The Mammoth Book of King Arthur

by Mike Ashley

  Newport, Cris, Queen’s Champion (UK, 1998) (f)

  The Lancelot story retold from his viewpoint. The emphasis is on Lancelot’s relationship with Guinevere. The main difference is the gay and lesbian element.

  Norman, Elizabeth, Silver, Jewels and Jade (US, 1980) (f)

  Of minor Arthurian interest. The story of Igraine before her life with Uther.

  Nye, Robert (b.1939), Merlin (UK, 1978) (f)

  Nye reminds us that Merlin was the spawn of an incubus and a virgin but that the devil’s efforts to create an antichrist were thwarted when Merlin was christened. Throughout this book, called an “adult fairy tale”, we have at the heart a story of the demon in us all. Nye’s text serves to remind us just how much corruption, betrayal and infidelity there is in the Arthurian story. Previously Nye told the story of Taliesin in Taliesin (UK, 1966).

  O’Meara, Walter (1897–1989), The Duke of War (US, 1966) (h)

  A detailed account, as told by a young Romano-British girl, of Arthur’s battle campaign at Badon against Aelle. Despite the well-researched historical setting the usual core of Arthur’s knights are present, including Lancelot. O’Meara places Badon at Liddington Castle.

  Paterson, Katherine, Parzival (UK, 1998) (f)

  Wolfram’s Parzival retold for a YA readership.

  Paxson, Diana L. (b.1943), The Book of the Sword, The Book of the Spear, The Book of the Cauldron (all US, 1999), The Book of the Stone (US, 2000) collectively called “The Hallowed Isle” (h/f)

  The first work to draw upon the Sarmatian theory of the origin of some of the Arthurian legends, particularly that of Excalibur. Paxson fuses this with Celtic myth to produce an original sequence of stories which traces events from the end of Roman power (424) to Arthur’s downfall (515). Paxson succeeds in retaining much of the original storyline but blends it with new ideas and characterisations to create a refreshingly original work. The second book has a unique portrayal of the Saxon Oesc. Paxson had earlier written a version of the Tristan story as seen through the eyes of Branwen in The White Raven (1988), and has continued Marion Bradley’s Avalon series.

  Peare, Catherine Owens, Melor, King Arthur’s Page (US, 1963) (m)

  A YA book that follows the misadventures of young Melor until he saves Arthur’s life from the boar Troynt. A rare treatment of the Twrch Trwyth legend.

  Phelan, Laurel, Guinevere (US, 1996) (h)

  Purports to be the true story of Guinevere as discovered by the author under regression hypnosis. Since this is set in Celtic times but includes her affair with Lancelot we can classify it firmly under fiction. Another book of supposedly remembered Arthurian lives is Camelot, the True Story by Michael D. Miller (US, 1997).

  Powys, John Cowper (1872–1963), Porius (UK, 1951) (h)

  At least seven years in the writing and influenced by the imagery of the Second World War, this dense, brooding novel traces the events of just one week in 499AD, when the Romano-Briton Porius must pull himself away from his family and the suspicious bigotry of his village and, under the influence of the anarchic Myrddin, join the army of Arthur. Ironically there is less of Arthur himself in this work than there is in the allegorical A Glastonbury Romance (UK, 1932), which has a contemporary setting.

  Renzulli, Virgil, Caliburn (US, 2001) (f)

  A short novel which focuses on the choice of an uncertain Arthur as king and events around the episode of the Sword in the Stone. It seeks to reveal the real story behind the legend.

  Rice, Robert, The Last Pendragon (US, 1992) (h)

  Marketed as a YA novel, this should be of wider interest. Bedwyr hid Caliburn rather than throw it into the lake and eleven years later he returns to Britain to seek the sword. He meets Medraut’s son Irion, who looks just like Arthur. Irion urges Bedwyr to help in the fight against the Saxons but Bedwyr refuses, single mindedly seeking Caliburn while Irion tries to fight the cause.

  Roberts, Dorothy James (1903–1990), Launcelot, My Brother (US, 1954), Kinsmen of the Grail (US, 1963) (m)

  Two novels drawn from Malory. The first is the first-person account by Bors of Lancelot’s life at Camelot, his Grail quest, his affair with Guinevere and the downfall of the Round Table. The second follows the Grail Quests by Gawain and Perceval. Both books provide a polished insight into the Arthurian world. Roberts had earlier written a similarly fine novel of the Tristram story, The Enchanted Cup (US, 1953), sympathetic whilst uncluttered.

  Roberts, Theodore Goodridge (1877–1953), The Merriest Knight (US, 2001) (m)

  This contains all the Arthurian stories written by Roberts for Blue Book between 1947 and 1951 plus the previously unpublished “Quest’s End”. Most of the stories fit into Roberts’s humorous reconstruction of the adventures of the ever-cautious Sir Dinadan based on Malory. Also included is a related sequence of stories featuring the young knight Dennys ap Rhys and his adventures with King Torrice. Witty and sophisticated, these provide a satirical glance at Camelot.

  Robin, Harry, I, Morgain (US, 1995) (f)

  Morgain looks back over her life and her attempts at revenge upon Arthur, the child of her mother’s rape. Robin explores no new territory but provides a chilling image of Morgain, who seduces Arthur and bears him Mordred.

  Rosen, Winifred, Three Romances (US, 1981) (m)

  Rosen undertakes a modern interpretation of three different Arthurian romances, those of Gawain and Ragnell, Enid and Geraint, and Merlin and Niniane.

  Sampson, Fay (b.1935), Wise Woman’s Telling (UK, 1989), White Nun’s Telling (UK, 1989), Black Smith’s Telling (UK, 1990), Taliesin’s Telling (UK, 1991), Herself (UK, 1992), all five combined in one volume as Daughter of Tintagel (1992; revised, US, 2004) (h)

  This is the longest sustained work focusing on Morgan le Fay. Each volume provides a different viewpoint as her life progresses. We see her childhood through her nurse when she tries to kill the infant Arthur; we see her adolescence via the nuns at the remote convent where Morgan is banished; we see her early marriage to Urien via the smith who forges the special sword and scabbard; Taliesen reveals her later life as Modred grows to manhood; and finally Morgan looks back and tells her own story, and receives Arthur after Camlann. Based primarily on Malory but drawing on a wide variety of other early texts.

  Seare, Nicholas, Rude Tales and Glorious (US, 1983) (m)

  A minor item though, like Nye, it highlights the potential for immorality at Arthur’s court. Two vagabonds (one of whom is revealed to be Lancelot) gain shelter by telling bawdy stories about Arthur and his knights.

  Sharpe, Ruth Collier, Tristram of Lyonesse (US, 1949) (m)

  A now dated and rather anachronistic retelling of the Tristram story.

  Shwartz, Susan (b.1949), The Grail of Hearts (US, 1992) (f)

  Drawing her inspiration from the various Grail romances but also inspired by the interpretation of Wagner, Shwartz explores the stories of Kundry, cursed because she laughed at the Crucifixion, and the sorcerer Klingsor who is endeavouring to gain the Grail. First Merlin and then the Grail knights are introduced after half way and then cautiously. This is a refreshingly different treatment that allows you to consider the Grail story from the inside out.

  Springer, Nancy (b.1948), I am Mordred (US, 1998) (f)

  A YA novel that concentrates on Mordred as a teenager. Told by him, this is the story of his anguish at knowing his fate, desperately torn between loving and hating his father. Mordred is painted as a sensitive, intelligent but severely troubled boy wrestling with destiny.

  Stewart, Mary (b.1916), The Crystal Cave (UK, 1970), The Hollow Hills (UK, 1973), The Last Enchantment (UK, 1979), The Wicked Day (UK, 1983), the first three available in a single volume as Merlin Trilogy (US, 1980) (h)

  The archetypal modern treatment that regenerated the interest in the potential for Arthurian fiction as a medium to explore beyond the traditional images. It remains one of the best interpretations. Merlin recounts his life. The first volume, drawn primarily from Geoffrey’s History, tells of his childhood as the bast
ard son of Niniane, where he discovers he has second sight and uses this talent to help fulfil destiny. It ends with the birth of Arthur. The Hollow Hills (the first modern Arthurian novel to top both the US and UK bestseller lists) deals with Arthur’s childhood, Merlin’s quest for the Sword of Power, and ends with the Sword in the Stone. The Last Enchantment covers Arthur’s battle campaign, Guinevere’s abduction by Melwas (and rescue by Bedwyr, who becomes Guinevere’s lover, rather than Lancelot, as in Sutcliff) and Merlin’s final days as he tutors his successor Nimuë. The Wicked Day is the story of Mordred, portrayed here as another victim of destiny rather than as a villain. Although written as taking place in the Dark Ages (and Stewart provides useful notes to the appendix of each volume), the stories read with the mood of Malory.

  Stewart wrote one other Arthurian novel, The Prince and the Pilgrim (UK, 1995), her milder form of a Grail Quest, but here focused on a Frankish fugitive (who may have the Holy Grail) and a prince seeking revenge for his murdered father who has been ensnared by Morgan le Fay.

  Stone, Eugenia (1879–1971), Page Boy for King Arthur (US, 1949), Squire for King Arthur (US, 1955) (f)

  Two YA novels about the peasant boy Tor who in the first rescues Lancelot and becomes Galahad’s page and, in the second rescues Pellinore’s son and becomes Pellinore’s squire.

  Sutcliff, Rosemary (1920–1992), The Lantern Bearers (UK, 1959), Sword at Sunset (US, 1963) (h)

  These were Sutcliff’s first Arthurian works, both seeking to fit the story into an historical context. Both have been reprinted as YA books though Sword at Sunset is more adult in treatment than her other interpretations. The first book deals with the departure of the Romans and the resultant struggle between Vortigern and Ambrosius. The young Artos appears towards the end. The story is told by Aquila, a Romano-British decurion who remains behind and joins Ambrosius’s (and later Artos’s) forces. He reappears in Sword at Sunset, though this is told in the first person by Arthur and is his memories from when he received the Sword of Maximus from Ambrosius till his final hours. Sutcliff remains faithful to the Celtic Arthur, so that Gwalchmai, Cei, Cador and Bedwyr are his primary companions, and it is Bedwyr who becomes Guinevere’s lover. Arthur’s major opponent is Cerdic. These two novels remain the best starting point for anyone wanting to read the story of the historical Arthur.

  Sutcliff, Rosemary (1920–1992), The Sword and the Circle (UK, 1981), The Light Beyond the Forest (UK, 1979), The Road to Camlann (UK, 1981) (m)

  These are a more traditional treatment for a YA readership, based primarily on Malory but incorporating Gawain and the Green Knight and Gawain and the Loathly Lady in the first book, which ends with the arrival of Percival. The second volume, written first, covers the Grail Quest and is by far the best and most straightforward rendition of the story for any new reader. The third volume follows the Mort Artu, and includes Guinevere’s abduction by Meleagaunce.

  Sutcliff has written two other YA books of this period. Tristan and Iseult (UK, 1971) is a simple retelling of the basic story. The Shining Company (UK, 1990) is a retelling of Y Gododdin, about the Battle of Catraeth, set at least two generations after Arthur.

  Taylor, Anna, Drustan the Wanderer (UK, 1971) (h)

  A historical re-creation of Drustan and Essylt which may be more realistic but loses much of the glamour of the original.

  Taylor, Keith (b.1946), Bard (US, 1981) (f)

  The first in a series about Felimid, a wandering Irish bard whose harp has magical qualities. Felimid had fought for Artorius at Badon but thereafter the series follows his travels and occasional encounters with other Arthurian characters.

  Telep, Peter, Squire (US, 1995), Squire’s Blood (US, 1995) and Squire’s Honor (US, 1996) (m)

  A YA trilogy about young Christopher of Shores, a saddle-maker’s son who aspires to knighthood. After a series of adventures he becomes Arthur’s squire, but finds he has to refuse the knighthood he so wants because he had once fought briefly for the Saxons. The second volume is the best, where Telep follows the original idea of a character trying to unite the Britons and the Saxons whilst still protecting his lordship’s kingdom. The final volume finds Christopher, dishonoured and accused of murder, trying to prove his innocence.

  Timlett, Peter Valentine (b.1933), Merlin and the Sword of Avalon (UK, 2003) (f)

  Drawing from all the romances, especially Robert de Boron, the Vulgate and Malory, this is the complete story of Merlin seen through the eyes of an occultist.

  Tolstoy, Nikolai (b.1935), The Coming of the King (UK, 1988) (h)

  The first in a still-to-be completed trilogy about Merlin, here the historical Myrddin who lived a century after Arthur of Badon. Tolstoy, who has written a study of Merlin, The Quest for Merlin (UK, 1985), is rigorous in his authentic detail about Myrddin, but allows himself the latitude of developing more mystical means of linking Myrddin’s life to other heroes and gods of legend. Arthur, long dead, does not appear in the book though Tolstoy plans to incorporate him retrospectively in the second volume.

  Tranter, Nigel (1909–2000), Druid Sacrifice (UK, 1993) (h)

  This is the story of Thanea and her son Mungo (St Kentigern) set in the second quarter of the sixth century. Tranter has followed one pedigree that makes Thanea the daughter of Loth and thereby sister of Gawain and niece of Arthur. The Arthurian element surfaces in the third section, which considers Mordred’s rebellion (Mordred is shown as a pagan Pict rising up against the Christian Arthur) whilst Lancelot, who was king of Northumbria but who had been ousted by Ida of the Angles, is caught between the two factions. This section follows through to Arthur’s death at Camlann (here at Camboglanna) when Arthur is succeeded by the aged Urien of Rheged.

  Treece, Henry (1912–1966), The Great Captains (UK, 1956), The Green Man (UK, 1966) (h)

  These may be seen as companion volumes telling different aspects of the same story. The first is the story of Arthur told in the context of a violent struggle for power and survival in a battle-torn Britain, drawing its background from Gildas. At the start, an ageing Ambrosius has care of his ward Medrodus, whom he has raised in the Roman way and expects to succeed him as Count of Britain. In the struggles that follow, the barbarian Artos is elected Battle Leader by the kings Vortipor, Cuneglassus and Caninus, leading to the inevitable rivalry with Medrodus, now renamed Medrawt. The Green Man is, unusually, the story of Hamlet/Amleth and thus the only novel which focuses on the shadowy character of Amlawdd. Arthur’s world features as one of the trio of cultures that Amleth encounters. Bedwyr, Cei and Medrawt are Arthur’s main companions. Treece also wrote the YA book The Eagles Have Flown (UK, 1954) which describes Arthur’s battle campaign through the eyes of two boys. Though less violent, it still depicts the harshness of the period.

  Turner, Roy, King of the Lordless Country (UK, 1971) (h)

  A less than convincing historical reconstruction in which Arthur rises to power within the Circle, a warrior band under the leadership of Gwenhwyfar. The story takes us to the battle of Badon.

  Turton, Godfrey E., The Emperor Arthur (US, 1967) (h)

  Retells the standard historical story within the context of a clash between the Roman church and paganism. Merlin is a pagan priest in league with the Saxons whilst the Church is wary of Arthur’s power. The main characters however, perhaps because of the shortcomings of the narrator, Pelleas, seem amazingly naïve and rather impotent at controlling events.

  Vance, Jack (b.1916), Lyonesse series with respective volumes subtitled Suldrun’s Garden (US, 1983), The Green Pearl (1985), Madouc (US, 1989) (f)

  These exotic and loquacious fantasies by Vance are more in the vogue of Lord Dunsany and really bear little relevance to the traditional Arthur. In effect Vance has created the legend of Lyonesse upon which Camelot was modelled. The stories are set two or three generations before Arthur in what became the mythical Elder Isles, and contain many Arthurian allusions including the prototype Round Table and less-than-holy Grail Quest.

  Vansittart, Peter, Lanc
elot (UK, 1978) (h)

  Lancelot tells his story from his childhood in late Roman Britain, his service under Ambrosius, his affair with Gwenhever and his association with the unpredictable Artorius. Lancelot is portrayed as an uncertain, questioning man challenging if accepting the role of Artorius. Along with Parsifal (UK, 1988), in which Vansittart’s questing hero lives through two millennia, both works serve as a platform from which to consider one’s identity and place within society.

  Viney, Jayne, The Bright-Helmed One (UK, 1975) (h)

  A multi-perspective view of Arthur, from one of his warriors, from his wife Winifrith and from Cei, the final part being the most successful in delineating Arthur’s decline. Arthur comes across as remote, perhaps the inevitable fate of such a demanding destiny.

  Wein, Elizabeth, The Winter Prince (US, 1993) (f)

  A YA novel which explores the character and tempers of Medraut who, because he is illegitimate, is denied the succession, which goes to his half-brother Lieu. We find Medraut’s jealousy drawing him to his enchantress mother Morgause, though he struggles with his conscience over which path he should choose. A fascinating exploration of dilemma and loyalty. The two sequels, A Coalition of Lions (US, 2003) and The Sunbird (US, 2003), follow Medraut’s half-sister Goewin after Camlann, to Aksum (Ethiopia) where her cousin Constantine is Viceroy. Also there is Medraut’s son Telemakos.