Geoffrey of Monmouth, writing in the 12th century, had quite a retinue of Welsh tales to work from, as evidenced on the previous page. He made good use of these legends and wholely invented many of his own in introducing Arthur, King of the Britons; his adviser Merlin; Morgan Le Fay; and a host of other conventions.

Echoes of the Welsh tales can be found from the beginning, with the inclusion of Bedivere and Kay, the former as Duke of Normandy and Arthur's right-hand man and the latter as one of the king's brave knights. Morgan Le Fay is there, too, as the head of a group of nine women guarding the Isle of Avalon. In Geoffrey, as in several subsequent sources, Morgan is portrayed as a benign and, in some cases, helpful enchantress who commands the Isle of Avalon as a healer.

This final battle, of course, was Camlann, at which Modred (Arthur's nephew according to Geoffrey) also died. Geoffrey is quite clear in naming Modred as the instrument of Arthur's death and vice versa.

Arthur's magical sword, according to Geoffrey, is Caliburn, possibly based on the famous Irish sword Caladbolg (itself a derivation of the Welsh Caledfwlch), and was forged on the Isle of Avalon, which Geoffrey calls the "Isle of Apples." Sadly, we are offered no description of this magical sword. We are told, however, that Morgan Le Fay carries Arthur off to the Isle of Avalon after the final battle.

Geoffrey doesn't say what happens to Arthur, perpetuating the myth that the great king didn't die. Geoffrey says Arthur was mortally wounded, but Geoffrey doesn't say Arthur died.

Source

Tales

Two books with a different viewpoint:

The Mists of Avalon
by Marion Zimmer Bradley

This epic novel, which is based the traditional Arthurian legends,
primarily Malory's Morte d'Arthur, retells the classic saga
through the eyes of the women involved.
The story is told primarily through the eyes of Morgaine Le Faye, Arthur's half-sister. Traditionally, Morgaine was considered Arthur's nemesis, a pagan, power hungry fairy-woman who caused distress and mischief in the kingdom. This is not so in The Mists of Avalon. The novel makes Morgaine the heroine, and develops a deep, loving, complex, believable relationship between her and her brother. Zimmer Bradley also tackles and further develops the traditional legend that the two have a child together, taking the controversial subject to a deeper, more introspective level, and replacing ancient assumption with stimulating, new ideas.
A major theme of the novel is the tension between the newly introduced Christianity and the old, Mother Goddess religion. Even in the traditional Arther legends there is evidence of this conflict. In some stories, Arthur is the quintessential, pious, Christian King, while in others (including Morte d'Arthur) he is taken by the Lady of the Lake to the pagan isle of Avalon after his death. The conflict and convergence between the two theologies is exquisitely expressed in this excerpt from the book: "...a dying man in need of the Mother's aid, where all men come at last. Even the priests know this, with their ever-virgin Mary in her blue robe; for she too becomes the World Mother in the hour of death." Zimmer Bradley develops a vivid, in-depth depiction of the religion of Avalon, and raises interesting questions about the influence of both this and Christianity in the lives of all the characters.

Marion Zimmer Bradley brings to life many of the Arthurian women who were once nothing more than names. The story opens long before Arthur or Morgaine's birth, with the conflict of their parents, especially their mother, Igraine, who struggles with her dedication as a priestess of Avalon and her marriage to a Christian man. Her sister, the Lady of the Lake is shown as a real, human woman obsessed with the preservation of the religion of the Mother Goddess. Even Gwenefar (the original spelling of Guinevere) is developed in depth. A dedicated Christian, she struggles with the pagan ties of her husband and his sister and despairs that she is unable to do what a good, Christian woman should - bear her husband a child. The famous love triangle between Gwenefar, Lancelot, and Arthur is also intricately developed with a few added twists ... such as a threesome instigated by the King..


The Warlord Chronicles:
The Winter King
Enemy of God
Excalibur
by Bernard Cornwell

Essentially this is a modern political thriller, told in flat American diction. Narrated by Derfel, an ordinary, likable man who rises through the ranks to become Arthur's friend and advisor in peace and war, the story doesn't follow the traditional patterns. Mordred is Uther's infant grandson, the legitimate king; Arthur is one of Mordred's guardians, sworn to hold the kingdom against the Saxon warlords until Mordred comes of age. Warfare is incessant. Arthur's dream of peace and unity seems unattainable. Derfel's own story--his strange origin, his love for Nimue, his worries and his triumphs--parallels Arthur's as he fights for and beside him.
Bernard Cornwell downplays the magic that enlivens the traditional stories, depicting it more as a combination of superstition and shrewd wits. I recommend this with reservations; though it's absorbing to read, the emphasis on battles and politics means that this will greatly appeal to some fantasy readers, but disappoint others.

reviews by Amazon.com

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