A Search for the King [Mass Market Paperback]

Gore Vidal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 12, 1978

Kidnapped and held to ransom by Duke Leopold of Austria after the Third Crusade, Richard the Lion Heart, it is said, was found by his faithful troubadour Blondel de Neel. But how? And what trials did the faithful and long-suffering lyricist have to overcome to find his king? Gore Vidal paints a broad, colourful and poignant picture of a man searching for his master; for the symbolic king who is the goal of man's eternal quest; for the spiritual centre of his life.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Here is Mr Vidal at his best... As projector of a myth old as the Grail legend, the myth of the questing hero' THE NATION 'Mr Vidal's writing is lucid and persuasive, as one might imagine one of Blondel's ballads would be' THE NEW YORKER --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Gore Vidal is one of the greatest living American novelists and essayists. He has written numerous Hollywood screenplays, including BEN HUR, and ran as a Democratic candidate for Congress. He appeared with Tim Robbins in the film BOB ROBERTS and most recently in Gattaca (1998). --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (August 12, 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345254554
• ISBN-13: 978-0345254559
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,097,816 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gore Vidal has received the National Book Award, written numerous novels, short stories, plays and essays. He has been a political activist and as Democratic candidate for Congress from upstate New York, he received the most votes of any Democrat in a half-century.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quasi-Historical fiction from the master., August 6, 2005

By 

Cory Heitman "cheitman23" (Vermillion, SD United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Search for the King (Mass Market Paperback)

In this little-known short novel, Gore Vidal revisits the legend of King Richard the Lion-Heart and his troubadour Blondel. As fans of Robin Hood or Ivanhoe will recall, Richard was imprisoned by a duke of Austria on his return from the Third Crusade and held for ransom. In his absence, the King's younger brother John siezed the throne, intending to keep it.

The legend (and this novel) recount how Richard's companion minstrel Blondel continued to search for the King throughout Europe when others abandoned him. Vidal has taken a relatively straightforward narrative here. Anyone hoping for salacious details of Richard's sexuality or scandalous stories of medieval monks will be disappointed. This short novel follows the old legend, and not speculative history. There are werewolves, a giant, a dragon and other mythical beasts, but not in the manner one might always expect. For although the book is not unsuitable for younger readers, there is not much in the way of whimsy in this tale.

As Blondel looks for his friend and patron, he undergoes a type of existential crisis. His search defines him and limits him at the same time. Vidal is a skilled enough craftsman to make this apparent to the older reader without coming across as a Freudian analyst, but the internal monolauges and grim reflections of Blondel (especially late in the book) often make this storybook fable more modern than one would expect.

All in all, I recommend this novel with the proviso that it is neither reliably historical (unlike the author's better known "Julian" or "Lincoln" or a "boy's adventure" in the tradition of Harry Potter or a boy's King Arthur. Those with the willingness to appreciate it's unique approach will be rewarded.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great early adventure novel by a master, May 11, 2010

By 

I. Sondel "I. Sondel - lover of the arts" (Tallahassee, FL United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Search for the King (Paperback)

What an absolutely terrific adventure novel. The story of Blondel and his search for Richard Coeur-de-Lion. Giants, warewolves, vampires, dragons, unicorns, horny women, pretty men, battles, singing and even Robin Hood - this novel is one of the best, most entertaining and completely enthralling I've ever read. A treat and a pleasure from the first page to the last. I'd love for some Hollywood type to rediscover this "lost" Vidal novel and make a great film of it.