The Knight on the Bridge

by William Watson

Barcelona. 22 cm. 358 p. Encuadernación en tapa dura de editorial ilustrada. Watson, William 1931-. Traducción, Patricia Antón de Vez. Novela histórica de la Edad Media. Traducción The knight on the Bridge .. Este libro es de segunda mano y tiene o puede tener marcas y señales de su anterior propietario. 8439584245

203 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

William Watson was a Scottish author, playwright and newspaper editor. He was initially Literary and then Features editor of the Scotsman newspaper. Born in Edinburgh he attended Edinburgh Academy and then entered Edinburgh and Oxford universities but did not complete either course.

He commenced writing novels in 1969 with Better than One and then two historical novels entitled Beltran in Exile (1979) [also known as The Last of the Templars:] about the Crusaders and The Knight on the Bridge (1982) about the Cathars. These two latter books are generally regarded as his best works.

Between 1970 and 1972 he wrote two plays dealing with cannibalism and the mystery surrounding Roslyn Chapel. He wrote six spy thrillers under the nom-de-plume of J.K. Mayo between 1986 and 1997 using a middle-aged, irritable, Gauloise-smoking ex-army Colonel named Harry Seddell as his hero for these popular books. An interesting aside is his apparent enjoyment of using little-known and obscure words to enhance his excellent descriptions of places and intelligent conversations throughout the books.

(source: wikipedia)

Reviews

[S.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This strange book performed a magical act. When I first started reading the dense, stilted prose, I wasn't sure if I'd finish the task at hand. Suddenly the atmosphere clicked. The language worked. The perverse cast of characters, all seemingly unlikeable, developed true, intense personalities.

This medieval tale is set in a grim, isolated region of southern France. The Lord and Lady of the poor keep are both insane in their own manner, from choice and circumstances rather than true mental unravelings. Details are dealt to the reader building the story in a sly, at times giddy fashion. Why do the Lord and Lady act so oddly? Events in their past life have stained their marriage and forced both to find comfort in madness in order to exist.

Secondary characters enter, stir the story line, die, fight and set up the story's bizarre yet, in its warped manner, happy ending.

All this contained in a mere 204 pages (small font size).

Wonderful when a story exceeds all initial expectations.

Recommended if the reader is in the mood for a densely written, farcical romance/redemption story. Not recommended for a consumer's casual beach read.

[Bryn Hammond · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different beast than his 'other' historical, The Last of the Templars... you may not care for both. As a tragedy merchant, I'm more for Templars. This was odd. Comedy. Gormenghasty mad people away in a castle; history happens elsewhere, without specifics. In fact, this was more an emblem-book of medieval themes: like the knight on the bridge. A troubadour stumbles on a step forward in love lyrics. The peasants revolted, and killed a Jew. Every medieval trope found its way into this book. The Making of the Middle Ages? But it isn't a straight historical like his other. It's farcical and ends happily. There is pornography and humorous Tarantino violence. Wait up: I said his last was equivalent to Tasso, who is criticised for soft porn and aestheticization of violence. His tragedy and his comedy may not be so dissimilar.

Ornately written, as his other is. Perhaps for Peake fans?

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started slow and dreamily just like the characters' own drifting heads but once part 2 arrived, I became more and more in love with this novel. A medieval novel set secluded in the French countryside away from the wars at a crumbling castle. Wistful, odd, beautiful and bouts of incredible humour. The undertone of humour running underneath is what I love from great medieval stories. From a moment when a character tries on armour and falls down a set of stairs and can't get his helmet off, to the way certain characters perish, I appreciated the sense of humour running throughout this story of a secluded family being awoken from their slumber.

[Tom S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing to add to the fine reviews here except that I felt discomfortingly at home in this phantasmagoria of eccentricity, mild anxiety and dreams of chivalry.