Haroset and indignation over antisemitism and the Norman conquest of Britain on the menu

[cimorene]

I'm attempting to read Ivanhoe again, now that I know it's not only a deathless classic and perhaps the single most influential event in the latter character of the Victorian Gothic revival and hence the western literary Age of Chivalry genre, as well as a milestone piece of (though not uncomplicated) pro-Jewish gentile literature, but also the most famous of Sir Walter Scott's Waverley novels and a childhood favorite of and huge influence on William Morris.

The going is a little slow, but it's not particularly dry. It's much more like the language of William Morris's faux-medieval romances than the more plain modern translations from old French (of actual medieval romances) that I have been suffering through. What I'm finding hard to read is the societal antisemitism which, of course, is the whole point: to show how unjust it is, from a sympathetic angle. And it's hardly inaccurate! It's just very not fun. I find it much easier to consume that kind of information - unpleasant history I mean - as nonfiction.

Speaking of Jewishness, I'm not having a seder this year, but I found a recipe for haroset cake that we want to try, and one for haroset-stuffed chicken.

Then my wife said, "Didn't you also have a really delicious bread recipe? It's fancy - braided?"

I said, "Challah isn't associated with Passover. My mom used to make it at Hanukka, but I think in fact this is the only time of year you CAN'T eat it."

Possibly it's been a little too long since she heard the Passover story, lol.

Comments

[mecurtin]

I wrote a couple things about Ivanhoe 10 years ago:

The heroine of "Ivanhoe" (why it's Rebecca)

Mis-reading "Ivanhoe" (how did *Mark Twain* manage to miss the sarcasm?)

[cimorene]

I remember! That was the first time I thought maybe it was worth reading!

[msilverstar]

We're not having a seder either, it's just impossible to celebrate liberation right now.