In sheer volume, it has long since outdistanced the epic historical novels of Hugo and Tolstoy.
In The Days of King
Hal Foster, who had some experience with Tarzan under his belt, introduced his new hero in February 1937. He was Prince Valiant, teenage son of a deposed Scandinavian king, finding refuge with his family in the marsh country of southeastern Britain.
From that humble beginning, Valiant rose to become a Knight of the then recently formed Round Table of King Arthur, a comrade-in-arms of the fabled Sirs Launcelot, Gawain, and Tristram, and husband of the wise and gorgeous Aleta, Queen of the Misty Isles. He helped Arthur turn back several Saxon invasions, ranged over Europe and parts of Asia and Africa on quests, and tracked a kidnapper as far as Niagara Falls to retrieve his wife.
While history records nothing of the Round Table and few bare references to Arthur himself, they would have belonged to the sixth century conflict between the Romano-Britons and the Saxons. Prince Valiant's early adventures had him witnessing the expeditions of the Huns in western Europe and the collapse of the Roman Empire, clearly fifth century events. Foster's "alterations" of the Arthurian context also include armor, ships, and religious customs of somewhat later periods.
But in a panoply of comic strip heros with supernatural powers pitted against diabolical foes equipped with comparable magic, Prince Valiant offered readers young and old entertaining insights into an otherwise reasonably depicted early medieval setting. As a "historical novel" it's not far off a well-trodden path.
A Realistic Hero
The original teenage eponymous character has been allowed to age by Foster and his successors. While not adding seventy years, he has clearly become a middle-aged grandfather who depends much more on brain than brawn to survive and conquer. The beauty of Aleta, and her ability to outsmart her husband, have weathered the years better.
From the outset , Val was portrayed with flaws. He was subject to overconfidence, jealousy, lapses in judgement , and error. But he was decent, compassionate, loyal, tenacious, and a quick and effective problem-solver. And he was good, cheerful company both then and now.
The longest historical novel flows on.
