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Quentin Durward

 
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Quentin Durward is a historical novel
Historical novel

A historical novel is a novel in which the story is set among historical events, or more generally, in which the time of the action predates the lifetime of the author....
 by Walter Scott
Walter Scott

Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet, was a prolific Scotland historical novelist and poet popular throughout Europe during his time.In some ways Scott was the first English-language author to have a truly international career in his lifetime, with many contemporary readers all over Europe, Australia, and North America....
, first published in 1823. The story concerns a Scottish
Scottish people

The Scots people are a nation and an ethnic group indigenous to Scotland.Historically, as an ethnic group, they emerged from an amalgamation of Celts, Picts, Gaels and Brythons....
 archer
Archery

Archery is the art, practice or skill of shooting with Bow and arrow. Archery has historically been used in hunting and combat and has become a precision sport....
 in the service of the French King Louis XI
Louis XI of France

Louis XI , called the Prudent and the Universal Spider or the Spider King, was the List of French monarchs from 1461 to 1483....
. First published "In Three Volumes".

romantic novel displays life as a Scottish mercenary under Louis XI of France
Louis XI of France

Louis XI , called the Prudent and the Universal Spider or the Spider King, was the List of French monarchs from 1461 to 1483....
. It follows a young Scot who fled his homeland, and searching for meaning in life, finds it at the court of Louis XI. The novel is backed by much historical fact and gives very accurate portrayals of historical figures such as the Duke of Burgundy
Charles I, Duke of Burgundy

Charles the Bold or Charles the Rash , baptised Charles Martin, was Duke of Burgundy from 1467 to 1477.Known as Charles the Terrible to his enemies, he was the last House of Valois Duke of Duchy of Burgundy and his early death was a pivotal, if under-recognised, moment in European history....
 and Cardinal Balue
Jean Balue

Jean Balue , was a France cardinal and minister of Louis XI of France.He was born of very humble parentage at Angle, Poitu in Poitou, and was first patronized by the bishop of Poitiers....
.
plot centres on the rivalry between Louis XI of France and Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy.






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Encyclopedia


Quentin Durward is a historical novel
Historical novel

A historical novel is a novel in which the story is set among historical events, or more generally, in which the time of the action predates the lifetime of the author....
 by Walter Scott
Walter Scott

Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet, was a prolific Scotland historical novelist and poet popular throughout Europe during his time.In some ways Scott was the first English-language author to have a truly international career in his lifetime, with many contemporary readers all over Europe, Australia, and North America....
, first published in 1823. The story concerns a Scottish
Scottish people

The Scots people are a nation and an ethnic group indigenous to Scotland.Historically, as an ethnic group, they emerged from an amalgamation of Celts, Picts, Gaels and Brythons....
 archer
Archery

Archery is the art, practice or skill of shooting with Bow and arrow. Archery has historically been used in hunting and combat and has become a precision sport....
 in the service of the French King Louis XI
Louis XI of France

Louis XI , called the Prudent and the Universal Spider or the Spider King, was the List of French monarchs from 1461 to 1483....
. First published "In Three Volumes".

Plot introduction

This romantic novel displays life as a Scottish mercenary under Louis XI of France
Louis XI of France

Louis XI , called the Prudent and the Universal Spider or the Spider King, was the List of French monarchs from 1461 to 1483....
. It follows a young Scot who fled his homeland, and searching for meaning in life, finds it at the court of Louis XI. The novel is backed by much historical fact and gives very accurate portrayals of historical figures such as the Duke of Burgundy
Charles I, Duke of Burgundy

Charles the Bold or Charles the Rash , baptised Charles Martin, was Duke of Burgundy from 1467 to 1477.Known as Charles the Terrible to his enemies, he was the last House of Valois Duke of Duchy of Burgundy and his early death was a pivotal, if under-recognised, moment in European history....
 and Cardinal Balue
Jean Balue

Jean Balue , was a France cardinal and minister of Louis XI of France.He was born of very humble parentage at Angle, Poitu in Poitou, and was first patronized by the bishop of Poitiers....
.
Walterscott Quentindurwood Illus

Plot summary

The plot centres on the rivalry between Louis XI of France and Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. Louis incites the citizens of Liège to revolt against Charles, and, under the command of Louis's ally, William de la Marck, they seize and murder Charles's brother-in-law, Louis de Bourbon, Bishop of Liège
Louis de Bourbon, Bishop of Liège

Louis de Bourbon was Prince-Bishop of Li?ge from 1456. He was brought up and educated by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, who supported him for ten years at the Catholic University of Leuven....
. At the time of the murder Louis is at Charles's camp at Peronne, hoping to fool him with a false display of friendship. Charles, though, sees through his pretence, accuses him of instigating the uprising, and has him imprisoned. Louis's superior coolness of mind permits him to allay Charles's suspicions and to regain his liberty. In a sub-plot, the Burgundian heiress Isabelle de Croye takes refuge at Louis's court when Charles attempts to give her hand in marriage to his odious favourite Campo-Basso. Louis, in turn, resolves to give her in marriage to the bandit-captain William de la Marck
William de la Marck

William de la Marck was an adventurer, originating in Germany. He became an important character in the late 15th century in the Prince-Bishopric of Li?ge....
, and sends her to Flanders under the pretence of placing her under the protection of the Bishop of Liège. She is guarded on her journey by Quentin Durward, an archer, who has left behind poverty in Scotland to join the Archers of Louis's Scottish Guard. Quentin prevents the intended treachery and earns Isabelle's love. Charles, though, promises her in marriage to the Duke of Orleans (heir to the French crown) but she refuses, and, in anger, the Duke promises her to whoever brings him the head of de la Marck. This Quentin does with the help of his uncle, Ludovic Lesley, and wins Isabelle's hand.

Characters in "Quentin Durward"

  • Quentin Durward - protagonist and archer
  • Ludovic Lesley, le Balafré (the scarred) - maternal uncle to Durward
  • Louis XI - King of France
  • Charles the Bold - Duke of Burgundy
  • William de la Marck
    William de la Marck

    William de la Marck was an adventurer, originating in Germany. He became an important character in the late 15th century in the Prince-Bishopric of Li?ge....
     - The freebooting Boar of the Ardennes
    Ardennes

    The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and old mountains formed on the Givetian Ardennes mountains, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel....
    , and Louis's supporter
  • Isabelle de Croye - the Burgundian heiress
Walterscott Quentindurwood Illus2

Discrepancy

A fact that must be noted here is that de la Marck's killing of the Bishop of Liege is said to occur two years before the historical massacre, which took place in 1482. It appears that Sir Walter Scott made the killing contemporaneous with the Liege Uprising, in order to hasten the pace of the tale and lend it more historical credibility.

Adaptations

  • 1955 movie The Adventures of Quentin Durward
    The Adventures of Quentin Durward

    The Adventures of Quentin Durward, known also as Quentin Durward, is a 1955 historical film released by MGM. It was directed by Richard Thorpe and produced by Pandro S....
    , starring Robert Taylor
    Robert Taylor (actor)

    Robert Taylor was an United States actor....
  • 1971 TV series Quentin Durward (1971)
  • an illustrated novel drawn by the Portuguese artist Fernando Bento and first published in the Fifties in the boy's journal Cavaleiro Andante


External links

  • at , the University of Edinburgh
    University of Edinburgh

    The University of Edinburgh founded in 1582, is an internationally renowned centre for teaching and research in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom....
     library