In 1990 Kay lost his beloved father. The birth of Kay's first son later that same year brought a different emotional effect, and while his next novel, 1992's A Song for Arbonne, is tinged with sadness, it is predominantly hopeful. Written during two visits to Provence, the novel is set in a world that clearly reflects medieval France. Kay credits sources of inspiration in the French historians Georges Duby, Phillippe Aries, and Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie; the work of Urban Tigner Holmes, Frances and Joseph Gies, and Friedrich Heer; and, for his knowledge of the history and the work of the troubadours, Frederick Golden, Paul Blackburn, Alan Press, and Meg Bogin.
The Lions of Al-Rassan (1995), which is based on the story of the Cid, continues the trend toward the use of real historical events. Kay knew little of the history of medieval Iberia before starting work on the novel. While this meant that the project required a great deal of research, it was also an indication that the story would be a fresh one for many of Kay's readers. He was able to take advantage of this by following his historical and legendary sources more closely than in previous novels. For the background information and inspiration for The Lions of Al-Rassan, Kay particularly notes the work of Richard Fletcher, David Wasserstein, T.F. Glick, Nancy G. Siraisi, S.D. Goitein, Bernard Reilly, Pierre Riché, Rheinhart Dozy, and the writings of Manfred Ullman on medicine. The novel itself was inspired by a piece of art appearing in a book about medieval medicine: it showed a female physician holding a urine flask, urine samples being a typical method of diagnosis at the time. This image eventually became the character of Jehane.
Kay's newest project is his two-volume Sarantine Mosaic, consisting of 1999's Sailing to Sarantium and 2000's Lord of Emperors, set in a fantasy world modeled on ancient Byzantium.
© 2000 by Holly Ordway