July - September 2020 - Arthurian Britain

Our theme for July – September is Arthurian Britain.

While Arthurian Britain would realy fall under Ancient and Biblical Times because it is after farming and cities reached this part of the world but before the Middle Ages begin, it’s such a different period compared to those two that we’re dealing with it separately. Not to mention that you could probably fill a library with books just about this time period.

This period is from the departure of the Romans from Britain to about 500-600 AD, when the Middle Ages begin. It's very distinct from the Ancient and Biblical Times, focuses on King Arthur, his court, or the happenings around it. There are many different interpretations of the King Arthur stories and many debates about the truth in the myth. Also included in this time period are stories set just after King Arthur’s death and during the decline of his realm, as well as stories like Tristan and Isolde (in all their interpretations) that also fall within this time period. Books about this time period range from using well-known characters like Arthur, Merlin and Guinevere, to using original characters as the main character. There’s a range from gritty realistic to more historical fantasy to idealized fairy tales to find for this time period. Normally I encourage everyone to read from a wide range of geographical settings, however this time period is rather focused on Britain. But everyone who finds an Arthurian book set somewhere else is completely welcome to add it to this theme read!

Some book suggestions:

The Road to Avalon by Joan Wolf
The Skystone by Jack Whyte
The Squire’s Tale by Gerald Morris
The Acts of King Arthur and his Noble Knights by John Steinbeck
Shadow Over Avalon by C.N. Lesley
I Am Morgan le Fay by Nancy Springer
The Once and Future King - T.H. White

Add your books for this quarter’s theme: https://wiki.librarything.com/index.php/Reading_Through_Time_Quarterly_Theme_Rea...

Yippee! I have Prince Valiant books to fit this challenge.

I found The Crystal Cave on my shelf so I'm all set.

>3 Familyhistorian: I hope you enjoy. It is still my favourite Merlin.

>4 MissWatson: That's good to know. I hadn't heard anything about the book before. I picked it up second hand because I recognized the author's name.

>5 Familyhistorian: My public library had a gorgeous hardback edition from the British Council, back in the 70ies, and I fell instantly in love with Merlin. I wish I had read her other books at the time, too!

I'll try to get to The Killing Way for this challenge

I think I'm finally going to tackle A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Twain for this one.

I am hoping to read The Once and Future King during August and perhaps into September as well.

Loved Once and Future King as well as the additional story White wrote published posthumously The Book of Merlyn It chronicles Arthur's final lessons from Merlyn before his death

Bernard Cornwell wrote a splendid realistic Arthur series set in the 500s starting with The Winter King (Warlord Chronicles)

Then there is the Thomas Mallory Mort'd Arthur Funny I just happened to add to my collection a lovely copy of this book illustrated by Aubrey Beardsly, may end up reading that for this theme

I absolutely loved Mists of Avalon, the Arthur story told by the women in the story, at the time when Chrisianity was taking over from the Druids. I liked the prequel but don't remember its ntame off hand

I know there are more titles, need to go through my stacks

If you want a chunkster (about 900 pages), Sarum would probably work. It covers prehistoric to 1980 through they eyes of 5 families. Rutherfurd spends a lot of time in 5-6th centuries.

Also, Song of the Sparrow would fit in nicely here....the story of a young girl who has her eye on Lancelot, and then along comes Gwynivere.

>11 Tess_W: my mother had that one in hardcover, sitting on a table. I imagine she read it at least once, she loved history. I discovered Thomas Costain by raiding her bookshelves. And I still have her paperback of Those Who Love which is excellent.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain was historical, time travel, and inane, all rolled into one! I'm not a Twain Fan, and this surely didn't convert me. However, the daily life of the peons in Britain during this time was quite interesting. The story is told by Hank Morgan (but we don't find that out till the end of the book), a somewhat unreliable and biased narrator who happened to time travel back in history about 1200 years. He doesn't like all the inequities (and hard work) and sets about to rectify them, believing that the church is the culprit for many of the problems. King Arthur is seen as wise and benevolent; Merlin as a magician hack, and Guenevere as a floozy. Hank believes that if he can introduce technology to these people that he can improve the morals of mankind. 317 pages 3 stars. I read this via Serial Reader (54 installments)

>3 Familyhistorian: I just checked and could not find my copy. I have had a paperback for ages and read more than once.

>14 mnleona: I've got a few of those elusive books that I know I have but can't find. Maybe you will run across it by accident.

I have just re-read Skystone by Jack Whyte, is the first in a series set late 4th to early 5th century in Britain. It is a much grittier and violent version of the Arthur Legends.

Caius Britannicus, a Roman Patriarch born in Britain, held the long view that Rome was rotting at the core and would soon be forced to withdraw her troops from outlying posts to defend Rome. Even before retiring from the Legions, he began planning and preparing his lands for the vacuum in power which would follow withdrawal of the Legions from Britain.

What I love most about this series is the underlying theme of nation building, laying the very foundations and rules of law upon which Britain would be born. To this was added the wedding of the Celtic royal line with the Roman to create a new people, one from which Arthur will spring.

What I have struggled the most with is the overwhelming thrust of a much harsher and violent time. Whyte makes no excuses for the archaic belief systems and behavior of his characters, good guys and bad guys alike.

Oh Ive had others recommend that, I'll have to try it (bernard cromwells arthur series was similar in time and scope and also didn't shy away from the reality of the time. be interested to shee what is dif between the two)

It's been at least 40+ years since I first read Stewart's "Crystal Cave." The language of place and time is still lovely and her gift of storytelling still so very appealing. But, as with all of the Arthur stories, there's an underlying sorrow for me in knowing the end of it from the beginning.

I read The Once and Future King by T.H. White and was really taken by this retelling of the Arthurian legend. I thought it was a masterpiece of historical fantasy that tells a powerful story that turns increasingly dark as the book carries on. It starts with the light-hearted "Sword in the Stone" telling of Arthur's childhood and how Merlyn came into his life, then the next book has him quelling the rebellious knights and forming the Round Table. The third volume is the story of Lancelot and Guinevere and the final volume, "A Candle in the Wind" depicts the downfall of Camelot and the fate of Arthur.

His final chapter that didn't make it into the book was The Book of Merlyn

synopsis from a review Merlyn arrives to teach Arthur, but it is an aging King whom he sees bent over his war plans with tears on his face. Merlyn realizes that the King has forgotten the lessons of the Wart, so he brings him back to discuss the nature of man with the animals

>20 cindydavid4: Oh, that brings tears to my eyes. Unfortunately no matter how light-hearted the book started out, I could never forget that a sad ending was on the horizon.

I read a different classic of the Arthurian legend, The Crystal Cave, Mary Stewart’s tale about Merlin which tells the story from Merlin’s origins to the end of the reign of Urther Pendragon. Arthur hasn’t come into it yet except for the drama over his conception. So, unlike The Once and Future King it's not a full retelling of the legend. I’d have to read the rest of the trilogy for that and I don’t know if I have a mind to.

Oh, it is worth it!!! different telling, well worth reading the rest

>22 Familyhistorian: Is it? I'll have to see if I can dig up the next one.

>22 Familyhistorian: argh, book bullet...

I've not yet started my read, Prince Valiant (volume 9) due to real life being busy, but I fully intend to tackle it before the end of the month.

>25 fuzzi: They fly thick and fast around here!

>26 Familyhistorian: no kidding!!!

I just finished Mabinogion (Everyman, Gwyn Jones and Thomas Jones translation). I've had it around the house for ages, so this was a good chance to get to it.

I have finished Enemy of God, the second book in the Warlord Chronicles. I still don't like this Arthur, but Cornwell makes an interesting choice in painting Lancelot as a cad.