The reissue of Druon's "The Accursed Kings"

A friend kindly forwarded to me the link to an article in the BBC Magazine about the way in which Maurice Druon's set of seven novels The Accursed Kings (Les Rois Maudits), about the last Capetian Kings of France and the origins of the Hundred Year War were an inspiration for the currently very popular Game of Thrones novels of George R. R. Martin and the television series based thereupon. It can be read here.

I do not know, other than by name, The Game of Thrones series, with its Tolkienesque setting. However I do esteem the Druon novels, and the original 1973-4 ORTF tv production - you can find the six dramas on YouTube - and I am delighted to see that the novels are being reissued.

 The Accursed Kings

King Philip IV of France flanked, left to right, by his sons the future King Charles IV and King Philip V, his daughter Queen Isabella, wife of King Edward II, and by his eldest son King Louis X, King of Navarre, and his brother Charles, Count of Valois, father of King Philip VI

Image:Wikipedia

Their attraction is the way in which they use real historical events and present them in extremely readable form and in accessible modern language, and bring out the subtleties and cut and thrust of political life. These are flesh and blood people dealing with matters of life and death - literally. As a friend said in the 1970s of the television version, it had actors who behaved as if they were used to living in medieval clothes, not just dressed up for the part. 

In addition the novels have a series of historical endnotes to accompany their interpretation of events. Druon was writing with dramatic effect in mind, and he does exercise artistic freedom at times, but not such as to reduce the historic credibility of the books. One may question the interpretation he gives of some of the figures - notably King Louis X and King Charles IV - but the novels are a thoroughly good introduction to the period and a wonderful evocation of medieval political machinations.

Les Rois Maudits

My iPhone, which I was given recently, does all sorts of clever things which I scarcely understand, but I have worked out how to download items from YouTube. Having built up a little collection of archive film pieces, each of a few minutes duration, I found out last night that I can download whole episodes, indeed the whole series, of one of my favourite television costume dramas - indeed probably my favourite one.

It is the 1972-3  production of the marvellous series of novels by Maurice Druon (1918-2009)  Les Rois Maudits  about the political history of France between 1314 and 1340, and the origins of the Hundred Years War. There is an introductory article about them here.

As historical novels they are well researched, and come with end notes as to the sources used. Druon may take the most dramatic interpretation of events, but he produces a comprehensive and compelling narrative. The grand sweep of events is conveyed, but very much as the result of human choices and actions.

I think we can see more to the origins of the Hundred Years War than just the machinations of Robert of Artois, but the idea of the interplay of individuals makes for compelling reading or viewing.



Image: notrecinema.com

I saw the series twice when it was shown on BBC in the 1970s and enjoyed it immensely, the period and topic being one I had studied a few years earlier as an undergraduate.

The director presented the novels rather as one might well stage Shakespeare's history plays - it is all studio based, with emphasis on the actors and the intricacies of  the twists and turns of the plot. So it is theatrical, but very stylish, with some splendid performances in a narrative rich in intrigue, double dealing and conspiracy, and replete with royalty, religion, sex and violence - and all in the middle ages  - what more could you possibly ask for?

What was, and remains striking was the panache with which the actors conveyed the medieval world - as a friend remarked at the time they wore their costumes as if these were the clothes they were used to wearing. You sensed you were witnessing medieval people, not modern people trying to appear as such.

The series is available on video and DVD, and is, I gather, infinitely preferable to the 2005 remake.

Now I can not only see it all again and in colour but I can carry it with me in my pocket and retreat to the early fourteenth century whenever I like.