On perusing a publication of Irish history, I came across a painting by the artist, Frederick William Burton, titled “The Meeting on the Turret Steps.” The image of the composition left such an indelible impression on me I kept visualising scenes based upon the mediaeval Danish Ballad from which the picture`s narrative derived. Very soon, I began to record my thoughts, greatly expanding the original story; titling it “Hellalyle and Hildebrand”. It took considerable time constructing the narrative because I wanted to create something not done before. I borrowed and intertwined phenomena latent to the Bible: principally, the Old Testament. As time passed, I was driven onwards by imagination to impart in the text, the involvement of some of the great artists of the Renaissance, along with renowned figures from Ancient Greece.

It became an adventure of the mediaeval period, centred on a kingdom of Eastern Europe, bordering on Kievan Russia. Endeavouring to bring into the story people from Europa, Asia, and a brief mention of geographical locations, such as the Altai, and Ural Mountains, and the Caspian Sea area. Most importantly for me, I have given the animal kingdom- the natural world, a presence in the tragic story as it unfolds; the timely saviours of the princess’s soul.       

 The book is primarily a love story between the knight Hildebrand and Princess Hellalyle with the dialogue kept to a minimum, for, I am sure, the spoken word of 800 years ago, the sentence construction, would have been radically different from that of today.

In a land near the Baltic and Kievan Rus dwelled an innocent young noblewoman, a gifted lady like no other, whose presence, a legend in her lifetime, set the standard of womanhood against which all others are judged. 

Her father the king, urgently required at the extreme edge of the kingdom, must leave behind his beloved daughter in a now inadequately defended castle. He decides to enlist twelve knights from across Europe to be her bodyguard, to protect her until his return.

The leader of these knights wins her heart – an attraction engineered by the spirits of Arcadia.

However, their love contradicts the chivalric order and displeases the king, setting in motion a tragedy for the soldier and the princess.

The heroic actions of a Teutonic knight carrying a terrible war wound, and the brave efforts of a diminutive, disabled servant girl, her affliction wrought at conception, strive to bring positive closure to this ancient saga.

About Tagai Tarutin

“Hellalyle and Hildebrand” is his first completed novel. There are two others of a completely different genre, that lie unfinished, awaiting inspiration.
He has worked most of his life in sales but has always had an interest in Arts and Humanities. Things that are beautiful and appealing play an essential part in his imagination.
Besides travelling in West Europe, he has journeyed to the far South Atlantic, and European Russia, anxious to see parts of the world that are for many mystical destinations on a historical map.

Website: https://hellalyleandhildebrand.com/