*
‘…all the great thinkers recognise the importance of rational thought and also the importance of getting beyond the rational and that’s where the myths and fairy stories come in… Plato spends the greater part of his master work ‘The Republic’ berating the poets and story-tellers for telling lies in their myths and then he ends his opus with… a myth’
‘Well, to err is human… But no one’s going to read a book in which all the characters are Giants.’
‘Yet we all live in a world dictated by them… but perhaps you’re right… they have become something of an obsession… the more self-remembering I do… the more giant-like my body and everyone else’s body seems to become… and they do make an appearance in all the mythological traditions… the Titans… the Jotunn… the Asuras… the Fomoire… as opponents of the ‘gods’ usually, which have to be overcome and subdued…and then kept at bay lest the heaven world be breached… and fall.’
Wen becomes pensive for awhile, ‘We need to go to Cerne Abbas…’
*
…‘I don’t even know where Cerne Abbas is’
‘It’s in Dorset.’
‘Is Set’s Door near Devon?’
Wen pauses for a moment and then smiles, ‘Yes, If Cornwall is the toe of the foot of the country, then Devon is the ball of the foot of the country and Dorset is the arch of the foot of the country.’
I am very much enjoying this description of the place names of Albion.
It makes it sound like the country has got a giant club foot.
‘Albion was a giant originally,’ smiles Wen unfolding a map of the Ancient Country, ‘look, in those days ‘Dorset’ was the domain of the Durotriges clan…’
‘Wow! Where did you get this?’
‘Map shop?’
I am not sure I believe her.
It is much more likely that this has fallen from heaven like manna of old.
It has all the ancient sites marked on it… and everything.
It is a vocational moment.
The world has finally changed for the better and now anything can happen.
‘You know this means that the heel of the foot of the country is called Dover?’
‘Yeahhss’ says Wen suspiciously.
She knows me too well already.
‘Well that makes Albion, fleet-footed, like Mercury. Albion’s heels are Dove winged!’
Excerpt from, The Heart of Albion by Stuart France and Sue Vincent.
A great read.
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Great read.I spent a lot of time down Devon, Dorset, Cornwall, Zummerzet, probably because husband 2 was from there. I collected stories people told me. Who know how many were “real” or just made up for tourists, but it was a lot of fun.
I would definitely read a book all about giants!
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It’s an amazing area of the world, Marilyn. If we ever emerge from lockdown we shall undoubtedly be spending more time down there. ‘Heart of Albion’ is pretty much all about Giants, one way or another… 😉
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We are all giants in our own way 💜
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