The Lady and the Minstrel
Robert Marcel, the main character of Joyce DiPastena’s sprawling and richly atmospheric The Lady and the Minstrel, has ideas ahead of the medieval thirteenth century England where he serves on the manor of the local lord; he dreams of a freedom unknown to men and women of his station, a freedom that would allow him to pursue his own dreams. When he can no longer chaff against his servitude, he makes a daring escape from his lord’s lands, aided by an equally-courageous young woman. Years later, when Robert is a working freelance minstrel, he encounters this young woman again: now she is Lady Marguerite, betrothed to marry the brutish Earl of Saxon. The pair determine to once again defy convention and attempt to have a life together, with all the forces of their society ranged against them.
DePastena portrays those forces, time whole spectrum of the world Robert and Marguerite inhabit, with a great deal of confidence and skill; this is a deeply-researched book that wears its learning very lightly, and it bears comparison well with other great novels of the Middle Ages. The author provides a glossary of medieval terms and a very good list of suggested further reading on the period. I loved the book and highly recommend it.
