Wal-Mart and Templars?

     I haven't posted anything for a while because I was stuck at work from the time I got out of class until about 11 o'clock at night. That's one of the crappy things about Wal-Mart, they don't think their employees have lives outside the workplace. On the upside, I recently quit so I have time to do other things. Like update my blog, read my homework, go to plays, and occasionally hang out with my friends. At any rate, I did manage to get some reading done during my work breaks. I got my Robert Louis Stevenson stuff skimmed for class and I finished the Crusades Trilogy by Swedish author/journalist, Jan Guillou.
     The books follow the life of a fictional Swedish noble named Arn Magnusson. The first book, "Road to Jerusalem," started at a time just before Arn was born and ended at the beginning of 20 years of penance to be served as a Templar Knight and crusader. The book also gave a lot of information about historical events going on within the Scandinavian countries during that time. It was an interesting story, as well as a wonderful beginning to a timeless love story that continues through the next two books. Guillou also gives some interesting insight into life in a medieval Cistercian Monastery within the "barbaric" wilds of Western Gotaland.
     The second book, "The Templar Knight," details Arn's exploits during his time in the Holy Land. It also goes into the life of his love, Cecilia Algotsdaughter, as she also serves her 20 years of penance for a sin the two committed in the first book. I don't want to give any details because I would ruin things for those who decide to read the books. Any way, when Arn was sent to serve in Jerusalem, Cecilia was sent to serve her time in Gudhem Convent where she is constantly abused and overly punished by the Mother Superior. Cecilia also becomes a pawn in the political games being played between the clan her family traditionally supported and Arn's clan. While Cecilia is trying to survive her tormented penance Arn befriends  the Saracen leader, Saladin, and witnesses the fall of Jerusalem. He also picks a fight, and wins, with one of Richard Cœur de Lion's knights, Ivanhoe. By the end of the book penance has been served, Cecilia is free, Mother Superior is either dead or dying (I can't quite remember), and Saladin has given Arn enough gold to get home and be the richest man in the Scandinavian countries.
     The final instalment to the trilogy is titled, "Birth of the Kingdom," Arn eventually makes it home to find everything has changed. He was gone for over 20 years and during that time a great war was fought for the crown in his homeland. He begins to build up his family's home so that it can eventually be a fortress used to help ensure a lasting peace between the clans, as well as the Swedes and the Danes. Cecilia, too is free and in control of the finances for another convent until the kings right hand decides that she could better serve as Mother Superior in her old convent. She's still being used for the king's political gain, but she continues to refuse as she waits for Arn to return. The eventually find each other and they find a priest willing to bless their love so that their families have no choice but to allow their marriage. By this time, both are in their late thirties and have been part of the monastic life for so long that to do anything else seems strange. They get married and continue to pursue everlasting peace. Arn begins to train the youth of his clan so that they can eventually fight well enough to defend their land and succeed with a minimal loss of life. As with most life stories this one ends in a death. You'll have to read the book to find out anything else.
     This was a wonderful series of books that gave me a better look into life during the 12th and 13th centuries. The prevalent message of the whole story was that love can conquer all, God has a plan for everyone, and faith in something greater than ourselves can get us through absolutely anything. There were plenty of other messages within the stories, but those are the ones I found when I was reading. I'm a firm believer in the idea that we get what we need out of a story at the time we read it. I would definitely recommend these books to anyone who loves history and fiction. Many of the characters were real, all the battles actually took place, and all of places named in the books are places that can still be visited today. These are definitely books for both genders. There's action, battles, romance, and acts of honor and treachery.Go check them out.
Happy reading!