num_pages: 315
description: Si la reine Elisabeth I avait péri en 1588 sous le couteau d'un assassin, si l'Invincible Armada avait triomphé de la tempête et vaincu, l'histoire aurait suivi un autre cours où la papauté l'aurait emporté, où le progrès technique aurait été condamné comme démoniaque.Au XXe siècle, des locomotives à vapeur tirant jusqu'à cinq wagons disputent les routes aux cavaliers ; les nouvelles sont transmises par des réseaux de sémaphores ; on chasse les sorcières et les seigneurs féodaux appuient leurs révoltes sporadiques de sciences impies et hérétiques comme l'électricité et la chimie.Mais l'histoire, imperturbable, entraîne dans sa pavane peuples et rois, humbles et riches, filles et garçons.Anthony Burgess, l'auteur de L'Orange mécanique, a salué Pavane comme l'un des meilleurs romans britanniques parus depuis la guerre. Il s'agit incontestablement d'un classique de l'uchronie, de la littérature de science-fiction et de la littérature tout court. Pavane is an alternate history 1st published by Hart-Davis Ltd. Most of the stories appeared in Science Fantasy, "The White Boat" added later. It comprises a story cycle set in Dorset, depicting a 1968 in which the Church retains supremacy. In its timeline, Protestantism was destroyed during wars after the assassination of Elizabeth I in 1588. Without Protestant England, Spain prevented the Netherlands' independence. German mercantile city states financing the Reformation were suppressed. Spanish power eventually wanes, but the Church has no rivals. The Pope is the secular &amp; spiritual ruler of Europe. The Church also controls a restive New World &amp; Australasia, where Cook planted the Vatican's cobalt flag. Social effects include feudalism &amp; innovation bans, particularly electricity, leading to a roughly mid-19th century technology with steam engines &amp; semaphore telegraphy. Outlying areas are dangerous, with wild animals &amp; supposed fairie manifestations of the 'Old Ones' or 'People of the Hills' who leave crab-symbol graffiti. Revolution is rumored. The location &amp; flavor, nostalgic yet tragic, resemble a sf equivalent of Hardy's fictionalized Wessex. Golden Cap is the site of a semaphore station &amp; Corfe castle is a key presence. The title alludes to a stately melancholy dance, the pavane, the book being divided thematically into measures &amp; a coda. After a brief Prologue, they are: "The Lady Margaret"—a lonely steam haulier meets a friend from his past; "The Signaller"—an apprentice semaphore operator is sent to a remote station; "The White Boat"—a discontented fisher girl is obsessed with a mysterious yacht; "Brother John"—a monk becomes disaffected by the Inquisition; "Lords &amp; Ladies"—a woman's bitter memories are evoked at the deathbed of the haulier from the 1st story, her uncle; "Corfe Gate"—an aristocrat, the daughter of the central female in "Lords &amp; Ladies", is involved in a regional rebellion. The "Coda" is set some years after the events of the final stories, centering on the son of the seneschal to the female aristocrat from "Corfe Gate".
language: French
title: Pavane
titlecomplete: Pavane
genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Historical, Short Stories, Science Fiction Fantasy, Alternate History, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Audiobook, Steampunk
ratings_count: 3333
places: United Kingdom
publisher: Le Livre de Poche