The School in Carmarthen: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Anna Korosteleva Shkola v Karmartene sbornik.jpg|thumb]]
'''''The School in Carmarthen''' (Школа в Кармартене)'' is a [[Magic Realism]] novel by Russian linguist Anna Korosteleva released in 2006. In it, a [[Wizarding School]] exists in
▲'''''The School in Carmarthen''' (Школа в Кармартене)'' is a [[Magic Realism]] novel by Russian linguist Anna Korosteleva released in 2006. In it, a [[Wizarding School]] exists in rural Wales, teaching its students Celtic history of the British Isles, magical poetry, alchemy, multiple languages of varying degrees of deadness including animal languages, and cultural knowledge from all around the world. The plot… isn't really there as a unified central line; instead, smaller parable-like arcs involving different sets of characters all coexist and intertwine into a cohesive whole. The book is filled to the brim with references to [[Celtic Mythology]] and lore, as well as nods to Chinese, Greek, Roman and Scandinavian cultures.
The novel, like Korosteleva's other literary works, has been [http://samlib.ru/a/anna_a_k/carmarthen.shtml posted publicly online] (Russian only) and the author refuses any book deals from publishing houses, although doesn't mind small printed editions made by fans.
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* [[Absent-Minded Professor]]: Merlin himself because of being Merlin, and Morgan ap Cerrig because of being the Art of Oblivion professor.
* [[Adaptational Heroism]]: {{Spoiler|Dian Cécht from the legend killed his son Miach out of jealousy for his superior abilities}}, but in this book he is given a more sympathetic "I did what I had to do" motive and is full of remorse.
* [[Artistic License Geography]]: The real city of Carmarthen is nowhere near the river Usk. However, the mythical Caerfyrddin, home of Merlin, was said to be there.
* [[Brave Scot]]: Fingall McColm is forthright to a fault and it takes a lot to unsettle him.
* [[Celtic Mythology]]
* [[Cool Teacher]]: ''Everyone'', pretty much, but
* [[Dark And Troubled Past]]: Two mystery plotlines concern Snake's and Mac Cécht's past deeds.
* [[Ditzy Genius]]: Merlin Ambrosius is an old cranky oddball, but his advice is sometimes indispensable.
* [[Expy]]: Tarquin Snake is a cold, calculating, sarcastic and enigmatic chemistry teacher. He has black hair and eyes, dark clothes, morbid interests, very little tact, and a history of being the right-hand man of a genocidal overlord - although later {{Spoiler|he is revealed to be a [[Double Agent]] on the side of good (in a rather astonishing meta coincidence)}}. His first appearance has him bursting into the classroom "like a gust of wind", letting the students know he will not play nice, and holding a dramatic pause as the class falls silent, before beginning the lesson. His first name is Latin and his surname sounds like... well, like that of [[Harry Potter|Severus Snape]] (yes, in Russian too).
* [[Friend to All Living Things]]: Gwydion ap Cleddyf. An unusual inversion exists in Tarquin Snake, who is a friend to all ''non-living'' things: fire, metals, ancient organic compounds and others.▼
*[[Foreshadowing]]: Some plot points are anticipated by earlier episodes in the story.
* [[Geas]]: Dian Mac Cécht must let his hair down while operating and never cut it.▼
**In Berwyn's first scene he is watching a group of students play Transformations - a poetic game which often involves imagining yourself as the forms you invoke in your lines. He ends up {{Spoiler|mastering Tuatha Dé Danann poetry indirectly, through his transformation ability}}.
* [[Genius Bonus]]: This book contains traces of… let's see… Irish, Scottish and Welsh literature, history and mythology, Chinese culture and philosophy, Greco-Roman philosophy, Germanic mythology and a looooot more.▼
**Cerwyn Quirt {{Spoiler|restores Ceridwen's note from ashes despite not being supposed to}}, invoking the idea of "one must not violate the laws of nature/entropy" long before {{Spoiler|this turns out to be the motive behind Dian Mac Cécht's filicide}}.
* [[Gentle Giant]]: Liutgard is sweet, polite and a literal stone giantess.▼
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*[[Gentleman and a Scholar]]: Cerwyn Quirt absolutely excels at both, being a refined aristocrat who would go to any lengths for his parents and pupils, and a brilliant and enthusiastic chemist.
** {{Spoiler|Tarquin Snake wasn't working for Cromwell of his own free will – he only stayed by his side to keep him from closing down Merlin's school.}}
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* [[Magnetic Hero]]: Llewelys ap Cynfarch is the heart of any
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*[[Servant Race]]: The "khlebopechki" (lit. female bread-bakers) populating the kitchen and doing all the housework. They are treated with respect by everyone in the school and perform their duties happily and diligently.
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**The Branwen Tower, nicknamed the Shy Tower, is a shrinking violet ''building''.
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* [[Speaks Fluent Animal]]: Rhiannon teaches this skill, or rather several skills since different animals have different languages.
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* [[The Storyteller]]: Fintan son of Fíngen teaches Fomorian Lore by sitting down by the fire surrounded by the students and retelling old legends as if they were established fact. He also has spent the last several thousand years collecting Welsh family legends and traditions.
* [[Take That]]: Towards [[Obstructive Bureaucrat]]s, culturally insensitive researchers, and the English in general.
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*[[Translation Convention]]: The dialogue and the like is understood to be in Welsh by default, unless the characters have switched to English to appease the inspectors.
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*[[Wrong Genre Savvy]]: Gwydion's friends try to dig up some dirt on {{Spoiler|Tarquin Snake}} to expose him as the villain he appears to be. They are wrong on all counts.
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