Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Doubleday Books (1993), Edition: Book Club Edition., 728 pages
Description
Alfred of St. Ruan's Abbey is a monk and a scholar, a religious man whose vocation is beyond question. But Alfred is also, without a doubt, one of the fair folk, for though he is more than seventy years old by the Abbey's records, he seems to be only a youth. But Alfred is drawn from the haven of his monastery into his dangerous currents of politics when an ambassador from the kingdom of Rhiyana to Richard Coeur de Leon is wounded and Alfred himself is sent to complete the mission. There he encounters the Hounds of God, who believe that the fair folk have no souls, and must be purged from the Church and from the world.
User reviews
LibraryThing member isadrone
It's a monk, it's an elf, it's a Mary Sue!
I wasn't too many chapters in before I realized that Judith Tarr's The Isle of Glass was going to be a frustrating read. Her central character, Alfred, is a monk of elvish blood who lives in an alternate medieval universe. He's beautiful, smart,
Note that the writing itself is tolerable. Tarr tends to sparse language that merely sketches characters' surroundings - the reader dwells in Alfred's head not in Richard the Lionhearted's Anglia. It's writing that suffices rather than inspires. And that is not enough. Especially when one must endure the holier-than-thou protagonist pitying his admirers' for their sinful homosexual desires even as he exploits them. (I wonder if this reflects Tarr's inability to follow through on her own kinks, or some sort of obeisance to her interpretation of Catholic mores.)
It's been a while since I read Katherine Kurtz' Deryni Chronicles. I don't believe Kurtz ever danced so close (yet still so far) to slash, but I do recall spending many an hour pairing Morgan and his cousin Duncan in my head. If you can enjoy fantasy with a heavy dose of Catholic mysticism, then I recommend you read Kurtz and give Tarr a pass.
I wasn't too many chapters in before I realized that Judith Tarr's The Isle of Glass was going to be a frustrating read. Her central character, Alfred, is a monk of elvish blood who lives in an alternate medieval universe. He's beautiful, smart,
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forever-young and has natural skill in nearly everything he turns his hand to. Every man (and the occasional woman) who lays eyes on Alfred is driven instantly to either jealous rage or deepest ardor. Too bad our hero is committed to his chastity; if he weren't, the author makes clear, only heterosexual couplings would tempt him.Note that the writing itself is tolerable. Tarr tends to sparse language that merely sketches characters' surroundings - the reader dwells in Alfred's head not in Richard the Lionhearted's Anglia. It's writing that suffices rather than inspires. And that is not enough. Especially when one must endure the holier-than-thou protagonist pitying his admirers' for their sinful homosexual desires even as he exploits them. (I wonder if this reflects Tarr's inability to follow through on her own kinks, or some sort of obeisance to her interpretation of Catholic mores.)
It's been a while since I read Katherine Kurtz' Deryni Chronicles. I don't believe Kurtz ever danced so close (yet still so far) to slash, but I do recall spending many an hour pairing Morgan and his cousin Duncan in my head. If you can enjoy fantasy with a heavy dose of Catholic mysticism, then I recommend you read Kurtz and give Tarr a pass.
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LibraryThing member willowcove
I loved these books. Especially the first volume. I'm sorry that Tarr didn't write additional books with the main character.
LibraryThing member crystalcarroll
It’s rare that you read a series where the main character is a saint. Filled to the brim with doubting. With faith. With dialectic thought.
Yeah, yeah, adventure, battles, witch hunts and loss.
What I love about the series is the characterization. Alf, the main character, is a foundling, an Elvin
Really, the best of all Tarr’s books. The series wanders from Richard the Lion hearts Anglia, to Byzantium’s fourth crusade washed shores to ruined Rome.
A great read for a sink into never were.
Yeah, yeah, adventure, battles, witch hunts and loss.
What I love about the series is the characterization. Alf, the main character, is a foundling, an Elvin
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magical thing that doubts the existence of his own soul. Struggles with his faith, and thus his faith is a thing worth having.Really, the best of all Tarr’s books. The series wanders from Richard the Lion hearts Anglia, to Byzantium’s fourth crusade washed shores to ruined Rome.
A great read for a sink into never were.
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LibraryThing member Karlstar
At the time I read this, I was definitely not impressed. The early 80's were full of good quality fantasy, and this wasn't a good example. The characters are flat and the plot isn't very interesting.
LibraryThing member HarperKingsley
Three great books in one large edition. Follows Alfred, a monk of St. Ruan's that is pulled out into the world against his will.
A foundling, he has lived at St. Ruan's all his life. And as all his friends and peers age and become men, he stays a youth. As such, he is kept a secret of the abbey,
A beautifully written set of historical novels featuring kings and intrigues and knights and ladies and monks. It just happens to surround an idea of elves and magic.
A foundling, he has lived at St. Ruan's all his life. And as all his friends and peers age and become men, he stays a youth. As such, he is kept a secret of the abbey,
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protected from the Church and the rest of the world.A beautifully written set of historical novels featuring kings and intrigues and knights and ladies and monks. It just happens to surround an idea of elves and magic.
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LibraryThing member DinadansFriend
A Fantasy where Elves interact with us in a late 12th Century setting. But they're relatively Twee Elves, and there's no real feel of the 12th century, either. very like a 1950's "costume" movie.
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1993
Physical description
728 p.; 8.1 inches