Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - from Lesley Magwood Fraser

[Marie Wintzer]

 

Sometimes you hold a book in your hands and you don't understand a word of it, and strangely, it makes it even better! 
Lesley is sending me this gorgeous little book based on Sir Gowain and the Green Knight, a 14th century poem relating the adventures of a knight of King Arthur's Round Table. 
I am copy-pasting a piece from Google because I thought the story was quite interesting: 
" In the poem, Sir Gawain accepts a challenge from a mysterious warrior who is completely green, from his clothes and hair to his beard and skin, save for his red eyes. The "Green Knight" offers to allow anyone to strike him with his axe if the challenger will take a return blow in a year and a day. Gawain accepts, and beheads him in one blow, only to have the Green Knight stand up, pick up his head, and remind Gawain to meet him at the appointed time."

 

 

The story goes on with numerous twists and is loaded with medieval symbolism, which I am sure is providing a lot of inspiration to contemporary authors and artists. I also like the fact that the story begins in Camelot, which links it very nicely to Cheryl's ether blog a couple of weeks ago.

 

 

Lesley's story is non linear, as the scrambled page numbers indicate. At the same time her layering of text, numbers, drawings and painting is perfect, creating a very balanced and delectable bookie. She actually made me want to read it from start to end.

 

 

But Old English is a pain in the neck, and Lesley knows it :-)), because the middle of the book contains a piece of glossary to get you started. Brilliant! A few words for you: 

ethe: demand 
trist: believe 
ferly: exceedingly 
clanly: entirely 
siker: assure 
foch: get, take, fetch 
wale: seek 
...

 

Lesley added her own language to the book with her signature asemics. Asemic writing, but when I see the pieces of drawings she included I have to ask myself if there is also something called "asemic drawing"? I know it's a far fetched concept, but do you see what I mean?

 

 

Lesley, this is a wonderful boekie, I absolutely love it. Thank you!

 

 

[Marie Wintzer]

You're so kind, Angie (so nice to see you here, btw). All the merit is Lesley's. Now I'm in trouble about what to send her back...

[Marie Wintzer]

Thanks for your comments everyone! This bookie really deserves all the praise.

Medieval ages are so obscure and dark, I used to dislike it in History class. But I was young, I didn't know the first thing about it, and the treasures it gave us. A rich territory, for sure. Now I can't keep my eyes off that manuscript...

[cheryl penn]

These are WONDERFUL photos S.P - I have also got one of these - glad you did the blog and not me - FAB!!! - Both of you :-) X

[Lesley Magwood Fraser]

Oh and the Green Man is another character thats pops up in several medieval stories in Olde Englande.... we have a pub here in Kloof called the Green Man!

[Lesley Magwood Fraser]

Praise indeed! Thankyou Marie and DVS. I suppose it is like looking at an abstract painting - you are not sure what it is but you can appreciate it - this book you can't read but appreciate it! The pics are cut up failed prints I did, but I thought they went well with the asemic  theme as they became abstract when I cut them up. I also googled the story and I love it, those medieval stories have always fascinated me. Thanks for posting the original MS, it is beautiful! That is even harder to read - looks asemic too.

[De Villo Sloan]

original ms 

[De Villo Sloan]

Impressive work by Lesley! Medieval asemics: Language, writing, and art were so de-centered during those centuries (in Europe) that it was a Golden Age of obscure codification and esoteric systems - rich territory indeed. I think she captures all that and brings it into the present. BTW, one of the more popular poems by that writer I'm always talking about, Jack Spicer, is "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight." Starts with Sir Gawain in a tower playing chess with an invisible opponent - a great pomo image. I couldn't find a copy online. Nice blog as ever, CB.