Get the latest tech news

Mystery in the Moon

Across the medieval world, the Moon induced feelings of fear and fascination.

But then, she wrote, ‘I decided to forget my countless fears, abandon all thought of myself, and go forth abruptly, enticed by the waning Moon.’ Throughout her journey on the road, it remained a companionable presence, marking time and inspiring her to poetry; often, she admitted, ‘I have gazed simply at the Moon all night long.’ There he discovered an impressive civilisation (‘Cities and castles on the Moon abound/ The size of houses with amazement fills’), as well as vast amounts of earthly detritus; in one of these huge piles of broken promises, lovers’ sighs, and tears, he found Orlando’s lost reason, safely stored as liquid in a corked flask. As this varied selection of stories suggests, Lazikani’s approach is a sweeping one: her aim is to offer a ‘multi-glance’ (that is, ‘a look across many regions, traditions and cultures’), to which end she has identified Moon-literature from across the world, dating from as early as the seventh and as late as the 17th century.

Get the Android app