History Rhymes: Guy Gavriel Kay's new novel begins with a poet protagonist and a royal murder
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In January, the Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde made headlines after she gave a sermon at the interfaith prayer service following Donald Trump's second presidential inauguration. She called on Trump to show compassion towards the marginalized groups that he was already intending to target and persecute.
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Trump and his followers went ballistic. Meanwhile, an American book reviewer whom Kay has known for years received an advance-reading copy of Written on the Dark the very next day.
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'I said 'You know I wrote that a year-and-a-half, two years ago,'' says Kay, in a Zoom interview with Postmedia. 'It is an example of history not repeating but rhyming. I wasn't making any direct (reference.) I couldn't have been, I'm not prophetic in that way. I wasn't making any direct association with right now. But he said he didn't sleep that night, thinking about history and power and the people who push back against power. That effect, I love to achieve.'
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Kay is a veteran novelist who uses reflections of historical backdrops for his fantasy fiction. The famous quote 'history doesn't repeat, but it rhymes' is one of his favourites. It guides his work.
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'I like looking into history and finding things that evoke, associate with, trigger thoughts about the present without trying to pin anything down to specific repetitions,' he says.
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Kay's 16th novel is set in a world meant to reflect a turbulent Medieval France, called Ferrieres in the book, during the Hundred Years War. His hero, Thierry Villar, is a tavern poet who becomes entangled in the dangerous power struggles among members of royalty after he is enlisted by the king's provost to help investigate the brutal murder of the Duke of Montereau, the king's brother and advisor. The country teeters towards civil war as the powers behind the assassination become clear.
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So, yes, Written on the Dark begins with a tantalizing murder mystery, although it doesn't take long for the reader to learn who the culprit is. Kay says the early sparks of inspiration for the novel came from rereading Dutch historian Johan Huizinga's 1919 classic Autumntide of the Middle Ages, which had just been reissued as a handsome, illustrated coffee table book. It is about 14th- and 15th-century France and Burgundy, a time and place that Kay had not spent much time evoking in previous novels.
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The Province
2 hours ago
- The Province
Trump plans for Putin-Zelenskyy meeting as he notes 'tremendous bad blood' between them
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Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Sign In or Create an Account Email Address Continue or View more offers Article content Yesterday, important talks took place in Washington with the President of the United States and European leaders. This was truly a significant step toward ending the war and ensuring the security of Ukraine and our people. We are already working on the concrete content of the… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 19, 2025 Article content tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Trump plans for Putin-Zelenskyy meeting as he notes 'tremendous bad blood' between them Back to video tap here to see other videos from our team. 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Winnipeg Free Press
4 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ranger fired for hanging transgender flag in Yosemite and park visitors may face prosecution
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Vancouver Sun
4 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Trump ready to ‘crush' Russian economy if Putin avoids Zelenskyy talks: Senator
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