In Poul Anderson’s novel Three Hearts and Three Lions, what is the protagonist’s name?
Answer
Holger Carlsen
In Poul Anderson’s novel Three Hearts and Three Lions, the protagonist is Holger Carlsen.
Holger Carlsen is a Danish resistance fighter during World War II. After being struck by a supernatural force, he awakens in a parallel world where medieval legend and conflicting magical powers are real. There he becomes involved in a quest connected with Charlemagne’s romances and older Northern European traditions.
The novel combines alternate history, fantasy, and material from European heroic literature. Holger’s identity connects him with the legendary Danish hero Ogier the Dane, also called Holger Danske. The story’s title refers to heraldic and legendary symbols encountered during his journey.
Holger is sometimes mistaken for Roland, another major figure from the Matter of France. Roland is a paladin of Charlemagne, whereas Holger is the modern man transported into the novel’s fantasy world. Anderson’s book first appeared in 1953 and became an influential example of mythic, genre-blending fantasy.