing a transformation. The current breed of vampire, from Angel (the “vampire with a soul” from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) to Edward Cullen and the vampire clan made famous in the book Twilight (the poster from the movie release is pictured below), vampires are being infused with new life for a new generation.

In today’s stories, vampires still drink blood, avoid sunlight and have mystical powers — but they also struggle to redeem themselves for evils of the past, use their powers to protect the weaker mortals in the world around them, and abstain from their famous lust for blood in favor of unconsummated romance. Strength, duty, sacrifice, restraint … In short, these vampires are acting an awful lot like knights in shining armor.

This tendency hasn’t escaped literary critics like NPR reporter Lynn Neary, who recently commented on the latest trend in chivalry in the world of “those who walk the night.”

Today’s Vampires Cast Reflections of Chivalry

A new generation of vampire heroes has stepped out of the moonlight and into the cultural spotlight — dominating best-seller lists, movies and TV with its dangerous mystique. The modern-day vampire gentleman is eerily alluring in all the old-fashioned, bloodsucking ways, but now he reins in his baser instincts in an impressive display of control.

There have been hundreds of depictions of vampires over the years, but Bela Lugosi in the 1931 film Dracula still defines the role. Lugosi leaned over his pretty female victims without remorse and — without the aid of special effects, blood or fangs — managed to be really, really creepy.

Eric Nuzum, author of The Dead Travel Fast,» says vampires have been around in one form or another since ancient times. And while vampires cannot see their own reflections in the mirror, they are a perfect reflection of the culture that creates them.

“You look at vampires from any given era and you see what they thought was frightening,” Nuzum says. “You see what they thought was sexy, and what they thought was forbidden.”

The Southern Gentleman Vampire

The latest craze is the romantic — or even chivalrous — vampire. In HBO’s True Blood» series, vampires prowl openly through small-town America and even campaign for their civil rights.

Sookie, a young, pretty waitress, falls for a vampire named Bill, and, just like any young woman, her interest only intensifies when her friends object to her new crush:

“You don’t know how many people he’s sucked the blood out of,” Sookie’s friend warns.

True Blood is based on Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampires book series. Harris creates a fictional world inhabited by good and bad vampires alike. She constructs Bill as a genteel vampire who protects Sookie from the worst of his kind — even as he tries to reign in his own baser instincts.

Harris says Bill’s restraint makes him all the more alluring: “I could rip you limb from limb, but because I think you’re so great, I’m going to be very, very careful. That’s got to be kind of intoxicating,” she says.

Abstinence Only?

Edward, the hero of Stephenie Meyers’ Twilight » series, has stolen the hearts of “tween” girls everywhere. Fans of this conscientious young vampire live vicariously through his romance with Bella, his high school sweetheart.

Edward and his clan refuse to feed off humans, and Meyer explains that this choice is what makes him so popular.

“These are vampires,” Meyer says. “They are these creatures who exist to hunt humans. They are evil and they choose something different. They find another way. And I think kids respond to the idea that it doesn’t matter where I am in life; I always have a choice.”

Nina Auerbach, author of Our Vampires, Ourselves» , believes every age gets the vampire it wants.

“Vampires aren’t supposed to be restrained,” Auerbach says. “They’re all our hungers. That’s why they’re vampires.”

In the 1960s and ’70s, she says, vampires took young women away from their narrow lives and transformed them. But when AIDS came onto the scene, even the fictional prospect of uninhibited bloodsucking fell out of favor. Though Auerbach says this is completely understandable, she finds this latest crop of vampires kind of … boring .

“These are very abstinent vampires,” Auerbach says. “If he truly loves you, he will not do it to you.”

Whether they terrify, entrance or court their victims, vampires are always on the prowl. Waiting for that moment when the moon comes out, and the cultural spotlight shines on them again.

© 2008 Lynn Neary

About the author: Lynn Neary reports on books and publishing for the Cultural Desk at NPR. This piece is a transcript of a report that originally appeared in the October 31, 2008 broadcast of All Things Considered.

No related posts.

I’m often asked for recommendations of books about chivalry and the epic adventures of King Arthur and his knights. While I enjoy talking about my favorite King Arthur books, when I saw that acclaimed librarian Nancy Pearl provided just such a list in her bibliophile’s compendium, Book Lust,» I knew I had to share her recommendations with Chivalry Today readers. (After all, when a librarian has her own action figure – complete with “amazing push-button shushing action,” — she definitely commands respect!) It’s the perfect summer reading list for chivalry fans.

Note: See all the titles mentioned in this article at the Chivalry Today Bookshop»

Summer Reading for the Round Table

Ever since Thomas Malory wrote his 14th century epic Le Morte d’Arthur,» the legend of King Arthur has been a powerful draw for readers of all ages, so it’s no surprise that writers, too, have found it to be a rich lode of inspiration and subject matter. Authors have taken a wide variety of approaches to the legend, from the traditional view of Arthur and his (Knights) of the Round Table as exemplars of medieval life and chivalric customs, to interpretations of the historical Arthur, to fantastical novels of witchcraft and white and black magic. In other words, there’s an Arthur for every age and taste.

Once you read Rosemary Sutcliff’s romantic and well-researched Sword at Sunset» (one of my very favorite novels), in which an all-too-human Arthur leads his fellow Britons in a fight to the death against the invading Saxon armies, knowing full well that a loss will mean the coming of the dark and the end of civilization, you’ll never be able to picture Arthur in any other way.

T.H. White’s quartet of Arthurian novels, collective entitled The Once and Future King,» inspired the Broadway musical Camelot. The Sword in the Stone — aimed at young readers and filled with sly humor — opens the series. It introduces the young orphan Wart, who innocently pulls the famous sword Excalibur from the stone in a churchyard and becomes the High King. In The Queen of Air and Darkness, The Ill-Made Knight, and The Candle In The Wind, the tone grows darker, as White depicts a world in which even the most chivalrous knights and powerful wizards are unable to change their fates.

The Arthur legend is also the basis for other historical series, such as Jack Whyte’s Camulod Chronicles, including The Skystone» ; The Fort at River’s Bend» ; Uther» ; and others; Sharan Newman’s Guinevere» ; The Chessboard Quee» ; and others; and Rosalind Mile’s Guenevere: Queen of the Summer Country» ; and Bernard Conrwell’s darkly realistic series of men at war during the Dark Ages, The Warlord Chronicles, including The Winter King» ; Enemy of God» ; and Excalibur» .

The Mists of Avalon» by Marion Zimmer Bradley is one of the most enduringly popular novels about King Arthur. Bradley retells the legend from the viewpoint of the major female characters: Arthur’s mother Igraine and his half-sister Morgaine, his wife Gwenhwyfer, and the Lady of the Lake, Vivian. The central conflict here is religious — between the matriarchal Druidic beliefs and the more patriarchal, newly influential Christianity.

Although Stephen R. Lawhead’s Pendragon Cycle was set in Camelot during the Middle Ages, his Avalon: The Return of King Arthur» posits a rebirth and return of Arthur in the modern world.

©2007 Nancy Pearl

See all the titles mentioned in this article at the Chivalry Today Bookshop»

About the Author: The New York Times calls Nancy Pearl “the talk of librarian circles.” Readers can’t get enough of her recommendations while bookstores and libraries offer standing room only whenever she visits. Since the release of the best-selling Book Lust,» in 2003 and the Librarian Action Figure modeled in her likeness, Nancy Pearl has become a rock star among readers and the tastemaker people turn to when deciding what to read next. In 2004, Pearl became the 50th winner of the Women’s National Book Association Award for her extraordinary contribution to the world of books.

Related posts:

1. Episode 22: Zombies, Time Travelers and King Arthur
2. Recommended Knight Reading: Books about Chivalry for the Younger Set
3. Episode 9: Finding Camelot With Chivalry Today

For decades, students of history and students of literature didn’t have much interaction — the two fields were taught and studied independently. Then, during the 1960s and ’70s, educators began to realize that both concepts had to be viewed together in order to be thoroughly understood: Literature reflects its culture, and culture is influenced by great literature.

One of the most notable books to come from this new scholastic viewpoint was Chaucer’s Knight: The Portrait of a Medieval Mercenary by Terry Jones, the former Monty Python comic and respected historian. The book was originally published in 1980 (sadly, it’s now out of print, although it is still available in libraries and through used book sellers), and it shook up the usually quiet world of Chaucerian literature by theorizing that the “perfect gentle knight” of The Canterbury Tales» was actually a brutal, hardened killer.

How did Jones reach this conclusion? By examining the factual details of medieval life (everything from military history to 14th century fashion) and interpreting Chaucer’s description of the Knight through that filter. In doing this, Jones determined that Chaucer is describing the institution of knighthood in a manner that’s full of irony and sarcasm, not in the reverent, awestruck tone that comes across on the surface of Chaucer’s verse.

Jones’ approach is a very interesting one and (much like studying history by competing in re-enactment jousting competitions or taking part in a Renaissance Faire) it lends a whole new aspect to historical studies of the period.

Unfortunately, the thesis of Chaucer’s Knight has been taken by some scholars (and even by Jones himself) to a somewhat extreme conclusion. The resulting academic theory is that if Chaucer was delivering a gently worded insult regarding the inherent hypocrisy of the chivalrous image of knighthood, then perhaps the ideal of the Code of Chivalry was never really taken seriously, even in its own time.

Yet Chaucer wasn’t the only author to write about knighthood and chivalry in the Middle Ages. Scholars who take Jones’ views as evidence that “chivalry never existed” risk losing sight of other authors of the 13th and 14th centuries — authors such as Geoffroi de Charny and Ramon Lull, whose respective “manuals of chivalry” approach the concept both with sincerity and with the clear expectation that their advice would be taken to heart by knights, princes, ladies and nobles of the period.

If Chaucer’s description of the Knight is, as Terry Jones theorizes, full of wry sarcasm, it should simply reaffirm a very basic principle about the Code of Chivalry: The fact that few people lived up to the knightly ideals doesn’t negate them. If everybody was bold, generous, noble and cheerful, we wouldn’t need books, sermons and poems urging people to be trustworthy and virtuous — and that’s as true in the 21st century as it was in Chaucer’s day.

Tim O’Neill, who holds an MA in medieval literature, wrote a well-considered review of Chaucer’s Knight for Amazon.com, and we asked him to share his thoughts on the book with Chivalry Today readers. Here is what O’Neill has to say about Terry Jones’ book.

As an undergraduate, my Chaucer lecturer began his lectures on “The Knight’s Tale” with a ringing (and unconvincing) denunciation of Terry Jones’ thesis. If his intention was to discourage us from believing Jones, he failed. Several of us raced to the library to get our hands on Jones’ book and I remember reading it eagerly and finding it entirely convincing.

Years later, with a great deal more experience in literary analysis and a far greater knowledge of Chaucer under my belt, I re-read Jones and was surprised to find his thesis rather more threadbare. It is still a provocative and entertaining book, and one which shook up the usually somnolent field of Chaucer studies, but his central thesis simply doesn’t stand up to detailed scrutiny. His work has some serious and ultimately fatal flaws.

Firstly, Jones argues we should not just look at where the Knight fought, but where he didn’t fight. Why no mention of him fighting in France like a good English knight? He must, argues Jones, be a mercenary. But it’s hard to see how Chaucer could be indicating this with a list of crusading campaigns. The heartlands of mercenary activity in the 14th century were in the endless wars in Italy, so why doesn’t Chaucer have his mercenary knight fighting there? Jones himself constantly refers to examples of mercenaries in Italy to illustrate many of his points, but never explains why this supposedly archetypal mercenary didn’t campaign there.

Secondly, Jones goes to great lengths to argue that the crusades the Knight took part in were not noble, chivalric and virtuous ventures, but actually grubby, savage and often futile affairs. This may be true from a modern person’s perspective, but what Jones (who has an admitted anti-Church bias) thinks about these campaigns is irrelevant – it’s how they were seen in Chaucer’s time that is important. And, unfortunately for Jones’ thesis, in Chaucer’s time they simply were seen as noble, chivalric and virtuous ventures.

Thirdly, Jones devotes a great deal of attention to the Knight’s appearance, saying this is an obvious clue to his mercenary status. He argues:

Instead, we have a figure in a fustian gypon stained with rust. Again, this argument is weak. A chivalric paragon may have worn armour and carried banners on campaign, but the Knight was on a pilgrimage. He goes on to argue that the Knights fustian gypon is a sign that the Knight is poor and that it is stained by his mail habergeon because, unlike a real knight, he doesn’t wear a coat of plates or breastplate-and-fauld over his mail and under his gypon or surcoat. He goes on to present evidence that Italian mercenaries went into battle more lightly armed in this manner, but that some form of plate over the mail shirt was ubiquitous for knights in this period. But Jones is simply wrong on that last point, however, and the alliterative Morte Arthur depicts an arming scene where no less a chivalric paragon than King Arthur himself wears a gypon directly over his mail.

Fourthly, Jones completely ignores the Squire, who is the Knight’s son and whose description follows that of the Knight in the “General Prologue.” In stark contrast to his father, the Squire is presented as fashionably and brightly dressed in the latest style, with great emphasis on his up to-date hairstyle and courtly manners. Unlike his father, the younger man has fought not for the sake of Christendom, but “in hope to stonden in his lady grace.” His campaign was “in Flaundres, in Artoys and Pycardie” — most probably a reference to the pseudo-crusade of Bishop Henry Despencer in 1383. Unlike his father’s crusading campaigns, the Squire took part in one that was widely condemned at the time and regarded as a debasement of the crusading ideal. Jones argues that Chaucer tends to be wry and satirical in his characterization, but forgets that three of his characters — the Knight, the Parson and the Ploughman — seem to be paragons representing the Three Estates, while it is the other characters who stand in satirical relation to them.

Jones’ book is provocative and highly readable, but in many places it seems he is straining to find something — anything — to support his ideas while skating over alternative interpretations. For this reason (and not academic snobbery) his thesis has been largely rejected, though his book has been welcomed. This book is recommended (reading for anyone interested in medieval history or Chaucerian literature), but it should be read with due caution.

© 2004 Scott Farrell and Tim O’Neill

Tim O’Neill holds a Master of Arts in medieval literature from the University of Tasmania and has been a keen medievalist for almost 27 years. His review of Chaucer’s Knight: The Portrait of a Medieval Mercenary is reprinted by permission of the author.

Related posts:

1. Chaucer’s Knightly Virtues
2. Jedi Knights
3. True Nobility: Knightly Show & Inner Spirit – Part 2

Crichton’s book was (as his fans would expect) painstakingly researched, and for many readers it presented a shockingly realistic look at the gritty, harsh reality of 14th century medieval culture. Several of the characters in Timeline — knights, mercenaries, ladies, peasants and even priests — are crude, selfish and violent. Will viewers who value the notion of chivalry enjoy this movie, or will they be put off by its grim (some might even claim it’s “excessively grim”) portrayal of the age of knights in shining armor?

In fact, Timeline gives us the opportunity to remember that the Middle Ages was a gritty, crude and violent time period — elegant, refined and genteel images of the King Arthur’s Round Table come from the 19th century, not the 14th century. There were plenty of medieval knights (as well as ladies, peasants and priests too) who were not chivalrous, valiant or ethical, whose only motivation was their own social advancement and personal enrichment. Yet it was this gritty, violent culture that gave rise to the concept of the Code of Chivalry as a way to overcome cruelty, greed and self-interest in favor of courtesy, honor and duty.

Medieval authors like Ramon Lull and Geoffroi de Charny (both successful knights who personally experienced battles and tournament combat) remind us that chivalry did exist in the Middle Ages, and although it may have been uncommon, it was still a worthy and admirable ideal.

Similarly, Michael Crichton’s writing reminds us that honor, heroism, loyalty and sacrifice didn’t disappear into history — they live on in the modern world, and are still valued by readers and viewers who identify with characters such as Andre Marek, Professor Johnston, Kate Erickson and Chris Hughes, who triumph against the unscrupulous villiany of Robert de Kere (in the 14th century) and Bob Doniger (in the modern world).

And Timeline reminds us that re-creating the past at Renaissance Faires and knightly tournaments (and in historically accurate movies) can provide a new perspective on the idealism and the realities of historical events and personalities, demonstrating yet again the importance of ethics, honor, responsibility and chivalry in the modern world.

Chivalry Today readers are invited to take an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at the Making of Timeline in this short video feature. You can read reviews of this movie, as well as finding nearby theaters and showtimes, at our favorite entertainment website, Rotten Tomatoes.

Related posts:

1. Real Knights, Real Chivalry: Part 1
2. Iron Clad Chivalry
3. Real Knights, Real Chivalry: Part 2