Red Sonya of Rogatino

[Von K]

New thread for Red Sonya.

It was a woman, dressed as von Kalmbach had not seen even the
dandies of France dressed. She was tall, splendidly shaped, but lithe.
From under a steel cap escaped rebellious tresses that rippled red
gold in the sun over her compact shoulders. High boots of Cordovan
leather came to her mid-thighs, which were cased in baggy breeches.
She wore a shirt of fine Turkish mesh-mail tucked into her breeches.
Her supple waist was confined by a flowing sash of green silk, into
which were thrust a brace of pistols and a dagger, and from which
depended a long Hungarian saber. Over all was carelessly thrown a
scarlet cloak.

This surprizing figure was bending over the cannon, sighting it in
a manner betokening more than a passing familiarity, at a group of
Turks who were wheeling a carriage-gun just within range.

"Eh, Red Sonya!" shouted a man-at-arms, waving his pike. "Give 'em
hell, my lass!"

"Trust me, dog-brother," she retorted as she applied the glowing
match to the vent. "But I wish my mark was Roxelana's--"

Robert E Howard - Shadow of the Vulture

Has anyone written of a possible influence from Augustina of Aragon on REH's Red Sonya (and Dark Agnes)?



en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agustina_de_Arag%C3%B3n

[deuce]

Feb 19, 2017 12:01:51 GMT -5 Von K said:

New thread for Red Sonya.
Has anyone written of a possible influence from Augustina of Aragon on REH's Red Sonya (and Dark Agnes)?



en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agustina_de_Arag%C3%B3n

Sonya is an interesting gal.  As far as Augustina, REH never mentioned her. He did list Joan of Arc as one of his most admired historical figures. He also related several vignettes about badass frontier women in his letters.

[Von K]

Hi Deuce,

It was Agustina firing the cannon during the siege of Zaragoza that made me think of Red Sonya firing the cannon at the siege of Vienna. My thought was that REH may possibly have seen a pic of Agustina in one of his history books and drawn upon it for inspiration?

She's known as "the Spanish Joan of Arc," so I'm guessing REH had maybe heard of her in some context.

[deuce]

Our own Jason Aiken looks at Sonya of Rogatino and other women of the sword:

[keith]

Great "Pulp Crazy" contribution, Jason! And being a devoted fan of Sonya of Rogatino, Dark Agnes, AND Jirel of Joiry, I don't say that lightly. My personal view is that Sonya and Agnes were exact contemporaries, even born in the same year. I've even theorized that Francoise de Foix, the French king's mistress, who really lived and whom Agnes encounters in "Blades For France", needed once again to appeal to Agnes for help a few years later, in Italy. But due to one of those cases of mistaken identity that happen in the world of pulp fiction especially, Francoise found herself face to face with Sonya instead. I mean, how many red-headed sword-wielding she-devils would a royal mistress expect to meet in one lifetime? But I've supposed that Francoise hired Sonya to help her, and that the Russian girl earned her pay well and truly, so that Francoise handed over her jewels with the dazed comment, "By the good God, I did not think there could be another like Agnes," to which Sonya shot back, "By the blessed saints, I had not thought there could be another like me!"
Not sure if Sonya and Agnes ever actually met. Maybe it's better they didn't. Two of a kind might not have agreed.

[fernando]

Oct 13, 2017 7:14:46 GMT -5 keith said:

Great "Pulp Crazy" contribution, Jason! And being a devoted fan of Sonya of Rogatino, Dark Agnes, AND Jirel of Joiry, I don't say that lightly. My personal view is that Sonya and Agnes were exact contemporaries, even born in the same year. I've even theorized that Francoise de Foix, the French king's mistress, who really lived and whom Agnes encounters in "Blades For France", needed once again to appeal to Agnes for help a few years later, in Italy. But due to one of those cases of mistaken identity that happen in the world of pulp fiction especially, Francoise found herself face to face with Sonya instead. I mean, how many red-headed sword-wielding she-devils would a royal mistress expect to meet in one lifetime? But I've supposed that Francoise hired Sonya to help her, and that the Russian girl earned her pay well and truly, so that Francoise handed over her jewels with the dazed comment, "By the good God, I did not think there could be another like Agnes," to which Sonya shot back, "By the blessed saints, I had not thought there could be another like me!"
Not sure if Sonya and Agnes ever actually met. Maybe it's better they didn't. Two of a kind might not have agreed.

And you did wonderful essays on Red Sonya, Keith!  I love all REH's she-warriors: Belit, Valeria, Dark Agnes, Helen Tavrel, Nell Brent, Eve of the Sash of Crimson - and, of course, Red Sonya of Rogatino!

[Jason Aiken]

Oct 13, 2017 7:14:46 GMT -5 keith said:

Great "Pulp Crazy" contribution, Jason! And being a devoted fan of Sonya of Rogatino, Dark Agnes, AND Jirel of Joiry, I don't say that lightly.

Thanks, Keith! I have to admit this is one of the episodes I'm most proud of. I still kick myself for neglecting to mention the Smith & Tierney Red Sonja novels, ce'st la vie.

Interesting theory by the way, I like it!

[themirrorthief]

wish Howard had written more Red Sonya and her pal Von Kalmbach...I did like the Smith and Tierney stuff, not bad at all

[fernando]

I just found this text about Sonya Lisowska: www.oocities.org/rikjohnson_rlj/turks.html

I confesse I need translating it before (and I'm a bit too busy translating this one: www.fanfiction.net/s/13104187/1/Alya-the-Saga-Continues-Second-Edition), so that I'd like to know what you think about it, my friends.

[keith]

Oct 14, 2017 8:17:26 GMT -5 fernando said:

Oct 13, 2017 7:14:46 GMT -5 keith said:

Great "Pulp Crazy" contribution, Jason! And being a devoted fan of Sonya of Rogatino, Dark Agnes, AND Jirel of Joiry, I don't say that lightly. My personal view is that Sonya and Agnes were exact contemporaries, even born in the same year. I've even theorized that Francoise de Foix, the French king's mistress, who really lived and whom Agnes encounters in "Blades For France", needed once again to appeal to Agnes for help a few years later, in Italy. But due to one of those cases of mistaken identity that happen in the world of pulp fiction especially, Francoise found herself face to face with Sonya instead. I mean, how many red-headed sword-wielding she-devils would a royal mistress expect to meet in one lifetime? But I've supposed that Francoise hired Sonya to help her, and that the Russian girl earned her pay well and truly, so that Francoise handed over her jewels with the dazed comment, "By the good God, I did not think there could be another like Agnes," to which Sonya shot back, "By the blessed saints, I had not thought there could be another like me!"
Not sure if Sonya and Agnes ever actually met. Maybe it's better they didn't. Two of a kind might not have agreed.

And you did wonderful essays on Red Sonya, Keith!  I love all REH's she-warriors: Belit, Valeria, Dark Agnes, Helen Tavrel, Nell Brent, Eve of the Sash of Crimson - and, of course, Red Sonya of Rogatino!

[keith]

Me too! And thanks for the praise!

[mindboggled]

I found Red Sonja unlikable in Howard's story. She annoyed me greatly. I found the way Roy wrote her much more appealing.