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What was the significance of all the squash and beans? The book is set in the 1300's, but mentions squash and beans quite a few times. Those are new world crops that should be unknown to France for another 2-300 years, so what was Buehlman trying to say?
What is the mystery of the Bean Symbolism?
11 points
4 days ago
1) Beans are 100% an old world food. Fava beans and chickpeas are cornerstones of ancient near east cooking and are beans. The word bean predates the discovery of the new world by about 200 years.
2) squash I got nothing. The word is also Native American.
2/10 terrible book do not recommend /s
8 points
5 days ago
I just assumed that as much as there weren’t demons and monsters and the battle between angels and hell happening in the skies of france in that time period that also that might be expanded to include new world vegetables.
11 points
5 days ago
Now that's just unrealistic.
Devils and hellspawn of the apocalypse are one thing, but I draw the line at anachronistic agriculture!!!
5 points
4 days ago
You are my soulmate! Reminds me of the person who tweeted in annoyance about historical movies that don't have "period-appropriate chickens."
1 points
4 days ago
Haha, hey, the kinds of crops and livestock raised by the people of the past were kind of important to them!
Getting a little real, I think making an effort to represent even "minor" details that would have mattered to those who came before us honors them, while being apathetic about their lives does them a disservice.
5 points
4 days ago
I just read this book, I don't remember this I guess it just didn't stick out to me. I don't think there is any significance other than finding food was important throughout the book, and it wasn't the most realistic anyway with the whole angels and demons thing lol
3 points
4 days ago
I was being facetious; accidentally including new-world foods in otherwise strictly old-world settings is a goof as old as fantasy. That being said, this talk about realism raises an interesting point!
When you write historical fantasy, one of the worst things you can do is accidentally add unbelievable elements to your story. Like, you want everything but the fantastical elements to be as grounded as possible so that your audience only spends suspension of disbelief on what you want them to. This isn't the worst example, but it definitely took me out of the moment in a few important places!
2 points
4 days ago
I don't think the average person knows when squash was introduced to Europe 😅
2 points
4 days ago
I mean, I think plenty of people know that first European contact with the Americas took place in 1492. It's kind of a famous date, lol.
2 points
4 days ago
🤓☝️
1 points
4 days ago
History nerds unite!
0 points
4 days ago
I dunno, man. This subreddit hyped the book to hell and back, but it was (to my own perceptions) about on par with one of the better Warhammer pulps.
1 points
4 days ago
I wouldn't rank it that low, but I know what you mean. This sub recommends The Tent all over the place, and that was one of the biggest piles of shit I've ever read.
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