Michael Eging's Blog: The Silver Horn Echoes and Assorted Other Tales - Posts Tagged "dark-ages"
Time and Space in Song of Roland
I was reading some background on the Battle of Roncevaux today with my son, William, which occurred on August 15, 778. During that battle, the rearguard was ambushed and those events set in motion the retelling of the tale that would be sung by the army of William the Conqueror on the eve of the Battle of Hastings. Yet, La Chanson de Roland has some issues with time that we attempted in The Silver Horn Echoes to account for.
You see, in 778, Charles the Great (or Charlemagne) was a man in his early 30s. He had just fought the Lombards in Italy for control of the northern portions of the peninsula. He was yet to bring further Italian territory under control. Then on Christmas Day 800, while he knelt in prayer, Charles was crowned emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III.
Why is this important?
The Chanson de Roland sets up a fictional world where the Battle of Roncevaux takes place when Charles is already the emperor. In the poem, Charles is both emperor and king. The title was usually bestowed (though jealously) by the Eastern Empire in Constantinople. Further, Charles is old and wizened, with a long flowing white beard.
So when writing The Silver Horn Echoes, both in screenplay and novel forms, there were some creative choices to make. First, we could build a world that was more historically accurate and place Charles and his vassal Roland earlier in his career. Or we could go with the world spun by the poem and create a world in which the events of the Song of Roland are plausible. I chose the latter.
This creative choice allowed for two things. First, to remain truer to the telling in the epic poem. Second, there is a lurking danger in The Silver Horn Echoes represented by a very jealous and manipulative Byzantine Empire. You see, when the pope crowned Charles, the usual negotiations with and permissions from the Empire did not occur. After the crowning, Charles was thrown into negotiations with the Empire to legitimize the title. So we were able to use the world created by the poet and accomplish a retelling that focuses on an older Charles and his taking up the mantle after 800.
The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland is a work of fiction that is inspired by the mythical world of La Chanson de Roland. Thus, as storytellers, we pay homage to the battle of 778, but are not completely bound by the events. This allowed us to use characters and constructs from the poem, rather than be strictly bound by the historical record.
We hope you enjoy the creative choice. And we hope that it inspires you to learn more about the actual events surrounding the Battle of Roncevaux in 778.
http://myBook.to/SilverHornEchoes
You see, in 778, Charles the Great (or Charlemagne) was a man in his early 30s. He had just fought the Lombards in Italy for control of the northern portions of the peninsula. He was yet to bring further Italian territory under control. Then on Christmas Day 800, while he knelt in prayer, Charles was crowned emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III.
Why is this important?
The Chanson de Roland sets up a fictional world where the Battle of Roncevaux takes place when Charles is already the emperor. In the poem, Charles is both emperor and king. The title was usually bestowed (though jealously) by the Eastern Empire in Constantinople. Further, Charles is old and wizened, with a long flowing white beard.
So when writing The Silver Horn Echoes, both in screenplay and novel forms, there were some creative choices to make. First, we could build a world that was more historically accurate and place Charles and his vassal Roland earlier in his career. Or we could go with the world spun by the poem and create a world in which the events of the Song of Roland are plausible. I chose the latter.
This creative choice allowed for two things. First, to remain truer to the telling in the epic poem. Second, there is a lurking danger in The Silver Horn Echoes represented by a very jealous and manipulative Byzantine Empire. You see, when the pope crowned Charles, the usual negotiations with and permissions from the Empire did not occur. After the crowning, Charles was thrown into negotiations with the Empire to legitimize the title. So we were able to use the world created by the poet and accomplish a retelling that focuses on an older Charles and his taking up the mantle after 800.
The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland is a work of fiction that is inspired by the mythical world of La Chanson de Roland. Thus, as storytellers, we pay homage to the battle of 778, but are not completely bound by the events. This allowed us to use characters and constructs from the poem, rather than be strictly bound by the historical record.
We hope you enjoy the creative choice. And we hope that it inspires you to learn more about the actual events surrounding the Battle of Roncevaux in 778.
http://myBook.to/SilverHornEchoes
Great Entertainment!
Enclosed is a review of the Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland that was released today. We wanted to share it with you!
The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland by Michael Eging and Steve Arnold is a book for those who are into well-crafted and tightly plotted historical novels. Set against a turbulent period in the Dark Ages, readers follow compelling and memorable characters in a world where intrigue and stabbings-in-the-back are frequent. Roland is heir to the Breton March, but while the Frankish kingdom is preparing for an impending war, he is given the most unlikely of tasks — to serve as a guard. When he learns about a new threat to the kingdom, he must do everything in his power to save his people. But this isn’t an easy task, as he is faced with ruthless enemies within the kingdom itself, and he must unveil the plots of a murderer who could be setting himself up for the most powerful position in the entire kingdom. Does Roland have what it takes to protect the kingdom, founded by Charlemagne, from being torn apart?
I have always been fascinated by the Dark Ages, by its rule of power, and by the intrigue that is witnessed in high places. This book explores this age in vivid detail and with forensic clarity, and the reader falls in love with the compelling characters without knowing why. The writing is beautiful and it features linguistic elements that reflect the setting. The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland is a work of great imagination, nourished by history, a story with a powerful conflict, laced with intense action and twists that are as surprising as they are delightful. Michael Eging and Steve Arnold bring readers great entertainment, taking them on a whirlwind journey back to the Dark Ages, and putting them alongside some of the most memorable historical characters.
Five Star Review
Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite
The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland by Michael Eging and Steve Arnold is a book for those who are into well-crafted and tightly plotted historical novels. Set against a turbulent period in the Dark Ages, readers follow compelling and memorable characters in a world where intrigue and stabbings-in-the-back are frequent. Roland is heir to the Breton March, but while the Frankish kingdom is preparing for an impending war, he is given the most unlikely of tasks — to serve as a guard. When he learns about a new threat to the kingdom, he must do everything in his power to save his people. But this isn’t an easy task, as he is faced with ruthless enemies within the kingdom itself, and he must unveil the plots of a murderer who could be setting himself up for the most powerful position in the entire kingdom. Does Roland have what it takes to protect the kingdom, founded by Charlemagne, from being torn apart?
I have always been fascinated by the Dark Ages, by its rule of power, and by the intrigue that is witnessed in high places. This book explores this age in vivid detail and with forensic clarity, and the reader falls in love with the compelling characters without knowing why. The writing is beautiful and it features linguistic elements that reflect the setting. The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland is a work of great imagination, nourished by history, a story with a powerful conflict, laced with intense action and twists that are as surprising as they are delightful. Michael Eging and Steve Arnold bring readers great entertainment, taking them on a whirlwind journey back to the Dark Ages, and putting them alongside some of the most memorable historical characters.
Five Star Review
Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite
Release of Annwyn's Blood Audiobook
Steve and I have been working away at the sequel to Annwyn's Blood, which is currently under edit and revision. However, something very extraordinary happened along the way...
We had such a wonderful experience producing the audiobooks for The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland and Tales of the Lost Horizon that we decided that the Paladin of Shadow Chronicles should also get narrated versions.
In the autumn of 2020, we opened up the book script to auditions on Audible. And the auditions were varied and by and large very well produced. However, there is one that just grabbed us by the throat.
I received a message from an artist that said, "Holy hell, I need to do this book." And after listening to his audition, we agreed. Josh Innerst is a classically trained Shakespearean actor who has produced a number of audiobooks, but his interpretation of Annwyn's Blood in the very limited audition recording blew us away. He understood the characters, the materials, the flow of the narrative, etc. His performance was urgent, reflected the rawness of the events unfolding, and left us wanting the whole performance!
We are so pleased to not only bring you a new edition of Annwyn's Blood, with a book cover that captures the spirit of this Dark Ages Tale, but a performance that took our breath away. We hope you enjoy this very special edition.
Annwyn's Blood
We had such a wonderful experience producing the audiobooks for The Silver Horn Echoes: A Song of Roland and Tales of the Lost Horizon that we decided that the Paladin of Shadow Chronicles should also get narrated versions.
In the autumn of 2020, we opened up the book script to auditions on Audible. And the auditions were varied and by and large very well produced. However, there is one that just grabbed us by the throat.
I received a message from an artist that said, "Holy hell, I need to do this book." And after listening to his audition, we agreed. Josh Innerst is a classically trained Shakespearean actor who has produced a number of audiobooks, but his interpretation of Annwyn's Blood in the very limited audition recording blew us away. He understood the characters, the materials, the flow of the narrative, etc. His performance was urgent, reflected the rawness of the events unfolding, and left us wanting the whole performance!
We are so pleased to not only bring you a new edition of Annwyn's Blood, with a book cover that captures the spirit of this Dark Ages Tale, but a performance that took our breath away. We hope you enjoy this very special edition.
Annwyn's Blood
The Silver Horn Echoes and Assorted Other Tales
Welcome to the world of Michael Eging! A place where time and space collide in works of fiction. Come along for the journey, but beware the dragons. They don't play in the sandbox well.
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