Chivalry

A sweet, charming take on Arthurian legend brought into modern times, beautifully drawn and painted by Colleen Doran. Worth it for the art alone, which continues the style you can see on the cover: painted scenes and panels, with borders and calligraphy and margin drawings like a medieval manuscript. I've read other graphic adaptations of Neil Gaiman stories that tried to keep too much of the prose, but here the words and illustration are balanced perfectly to serve the story, and again, the art is amazing.The story is kind of fantasy fusion comfort food. It follows familiar patterns, mixing the magic-item-found-in-a-shop trope with the Arthurian grail quests.

I've read Chivalry before as a short story, and enjoyed it as a sweet little distraction, but this edition elevates the tale to another plane. The layout and the artwork invites you to pause and contemplate each line, and, as such adds pace and gravitas to every page. Beautiful to look at, and a joy to read. For some reason I felt moved at the end.A calming, meditative, read.

I have been a fan of Neil Gaiman for years but this graphic novel was poorly written and pointless. The artwork is stunning.

A change of direction in tone and illustration from Gaiman and Doran’s last graphic novel. This time it’s a story which conveys a gentle warmth, mixing the mundane with the fantastical. IfYou are looking for the horror of Snow, glass, apples this is not where you will find it.Colleen Doran is a master of her craft flipping between the ordinary life of Mrs Whittaker in 80s Britain to Arthurian legends and into illustrative manuscript. Several pages such as Galaad’s reverence to the Grail on first sight are extraordinary in their ability to convey complex subjects such as reverence.

An excellent addition to any Neil Gaiman library. The artist hits the spot perfectly.(I’m glad I read the notes at the end - finding out that the story was written so long ago explains how some of the ideas later occurred in the Sandman series).Thank you Colleen Doran for making this book.

Absolutely stunning version of this old Neil Gaiman short story thanks to Colleen Doran's incredible illustrations. It's like holding a medieval illuminated manuscript in your hands. One of the most beautiful books I've ever owned.