Yvain: Knight of the Lion (Fantasy) (Graphic Novel)

By Chrétien de Troyes (original), Adapted by M. T. Anderson (writer), & Andrea Offermann (Illustrator)

Publisher: Candlewick (March 14, 2017)

Hardcover, 144 pages



This is a graphic novel based on the Arthurian story by Chrétien de Troyes, a 12th century French poet. He is one of the few, along with Marie de France, who popularized the second round (or revival) of Arthurian literature in Medieval Europe. Before this revival, legends of Arthur and his men centered around the normal legendary themes of them coming across some great monster or supernatural force and then beating it up. 
      The second round created the themes (Christian or not) of courtly love, chivalry, heroes protecting the weak - rather than just being strong enough to crush everyone else- which defines our ideas of the Arthurian legends today. The notion that Camelot was the center of some golden age did not exist before then. De Troyes himself created the character of Lancelot, named Arthur’s court  Camelot, and the Fisher King and the Holy Grail. That’s right, the holy grail is a piece of fiction and always has been. 

      While Yvain, our hero, was at his most popular in de Troyes’ Lancelot-Grail cycle of literature, he is actually derived from a historical figure from the 6th century, Owain mab Urien, a warlord who fought against the Anglo-Saxon invasion. He had many (obviously false) legends in the early Welsh triads and always present in the Vulgate cycle of Arthurian legends. However, Chrétien de Troyes creates an almost new character with this romantic poem. 

When I say romance, I don’t mean it’s something along the lines of Danielle Steele. There is plenty of action where-in the titular character slays giants, demons, and all manner of evil men, but essentially it’s heart remains a romance between Yvain and Laudine- his true love, who seems to passionately hate him. But then this is both a simple and complex tale.  

It is simple in that it is a coming-of-age story for Yvain who, by the end of the story, matures so that he will not take his love for granted as he did in the past. Complex in that it seems his lady love has actually outgrown him, but is tricked by oath and honor to taking him back as her husband. This is how De Troyes originally wrote it and the translators kept faithful to his vision. The text is translated into modern argot and pictures, but essentially the authors perfectly captured the spirit and action of the original text.  

Yvain is an odd mixture of the old and new hero. He champions the weak and upholds the chivalric idea of the right, as per the new Christian ideals of heroism, but retains the problems of the old epic hero. That is, he is powerful enough to knock down all of the enemies the world can throw at him, but he’s not that bright and incapable of solving a problem that doesn’t require violence. In fact, at the end he seems completely oblivious to his tricked love’s utter contempt for him. And for that reason, the story is worth reading. 
For more readings, try books by Rex Hurst.