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An Antic Disposition
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Plot Summary of An Antic Disposition
"

St. Martin's, Jan 2004, 23.95, 304 pp.
ISBN: 0312300964

In 1204 AD, Pope Innocent III declares the Fools' Guild as the most dangerous enemy that the Christian hierarchy faces, even more perilous than the Saracens, due to their subversive mockery of church hypocrisy. He sends an army to devastate the guild. Though they are Fools, these are not fools so they hide in the Black Forest (thankfully it is summer). The members heed the words of leader Father Gerald as he tells a morality tale from the annals of their history that explains why they must continue even though outlawed.

In Denmark, three men were in a power struggle to claim the throne. As civil war explodes, another claimant patiently waits to usurp the throne. The Fools' Guild dispatches Terence to observe one of the contenders Duke Orvendil. Upon Terrence's arrival, Orvendil's son renames him Yorick. Major double crosses and murders become the norm as Danish blood flows freely and no one trusts anyone else. Fools like Theophilos, alas he knew Yorick well, was a key player as they destroyed some of the more vile pretenders and their followers. Still he wonders if back in 1157, he and Yorick crossed the line as he has hid his role and his ungainly heritage even from his beloved Claudia.

AN ANTIC DISPOSITION uses a tale within a story to develop a deep morality tale as the prime story line though that is a flashback.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of An Antic Disposition
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20%




Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
Time/era of story: - middle ages
Spying/Terrorism Thriller Yes
Cloak & Dagger Plotlets: - power struggle within govt between two factions
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - champion of justice
Age: - 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use? - just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race - British
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - Prince/Nobleman/King
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some
Motive of antagonist - power
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - Scandinavia

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths? - 3-4
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
Most similar books to An Antic Disposition
Get Out or Die by Jane Finnis
The Canterbury Papers by Judith Koll Healey
The Widow of Jerusalem by Alan Gordon
Dragon's Lair by Sharon Kay Penman
The Bastard's Tale by Margaret Frazer


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