Discovering The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson; (audio, ebook or print?)
Inspiration for Tootsie? Race 4 Fall Series NCYC.
I’ve started reading and listening to The Black Arrow, A Tale of the Two Roses by Robert Louis Stevenson, originally published 1865. One of the least known of Stevenson’s works, it’s an amazing novel, and I want to encourage you to read it. Or listen to it. Or, like me, do both! Let’s start with that. Audio or print?
I first downloaded the audio book to my Libbey phone app. It was free from the library. The narrator is Shelly Frasier, and she does a marvelous job. Tantor Media, Inc. is the publisher. It is a remarkable recording that captures the period speech, bringing out the true poetry of the spoken words.
But there is a serious problem with the audio book. Many of the conversations used so effectively by RLS to move the action use 14th century English idioms that are indecipherable to the modern reader. Or maybe it’s just my hearing problem.
Here is a list of some of the unusual words used and their definitions:
Murrain- A plague, epidemic or crop blight
Salet- A light bowl-shaped metal helmet from the 15th century
Arras - a rich tapestry hung on the walls of a room that may conceal an alcove.
When first listening to the book these words and some others were confusing and made me lose the thread.
Along the same line, the narrator does a marvelous job of using the appropriate accents of the speakers, and RLS uses a lot of dialogue, which carries the action along swiftly. But the accents and the language are such that it can be difficult for the modern ear to comprehend the gist of it, and in the process, miss the poetry of the narrative.
The third reason that the audio book can be inconvenient is that the characters are introduced quickly. Without the ability to flip back in the book and confirm who is who, it can be a bit confusing. Here is a list of the prime characters and their role:
Richard Shelton. The hero. Age 18, he is the ward of Sir Daniel Brackley.
Sir Daniel Brackley. Protector of Richard Shelton, it is he who summons the men to come and fight at the beginning of the novel.
Bennet Hatch - a leader and lieutenant of Sir Daniel.
Sir Oliver Oates - a priest also under the control of Brackley.
Ellis Duckworth - a foil to Sir Brackley, for reasons which are initially unclear.
More I cannot tell you without divulging a most beautiful plot that unfolds quickly and in unsuspecting ways. But RLS is brilliant. The opening, for example, quickly puts us in a crowd, wondering what is up:
On a certain afternoon, in the late springtime, the bell upon Tunstall Moat House was heard ringing at an unaccustomed hour. Far and near, in the forest and in the fields along the river, people begin to desert their labors and hurry towards the sound, and in Tunstall hamlet a group of poor country folk stood wondering at the summons.
Instantly we find ourselves wondering, like the poor country folk, what could be the reason for the bells at this hour? The action never stops from the first page to the last.
This morning, having listened to several chapters of the book, I stopped by the Library to see if I could find the book in hard copy, to clear up some confusion I had from the audio.
The library shelves held Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and The Complete Stories of Robert Louis Stevenson. But no Black Arrow.
But I was in luck! I consulted with the brilliant librarian and she escorted me back to the Young Adult section, where I found:
This is no ordinary book. It is a bit oversized, with 14 beautiful illustrations by N. C. Wyeth, painted especially for the 1916 edition, and now printed from new plates made by photographing the original paintings for this Atheneum Books for Young Readers edition. These incredible paintings alone make the reading of the hard copy well worthwhile.
I gobbled up the print copy this morning, quickly devouring the first half of this classic, having already listened to it. I felt like I was 14 years old, curled up with a book in the summertime, the rest of the world far away.
Even though the book was shelved in the Young Adult section the book presents some challenges, whether in print or in audio, and the decision as to which to choose is not so easy.
Once you understand the lingo, the language, and the lay of the land, the audio provides an incredible extra dimension. This afternoon as I took my walk I listened to the part I had just read. The pure poetry of the prose blew me away. Listening to the story unfold again was transformative.
So bottom line, do both. Treat yourself to the book and the audio.
RLS pulls out all the stops. I cannot believe the book isn’t more widely known. I hesitate to say more without possibly ruining the effect, but even knowing some of the plot doesn’t really detract from the ability to appreciate the brilliance of the writing, the plot, and indeed the art.
For it is fine art indeed which explores intimate relationships between people, whether between two males or a male and a female.
Tootsie came to mind. Remember that brilliant performance by Dustin Hoffman in which he begins as the best girlfriend of Julie (Jessica Lange) and ends up as her suitor? Well RLS does it in reverse in this classic. Both start out as boys…
In this wonderful scene located almost halfway through the book I prefer the brilliant audio version. I’ll not say more on that subject in this post to give you a chance to discover it for yourself.
Anyway I’m happy as a clam, curled up on the sofa transported back to the era of English Kings, Knights and Fair Maidens. It’s a great summer escape, for boys and girls of ALL AGES~! Once I’ve finished it up I hope to do a full review, but I’ll wait a bit to give you all time to read it if you wish. Hopefully these little hints will help you enjoy this classic.
Last night was the fourth race of the Fall Series. The lake was relatively calm as we motored out of the channel. Inshore there had been little wind, but there was some pressure several miles out, and the stacks from the Monroe Power Plant foretold a northeast breeze.
Our goal was to sail to the right, east out into the lake where it looked like there might be some wind. But it was a slog. Above: about thirty minutes after the start, looking back towards the starting line.
The “PHRF A” fleet started 10 minutes after us, with the JAM (Jib and Main Only) fleets following. A zephyr brought some promise, and a few of the A fleet rode the little breeze past us, as we finally drifted around the North mark and headed back to Center.
The wind filled in a bit but we were only making 3 knots at best. No matter. We had popped some beers early and kept right on going.
As the sun set, the Committee Boat announced over the radio they were shortening the course to finish at the Center mark. We were only about 15 minutes from the finish when the 2.5 hour time limit expired. We started up the engine and cruised home, enjoying the moon rise and the star shine. Only three boats in the A fleet were able to finish before time expired, the rest of us getting a DNF (did not finish). We may not have finished, but we sure enjoyed the evening on the Lake.
Thanks so much for traveling along, and welcome new subscribers~! We’re so glad you’re here! Please share your thoughts and ideas, we love the comments and repartee.