Game of Thrones versus History: Written in Blood

by Brian A. Pavlac (Editor)

Since it first aired in 2011, Game of Thrones galloped up the ratings to become the most watched show in HBO’s history. It is no secret that creator George R.R. Martin was inspired by late 15th century Europe when writing A Song of Ice and Fire, the sprawling saga on which the show is based. Aside from the fantastical elements, Game of Thrones really does mirror historic events and bloody battles of medieval times—but how closely?

Game of Thrones versus History: Written in Blood is a collection of thought-provoking essays by medieval historians who explore how the enormously popular HBO series and fantasy literature of George R. R. Martin are both informed by and differ significantly from real historical figures, events, beliefs, and practices of the medieval world. From a variety of perspectives, the authors delve into Martin’s plots, characterizations, and settings, offering insights into whether his creations are historical possibilities or pure flights of fantasy. 

Topics include the Wars of the Roses, barbarian colonizers, sieges and the nature of medieval warfare, women and agency, slavery, celibate societies in Westeros, myths and legends of medieval Europe, and many more. While life was certainly not a game during the Middle Ages, Game of Thrones versus History: Written in Blood reveals how a surprising number of otherworldly elements of George R. R. Martin’s fantasy are rooted deeply in the all-too-real world of medieval Europe. 

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Essays, Historical

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 9, 2017

Reviews

[Angela Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book interesting as it covered many historical subjects involving the real world and Martin's imagined and how he had adopted real history and tweaked for his stories. Some of the subjects covered are ancient slavery, a woman's place in got as well as in RL, religion, communication, as well as acts of barbarism. Not everything was a page turner but mostly it was. It was a fairly quick read for a history book.

[Demurs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book that gives some insights into the connections between actual history and ASOIAF, both the books and the show. While it's obvious that covering everything would require a larger volume, if the same style is used, there are a few things that aren't mentioned, that I thought deserved some attention (outlaw bands like the Brotherhood without Banners, for example, as well as shifting loyalties from nobles, such as Walder Frey). Also, there are some errors that pertain to the show, and the show is not covered past S6 (same as the book series) - while it could have really made the historians' job significantly more difficult with the "interesting" decisions made in production of the show, but that would've closed the loop on some of the topics (of course, we don't know if we'll ever get an ending to ASOIAF, so that is harder to judge).

All in all - a worthwhile read, especially for those who enjoy a bit of medieval history in their lives.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not seen the shows or read the books. (I tried to read the first one, but gave up after the first chapter.) So, I wanted to know how George R. R. Martin adapted the medieval history of Europe to his historical fantasy.

It's not a "fan-book"; but critiques of the series by readers who are historians or historical fiction writers. They seem to like the series, not because it's accurate to the real Middle Ages but because it is so colourful, sensual and bloody - more like a depiction of an apocalyptic era - and because Martin creatively poked, tweaked, and rearranged the material he saw in the thousand years of medieval events into what could have happened or what might some of the players of the real events might have thought, felt and experienced. The books and television programmes represent a bloody time for those who 1) wanted to gain power; 2) wanted to keep power; and 3) wanted to avenge those kin who died in the pursuit or loss of power. (Almost all the authors of the articles said it is more like The Society for Creative Anachronisms or a Renaissance Fair or a Heroic Fantasy Middle Ages than an accurate depiction of the real time.)

I found this book an interesting read, in that it helped me figure out a bit of what was happening and who the characters were (and possibly who their counterparts were in real medieval European history. e.g. The High Sparrow, a charismatic religious leader who wanted to cleanse corruption from the state religion of Westeros had similarities to the Dominican monk Savonarola, who incited the people of Florence to burn their "vanities" on bonfires and live godly lives.) I also realized that Mr. Martin was not writing "historical fiction" - I mean, he was not closely setting his novels in a time period I needed to recognize - but a fantasy in a place with threads here and there that were similar to threads torn from histories of medieval Europe and Asia. Game or Thrones is a human interest saga of several feuding dynasties, set in a world something like that of the Creative Anachronisms world ... with dragons.

[Toni Kely-Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst I found the books too slow and at times boring! I have loved the series based on the books. I also have a love of medieval history, so I found the essays in this book really fascinating and interesting as to how George RR Martin created his world and was influenced by events such as the War of the Roses.

[lucy snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

a really comprehensive overview of game of thrones and how it relates to the historical background that martin was inspired by. i particularly liked the chapters on children, women, and methods of communication.

the last chapter on medievalism was really useful as well - discussing how martin is not aiming for a specific time period but just general recognisable medieval vibes.

this has given me lots of ideas for essays for my fantasy module!

[Colin Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a history teacher and pop culture fan, I was impressed with the depth of research in the essays and the connections each of them made to the books and shows. This book was much better than the Game of Thrones and Philosophy book I read recently, especially in regard to its scholarship and in not repeating the same things over and again.

[RR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just awesome and insightful!

[Stacey Farley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this! It made me appreciate Martin's world building all the more!

[Jie-Ying · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative, but there are a few typos.