The Curse of Chalion
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 Cover of first edition (hardcover) |
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| Author | Lois McMaster Bujold |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Doug Beekman |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Eos (HarperCollins) |
| Released | August 2001 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover & Paperback), E-book |
| Pages | 442 pp (hardcover) 512 pp (mass-market paperback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-380-97901-2 |
| Followed by | Paladin of Souls |
The Curse of Chalion is a 2001 fantasy novel by Lois McMaster Bujold. It was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Novel and the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 2002.
The Curse of Chalion was followed by Paladin of Souls (2003), which takes place several years after the events in Chalion, and centers on the character of Ista. The next novel in the setting is The Hallowed Hunt (2005), which takes place in Darthaca, a land some distance from Chalion.
Contents |
[edit] Plot introduction
The plot of the novel centers on Lupe dy Cazaril, a castillar (knight or minor baron) making his way back home to the Royacy (Kingdom) of Chalion after more than a year as a galley slave. His old patroness finds a use for him as tutor to her granddaughter, the Royesse (Princess) Iselle. Caz finds himself on a strange journey through dangers both spiritual and temporal. This is not only a novel about self-sacrifice and redemption, but also a piece of speculative theological fiction which closely examines the relationship between free will, fate, and divine intervention.
Chalion is a looking-glass version of the kingdom of Castile and Leon, and the novel is loosely based on the lives of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, the unifiers of Spain. However, the story of The Curse of Chalion is not simply a retelling of the lives of Isabella and Ferdinand, and Chalion is not simply Castile. The story takes quite a different path from the historical one, and the major characters are distinct personalities, not simply versions of historical people.
[edit] Major themes
The Curse of Chalion is noted for its focus on religion and metaphysics. The Five Gods of the Chalion world are developed original characters that follow strict rules rather than abstract entities with nebulous powers. Because the Gods can work only through the will of a consenting human there is a complex consideration of the problems of free will.
[edit] Allusions/references to actual history and geography
Iselle's mother Ista, heroine of the sequel Paladin of Souls, is based on Isabella of Portugal. Iselle's father Roya (King) Ias is based on John II of Castile, whose favorite Alvaro de Luna inspired Bujold's Arvol dy Lutez. Iselle's half-brother Orico represents Henry IV of Castile, who was called "the Impotent", and her full brother Teidez corresponds to Alfonso de las Asturias. The geography is likewise based on that of the Iberian Peninsula in the 15th century—but flipped north for south. Chalion is Castile; Ibra is Aragon and Valencia; Brajar is Portugal; the Roknari princedoms are Moorish Andalusia; and Darthaca is France.
[edit] External links
- Publisher's page for The Curse of Chalion
- Bujold Nexus's Chalion index; includes link to map of Ibran Peninsula
