In a Dark Wood Wandering     by Hella Haasse, Translated by Lewis C. Kaplan and Anita Miller Original title: Het woud der verwachting Original language: Dutch Original year: 1949 Published by Academy Chicago Publishers Pub. Date: 1991 Format: Paperback Dimensions: (in inches): 1.26 x 8.92 x 6.00 ISBN: 089733356X Edition: REPRINT List Price: $21.95, £13.96 Buy online from Amazon.co.uk for £12.56 Buy online from Amazon.com for $15.37 Published by Arrow Books, London Pub. Date: 1991 Not available for ordering Published by Hutchinson, London Pub. Date: 1990 Not available for ordering Published by Academy, Chicago Pub. Date: 1989 Not available for ordering

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In a Dark Wood Wandering, first published in Dutch in 1949, was the first of many historical novels written by Hella Haasse. It is set in medieval France and follows the life of Charles, Duc d’Orléans from birth to death. Alongside Charles’s life, the novel also tracks the death of chivalry and the old feudal way of life. At the outset, the French nobles are constantly forging alliances, poisoning enemies, and chasing power which is continually shifting. Even their fighting methods are hopelessly outdated, as Henry V and his men amply demonstrate at the battle of Agincourt. True, Joan of Arc provides temporary relief from the decline, but internal wrangling and prejudice put an end to her contribution and her life. The reigning king is insane most of the time, and the reader wonders how long this can continue. At the end of the novel, the aged Orléans’s encounter with the impatient new king Charles VII, shows that the latter’s aim of unifying France can only be achieved by dispensing with the old order.


In the First Book, ‘Youth’, the novel shifts its initial focus from Charles’ father to his long-suffering mother, from her to Charles’ youth and first marriage, and on to Agincourt where he is taken prisoner. These changes in perspective ensure that the world of politics does not dominate but is balanced by the domestic, intimate lives of the great men. In this way Hella Haasse offers a feminine view of history.


The Second Book, ‘The Road to Nonchaloir’, presents a very different side of Charles d’Orléans — his emergence as a poet, a development born out of the circumstance of his lengthy imprisonment in England. The propensity was there already in the youthful Charles’ love of books and learning, and in his response to hearing a minstrel perform a poem of his father’s about a knight roaming in the forest of long awaiting, an image for unrequited love. This image not only captures Charles’s imagination, it becomes a symbol of travelling towards a desired goal which changes as time passes. In a poem, he uses the ‘forest of Long Awaiting’ to represent his exile as a ‘journey of desire’ which will lead him to the realm of Thought. The poems are Charles’ own, quoted by Haasse, and she herself also uses the Dark Wood — a walk along cool forest pathways — to convey to the reader Charles’ passage into death, his journey through his past life out of the wood towards the light.

But now he heard the leaves rustling again, the coolness of the wind drew him irresistibly, he fled on through the soft grass that suddenly seemed very tall. Now he understood why this was so: he was a little child; bracken and plants reached nearly to his waist. The trees seemed as high as steeples. He stumbled on his path and fell. But within reach of his little hands he found the folds of a woman’s gown, the fragrance of honey and roses. He did not stay, although he stretched out his arms, but slipped from the path into the shadows of the forest. He was alone among the terrifyingly tall undergrowth, the menacingly broad leaves covered on the inside with fine hairs, the virulently colored flowers with greedy biting lips and spiny tendrils. He cried for help. Gasping for breath.

Now he was singed by pain. When he finally opened his eyes he saw, at the end of the narrow green path, dazzlingly bright light. There it is, he thought breathlessly, there it is. With a shout of joy and deliverance he plunged forward to meet the light.

Jean Cailleau, kneeling beside the bed felt Monseigneur’s pulse with his fingers, put his ears against his breast; slowly rose. He looked attentively and lovingly at the face, set in an expression of final fulfilment. After that he bent and gently closed the dead man’s eyes. (p. 574, tr. Lewis C. Kaplan)