During lengthy restoration work and labour that essentially amounts to moving house without switching house, I have had the pleasure of finding a creative work that I am still as proud of today, as I was when I drew and wrote it at age 9 or 10 in 1998 or 1999 A.D. Inside it, you will find hallmarks of my drawing and writing styles that holds true to this day: Heavy reliance on historical references, attention to detail, violence and due focus given to mundane aspects such as logistics and work that allows armies to function. Other enduring aspects to note is a bright use of colours, still in the same pallette for the most part.
Swedish readers may be able to detect a strong influence from the author Olov Svedelid, a fantastic writer whose historical novels for children and youngsters remain some of the very best works I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. They are even better when re-reading them today, since one picks up more details. Sadly his books have never been translated into English, because otherwise I would have recommended them warmly to foreign readers. They are grimdark to boot, and so livingly immersed into their world and era that they never break immersion by anachronisms.
The following fictive story obviously plays loose and fast with history in a playful manner. It is inspired by hearing a most brief description of Jacob De la Gardie’s campaign to Moscow (1609) during Muscovy’s Time of Troubles.
Think away the layers of practice and polish accumulated through the years, and let us see if you can recognize some of my current writing and drawing style in it:
Moscow Becomes Swedish
I am as good as dead, Axel thinks when he came over the wall around Moscow. He worms to a guard tower, but suddenly he hear steps behind him. He becomes deadly afraid but gets up the lid and climbs down a ladder. He opens the door to the tower but sees cavalrymen and hides behind a cannon. One of the riders have a smoking pipe but burns himself on it. He throws away the pipe, but hits the fuse of the cannon which in its turn is lit.
A violent sound is heard and the a great hole takes shape in the wall.
Axel walks toward the Czar’s palace. He has heard that the roof is full of gold, platinum and expensive tile and marble. He gets a tug around the shoulder, when he turns around he sees a Swedish Carolean.
The Carolean shows a shortcut to the palace.
But the way is long, and rats bite Axel in the foot. Now he sees the palace, I think I’m fainting, thinks Axel. Now he hears a sound, oh no reinforcements for the Russians!
I must stop them, thinks Axel. Axel knows why we Swedes go on the attack so quickly.
It is because the last Czar of the viking line Rurik has died, and that is why there is civil war in Russia. Though he cannot do else but run to the camp. He reaches the camp and a guard points his pike toward him. But immediately the guard sees that he is a Swedish bagage train farmhand.
He is going to tell his superiors that the Russians have received reinforcements.
Axel need not stop them. He hears that a non-commissioned officer says that it is only Novgorod that attacks Moscow. Axel returns to the bagage train, and starts milking cows. Suddenly he gets a cuff around the ear. He turns around and sees bagage train master Olov. The most hated person in the bagage train.
“I hate you,” said Olov.
“What have I done now then?” asked Axel.
“The soldiers want beer and not milk.” Olov went away, and Axel got to trample grapes to wine. Now attacked the Swedes’ Caroleans, and Axel watched. Now it is evening and Axel thinks on all that he had experienced today.
Do you have any notable childhood works of yours to share? Fire away!
Of possible interest to the likes of: @Jaberoo @Eisenhans @Antenor @Jackswift @Fuggit_Khan @Bloodbeard @denelian5 @tjub @Oxymandias and more still.
