Book Description
Hang on to your pie plate—King Arthur Flour Whole Grain Baking will change the way every baker thinks about whole grains.
Forget what you know about whole grain baking. Instead, envision light, flaky croissants; airy cakes; moist brownies; dreamy piecrusts; and scrumptious cookies—all made with whole grains. This is what you get in King Arthur Flour Whole Grain Baking, a revolutionary cookbook that breathes new life into breads, cakes, cookies, pastries, and more by transforming the dark and dense alchemy of whole grain baking into lively, flavorful, sweet, and savory treats of all types.
King Arthur Flour Whole Grain Baking is a book that only the bakers at King Arthur Flour could successfully complete, opening up the home baker's repertoire to new flours, new flavors, and new categories of whole grain baked goods. It spills over with helpful tips, how-to illustrations, sidebars on history and lore, and a friendly voice that says to readers, "Come into the kitchen with me and let's bake." Thousands of hours were spent testing these recipes, making sure that each one met their high standards. The final result is more than 400 delicious, inviting, and foolproof recipes that have earned a place in King Arthur Flour Whole Grain Baking—the next generation whole grain cookbook. 125 black & white illustrations, 16 color pages, index.
Customer Reviews:
so good & good for you too.......2007-09-29
What a nice way to change the way you bake. Healthier choices with the same great flavor.
Great ideas for incorporating more whole grains into your diet.......2007-09-24
Looking for a book that could have been self-published by a vegan commune in 1972? Then skip right past this book.
This book is for people with a desire to eat "normal" tasting baked goods are concerned, not so much for those who are die-hard carob fans, not for those who eschew dairy, butter, eggs, sugar, sweeteners, or flavor, and definitely not for anyone looking for a macrobiotic cheesecake substitute. This book contains recipes for pancakes, croissants, coffee cakes, pie crusts, and so on, with an eye to making whole grain products tasty and palatable to the ordinary American palate. Many of the recipes capitalize on the yummy pairings of whole grains with things like spicy treats (e.g. carrot cake) and chocolate, which make the final product taste better than an all-white flour version. And yes, white flour is included in some recipes.
I have had good luck with the recipes, and I am glad that the authors include information and recipes on a variety of grains besides wheat. There is information on home milling but this is not required to use the book.
Excellent recipes--and easy for kosher bakers to adapt.......2007-09-17
I checked this out from the library, but am planning on buying a copy for myself as well as a couple to give as gifts. Great recipes, very reliable. I like the 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich bread, and all my kids love it as well--even my super-picky 1-year-old has been gobbling it down.
For people who don't want to buy instant yeast, it's easy to substitute regular active dry yeast--I buy it in a large container at Costco and keep it in my freezer. It lasts a year or more with no loss of effectiveness. You can't add ADY directly to the dough--first mix it with a little warm water (part of the water called for in the ingredient list). Wait about five minutes, until it's dissolved and puffy; at that point you can follow the regular directions. Not a hassle at all--I use those five minutes to gather my other ingredients.
Kosher bakers will have to adapt most of the recipes in this book, since we don't usually bake bread that contains dairy ingredients. I haven't had problems doing this. In the yeast bread recipes, I substitute canola oil for the butter, and use vanilla soymilk instead of the water & powdered milk combo. Those of you concerned about healthier recipes could give this a try and see how it works for you. I've found the recipes to be flexible. (Obviously I wouldn't do that with a cake or danish where the butter is an integral part of the taste, but for yeast breads it works well.) Soymilks vary a lot in consistency and taste, so FYI I use Whole Foods's vanilla soymilk. At $1.49, it's cheap and good. Also, for anyone confused a little by King Arthur's calling for potato flakes, not potato buds, in their recipes calling for potato--I couldn't figure out exactly what they meant, but ended up using Barbara's brand instant mashed potatoes (which don't have chemicals like the mainstream brands), and they worked great.
Wonderful- gets beneath the crust!.......2007-09-05
The book is excellent. You have a much better chance of being successful with baking anything if you understand the interplay of the ingredients, and the authors do an outstanding job of teaching just that. There is an adequate to good range of recipes, and detailed explanations of when a non-whole grain ingredient is required.
Negative reviews regarding fat and white flour quite simply didn't read the book thoroughly, or are suffering undering the misunderstanding that our country still has regarding fat- it isn't evil, and the book doesn't bill itself as low-calorie, so it is wrong to condemn it for not being so. The recipes here are so much better than what is out there, while still maintaining GOOD TASTE (the whole point, right!?) that you can't do wrong with it.
Whole Grain and High Fat, Cholesterol, and Sugar.......2007-08-21
All I have to say is don't buy this if you are looking to improve your health. Most of the recipes have sugar, eggs, heavy cream, cheese or some other high fat dairy product in them, not to mention liberal amounts of white flour. I would think that most people looking for a whole grain cookbook would want one that was more nutritionally sound.
Amazon.com
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.
Book Description
It takes a remarkable writer to make an old story as fresh and compelling as the first time we heard it. With The Winter King, the first volume of his magnificent Warlord Chronicles, Bernard Cornwell finally turns to the story he was born to write: the mythic saga of King Arthur.
The tale begins in Dark Age Britain, a land where Arthur has been banished and Merlin has disappeared, where a child-king sits unprotected on the throne, where religion vies with magic for the souls of the people. It is to this desperate land that Arthur returns, a man at once utterly human and truly heroic: a man of honor, loyalty, and amazing valor; a man who loves Guinevere more passionately than he should; a man whose life is at once tragic and triumphant.
As Arthur fights to keep a flicker of civilization alive in a barbaric world, Bernard Cornwell makes a familiar tale into a legend all over again.
Customer Reviews:
Surprisingly GREAT!.......2007-10-02
Knowing nothing about this author or his style of writing, I was pleasantly surprised by what I firmly believe to be a more accurate accounting of Britain's Dark Ages than any modern movie or ancient legend that I have encountered.
More fiction than history, but good read anyway........2007-09-12
Winter King is OK book. It's not as good as the Last Kingdom, which first got me introduced to Bernie Cornwell, but it's OK.
Frankly, I don't think the book is historically accurate. More mythical. I beleive the historical thing is more like the movie in which Arthur was actually a non-royal Roman general Artorius, and Lancelot was a Samartian warrior from the steppes of Russia.
I can't beleive Bernie turned Lancelot into a woosie. Not sure where he's getting all this, but like the part about Uther and Morgan being half-burned rather than really hot chic that I was told she was supposed to be. OK. Later book said...she was a hot chic who got half-burned, but how am I supposed to know that?
And who's this Derfel dude anyway? Bernie just made the whole thing up, but then again, I bought six of his books so far, so what am I kidding myself? Bernie will be like "Dude, this is historical FICTION...Not history. Hello!!"
The Man can tell a Tale, A Great Intro to the Dark Ages!.......2007-09-02
I was introduced to Cornwell's work thru his Sharpes Stories Books & the DVD. (They both being well worth the time & coin to get) This series however is far and away a much better work. In that the Author take the reader back to a really nasty time - 6th Century AD Britain and the Dark Ages. Where he weaves a grand and gritty story about the Arthur Legend.
While not wanting to give too much away. It provides a fascinating look at a world that is both familiar and alien at the same time coupled with some telling details. Altogether this series is his best effort so far
Arthur, as he was meant to be.......2007-08-16
In this book, the first of three, Cornwell captures the essence of the Arthurian myth while staying true to history (as much as we know it) and reality (as much as we know it).
Together with Enemy of God (The Arthur Books #2) and Excalibur (The Arthur Books #3), these comprise simply the finest Arthur stories, superior to Mallory or Stewart or White. Against the grim, brutal, bleak backdrop Cornwell supplies, Arthur stands out even more as a champion of hope.
In this, we see a return to the Welsh legends - he's not a Christian, he's a pagan; he's not a king, he's a warlord; he's not looking for the holy grail, he's looking for a pagan cup. Genius. Revolutionary.
The Arthur myths became popular in the late middle ages/ early Renaissance, as can be noted in The Master of Verona (another great read, contemporary with another Cornwell book, The Archer's Tale (The Grail Quest, Book 1)). This book and its sequels return Arthur to his roots - brilliantly. Every Arthur novel will forever be compared to this.
History 1A.......2007-07-06
Oh soooo many books about this time period have been written, all without the benefit of a written dependable history. This series of Historical Novels had be believing it the myriad of possibilities that could have existed in that time frame and let me look into the eyes of the characters of my youth in a whole new way.
I enjoyed all three books once I got past pronouncing the characters names.
Customer Reviews:
Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03
Wart, a young boy, initially has no idea who he really is. This is
Merlin's doing, as he travels backwards in time, having left the young
lad with a kindly keeper to ensure his safety and responsible
upbringing. In other words, to make sure he is a decent kid, not a
spoiled brat, so he will become a sympathetic ruler. The rest of the
Arthurian legend evolves from there.
Don't buy into the hype........2007-08-17
Coming into reading this book I was under the false impression that it was going to be an enjoyable read. That went out the window rather quickly. I might have liked this book, had I been born in England 60 years ago and had an intricate knowledge of obscure old English references concerning their medieval period and items contained within. However, I have to say that I read through a few chapters of White's novel where I was left with no sense of what had just happened.
He goes into intricate explanations of scenery, events, and items that last for pages. This in itself is not bad, however, White seems to have been going through the Old English Book of archaic terms while he was doing this. Not a fun read, you might as well break out your dictionary and thesaurus because that's the only way you're going to understand what White is describing.
A reading assignment I actually enjoyed........2007-06-14
My class in school was assigned to read this book. I am a particularly slow reader, so I was discouraged when I saw how long it was and the hard to understand language they used, but the more i read, the more interested I got. Although it is not one of my favorites, i really enjoyed reading this and i love the author's style of writing. You get to know the characters so much and the plot never gets too boring. New "mini stories" pop up in every chapter and it's always a pleasant suprise.
A Good Novel But Not Great.......2007-04-24
King Arthur and his famous Knights of the Round Table are among the most famous characters of any mythology. This novel, entitled "The Once And Future King, is the re-telling of the legend published some four decades ago and written by a man who was fascinated by the medieval time period. This novel is a good novel, but it lacks greatness and is at times lacking.
The novel's plot is well known. It starts with a young boy called Wart who pulls the sword from the stone and becomes the King of England. He marries Guinevere, sets up the famous Round Table, and creates an ideal society in the form of Camelot. But in the end this perfect could not last forever and eventually Camelot falls. Pretty much the basics of the Arthurian legend are retold here.
The main problem of the novel is in its characterization. King Arthur is the protagonist of the novel, but yet he seems to be lacking in the wisdom we have come to associate with the legendary king. But he is a three-decisional character and he does suffers one tragic flaw: he is too trusting and this will lead to the fall of Camelot. The same lacking of characterization can be found in the other two characters of the novel: Guinevere and the brave knight Lancelot. White doesn't seem to be able to handle their characterization very well. This is especially true of the romance between them. The highlights in terms of characters are the bumbling knight King Pellinore and, of course, the sorcerer Merlyn. It is through Merlyn that Arthur learns many of the lessons and also that we get the social commentary of the novel. Yet the weak characterization of the main characters hurts the overall effect of the novel.
White is at his best doing the descriptions rather then dialogue and it is this that makes the novel worth reading. There is an area where White doesn't keep this together as well. The novel's ending seems to be too awkwardly written and White seems to rush past many of the novels' revelations. It would have been nice if some of these had been closed since they do leave a few too many loose threads hanging at the end.
In the final analysis, "The Once And Future King" is a novel of great intentions done written with mixed results. White managed to take the classic legend of old and infuse it with some freshness. Despite its lack of proper characterization and some loose threads at the end, the novel is still a good re-telling of the King Arthur story. If you are interested in the King Arthur legend this is a good choice to read.
A retelling of the Arthurian legend, NOT !.......2007-04-18
A retelling of the Arthurian legend,based largely on Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur. NOT ! Certainly not in the simple sense of retelling a story you've heard. White bit off all of it, chewed up all of it and digested all of it. He added, only the good Lord knows what, and cooked up an un-imaginable work of art. The book is full of passages of un-common beauty, full of poetry and pathos. He paints portraits of his characters, so full of color and detail and life that they are sitting right there next to you. You love or hate them, right there and then.
This is written on the occasion of my 30th reading of this book. I read it about twice a year. It goes on cruises with me. I have bought about 15 copies as gifts to family and friends. All of my grandchildren have copies. The book is quirky. You have not ever read anything like it. I love the use of the anachronistic (?) language he uses. You must feel with his characters, or to be honest, I question the quality of your soul. And this is the most remarkable thing about the book - you need to read it with your soul. It is not a history book.It is more than a romance It is a book about real people, Arthur, Guinevere, Merlin and Lancelot, lots of others, their loves, their hurts, their victories and losses and finally, how in spite of all good intentions and undertakings and magic, it all falls apart. How the promises of a better and smarter world never get fufilled.
Amazon.com
Cornwell furnishes a provocative look at the Arthurian legends in Enemy of God, the second book in the Warlords Chronicle. This version of the tale takes place during the Dark Ages, when even the lords of the land lived in thatched huts. Arthur, still defending Britain for his younger half-brother Mordred, faces religious uprisings, Saxon invasions, and disloyalty at the heart of the kingdom. His uncompromising belief in oaths and his optimistic blindness to human betrayal isolate him from even his closest friends. At the same time, Merlin's quest for the Cauldron (read Holy Grail) also becomes entangled in treachery.
Cornwell's writing skills have continued to evolve since his journeyman Sharpe series, and Enemy of God combines intriguing descriptions of Druidical magic with the war-ravaged landscape of Dark Ages Britain, without holding back on the brutality of vengeance and war. The Matter of Britain always commands interest, and Cornwell invests the usual splendor and tragedy with the human squalor of the times. --Blaise Selby
Book Description
With the Winter King, the first volume of his magnificent Warlord
Customer Reviews:
Derfel finds love, Arthur finds pain.......2007-04-05
After a hard fought victory at Lugg Vale, Arthur and Derfel hope for peace but alas it is not to be. In this second book in Cornwell's Warlord series the Arthurian legend continues. Derfel finds the love of his life and becomes a "Lord of War" while Arthur suffers his worst betrayal, and of course there is plenty of fighting. "Enemy of God" is a completely new chapter in the Arthurian legend in which Cornwell transforms Merlin into a real and loveable character and introduces the reader to much of the magic and mystery of the Druid. The story takes the reader into the reign of King Mordred and the dark times that follow. In this installment Derfel is at his happiest while Arthur is brought to the depths of despair. This is my favorite of the three books because the story brings out such deep emotions and leaves such a lasting impression.
Great twist on the Arthurian legend.......2007-03-10
I was intrigued about this alternate version of the Tales of Arthur. This well-crafted book (the third of 3 books in this series) fleshes out many of the legendary characters in very believable ways. I liked the book.
Enjoyable historical fiction with a masculine bias.......2007-03-09
While there is a certain similarity of characterization in Cornwall's books I still find them fascinating with enjoyable plots that for me evoke the age they address. I am a fan of all of his books
Arthur on the dark side.......2007-01-09
Great story, lots of research went into this book. so much attention to details that you feel as if you were reading an factional historical account.
I highly recommend it for all Arthurian novel & history buffs
Someone is Stirring the Cauldron.......2006-09-02
Bernard Cornwell is one of that rare breed of authors who are able to write convincingly on a broad range of subjects. Present day thrillers, the Sharpe novels about riflemen in the days of the Duke of Wellington, even an ancient historical novel about Stonehenge and it doesn't come much more ancient than that. His more recent novels have been about the Saxons and very good they are too. But I think that the trilogy he has written about the Arthurian legends are certainly among the best, if not the best of his novels. Having visited the authors website he also believes they are the best books he has written.
The legends of King Arthur hold a magical attraction for many people, myself included and I enjoy reading about them very much. The tales of Arthur and his knights of the round table riding about in full and shining armour are of course a total nonsense and a more or less modern day depiction of Arthur. Suits of armour were not even invented until several hundred years after Arthur's death, if indeed he existed at all. But if he did it would be more around the time in which the Winter King is set.
Mr. Cornwell puts a more realistic slant on the existence of Arthur in or around the sixth century, and the author himself believes that Arthur was some sort of war chief rather than a king.
This is the second book in the trilogy. At the end of the previous book (The Winter King) Arthur has fought the decisive battle that unites the warring British Kingdoms and now he sets out to face the real enemy . . . Merlin has lead a dangerous expedition into the West of the land to retrieve a cauldron, one of the treasures of Britain. Merlin believes the ancient treasures of Britain will bring the old gods onto the side of the British against the Saxons and the Christians, whom Merlin hates. However he is not the only one plotting, Arthur's wife Guinevere wants to make magic of her own . . .
Average customer rating:
- Retold one time too many?
- Best compilation
- do you like a stories inside a greater story?
- Everything you needed to know about King Arthur but were afraid to ask!
- AWFUL ARTHUR!!!
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King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table (Puffin Classics)
Roger Lancelyn Green
Manufacturer: Puffin
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ASIN: 0140366709 |
Customer Reviews:
Retold one time too many?.......2007-08-28
I had to overcome having read one too many retellings of these tales in reading this book.
I think the major flaw is taking the late middle ages Christian approach.
On the plus side the author pretty much sticks to the classic story lines and even puts in the Tristam legend
(his undoing here as the Cornwall Kingdom is where Arthur's mother conceived him, not a a place out of time ).
He changes Vivian to Nimue and calls magic the deceptions of Merlin and Morgan le Fay making everything as the Christians of later times would have it.
Best compilation.......2007-03-26
I have read many versions of the Arthurian legends, and revisited them again in three different books recently. Of those, this version was the best. It was compiled from several different sources, and manages to flesh out some of the legends of the lesser knights and Merlin the Enchanter more than many versions.
Despite being a Puffin Classics edition, it does not condescend to the reader, nor read as a diluted telling, as is so often the case in educational publishing. If you are looking for a clean, coherent telling of the Arthurian tales that won't require wading through archaic language, this is the version for you.
The paperback pricing is nice too.
do you like a stories inside a greater story?.......2006-08-24
The story King Arthur, which was written by Roger Lancelyn Green, is a truly exhilarating adventure set in the middle ages, and it contained many fascinating characters such as King Arthur, who was the king of Logres and who was one of the most important characters in the story; another character is Lancelot who was one of the best Knights of the round table and went on many quests, bringing much honor to Logres, and was quite important through out the book; another character would be Queen Morgana le Fay, she was not only a witch, but also the sister and nemesis of King Arthur, she often tried to capture or kill him and his knights, but in the end she makes peace with him; last but not least is Merlin, he is one of the best know characters, he is a wizard who saves King Arthur life twice, and foretells the future many a time; eventually he is buried alive by Lady Nimue until he is needed once again.
King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table was a collection different quest within one larger story, mainly telling the history or King Arthur and how the knights of the round table came to be, and there many legends; the majority of the book was sort of like the exposition, it was getting us accustomed to the characters and the vibe of the story so that the reader could get understand the end of the book when they searched for "The Quest of the Holy Grail" and the "Final Battle" which are the two main conflicts. This book is so good, because anyone can take something away from this book, R.L. Green's stories all have a theme to them whether it is about jealousy, integrity, kindness, forgiveness, or honor, the lesson of chivalry is always stressed, and there is always something for the reader to relate to making the book overall very satisfying.
Everything you needed to know about King Arthur but were afraid to ask!.......2006-07-07
This was the first King Arthur book I ever had. In more recent years I've read Le Morte D'Arthur, the Mabinogion, Bulfinch's Age of Chivalry, and a hundred other collections, some for children and some for adults. This is still the best-written, most comprehensive version I've found.
It tends to read a little like King Arthur's Greatest Hits--no bad thing, really. The story of Geraint and Enid is in there from the Mabinogion, Germanic legends are plundered to discover a bride for Sir Perceval, and Gawain fans will be pleased to know that his spotless character has been restored. He even gets to find the Grail!
There are many other children's collections out there, but none of them as comprehensive as this. As for the old classics, they can be hard to get and, like Mallory's , do unforgivable violence to favourite characters and then spend half the book on the story of Tristan and Iseult.
AWFUL ARTHUR!!!.......2006-04-19
This book was the worst!!! I usually enjoy reading books, but I didn't enjoy one little microscopic segment of this book!!! It was really hard to understand, and it felt like that all Roger Lancelyn Green cared about was death!! I mean really in one chapter I counted that 12 people died!!! In one single chapter!!!!!
Average customer rating:
- Not my kind of book
- Goddess Worshipper's Rejoice
- Awesome book
- Feminine retelling of Arthurian lore
- The mists of Avalon
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The Mists of Avalon
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Manufacturer: Del Rey
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ASIN: 0345350499
Release Date: 1987-05-12 |
Amazon.com
Even readers who don't normally enjoy Arthurian legends will love this version, a retelling from the point of view of the women behind the throne. Morgaine (more commonly known as Morgan Le Fay) and Gwenhwyfar (a Welsh spelling of Guinevere) struggle for power, using Arthur as a way to score points and promote their respective worldviews. The Mists of Avalon's Camelot politics and intrigue take place at a time when Christianity is taking over the island-nation of Britain; Christianity vs. Faery, and God vs. Goddess are dominant themes.
Young and old alike will enjoy this magical Arthurian reinvention by science fiction and fantasy veteran Marion Zimmer Bradley. --Bonnie Bouman
Book Description
A Literary Guild Featured Alternate
Here is the magical legend of King Arthur, vividly retold through the eyes and lives of the women who wielded power from behind the throne. A spellbinding novel, an extraordinary literary achievement, THE MISTS OF AVALON will stay with you for a long time to come....
Download Description
With more than 1 million copies in print and winner of the 1984 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel, The Mists of Avalon is by far Marion Zimmer Bradley's most successful novel. Putting a new twist on the Arthurian legends, this beloved book tells the epic story of the women behind the rise and fall of King Arthur.
Customer Reviews:
Not my kind of book.......2007-10-03
I've heard many times how life-changing and amazing this book is. While MZB is a great writer, and I admire the book, I just can't get myself to like it. I've tried reading it, and just haven't been able to get into it. The fact that the most likable characters manage to get bumped off, and everyone is doomed to misery just does not make me want to continue. I like the depictions of the period, especially the pagan religions, and I liked the instigating Morgeause, but this book felt to me more like a slow painful journey than an amazing read.
Goddess Worshipper's Rejoice.......2007-09-29
If you are a Witch, pagan, magician, feminist, or just a plain tree-hugging dirt worshipper, this is the book for you!
Marion Zimmer Bradley (MZB)was a practicing Witch and Priestess, and she knew the Goddess. This amazing retelling of the Arthurian legends shows that women and the Goddess played just as much a role in the course of events as Merlin did. "The Mists of Avalon" gives hope and a tale of inspirational wonder to any who know the Goddess.
MZB's life as a Witch and Priestess also gave her the incredible talent of putting the use of magick, and the workings of psychic energy onto pen and paper. Although there are many books out there today on Witchcraft and magick, this book offers a special glimpse into the potential ancient mysteries.
This book is for all those who knew in their hearts that Morgan Le Fey was never an evil sorceress.
Awesome book.......2007-09-27
If you love fantasy, but hate that the characters are almost exclusively male this is the book for you! I have always loved the King Arthur legend and this version made it so much better!
Feminine retelling of Arthurian lore.......2007-09-15
This Mists of Avalon is a retelling of the Arthurian legend from a different point of view. First of all, it is told from the viewpoint of the women of the tale. Secondly, it places the legend into the context of the rise of Christianity in England. Because of this latter factor, there is a very different feeling to this book. The rise of Arthur is accomplished by the combined forces of Christianity and the Druid religious leaders. Once Arthur is on the throne, though he accomplishes having 25 years of peace, the seed of his fall are already sown.
The story is primarily told by Morgan La Fay who in most versions is considered the evil doer who brings about the fall of Arthur. In this version - hers - she is portrayed much more sympathetically. We first meet her as a young girl whose mother (Igraine) is married to a Roman noble by the name of Gorlois. Her aunt is Viviane who is the Lady of Lake, the high priestess of the Druid female-based religion. Viviane and the Merlin have visions which show that Igraine must fall for Uther and bear him the son who will be the Once and Future King. Through some interesting twists, this happens and Igraine bears Arthur. Morgan is sent off to study to become a priestess on Avalon and Arthur is raised by some peasants.
The ritual of kingmaking that the druids practiced included a mating of the King and the Priestess. Not surprisingly, Arthus is made King by following this ritual and his mate turns out to be his sister. While the druids see nothing wrong with this, the Christian religion calls it incest and it is one of the extreme taboos. Of course, this also happens to result in Morgan's getting pregnant with Mordred.
One of the things that jumps out of the book repeatedly is how Christianity is portrayed in extremely negative terms. Unlike the druid religion which is tolerant of many gods and many practices, Christianity is portrayed as very narrow minded, not tolerant of anything else but its own beliefs, and most importantly, a religion that has been interpreted by its priests as one the completely degrades women. Many passages are spent in describing how women are the source of all evil under Christian beliefs and how women are supposed to be chaste until marriage and then content with the raising of the babies and the running of the household. This is contrasted strongly with how women rule and are involved in all the important decisions under the Druid religion.
Another critical aspect is the role of Guinevere. In this telling, she is the evil one who makes Arthur's reign dissolve into ruin at the end. She is portrayed from the beginning as someone who has many mental problems. For one, she has a phobia about being outdoors. For another, she is the one who presses christianity in its most virulent and narrow-minded form on to Arthur. Yet, while she does all this, she is really in love with Lancelot and has the celebrated love affair with him. She is also portrayed as a vacuous air-head whose only interest is in having Arthur's baby and has frequent tantrums and false pregnancies which causes all kinds of grief at court.
Eventually, Guinevere succeeds in controlling Arthur and turns him away from his oath to rule all the people of Britain, and towards Christianity. Excalibur, which was given to him by the Druids is even made to server as a symbol of the cross. This creates immense bitterness and anger amongst the Druids and the Old People and as Mordred arrives in court as a young man, results in the dissolution of Camelot.
The ending of the book is tragic. We all know that, of course. But, in this telling, the tragedy is compounded as Morgan attempts to convince Arthur to follow his oath. When he does not, she works against him. The result is that she pays a heavy price. Her lover dies, her son dies, her brother dies, and she is left alone in the world. At the very tail end of the book, she realizes that Druidism has died and been replaced by a faction within Christianity which worships Mary and then she returns to Avalon and has the island moves further into the mists so that it cannot be found.
The writing of the book takes some getting used to. Not only does the author use a very heavy form of English, but she has changed the spelling of many of the names. Morgan is supposedly actually Morgain, Merlin is Taliesin, Arthur is Gwydion, and Guinever is Gwenhynfer, etc. This is also a long book of over 850 pages and many parts of it seem to go by very slowly. There are myriads of minor characters with bloodlines and roles that are somewhat difficuly to follow: Balan and Balin, for instance.
Overall, it is a very interesting concept and one that makes the reading enjoyable, once you get through the funny spellings, the turgid dialog, and the displacement of viewpoint.
The mists of Avalon.......2007-09-09
This is the best book ever. It really pulls you into the time of Druids and witches and magic and helps you remember your true power, your previous lives most likely looked like this. A very soul comforting read.
Amazon.com
The third novel in the Warlords Chronicle, Excalibur: A Novel of Arthur immerses the reader in the Britain of the Dark Ages. Merlin, the greatest of the Druids, believes that the ancient gods are deserting Britain, and that the invading Saxons can't be defeated without the gods' help. Mordred reigns with a brutal hand, and Arthur sees his dreams of peace evaporate. The author provides exciting descriptions of swordplay and battles, interspersed with somewhat gruesome depictions of ordinary life in those days--greasy, waist-length beards serving as napkins, lambs bloodily sacrificed before festivals, and rampant lice.
But at the heart of Excalibur--what makes the Arthurian legends eternally fascinating--is the larger-than-life company of heroes, from Sagramor the warrior to Taliesin the bard, Guinevere, Lancelot, and Arturus Rex himself. Cornwell treats them all with warmth and dignity, revealing their human qualities without unnecessarily reinventing them. This three-part saga of magic and bloodshed will grip readers from the first page of The Winter King, through Enemy of God, to the last page of Excalibur. --Blaise Selby
Book Description
In The Winter King and Enemy of God Bernard Cornwell demonstrated his astonishing ability to make the oft-told legend of King Arthur fresh and new for our time. Now, in this riveting final volume of The Warlord Chronicles, Cornwell tells the unforgettable tale of Arthur's final struggles against the Saxons and his last attempts to triumph over a ruined marriage and ravaged dreams.
This is the tale not only of a broken love remade, but also of forces both earthly and unearthly that threaten everything Arthur stands for. Peopled by princesses and bards, by warriors and magicians, Excalibur is the story of love, war, loyalty, and betrayal-the work of a magnificent storyteller at the height of his powers.
Customer Reviews:
Save the Best for the Last.......2007-08-22
I first became interested in Bernard Cornwell reading the Saxon Chronicles of the Last Kingdom, but I realize that the Arthurian Chronicles are a whole lot more fun. Excalibur sure beats them all. I think the part when he helped his son from Merlin was quite good. Also, the war with Mordred. In earlier books, we always thought Mordred was a wimp and couldn't quite see him become a formidable rival to Arthur. In a way, Arthur may have perpetruated his own end. Who would allow such a powerful man to live in peace?
A fitting end to the Warlord Chronicles.......2007-04-05
In the third and final episode of his Warlord Chronicles Cornwell wraps up all the loose ends, like what happened to Derfel's hand. He also returns to the more traditional telling to find his ending for the Arthur story. I found the ending of the Arthur portion of the tale very satisfying but was a little disappointed in the ending the Cornwell wrote for Derfel. In the end Derfel is a warrior again which is the way I am sure my friend would have wanted it but I really wanted Derfel to have one last glorious triumph to end his tale. I guess that would have been impossible as Derfel is the author of the story, life is inexorable. All in all a great ending to a wonderful and much more believable and satisfying retelling of the Arthurian legend. P.S. If you are looking for the Holy Grail, check out the "Archer's Tale" another great series by Cornwell.
Arthur on the dark side III.......2007-01-09
Just like the 2 previous books of this trilogy it was hard to put down. It's one of those books you wish would never end, or that there was at least one more.
Excalibur.......2006-08-14
Excalibur was a great ending to a fantastic series. I thouroughly enjoyed all three books in The Warlord Chronicles, and I would recommend Excalibur to anyone who enjoyed Winter King and Enemy of God.
best book.......2006-04-20
The book Excalibur by Bernard Cornwell is an amazing story. Excalibur is a book that describes the epic that is the war of a noble kingdom. Unlike most of the other books that talk about Excalibur and the adventures of King Arthur this book revolves around one of Arthur's Knights of the Round Table, Derfel. Derfel was a lord of war and law. He controlled one of the armies that were under the rule of Arthur. The setting of this story is in the island of Great Briton. King Arthur and his allies control of half of the island. The other half of the island is controlled by the barbaric Saxons that invaded over 100 years ago. I wouldn't recommend this book to people that don't like war and gore. Though to every one else I strongly recommend this book. This book talks about gods and war. The war is described in amazingly thrilling detail that will absolutely exhilarate your very senses. I would give this book a rating of 110 out of 100.
Book Description
The new king of Camelot wears no shining armor: Arthur and his knights have fallen and a new king rules.
In the darkest forest...
A scared, forsaken youth has become the most powerful –– and feared –– man in the world. Ruthless and unrestrained, Kerrigan has long ceased to be human.
In the heart of London...
A spirited peasant mired in drudgery, Seren dreams of becoming her own woman, but never expects that by fleeing her fate, she will meet her destiny.
Their worlds are forever changed...
Kerrigan's goal is simple: barter or kill Seren to claim Arthur's Round Table. Yet she is the one person who holds no fear of him. More than that, her nobility sparks something foreign inside him. In his nether realm, kindness is weakness and a king who harbors any sort of compassion loses his throne.
For countless centuries, Kerrigan has lived alone in the shadows. Now Seren's courage has forced him into the light that will bring either salvation to both of them...or death.
Download Description
"
The new king of Camelot wears no shining armor: Arthur and his knights have fallen and a new king rules.
In the darkest forest...
A scared, forsaken youth has become the most powerful -- and feared -- man in the world. Ruthless and unrestrained, Kerrigan has long ceased to be human.
In the heart of London...
A spirited peasant mired in drudgery, Seren dreams of becoming her own woman, but never expects that by fleeing her fate, she will meet her destiny.
Their worlds are forever changed...
Kerrigan's goal is simple: barter or kill Seren to claim Arthur's Round Table. Yet she is the one person who holds no fear of him. More than that, her nobility sparks something foreign inside him. In his nether realm, kindness is weakness and a king who harbors any sort of compassion loses his throne.
For countless centuries, Kerrigan has lived alone in the shadows. Now Seren's courage has forced him into the light that will bring either salvation to both of them...or death.
"
Customer Reviews:
4 1/2 stars.......2007-08-15
This was Kerrigan and Seren's story.
Kerrigan was black hearted and...the bad guy.
This was a nice read. It's been recapped enough, so don't need to reinvent the wheel in this review.
Could not put the book down!.......2007-08-13
This was my first read by Ms. Macgregor .. and I loved it. I could not put it down. I loved the anti-heroine "little mouse", who believes in good and who believes there is good within everyone if you treat them with kindness and gentleness. Kerrigan was a great tortured hero, in whom our heroine saw a different person than he viewed himself.
I'm off to find Book #2 in the series now.
Good start (4), poor finish (2).......2007-08-12
I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. The leading man was dark and dangerous and the lady smart and strong. I found the time travel to modern day and the references to modern technology and the use of modern slang to be extremely annoying and completely unnecessary. The story is set in a fantasy world, why travel to the 21st century? Then there's the ending. The story completely wimped out. Poof, invoke a magical solution and they lived happily every after. It killed the whole book for me.
WOW!.......2007-08-10
She is refreshingly real - not an awesome beauty (that every man wants to sleep with) but a plain "under nourished" peasant who will be the mother of the next Merlin. He is dark, brooding and cold and hasn't ever felt love until she comes along. His love for her changes their lives. Beautiful story. Fantastic creatures. A love affair that started right away and not 3/4 through the book. I absolutely love this book!
Fun and refreshing read!!!.......2007-07-27
This happens to be the FIRST book I've read by this author; and I was pleasantly surprised.
A very fun read...to the point that I was laughing OUT LOUD!! Other times almost teary eyed! Characters you'll enjoy reading about...and I really "got a kick" out of Garafyn and Blaise!!! What a hoot!!
Take a chance on this read, you won't be disappointed! And now I'm off to the next book in the series.
Amazon.com
Initially published nearly thirty years ago, Mary Stewart's The Crystal Cave has been spellbinding readers and converting them into serious Arthurian buffs ever since. The first in a series of four books, this novel focuses on the early life of Merlin the magician, and the political developments of fifth-century Britain. Not for the fainthearted, this verbose text pays careful attention to historical details and methodical plot development.
Merlin's childhood is formed by the absence of his reticent, convent-bound mother and his unnamed and unknown father. As the bastard grandson of a local king, Merlin is the object of both envy and ridicule. His strange powers and predictions earn him greater status as a pariah, and he leaves home as a preadolescent. Returning years later as a young man--empowered by self-knowledge and magic--Merlin finds himself caught in the currents of the shifting kingdoms.
As an established classic in this genre, and the first in a popular series, The Crystal Cave introduces this familiar character with fresh sensitivity. While readers looking for the romance of First Knight will be disappointed, those happy with tight writing and a complex story line will be satisfied. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien
Book Description
Born the bastard son of a Welsh princess, Myridden Emrys -- or as he would later be known, Merlin -- leads a perilous childhood, haunted by portents and visions. But destiny has great plans for this no-man's-son, taking him from prophesying before the High King Vortigern to the crowning of Uther Pendragon . . . and the conception of Arthur -- king for once and always.
Customer Reviews:
Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03
An excellent book, Mary Stewart begins to tell the tale of a young
Merlin. Here, Merlin is a boy, son of a Welsh princess. A geeky type of
kid, with an interesting is learning, this marks him as odd. People
think liking this stuff is so odd they begin to talk about him as being
the offspring of a demon!
Demon geek, there you go. No one likes him, if other words, so he
has to leave. He ends up finding his father, Ambrosius, an ex-king, and
studying some more.
Then there is the whole thing with Ambrosius' brother Uther.
Nice first book in a series.......2007-07-23
Mary Stewart delivers a quick read that takes the reader to the beginning of the Arthur story. Merlin develops from a young, retreating boy to a self-assured (perhaps cocky?) man who can receive visions but cannot control them. The characters are real and well-drawn (I especially liked Ambrosius) and the machinations and battles for control of Britain are handled thoroughly, but from a distance. There is a sense of build-up that does not quite pay off, but will lead the reader nicely into the next book in the series.
Such a good read.......2007-06-18
Exactly what I was in the market for. A well written fantasy novel that is so convincing you'll think it really happened... I highly recommend this book and the other two in the series.
The first of four.......2007-05-14
The first in the four part Arthurian/Merlin Saga. Told by Merlin himself, the book introduces the reader to a divided Britain, and adds some realism to the Wizardry mythology.
The saga continues with The Hollow Hills (The Arthurian Saga, Book 2)
A new look at Merlin.......2007-05-04
This was a fun book to read. It was neat to see Merlin as a child and young man, rather than the wise old wizard you're so used to seeing him as. A very original story and a very talented author, make this one a great read!
Customer Reviews:
Intellectual classic for the whole family.......2007-09-01
The whole family is hooked on this. The classical music that accompanies it is compelling. You think you are there.
Very cool to listen to!.......2007-05-16
Sean Bean does an awesome job on this production. His range of voices and dialects are amazing. Very eerie in the parts that are supposed to be.
Very entertaining.......2007-03-09
It's hard to take such a well known tale and still make it fun to listen to, but Sean Bean's voice and cadences kept me listening to the end.
Great fun.......2007-01-04
We like to listen to audiobooks on long car rides. This one was very well done. Our two children (6&8) loved it.
Great for a family car trip.......2007-01-03
Sean Bean does a wonderful job reading. The classic story kept the kids and parents spellbound during a family road trip.
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