by Trevanian
First published 1984
Davydd ap Seare, a medieval clerk, presents a collection of bawdy and heroic stories from his time. These tales blend crude humor with moments of glory, capturing the raw spirit of medieval life. The stories feature common folk and nobles alike, their adventures ranging from comic mishaps to acts of courage. Each tale reveals the contradictions of human nature, where the same characters who engage in crude behavior can also display unexpected nobility. The tension between earthiness and aspiration runs through every story, as ordinary people navigate a world where survival often depends on wit rather than virtue. At its heart, this collection celebrates the full spectrum of human experience, refusing to separate the sacred from the profane. The tales acknowledge that real people contain both rude impulses and glorious potential, often within the same moment.
Genres: historical-fiction, adventure, comedy
Vibes: humorous, raw, thought-provoking
Tropes: contradictions-of-human-nature, earthiness-and-aspiration
Period: Medieval
232 pages · Hardcover · GRANADA