Men of Iron is an 1891 novel by the American author Howard Pyle, who also illustrated it. It is juvenile coming of age work in which the author has the reader experience the medieval entry into knighthood through the eyes of a young squire, Myles Falworth. In Chapter 24 the knighthood ceremony is presented and described as it would be in a non-fiction work on knighthood and chivalry. Descriptions of training equipment are also given throughout. It comprises 68,334 words and is divided into 33 unnamed chapters, an ...
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Men of Iron is an 1891 novel by the American author Howard Pyle, who also illustrated it. It is juvenile coming of age work in which the author has the reader experience the medieval entry into knighthood through the eyes of a young squire, Myles Falworth. In Chapter 24 the knighthood ceremony is presented and described as it would be in a non-fiction work on knighthood and chivalry. Descriptions of training equipment are also given throughout. It comprises 68,334 words and is divided into 33 unnamed chapters, an introduction, and a conclusion. It was made into a film in 1954, The Black Shield of Falworth.
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This novel was the inspiration for the Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh movie, "The Black Shield of Falworth." It depicts the struggle of a young Myles Falworth to learn the truth about his family's disgrace in mediaeval England during the reaign of Henry IV, and his training as first a squire and then as a knight to prepare him to avenge his father's honor and restore the family name of Falworth onto the roster of English chivalry.
The movie version heightens the story's drama by adding a second love interest for Myles' friend and by increasing the stakes by making the villain an outright traitor with plans to overthrow King Henry. It also includes Prince Hal, in a role which helps to uncover the plot and assists in advancing the fortunes of young Myles.
The book was very informative regarding the training, habits, and mores of that era in English history.
Antonia
Jun 22, 2007
Awesome and thrilling!!!
This book is a fascinating read. I would recommend it to absolutely everyone.
