The Riddle and the Knight: in Search of Sir John Mandeville
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Riddle...What Riddle ? - This book falls rather heavily between two stools, it isn t an incident packed travel book, a la Redmond O Hanlon, where the author encounters memorable characters in a modern day recreation of Sir John s famous journey, Nor is it a straight history book, investigating Mandeville s life and works. Either of these approaches would have been quite legitimate but Milton never seems to decide what kind of book he is writing.For me, the parts of the book, mainly at its end, where Giles Milton discusses the literary and cultural influence of his subject are the most interesting. Perhaps more of this, and a more detailed study of Sir John s writings, could have replaced some of the rather aimless wanderings in Sir John s footsteps.It is never made clear what Riddle is referred to in the title of the book, but it is safe to say it is not solved by the author.
Poorest Of Milton - Like many of you, my adoration of the novels of Giles Milton started with Big Chief Elizabeth and then through his better known books, and you don t need me to describe their brilliance here. So it was a bought this book, and found it a world away from the others.The problem is, you are expecting a ripping yarn, but all this book tells of is the authors own quest in search of John Mandeville, and his own researches into the subject. It is almost a diary of his own investigations into the subject. It would be a shame if readers stumbled upon this book first, and be put off Milton for life.At least there is one good thing to come out of it, his subsequent writing was so much superior, as he learnt from his poor approach in this book. Don t be disheartened if this is the first Milton book you come across, I guarantee any of the others will be enjoyable.
dreadful - After enjoying Giles Miltons other books, I was eager to begin reading The Riddle of the Knight. The book was very dissapointing. It is nothing more than travel writing around a subject that appears very woolly. He painfully draws the reader to a conclusion that was guessed at the first chapter. Don t buy it.
The Riddle and the Knight - well worth a read - I don t understand why some people rate this book a poor read compared to his other books, which are excellent. It is different, since much of it is written in the first person. However, this allows us to follow the writer during his research, which is all to the good. Don t be put off !
Blockbuster of a read - I was absolutely entranced by Milton s story of his travels in search of Sir John Mandeville, and found his accounts of the places as they are today - eg Jerusalem, Damascus, Sinai - enthralling.Although trying to find evidence of the intrepid medieval knight is interesting, I think it matters not at all whether Mandeville actually completed the journey he related. It s fun simply to read about Milton s impressions of the same places in the present era and his interactions with the locals.