The imaginative absurdity of this early Arthurian romance is caught by Guilar with both humour and music and this is presented to the reader, or the listener, from the moment of Culhwch’s arrival at the king’s court and is greeted by the gatekeeper:
The boy asked, ‘Is there a porter?’
‘There is and may your head not be your own for asking.
I am Arthur’s porter on the 1st of January,
for the rest of the year my deputies are Goodhearer,
Littlemeatman, Slowstep, and Penpingpong,
who goes upon his head to save his feet,
neither earthwards nor heavenwards
but like a rolling stone on the floor of the court.’
As Guilar’s note to this tells us these names (Huandaw, Gogigwr, Llaeskemyn, Penpingyon in Welsh) are an abrupt indication that the hero accompanied by us as readers is about to enter ‘a different version of the world.’
You can read the full review by clicking the link below. The book is available direct from Shearsman Uk, from most online sellers, and direct from this website.
