#paperback#fiction#fantasyfiction#kingauthor#Camelot#midevil#knights Marion Zimmer Bradley creates King Arthur’s story from a female-centric viewpoint in The Mists of Avalon. Instead of focusing on the men—Arthur, Lancelet, the various Knights—she uses the perspectives of the women in their lives. Her main characters are Arthur’s wife Gwenhwyfar, sister Morgaine, his mother Igraine, and a variety of aunts and great-aunts. Gwenhwyfar and Morgaine are two sides of a battle without swords. Morgaine was raised on the mystical (and misty) island of Avalon. She was taught the old religion, which worships the Goddess. And Gwenhwyfar is deeply Christian, having been schooled at the convent in Glastonbury, practically next door. Both women are dedicated to their beliefs, and to encouraging King Arthur and his court to adopt or maintain them. But Morgaine is fighting a losing battle, and she even gives in for a time. She lives at court, tries to fit in with Gwenhwyfar and her ladies. But she’s still more Goddess worshipper than Christian. In addition, Bradley gives us the various love triangles in the life of the royal court. By chance, Gwenhwyfar meets Lancelet early in her teens. But her father pledges her to Arthur, hoping the High King will favor his minor King status. Gwenhwyfar and Lancelet pine for each other over the decades. And Morgaine has secrets of her own, including a religious rite through which she becomes pregnant with her son. She travels between her aunt and uncle’s court in Lothian and Arthur’s court at Carleon and Camelot. And, she also finds herself in Avalon and even Fairy lands. Bradley is clearly more fascinated with Morgaine and her life, including internal dialogue and far more detail about it.

ISBN: 0345314522