The Angel in the Window to the Orient Abstract In the
Venetian Lagoon,
San Francesco del Deserto is an island that is home to a
Franciscan monastery. In 1917, Corto arrived and asked the monks for a copy of a map, drawn on a
missionary's skin. This could lead him to the location of the
Sapa Inca Atahualpa's seven mines, around the
Marañón River, in
Peru. These mines are also the legendary
Seven Cities of Cibola and the mythic
El Dorado. However, only six are listed on the document - the seventh is missing. Thus, a monk advises Corto to go to the
Venetian Ghetto to meet Melchisedech the
rabbi, who owns a diary describing all seven cities. Once there, he discovers that a page showing the location of the seventh city is missing from the book. The responsible party is seemingly a strange paralysed woman living in a Venetian palace, nicknamed "The Angel in the Window to the Orient". Corto finds that, in recent days, an Austrian plane has often flown over her house. This little game intrigues Antonio Sorrentino, the
Carabinieri captain. With few of his men and Corto, he goes to the palace to unravel the mystery. Inside, the sailor discovers that the "paralytic woman" is in fact Venexiana Stevenson, his old enemy from
Honduras (cf. the story "
Banana Conga", in the volume
Beyond the Windy Isles) who now wants to find El Dorado. While the Carabinieries take out her Austrian accomplices, Venexiana manages to escape. , Germany (
Ethnological Museum of Berlin, Germany)
Analysis This story is a transition between Corto's adventures in the Americas (in the volume
Under the Sign of Capricorn and
Beyond the Windy Isles) and in Europe (in this volume). In the previous story, in Peru, the sailor met a monk who told him about this mysterious map kept in Venice. This story is his attempt to find it. To document this story, Hugo Pratt explains that he drew information from the books of a missionary institute in
Verona (
Veneto, Italy), the
Comboni. This place is overflowing with books nibbled by rats, which were written by missionaries stationed in South America. The latter were in close contact with the
natives. So, according to Pratt, this information was so important that people from Peru or Brazil come there to study it and learn Indian dialects. Hugo Pratt enjoyed showing his childhood city, Venice, as he would do in future stories like
Fable of Venice. Thus, he guides the reader between Venetians isles and buildings. Scarso, the man who serves the
sole (the "sfogio") really existed and worked in
Malamocco (village of the
Lido where the comics creator has a house). In addition, various places are superbly drawn: the
Piazza San Marco (which includes
St Mark's Basilica, the
winged lion — the
Lion of Venice — and the
Doge's Palace,
Santa Maria della Salute, etc). Then, through Corto's dialogue, Pratt explains this city is so beautiful that it is difficult to leave it.
Under the Flag of Gold Abstract On the north coast of the
Adriatic Sea, the
Battle of Caporetto is raging between
Italy and
Austria-Hungary. The fallen monarchy of
Montenegro hid its royal gold at Sette Casoni (), in the middle of the
Italian front. Thus, the Montenegrin Republican Army hired Corto Maltese to recover it. This "pirate" has a complex plan to achieve this goal, involving partners of different nationalities. Lieutenant Radesky, an Austrian, secretly watches the operation on board an
observation balloon and diverts the attention of his compatriots from the city. Meanwhile, Scottish and French soldiers obtain the gold bars in a church right under the noses of the Austrian
Uhlans. Then, Radesky is recovered by Americans (including a
paramedic named Ernest Way, an allusion to
Ernest Hemingway). Finally, the fortune is loaded onto a Greek
gunboat commanded by Onatis (evoking
Aristotle Onassis), where Corto is waiting at the end of the operation.
Analysis This story takes place during a war that overturned European borders and regimes. Since 1910, Montenegro had constituted an
independent kingdom, before being incorporated into the
Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1918. Fighting with the
Allies,
Montenegro was occupied by Austro-Hungarian troops. Corto Maltese comments on the constant moving borders during the conflict. For example, a village can be Italian or Austrian depending on the days. This was the case of
Lozzo di Cadore, on the
Piave, in
Veneto. So he stayed put while the fronts changed around him. Through this process, he manages to meet people who can help him. Even if his accomplices are from different nationalities, they all come together under the same flag, gold.
Concerto in O Minor for Harp and Nitroglycerin Abstract In October 1917, enriched by the Montenegrin gold, Corto Maltese helps
Sinn Féin to fight against the
British Army. He learns that one of their members, O’Sullivan, has betrayed them and is responsible for the execution of Pat Finnucan by the British. Finnucan was the leader of the movement and the symbol of the Irish Revolution. In
Dublin, Corto meets the deceased's wife, Moira "Banshee" O’Danann, who wants to avenge her husband. With her help, Corto enters the British general headquarters (
Dublin Castle) and detonates a bomb. But inside, he discovers a terrible secret, which Sean Finnucan, Pat's brother, later confirms - Pat was the real traitor, while O'Sullivan was in fact spying against the British. But Sean refused to reveal the truth about his brother; he had to pass for a hero, a martyr, to galvanize the revolutionaries. O’Sullivan had agreed to make it look like he was the traitor, so Pat's reputation would not be questioned. Sean tells Corto that no one can know the truth, not even Moira. Later, Corto finds her on a beach and suggests that she leave with him. However, she declines as she considers herself a
banshee who brings misfortune to others and also wants to fulfil her prior commitments to the revolution. .
Analysis This unusual title speaks of Ireland and its struggle for freedom: • "Ó" is a patronymic term in
Irish names; • The
Celtic harp is a square harp particularly traditional in Ireland (cláirseach); •
Nitroglycerin evokes this violent conflict. To build this story, Pratt relied on documents and testimonies. He met Pat Finnucan's niece, whose story inspired him to write this episode. He also exchanged with his friend Patricia Frawley, an Irish American, from
Wheeling, West Virginia. She physically inspired the character of Moira O’Danann. Pat Finnucan's
headstone features the quote "
Fianna". In the
Irish mythology, these were groups of semi-independent warriors. In more recent history, this word has been used for the name
Fianna Éireann, an
Irish nationalist youth organisation founded in 1909. Other elements are mentioned in this story, such as the
Easter Rising, led by
Patrick Pearse. This bloody event led to the recognition of the
Proclamation of the Irish Republic, then to the
Irish Free State, in 1922.
''A Midwinter Morning's Dream'' Abstract Stonehenge, a legendary place in Wiltshire, England, 21 December 1917; during the
winter solstice, many creatures from
Celtic mythology are meeting to discuss a dramatic event.
Germans will soon attack England. And with them will come characters from
Germanic mythology, who could threaten their prominence, exactly as they did during the
Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain (contemporary to the
Arthurian cycle). As they cannot intervene directly, they need a mortal to help them. Corto, who sleeps nearby, is awakened by
Puck, in the form of a raven, and instructed to follow him. The sailor discovers Major Vortigern Welsh, of the
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and member of the
Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Welsh, who is dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, warns him against his wife Rowena, a German spy, who has caused his misfortunes. With her brothers Hengist and Horsa, she plans to attack
Tintagel Castle, (
Cornwall), where the Allies are meeting. At Tintagel, Rowena commands a German
U-boat to attack the castle, while a British
corvette lies at anchor. Corto therefore commandeers a
tugboat to sink the
submarine. Shortly after, a trial condemns Rowena. But, as a token of respect, she gives her
Iron Cross to the sailor. In addition, Corto is awarded a
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal by the British. Later, back at Stonehenge, Corto sleeps nearby again.
Oberon congratulate Puck, who admits having snatched his
medals from Maltese. So Corto won't know if his adventure was true or a Midwinter Morning's Dream.
Analysis As the title suggests, this story clearly alludes to
A Midsummer Night's Dream, a famous comedy written by
William Shakespeare in 1595/96. Here we find characters from the play, Oberon and
Puck. While the play takes place during
St. John's Day, the
summer solstice, the comic is set during the winter solstice. In this story, Oberon evokes
Huon of Bordeaux, a
chanson de geste where he is also present and is shown as the child of
Morgan le Fay and
Julius Caesar. As in the
Trojan War, a conflict between two existing countries is combined with a conflict between their respective mythologies. Various elements from the Arthurian legend are also transposed here.
Merlin and Morgan participate in the meeting at Stonehenge, a monument erected by the enchanter, as he recalls. Tintagel Castle is closely tied to
King Arthur. Some semi-legendary characters are transposed in this story. According to legend,
Vortigern was a
king of the Britons and married
Rowena, an
Anglo-Saxon. He also made a pact with her brothers
Hengist and Horsa, who betrayed him to invade Great Britain. Thus, the British Major Vortigern Welsh is manipulated by his German wife Rowena, who plans to attack England with her brothers Hengist and Horsa. The idea of this story was inspired by chance to Hugo Pratt. While visiting a cemetery in northern France, he discovered a curious tomb. Its occupant was a Canadian named Julius César (like the famous Roman conqueror, Oberon's father in some stories), who had died in a battle against Germany in 1918. It was for the cartoonist a message asking him to write this story.
Côtes de Nuit and Picardy Roses Abstract In northern France, on the banks of the
Somme, on 20 April 1918, soldiers are fighting. The Red Baron (
Manfred von Richthofen), a German, has successfully shot down numerous enemy planes in his
Fokker Dr.I. Two Australians talk to Corto about a way to kill him. Officer Sandy explains that his friend Clem is a crack shot, but only when he is drunk. So he tries to convince the sailor to open his bottles of
Burgundy wine to make Clem drunk. But Corto categorically refuses. The latter hopes to see his old friend, the British Cain Groovesnore. He is a volunteer in the
Royal Air Force and located in an English aviation camp near
Bertangles. The following day, Sandy discretely steals the much-vaunted bottles to inebriate Clem. The latter shot at the Red Baron flying over the area, but seemed to miss the target. Yet, a short time later, Manfred von Richthofen crashed; soldiers strip him and claim responsibility for the exploit. But there is no doubt for Sandy: it's Clem who had shot him. Unfortunately, an airplane then bombs the truck in which Clem was brewing and killed him. Sandy feels responsible for the death of his friend; but according to Corto, it's the fault of the war...
Analysis region of the Cote de Nuits. This strange title alludes to various things. "
Côte de Nuits" is a
French wine region located into the
Burgundy wine region, renowned for its
crus. "Picardy Roses" evokes
Roses of Picardy, a popular British song composed in 1916; it was one of the most famous songs of the First World War. It is also a reference to the
roses that the Red Baron deposits on the wreckage of planes he shoots down. Finally, this story takes place in the historical territory of
Picardy. In this story, contrasting with his sinister reputation, Manfred von Richthofen appears to be very attached to his mother. Pratt wanted to use some truthful elements about this historical figure. For example, he mentions the glorious track record of this
flying ace, officially credited with 80
air combat victories. Other authentic elements include his custom of cutting the
empennage of the planes he shot down, to make trophies, as well as that his aunt
Frieda von Richthofen married the British novelist
D. H. Lawrence. At the end of this story, an airplane is seen flying, piloted by
Hermann Göring, another air ace. He will later be infamous for working with
Adolf Hitler.
Burlesque Between Zuydcoote and Bray-Dunes Abstract Again in France, between the cities of
Zuydcoote and
Bray-Dunes (
Nord department), a show is performed in a Royal Air Force base by the
puppeteer Rico-Rico and the singer Mélodie Gaël. Shortly after, Corto Maltese is talking with his friend Cain Groovesnore, who announces that his American cousin Pandora is going to marry. Corto, who loved her (cf. the story
The Ballad of the Salty Sea), remains on a beach, thoughtful. But suddenly, he learns that Cain has been arrested, accused of having shot Lieutenant De Trécesson. Wanting to defend him, the sailor speaks with
Commissaire Rothschild, in charge of the investigation. Together, they question the witnesses: Rico-Rico and Mélodie Gaël. Gradually, they discover that, in reality, the lieutenant had found that Mélodie was a spy, in the service of the Germans. So he came to see her and accuse her. But she
hypnotized Cain, also present, so that he would kill Trécesson. During the investigation, a fight ensues in which the artists killed each other. Ultimately, Cain is exonerated and Trécesson survives.
Analysis At the end of this story, Corto cynically declares to Rothschild that he came to France to drink French wines (an allusion to
Château Lafite Rothschild wines). This, while he is in the midst of the massacres of war and witnessed murders. This sentence earned Pratt two cases of wine from the
Rothschild family. In this regard, there was also talk of wine in the previous story. Various cultural references punctuate this story. Thus, Lieutenant De Trécesson has the same name as the
Château de Trécesson, near the
Paimpont forest. This place is often associated with the forest of
Brocéliande, an important location from
Arthurian legend. Many places in this forest are mentioned:
Val sans retour and the fountain of Barenton. Rico-Rico comes from the Venetian Gozzi family. His name is the nickname of
Carlo Gozzi, who was known for his stage interpretations of various legends. == Artistic elements ==