EL CID The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Mercenary

Listeners who relish histories that deflate legend will particularly appreciate this unvarnished portrait of El Cid, Spain's symbol of liberation from the Moors. In reality, the Cid was an eleventh-century mercenary named Rodrigo Diaz, who fought for Christians and Muslims alike. But over the centuries, with the help of a few enterprising monks, Diaz evolved into a symbol of knightly valor and sacrifice. This is a narrative full of twists and ironies that really calls for more edge and nuance from its narrator. Sophie Roberts is competent enough, but hers isn't the most melodic of voices or in any way nuanced. Still, the narrative is lively, a wonderful example of legend-making--and sleight of hand. D.A.W. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2025]