The Dedalus Book of Medieval Literature: The Grin of the Gargoyle

by Brian Murdoch (Editor, Translator)

Brian Murdoch provides an alternative view of the Middle Ages, showing the anarchy and decadence which lurked below the surface of a devout and conformist society. The grinning gargoyle, which mocked the solemnity of Gothic cathedrals, symbolises the violence, depravity and irreverence inherent in man which could not be suppressed by the church.

259 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1996

About the author

Brian Oliver Murdoch FRHistS is an English philologist who is Emeritus Professor of German at the University of Stirling in Scotland. He specializes in the study of early Germanic and Celtic literature, on which he has authored and edited several influential works.

He has published monographs, articles, editions and edited collections on early medieval heroic and biblical literature, mainly German, English and the Celtic languages, plus a comparative study of the legend of Hero and Leander. He has also published extensively on the literature and songs of of the World Wars, most recently on the theme of Everyman in German war-plays. He has translated from classical and medieval Latin and from medieval and modern German, notably Erich Maria Remarque's 'All Quiet on the Western Front (1994) and The Way Back (2019).

Reviews

[Missberet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monks of Lindisfarne did not spend their time reading the bible, but read of heroics in the middle ages, in fact the religious services were mostly conducted with the original sin of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Decadence also supposedly came into play with Noah before the floods came destroying the decadence of the people. Gothic Cathedrals were also built, yet, they are hard to make out close-up as the book reads
" One such cathedral has a gargoyle of a demon grinning at you over his shoulder, whilst displaying his bare bottom, from which the rainwater falls from a great height. It's a salutary comment on fallen humanity."
So entitled the book The Grin of the Gargoyle.
Writings of poetry from Germany on Adam and Eve, the self- destruction of the Roman Empire, the downfall of the Huns, Fredegonda, the Frankish Concubine, The Franks and the life of Charlemagne in brevity follow. There is also a very brief black mass parody at the end of the book. Gilles de Rais is also included in these debaucherous sections that also put male genitalia into medieval prose and poetry.

[Shawn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Despite what the cover says, the introduction makes it obvious that this is intended to be seen as part of Dedalus' Decadence series. Much like the ROMAN DECADENCE volume, it covers a wide range of subjects that fall under the "decadence" umbrella, producing more of a patchwork feel. And much like the ROMAN DECADENCE book, I found this one a little underwhelming. Maybe it's because Medieval History isn't one of my interests.

There's lots of silly "blasphemy" stuff, some short excerpts of royalty and rich people being awful to each other and the peasants. The long, German cautionary tale of "Helmbrecht" is kinda fun, as Helmbrecht leaves the life of a simple farmer to become a criminal and gets what's coming to him.

But unless you like the time period, you could chalk it up as a miss.