Speaking Ill of Kings: The Influence of Maurice Druon on ASOIAF (Part I)

Introduction

Especially when discussing the more controversial aspects of ASOIAF, George R.R Martin will often point to history as a legitimizing factor – saying in essence if not outright that “this is how it was back then” – which has led to quite a few arguments from medievalists who point out that Martin’s world is far from the historical norm when it comes to some important issues.

To a certain extent, however, part of the confusion between Martin and his medievalist critics is due to the fact that Martin is far more influenced by historical fiction than recent medievalist historiography. And as a Romantic author himself, Martin is particularly attracted to historical fiction that already leans to the outré, which gives us something of a Man Who Shot Liberty Valance situation.

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Non-ASOIAF Content: Book Announcement

As you all know, in my day job I’m a historian of public policy. And I’m very pleased to announce that my first academic book, People Must Live By Work: Direct Job Creation in America, from FDR to Reagan, is now available from University of Pennsylvania Press. (You can buy a copy here and here, hint hint.)

I know that 20th Century U.S social and economic policy is a far cry from Medieval Europe, but if you’re curious to know what’s been keeping me from devoting every waking hour to writing about A Song of Ice and Fire, here’s your chance! And if the topic interests you, I’m hosting a book club over at Lawyers, Guns, and Money.

RFTIT Tumblr Weekly(ish) Roundup (Part II)

The Maurice Druon essay is up to 1800 words, so let’s get back to the Tumblrs!

ASOIAF:

• How would medieval people distinguish between new money and old?
  • Part II
• Night Watch training methods.
• Aelora as Princess of Dragonstone, wrt to Maekar and Bloodraven.
• Would Cersei’s kids really have been killed? YES.
• Balon’s claim not to have been a traitor was bullshit.
• How big are golden dragon coins?
• Inflation and devaluation in Westeros.
• Does Dany need Dorne? Sort of, yes.
• Extent of Lannister patronage in King’s Landing.
• Premodern attitudes to premarital sex.
• What is the Shavepate, anyway?
  • Presentism re: Astapor and Yunkai.
  • Who poisoned the locusts?
• GRRM’s inspirations for the White Walkers.
• The Lords of the Vale and the War of Five Kings.
• Why wasn’t Lysa Arryn’s death better investigated?
• Westerosi mercenary companies.
• Why did people in medieval Europe have non-contiguous landholdings?
• Crowns as symbols.

Non-ASOIAF:

• Steve Rogers and the 1920s.
• Venture Brothers podcast: Season 7, Episode 1.
• Venture Brothers podcast: Season 7, Episode 2.
• Godscast, Episode 3.

RFTIT Tumblr Weekly(ish) Roundup (Part I)

One of the unintended consequences of taking a long time to finish an essay – the Maurice Druon essay is up to about 1000 words, btw – is that a lot of Tumblr stuff piles up in the mean time. So just eye-balling it, I’m guessing that it’s going to take more than one post to clear my backlog. Speaking of which…

ASOIAF:

• Yes, Renly knew about the incest.
  • Part II
  • Part III
  • Part IV
  • Part V
• Why does Margaery want Tommen to be a good king?
• Why Tywin wanted Sansa married off:
  • Part I
  • Part II
  • Part III
• What premodern industries would benefit from assembly-line techniques?
• A rebel-led regency for Aegon VI would have been a bad idea.
• A debate about the politics of keeping the Targaryen children alive.
  • (see comments)
• Opportunities for sea commerce off the North’s west coast:
  • Part I
  • Part II
• Dorne does not have slavery.
• Fashions in royal address:
  • Part I
  • Part II
  • Part III

Non-ASOIAF:

• Godcast Episode 1: a new issue-by-issue podcast covering the Wicked + the Divine.
• Godcast Episode 2.

RFTIT Kickstarter Fulfillment News

Hey folks, just wanted to post a quick update about the progress of Kickstarter fulfillment. My editor Marc has been sending out physical copies of the books in batches, and I’ve seen the emails showing that people have started to get them in the mail, which is great. On my end, all but one of the signed sets of books have been mailed out and that last one should be going out this week.

With that done, Kickstarter fulfillment is starting to come to an end. It’s not completely done; I still have some bonus essays to write and a presentation to record, and at some point I need to find a time and place in NYC for people to watch “Blackwater” (if there’s still interest in that). And of course, when the Kickstarter is complete, I have big plans for the future…

However, I do want to thank everyone for their patience and their support once more.

 

Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Arya V, ASOS

“They can’t hurt me, they’re dying. She took her cup from her bedroll and went to the fountain.”

Synopsis: Arya and the Brotherhood Without Banners visits Stoney Sept, where they debate the ethics of the death penalty and whether Gendry should bone his half-sister, before Arya meets someone from her past.

SPOILER WARNING: This chapter analysis, and all following, will contain spoilers for all Song of Ice and Fire novels and Game of Thrones episodes. Caveat lector.

RFTIT Tumblr Weeklyish Roundup

Hey folks! So now that Sansa III is out of the way – which officially pushes me over the one-third mark through ASOS – I’m going to take a little bit of time to do some work on some Kickstarter essays. I’ve started doing some notes on Maurice Druon’s Accursed Kings and I’ve hauled out my notes on Dunk and Egg, so I’m hoping to spend the next week writing those up.

In the mean-time, I’ve got some stuff on the Tumblrs for you:

ASOIAF:

• Two questions about the Roman legions.
• A question on peasant incomes and taxes.
• The rules of the Black Wall of Volantis.
• The Lannister debt to the Lannisters.
• Civil vs. common law in Westeros.
• Two questions on economic development. 
• Historical examples of canals.
• Why didn’t Tywin give Castamere and Tarbeck Hall to his brothers?

Non-ASOIAF:

• Important books to read.
• Thoughts on Captain America #1.

Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis: Sansa III, ASOS

“Sansa tried to run, but Cersei’s handmaid caught her before she’d gone a yard.”

Synopsis: a pre-teen girl is forced into marriage with an enemy of her family and for some reason people think she is the bad guy.

SPOILER WARNING: This chapter analysis, and all following, will contain spoilers for all Song of Ice and Fire novels and Game of Thrones episodes. Caveat lector.

RFTIT Tumblr Weeklyish Roundup (Part II)

Quotes have been put into the outline for Sansa III, which is going to be a rather difficult essay to write, because it requires a very delicate touch. The mountain of signature books has been successfully moved from front door to living room, so I plan to start signing them tomorrow.

In the mean-time, lots more Tumblrs:

ASOIAF:

• Why Stannis thinks the Stormlords are traitors.
• Avoiding presentism in economic development plans.
• Canal Talk:
  • Part I
  • Part II
• Riverrun II location.
  • Part II
• Where do the Great Houses put their cash?
• Re: the final battle happening in the North.
• Royal helmet fashion.
• Thin places talk.
• Historical archery talk.
• More medieval university talk.

Non-ASOIAF:

• Why Marvel characters’ origins migrate from the Lower East Side to Brooklyn.
• On the Kitty Pryde/Colossus wedding twist. (spoilers)
• Rogue/Gambit ages.
• My favorite Magneto relationships.
• Varying levels of powers in MCU films.
• All-Might as Superman. 

RFTIT Tumblr Weeklyish Roundup (Part I)

So Dany III took up a bit of time, but now I can tackle the mountain of books for signatures.

In the mean-time, I have a TON of Tumblr stuff, so I’m breaking this post in two so it’s not a crazy-long list.

ASOIAF:

• Roman vs. Medieval taxation.
• Public vs. private in the Middle Ages.
• Do vassals have to foot the bill when their liege lords visit?
  • Part II
• Medieval urban real estate.
• How guilds dealt with masters moving between cities.
• Fees for acolytes of the Citadel?
• Why didn’t Italy unify after the fall of Rome?
• Where did non-licensed artisans live and work?
• Why did the Western Roman Empire learn Latin but not the Eastern?

Non-ASOIAF:

• Who would the Avengers root for in ASOIAF?
• Who the hell is Moon Knight?