Some years ago, I read and enjoyed Gore Vidal’s Julian, which tells the story of the young pagan who becomes Emperor in a post-Constantine, Christian world. Since then, I’ve been keen to try more of his historical fiction and this book was the first to come into my hands. I had high hopes for it, as I’ve always been fascinated by Richard the Lionheart – probably due to my childhood fondness for Robin Hood stories: Richard’s own record as an indifferent King of England certainly doesn’t do him any favours. Vidal focuses on a particular episode from Richard’s life: the King’s famous capture in Austria on his return from the Crusades, and the faithful (and probably fictional) quest of Richard’s troubadour Blondel, who sets out to find his master’s prison, armed only with his viol, his voice and a good deal of faith...

For the rest of the review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2017/12/11/a-search-for-the-king-gore-vidal/ ( )

No el amor tempestuoso sino la amistad fiel y valerosa es el tema de esta entrañable evocación de una leyenda del siglo XIII: Blondel busca denodadamente a su amigo, el rey Ricardo, secuestrado por el austríaco Leopoldo.

Not historically accurate, but a fine adventure story following Blondel's (Richard the Lionheart's troubadour) search for his captured King after the Crusades. The book is full of courtly love, troubadours, castles, touches of fantasy, male companionship and a battle at the end. It completely ignores the question of Richard's sexuality, surprising considering Vidal is gay. I enjoyed this more than some of Vidal's tomes of historical fiction. ( )