A Literary Significance...

One of my favorite fantasy series is A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. The story is set in an imaginary island nation called the Seven Kingdoms. The capital city of the kingdoms is called King's Landing, the site where a conquering king first came ashore from the mainland set on conquering the whole of the isle. And in this city he built a great fortress overlooking the river that divided the city called the Red Keep. But what on earth does this have to do with being in London?

Two days ago, Chris and I visited the tower of London, the fortress William the Conqueror built in London overlooking the River Thames after he came over from Normandy in his conquest of England. Martin has said in many interviews that the events in his series are inspired by Britain's War of the Roses.

Standing beside it's towering cream colored curtain walls, I easily imagine the Red Keep Martin described incased in blood red stone and adorned with dragons.

There were many places along my travels that have evoked a deep historical significance such as the beaches of Normandy but this was one of the first places I was able to feel a deep literary meaning. Definitely something to be remembered.

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