Chivalry by Neil Gaiman

The Damsel of the Sanct Grael
by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1874)

I have started listening to the Levar Burton Reads podcast on my morning commute to work, making the travel time far more pleasant. As long as there are no transit delays, I am usually able to finish at least one story by the time I reach my destination. Today, it was Chivalry by Neil Gaiman, which I enjoyed quite a bit. My only exposure to his work is the novel American Gods back in the early 2000's, when it was all the rage. I recall struggling with the bloated narrative that seemed to meander without any purpose and something about the prose just irked me. I eventually abandoned the book and never read anything by Niel Gaiman again. After listening/reading this delightfully whimsical short-story about an old lady who discovers the Holy Grail at a thrift shop (not a spoiler and is revealed in the very first sentence), I am willing to give him a second chance. Similar to Haruki Murakami, I get the feeling that his short-stories will appeal to me more than the novels. 

Elements of the fantastic intertwine with ordinary life creating a captivating sense of magical realism. The Arthurian legend and Galahad's search for the holy grail in a small suburb of England during the 20th century is not only believable but surprisingly moving as well. 

Mrs. Whitaker is a widow, living a quiet and modest life. She enjoys afternoon tea with her friend and tending her small garden. Visiting the local thrift shop and browsing their eclectic wares is a weekly tradition where she usually leaves with one of those paperback harlequin romance novels that can always be found at these kind of stores. After discovering the beautiful chalice hidden amongst some odds and ends, she believes that it would look great on her mantlepiece. Later on, she is surprised to receive a gentleman caller claiming to be Sir Galahad and explains that he is a on noble quest in search of the Holy Grail, which has led him to her. Their budding relationship is tender and sweet, similar to the way a loving grandmother might dote on her grandson. The light-hearted humor is most effective during their interactions. This is an amusing and entertaining story with a well-drawn and empathetic protagonist.

This story got me thinking more about our unhealthy attachment to material things. It's funny, we are born into this world with nothing, struggle to accumulate all these things and then leave this world with nothing. Mrs. Whitaker might be in possession of one of the most sought-after ancient relics in human history, but it's value does not hold the same weight as the picture of her deceased husband located next to it on the mantlepiece. This story provides a gentle reminder that life is short and ephemeral. We can attach meaning to objects to help fill the void but they to are subject to time.