The Camino in Literature

[geraldkelly]

I'm currently reading a book called The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson (he of Treasure Island fame). One of the characters, a man called Lawless, an outlaw who lives in the forest and makes up in nobility of character what he lacks in birth, makes the following statement: "I have been in England and France and Burgundy, and in Spain, too, on pilgrimage for my poor soul..."

It started me thinking. I like to read but I'm not aware of a lot of references in literature to the pilgrimage to Santiago. However, given its importance in the history of medieval Europe, they must exist in some number. Does anyone else know of any and can they post details here?

Ger

[Covey]

One of my "things to do" when I retire in Aug 2012 is to do some research on the Camino Routes, especially from Paris to Santiago, and where the routes originally went. The present day route from St Jean to Santiago has been "tweaked" in numerous places to allow for economic tourism and I want to find out how much of the present routes to Santiago are the same as pilgrims walked centuries ago. (accepting of course the changes made by modern road building!)

[unadara]

Literature and Lists
Interesting and more interesting! One of the things I learnt recently is that the making of lists of things to do is not actually a "good" thing to do. It gets in the way of doing things? But..to keep to the subject/topic.. Have you a plan of how you intend to carry out this research ? If so and if it is by way of reading/research I might assist. First of all I must set out on my first adventure this Sept and will then keep in touch by way of this forum. Maps are one of my passions/books another and my previous occupation might be useful too! Will PM you.

[Covey]

My research is really another excuse (if I really needed one!!) to spend more time walking the Ways, but I have often thought as we plod our weary way up and down hill if the path we are treading is actually the same way as the Pilgrims over the centuries have walked, and which bits Mammon has changed to ensure that one village /town or another should get some of the benefit arising from hundreds of weary pilgrims seeking rest and refreshment.

Given the numbers walking the Camino in recent years, the economics of the Pilgrims has become more important to rural northern Spain and therefore the urge to squeeze the maximum benefit for the economy along the route gets greater.

[geraldkelly]

OK. This appears to be going nowhere but I'm going to persevere.

The Canterbury Tales. The General Prologue. The Wife of Bath.

And thries hadde sche ben at Jerusalem.
Sche hadde passud many a straunge streem:
At Rome sche hadde ben, and at Boloyne,
In Salice at Seint James, and at Coloyne.

Now, my edition (Wordsworth Poetry Library) translates Salice as Celicia. However I think it's a mistake because I can find no reference to a pilgrim site called Celicia. Also, a translation I found online is as follows:

She had thrice been at Jerusalem; many distant streams
had she crossed; she had been on pilgrimages to
Boulogne and to Rome, to Santiago in Galicia and to
Cologne.