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Tristan/Yseult
A duel on an empty island sets the course for one of the greatest romances ever told. As the lovers of legend meet, something new is born, and something eternal is revealed. Their names will forever be spoken as one. This modern retelling of Tristan and Yseult sheds a stark light on the beauty of the Celtic tale.
80 pages, Hardcover
Published April 30, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 15, 2024
4 Stars
A duel on an empty island sets the course for one of the greatest romances ever told. As the lovers of legend meet, something new is born, and something eternal is revealed. Their names will forever be spoken as one. This modern retelling of Tristan and Yseult sheds a stark light on the beauty of the Celtic tale.
My Thoughts:
There are countless retellings of Tristan and Yseult (Isolde), though I wasn’t aware of the story until I saw the book. This is a poetic retelling with a different focus.
Based on my quick search on the net, it seems many retellings deal with the forbidden and doomed love between Tristan and Isolde. While this narrative poem also tackles the same topic, it brings a fresh perspective and presents the tale in a unique manner.
The book begins with a preface by the author where he provides a brief insight into the story, his version, and the inspiration for his poem. The poem, he says, is highly inspired by Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde (opera) - not the content but the music. While I haven’t heard/ seen the opera, the poem indeed emphasizes sound effects through words.
The narrative verse is neatly divided into three parts, which are further categorized into chapters. The titles hint at the events in the respective sections.
As the poet said, there is no mention of the word ‘love’ anywhere in the poem. Yet, we cannot help but feel the longing between the two main characters during the brief period they spend together. Yseult is nursing almost dead Tristan back to life in secret. This binds them in an unexplainable bond.
The narrative used enjambment to achieve the disjointed and fragmented rhythm. The rhythm changes often to align with the events. Sometimes, we get broken sentences, sometimes sharp orders, and mellowed longing at other times. There are alliterations and random rhymes, not deliberate but more to suit the context. The same goes for repetition.
These are my favorite lines from the book -
The poem starts on the sea with Tristan on the waves, his duel, and his injury. It progresses to Yseult finding an unconscious Trsitan, healing him, the role of Brangenn, the maid, the interaction between the lead couple, and finally, their separation. There’s even a two-page chapter in Stream of Consciousness, the fever dream of Tristan, written with no punctuation or capitalization.
It can take a while to get used to the style, but once you understand, the words flow faster and better. It will help if you have a basic idea about the original story since the style doesn’t have space to offer a lot of detail or backstory.
To summarize, Tristan/ Yseult is a creative and innovative retelling from a different perspective. It is a sound-based poem rather than a lyrical one, so go with the right expectations.
My thanks to Anna (Random Things Tours) and the author for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
A duel on an empty island sets the course for one of the greatest romances ever told. As the lovers of legend meet, something new is born, and something eternal is revealed. Their names will forever be spoken as one. This modern retelling of Tristan and Yseult sheds a stark light on the beauty of the Celtic tale.
My Thoughts:
There are countless retellings of Tristan and Yseult (Isolde), though I wasn’t aware of the story until I saw the book. This is a poetic retelling with a different focus.
Based on my quick search on the net, it seems many retellings deal with the forbidden and doomed love between Tristan and Isolde. While this narrative poem also tackles the same topic, it brings a fresh perspective and presents the tale in a unique manner.
The book begins with a preface by the author where he provides a brief insight into the story, his version, and the inspiration for his poem. The poem, he says, is highly inspired by Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde (opera) - not the content but the music. While I haven’t heard/ seen the opera, the poem indeed emphasizes sound effects through words.
The narrative verse is neatly divided into three parts, which are further categorized into chapters. The titles hint at the events in the respective sections.
As the poet said, there is no mention of the word ‘love’ anywhere in the poem. Yet, we cannot help but feel the longing between the two main characters during the brief period they spend together. Yseult is nursing almost dead Tristan back to life in secret. This binds them in an unexplainable bond.
The narrative used enjambment to achieve the disjointed and fragmented rhythm. The rhythm changes often to align with the events. Sometimes, we get broken sentences, sometimes sharp orders, and mellowed longing at other times. There are alliterations and random rhymes, not deliberate but more to suit the context. The same goes for repetition.
These are my favorite lines from the book -
For course of days and short short nights
The healer and her haul are bound.
The poem starts on the sea with Tristan on the waves, his duel, and his injury. It progresses to Yseult finding an unconscious Trsitan, healing him, the role of Brangenn, the maid, the interaction between the lead couple, and finally, their separation. There’s even a two-page chapter in Stream of Consciousness, the fever dream of Tristan, written with no punctuation or capitalization.
It can take a while to get used to the style, but once you understand, the words flow faster and better. It will help if you have a basic idea about the original story since the style doesn’t have space to offer a lot of detail or backstory.
To summarize, Tristan/ Yseult is a creative and innovative retelling from a different perspective. It is a sound-based poem rather than a lyrical one, so go with the right expectations.
My thanks to Anna (Random Things Tours) and the author for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
February 21, 2024
There are many retelling of Celtic Tale of Tristan/Yseult. I haven't heard of anything about this tale before now. Harry Bonelle has managed to tall the story of Tristan and Isolde's forbidden love in a way that you can feel the emotions throughout the book. It's a book that can be read in one sitting, but also one to dip in and out of at any time. If you like mythology this is for you
February 21, 2024
In all honesty I have had to read this book three times before I sufficiently got my head around it to write this review. Initially I struggles with the format and the layout of the verse as it didn't read in the way I expected, and wanted it to.
However, on the last reading I decided to follow Simon Callow's advice, Thrilling on the page, but even more so when spoken out loud". Consequently I read it out loud as though I was reading it to an audience and consequently the meter and punctuation seemed to fall into place.
The vocabulary within the book, and how it is bound together through either incredibly long sentences, which build up momentum as you read them, or short sharp sentences which give the impression of short, stabbing swords as you move forwards, all serve to created images within your head as to what is happening .
The poem is a retelling of the well known medieval love, and death, story that I first came across, and loved, in Wagner's Tristan and Isolde.Bonelle's telling of it doesn't disappoint though I would suggest do like I did and read it out loud as though you are on the stage with an audience in front of you and you will get the full impact of the words.
However, on the last reading I decided to follow Simon Callow's advice, Thrilling on the page, but even more so when spoken out loud". Consequently I read it out loud as though I was reading it to an audience and consequently the meter and punctuation seemed to fall into place.
The vocabulary within the book, and how it is bound together through either incredibly long sentences, which build up momentum as you read them, or short sharp sentences which give the impression of short, stabbing swords as you move forwards, all serve to created images within your head as to what is happening .
The poem is a retelling of the well known medieval love, and death, story that I first came across, and loved, in Wagner's Tristan and Isolde.Bonelle's telling of it doesn't disappoint though I would suggest do like I did and read it out loud as though you are on the stage with an audience in front of you and you will get the full impact of the words.
February 20, 2024
Just like the author, my first encounter with the legend of Tristan and Yseult (or Isolde) was through Wagner’s opera. Much like the opera, this poetry collection focuses on the emotional intensity of the story.
I always enjoy a poetry collection with a good narrative, and this one was no different! The story of Tristan and Yseult provided a great structure, giving Bonelle the chance to pick out the emotional turning points.
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The poems were varied, with lots of different structures and styles, but the underlying plot made it a cohesive read. While there were multiple perspectives, it was never confusing as to who’s point of view we were reading from. The switching perspectives also gave it a nicely cyclical feel, which made for a very satisfying read.
This is a mythological retelling unlike any other, and an impressive debut from a talented poet.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
I always enjoy a poetry collection with a good narrative, and this one was no different! The story of Tristan and Yseult provided a great structure, giving Bonelle the chance to pick out the emotional turning points.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
The poems were varied, with lots of different structures and styles, but the underlying plot made it a cohesive read. While there were multiple perspectives, it was never confusing as to who’s point of view we were reading from. The switching perspectives also gave it a nicely cyclical feel, which made for a very satisfying read.
This is a mythological retelling unlike any other, and an impressive debut from a talented poet.
I received a free copy for an honest review.
February 12, 2024
The début of a clearly prodigiously talented poet. A refreshing new take on an old myth, with a fastidious, invigorating focus on sound and rhythm. Bold, modern, and best when spoken out loud.
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