Dorothy originally thought that Shad had prepared in advance how to deal with this conversation, but as they talked, she realized that Shad seemed to really understand.
"The predecessor of chivalric novels is heroic epics. However, unlike traditional heroic legends, the protagonists of chivalric novels mostly fight alone for personal careers, and sometimes purely for adventure, and the adventure usually unfolds in a fictitious environment. As chivalric novels develop into the present, with the decline of the knight class, the elements of adventure in the stories are constantly weakening, and the elements of love and lust are increasing, which has led to the emergence of some dirty creative genres."
Xia De shook his head slightly:
"In my opinion, compared with the ancient knight novels of hundreds of years ago, contemporary knight novels are gradually abandoning the spirit of chivalry and the spirit of chivalry displayed to defend love, honor or religion. But this is understandable. After all, the real knight class has disappeared. The root of creation has disappeared. Then literary creation is like duckweed without roots on the water. No matter how good it looks, as long as you touch it, you will know that it is very empty underneath."
“Well said!”
Professor Mulder Goethe said, holding up his glass.
This middle-aged man with a big beard does have the temperament of a literary master. Not only has he made outstanding achievements in prose writing, he also has some accomplishments in popular literature.
Others also whispered in agreement with Shade's opinion. It was not because Shade's words were so good, but in this era, it had become normal for upper-class writers to criticize chivalric novels. Although not all chivalric novels tended to be low-class, they gradually became literature with pornography and rude language as selling points, which was indeed no longer suitable for this era.
Xia De chose to talk about knight novels because he knew that no one would defend knight novels in public at the Queen's birthday party.
"But it is very interesting, Mr. Hamilton, for a knight like you to say that chivalric fiction is in decline."
Baroness Yeva Swift of Carsenrick said that her Draerion language was not very good and she spoke slowly.
"But this is also true. However, in my opinion, the decline of the old-style chivalric novel also represents the rise of the new-style chivalric novel."
"oh?"
His words naturally attracted a lot of people's attention, and even Dorothy looked at Shad in surprise.
In her opinion, Xia De is not the kind of person who would brag about a field he is not familiar with, but it is inappropriate to say such things in an occasion with many writers.
"So, Knight, how do you define the so-called new chivalric novel?"
asked the playwright, Mr. Prossie Newman, who, though his appearance and dress were rather feminine, spoke in a normal voice.
"It's simple. Old-style chivalric novels focus more on describing battles with powerful enemies or even demons in the wild and countryside. After winning the highest honor of knighthood, they return triumphantly, become prominent figures, and marry noble ladies or princesses from far away. But in our time, who would have adventures in the countryside and the wild? Gentlemen, literature must be consistent with the background and tone of the times."
His words aroused people's approval.
"So, I think the main stage of the adventure in the so-called new chivalric novel should be set in the city. This is the most familiar place for civilized people who can understand words and like to read books to pass the time."
“That makes sense.”
The poet Mr. Miles Garoff stroked his chin and said that most people were now listening to Shad's "high talk".
"Secondly, the plot of knights defeating bandits, demons and evil spirits to gain honor is too cliché. In the adventure in the city, where is the opportunity to kill people casually? Therefore, the story of the new knight novel should not be aimed at killing a powerful target as in the past, but should fight against evil in a more civilized way on the main stage of the city."
Before others could react to what he was about to say, Xia De spoke faster and said:
"A man who lives in a steam city, is good at fighting, and is proficient in mathematics, grammar, astronomy, and mechanical manufacturing. He uses his solitary apartment as his base, travels through fog and steam, hangs out in slums and downtown, and lingers in clubs and aristocratic salons. He has close contacts with the poor, but can also win the favor of the big shots. He fights crime, gets paid, disguises himself in the dark and shadows to obtain information, regards mysterious criminals as his number one enemy, and even makes friends with noble ladies and princesses through missions, and at the end of the story, he has a happy life..."
"Isn't this just a detective story?"
Finally, someone understood what Xia De wanted to say, and people finally broke free from the scene created by Xia De's words. For people of this era, the scene Xia De described was quite realistic and vivid.
Everyone laughed because Shad was the detective, and Shad nodded seriously:
"Yes, so I think that the new type of chivalric novel that will be popular in the future is the detective novel. The detective novel will definitely be successful."
As he spoke, Shade turned his head and smiled at the blonde girl. People seemed to understand something and smiled kindly in return.
The words just now sounded a bit shameless, but it seemed that Shad's purpose was to win the favor of his female companion, because Dorothy Louisa was the hottest detective novel writer at the moment.
Then, Xia De's speech just now can be explained by romance, so it will not offend people. Moreover, what Xia De just said seems to make some sense.
Dorothy looked at Shad with a twinkle in her eyes:
"So, detectives are the modern-day knights?"
She asked quietly, but before Shade could speak, the foreign lady from Carsenrick said:
"So, Mr. Hamilton, as a detective, isn't he a knight living in this troubled and complicated northern pearl?"
Perhaps because the words came out of her mouth without thinking, she used the Kasenric language. Shade could understand the Kasenric language, so he rolled his tongue and smiled and said:
"Yes, ma'am."
This is also Carsenric language, and he still knows this simple expression.
Ms. Yeva Swift covered her mouth and chuckled, continuing to praise Shad in Carsenric language. The people around her also expressed their opinions on knight novels.
Only Dorothy was there, watching Shad:
"Detective..."
"What's wrong?"
Shad also looked at her, and the gas lamps and crystal chandeliers above their heads illuminated the two of them. In Shad's opinion, Dorothy was particularly beautiful today, and in Dorothy's opinion, the high-spirited Shad seemed a little different from the past.
After a moment of hesitation, she smiled and shook her head:
"Queen Diana will be out in five minutes."
The "illiterate" Shad, who was knighted for "saving Queen Diana", seemed to be regarded as one of the writers here after he published his criticism of chivalric novels and his views on new novels.
Before the queen showed up, Xia De took out the business cards he had prepared and exchanged them with people, in order to expand his network and attract business. When these wealthy people commissioned someone, their bids were usually very high.
People are naturally happy to get to know the detective of St. Teresa's Square. Apart from the relationship between Shade and Miss Carina, which no one dares to mention, Shade is still quite capable as a detective. In the past two months, every commission he has taken on has been successfully completed.
When the French horn sounded suddenly, the bustling banquet hall suddenly became quiet, and then everyone stood up. Queen Diana was about to appear.
First, a small group of guards from the Yodel Palace walked quickly down the stairs on the third floor. They were all wearing heavy armor painted with the royal family crest, with swords and pistols on their waists.
After clearing a passage from the third-floor stairs to the second-floor terrace, the trumpeters wearing soft hats and red cloaks with a strong old-time style also walked down from the third floor and stood on both sides of the cleared passage.
Reporters gathered on the terrace and set up their cameras facing the third floor staircase. Half of the people on the first floor went to the second floor, and half went directly into the courtyard to look up.
Amid the whispers, the deep horn sound gradually became as low as it could go. But after a few turns, the tone suddenly became loud again.
The guests' voices fell completely silent, and everyone looked up toward the stairs on the third floor.
First, several maids came out, followed by the Marchioness of Sula, the Duchess of Randall and other noble ladies. They stood in the middle of the stairs and looked up with everyone else. As the trumpets reached their highest point, Queen Diana, wearing a crown and a silver-white dress, finally came out surrounded by several princesses, and the person holding her hand was Ajelina Cavendish, who was wearing a blue princess dress.
Although Queen Diana was no longer young compared to her daughter, she seemed to be shining when she appeared here with her clothes and accessories.
She smiled at everyone downstairs, and the applause almost overwhelmed all the trumpets at this moment. The smoke and flashes produced by the explosion of a whole row of flashbulbs made the scene even more magical.
Shad and Dorothy, along with the other writers, stood at the back of the crowd, looking up and clapping with the others.
Dorothy clapped her hands softly, then turned and hid behind the taller Shad to avoid seeing Resia. Shad stood on tiptoe to look up the stairs. He first saw Resia holding the queen's skirt. The red-haired girls and young men around her should be princesses and princes from their country.
Then he saw Miss Carina, the witch following behind Queen Diana. She was also dressed up today, and although she kept that elegant and decent smile on her face, no matter how Shade looked at her, he felt that the witch seemed a little absent-minded.