Pacaritambo

THE 21 LESSONS OF MERLYN: A Study in Druid Magic & Lore
by Douglas Monroe. Randy Asplund-Faith cover art. B&W illustrations. Condition: NEW 1997 Llewellyn large Trade Paperback, 8th printing. Light tanning to page edges. Content: For those with an inner drive to touch genuine Druidism -- or who are fascinated by the lore of King Arthur -- this book is a welcome adventure into history and magic. Here is a complete introductory course in Celtic Druidism, packaged within the framework of 21 authentic and expanded folk story/lessons that read like a novel. Follow Arthur's apprenticeship from his first encounter with Merlyn. [1 copy available]
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THE AGE OF CHIVALRY: The Illustrated Bulfinch's Mythology
Illustrated by Giovanni Caselli. Condition: NEW remainder 1997 large Macmillan softcover, first printing. Beautiful color illustrations. Content: Divided into 3 sections: Arthur and His Knights; The Mabinogeon; and The Knights of English History. Arthurian and Celtic lore at it's best. lthough "Bulfinch's" has been heralded for more than a century, it has never before been published in so beautiful and accessible a format. Evocative four-color illustrations, many full-page, bring to life key events and characters of these universal tales and sagas. Original footnotes, indices, and Prefaces make the book not only entertaining, but completely authoritative as well. 115 illustrations. [1 copy available]
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ARTHUR & THE LOST KINGDOMS
by Alistair Moffat. B&W photo section as well as B&W maps and drawings. Condition: NEW 2004 Phoenix (UK) Trade Paperback, third impression. Content: Reviewer: "This is an interesting work, going into the history of the north of Britain in the Iron Age, Roman period, and post-Roman centuries. Moffat makes a good case for a historical Arthur, who was based out of the ancient Welsh-speaking north, which is now the Scottish borderlands. It's good to get to know something about this Arthur, or at least the times in which the historical war-leader Arthur would have lived, in a genuine historical context, rather than a mythological or semi-legendary context only. For anyone who's a fan of the stories of Arthur, or fascinated by the history of the so-called "Dark Ages" in Britain, this will be an informative book. Be prepared for a lot of references to the P-Celtic and Q-Celtic language subgroups, British tribal names, and some other references which might be obscure to the novice. Some of Moffat's evidence is largely supposition, but he really does dig up some nice history, and he's not overbearing. It's worth reading." Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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ARTHUR KING OF THE BRITONS: From Celtic Hero to Cinema Icon
by Daniel Mersey. B&W illustrations by Deanna Tyson. Condition: NEW 1999 Summersdale(UK) Trade Paperback, first printing. Content: King Arthur is probably the most popular king in British history, and a man whose name is synonymous with courage, chivalry and romanticism. But is he just a myth? Arthur, King of the Britons; Arthur, the medieval legend; Arthur, the Celtic warlord; Arthur of the Pre-Raphaelites and the Arthur of the movies . . . would the real King Arthur please stand up? Mersey explores the many theories and myths surrounding this famous icon in his compelling biography. Questions welcome. [2 copies available]
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ARTHUR THE KING: The Themes Behind The Legends
by Graeme Fife. . Wonderful color plates with B&W photos & drawings. Condition: NEW 1991 Sterling hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: A thorough, lively analysis of the themes of the Arthurian cycle. Because the book started out as the script for a BBC series, the language is sophisticated and witty rather than scholarly. Hence, it is eminently readable. There are frequent Briticisms that should delight Anglophiles and enlighten the uninitiated. Fife discusses courtly love, medieval religion, chivalry, the quest for the Holy Grail, and heraldry with erudition and verve. The text is jam-packed with information, and there are plenty of photographs and colorful illustrations to enliven it, as well as a plethora of appropriate quotes. Researchers will find Arthur the King a book to enjoy even as they learn from it. [1 copy available]
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The ARTHURIAN LEGENDS: An Illustrated Anthology
selected & introduced by Richard Barber. Wonderful color plates with B&W photos & drawings. Condition: Gently pre-read 1985 Dorset Press hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), fourth printing. Light edgewear to DJ corners. No major problems; just pre-read. Content: From Geoffrey of Monmouth to T.H.White here is a sample of Arthurian literature through the centuries. Barber's comments on each selection ids in the understanding of the meaning and magic of Arthur. [2 copies available]
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BELOVED EXILE (Historical Fantasy)
by Parke Godwin. Thomas Canty cover art. Condition: Good+, gently pre-read 1994 AvoNova paperback, first printing. Small edgewear and spine crease. Interior clean & tight with pale, pale tanning to page edges. Content: After the death of Arthur brings the hope of Camelot to an end, Guenevere struggles to keep the kingdom together in the face of traitors and usurpers, until a cruel betrayal condemns her to slavery under a Saxon warlord. Reviewer: "Godwin portrays Guenevere as a powerful woman whose strengths (as is often the case) are also her weaknesses--and her undoing. Godwin's Guinevere is frequently hard to sympathize with, but she isn't hard to understand. I'm impressed with how dramatically (but believably) her character changes and grows between Firelord and this book. Note: Read this book carefully, and you'll notice that a character from Firelord, so minor that she had neither name or dialogue, is crucial to the events and attitudes in Beloved Exile." [1 copy available]
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THE CHRONICLES OF THE ROUND TABLE: Adventure, chivalry and valour from the age of Arthurian legend (Historical Fantasy Anthology)
edited by Mike Ashley. Cover art by Julck Heller. Condition: UNREAD 1997 Carroll & Graf Trade Paperback, first printing. Tiny edge wear. Content: This addition to Ashley's Chronicles series of Arthurian tales comprises 19 new stories, 4 reprints, and an afterword in which Marion Zimmer Bradley and Parke Godwin discuss their own and other Arthurian works. Otherwise, the knights themselves (often the more obscure ones) take center stage in stories mostly based on traditional sources, including: Gereint and the hedge of mist, Sagremor's African origins, Tor's fight with Abbo (Abelleus), Lionel the irrepressible, Bedivere and Vortiporix, Blamor vs. Tristan, Brandiles vs. Gawain, Yder vs. Abbadan the troll, the Brown Knight Without Pity, Villiers the Valiant, Fergus of Galloway, and Pelleas and Nimue. Worth a browse for Arthur's faithful legions. [1 copy available]
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THE DISCOVERY OF KING ARTHUR
by Geoffrey Ashe. B&W photo section. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1987 Owl Trade Paperback, second printing. Light edgewear with 2 pale "splash" marks front cover near hinge. Interior clean & tight. Content: Myths, legends, and literary mysteries mix with maps, relics, and historical facts in The Discovery of King Arthur. Scholars, students, and general readers of all ages have wondered-for centuries-about whether Britain was ever really ruled by an Arthur who held court at a place called Camelot. In this book, the distinguished scholar Geoffrey Ashe offers convincing proof that King Arthur not only existed, but was more like the Arthur of legend than historians have previously suspected.In this exciting study, drawing upon myriad sources both literary and historical, Ashe traces the legend of King Arthur to its roots in the twelfth-century chronicles of Geoffrey of Monmouth. He then illustrates that a great deal of Geoffrey's history, which set out ot depict events and persons of fifth-century Britain, was based on fact. After challenging previous assumptions about where Arthur's court and other remnants can be found, Ashe identifies the real King Arthur and provides powerful evidence to support his theory.Riothamus, an actual fifth-century British monarch, is the figure whom Ashe painstakingly identifies. But his study also investigates the histories behind other Arthurian phenomena, such as the key concepts of knighthood and chivalry. Throughout the book, the swep and grandeur of a tumultuous era in British and European history is vividly recounted as Ashe describes the origins and development of the Arthurian legend-a legend that seems to grow ever more enchanting and spellbinding. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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THE ELEMENTS OF THE ARTHURIAN TRADITION
by John Matthews. B&W illustrations. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1993 Element, Inc. small soft cover, reprint. Pale crease bottom front cover with light tanning to page edges. Content: From the intricately woven fabric of Celtic myth and legend come the stories of adventure, magic and romance that are the essence of the Arthurian Tradition. This book answers: Who was King Arthur?; What is the Holy Grail; Who were the Faery Women of Arthur's court?; and What is the Fellowship of the Round Table?. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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EXILED FROM CAMELOT
by Cherith Baldry. Cover art by Richard Pace. Condition: NEW 2001 Green Knight Trade Paperback, first printing. Content: Reviewer: "Cherith Baldry's "Exiled From Camelot" is a novel of remarkable characterization and insight, a fresh new look at King Arthur's seneschal and foster brother Sir Kay and a breathtaking odyssey of personal redemption. When Loholt, King Arthur's illegitimate son, arrives at Camelot and quickly worms his way into the Court's favor, only the crude but honorable Kay remains suspicious. And when Loholt is killed, Kay finds himself stripped of title and honor and summarily exiled by his own brother on pain of death. A far-reaching plot unfolds deftly in Baldry's hands, a tale of magic, good and evil, beautiful ladies and despicable villains, highlighted by brilliant and innovative depictions of familiar heroes like Sir Gareth and Sir Gawaine (the latter should perhaps be billed as Kay's co-star in this wonderful saga) and of course Kay himself, who proves to be far more gallant and resourceful than his uncouth reputation would suggest. Masterfully written, featuring exciting battles, convincing dialogue, and plenty of mystery, this is a perfect companion piece to Phyllis A. Karr's classic "The Idylls of the Queen," novel, and one which should be a valuable component to the Arthurian canon for many years to come." [1 copy available]
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EXPLORING KING ARTHUR'S BRITAIN
by Denise Stobie. Beautiful color photos of the sites. Condition: Gently pre-read 1999 Collins & Brown (UK) hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), no printing given. Content: Wonderful color photos and history of the sites associated with King Arthur and the Arthurian legends. Excellent! [1 copy available]
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GRAILS: Quests of the Dawn
edited by Richard Gilliam, Martin H. Greenberg, Edward E. Kramer. Afterword by Fritz Leiber. Condition: NEW 1994 ROC Trade Paperback, first thus, first printing. Cover art appears to be the work of Thomas Canty. Content: 25 all-original stories of the most magical vessel by Marion Zimmer Bradley, Orson Scott Card, Mercedes Lackey, Andres Norton, Jane Yolen, Gene Wolf, Diana Paxson, Janny Wurtz, Kristine K Rusch, Neil Gaiman, Lawrence Watt-Evans, et al. Most of the stories are Arthurian in nature and a few go far astray! [1 copy available]
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GUENEVERE: Queen of the Summer Country (The First of the Guenevere Novels)
by Rosalind Miles. Cover art by Joel Peter Johnson. B&W maps. Condition: NEW 1999 Crown Publishers Trade Paperback, 6th printing. Tiny, tiny edgewear. Content: This is the first part of a trilogy chronicling the life of Queen Guenevere. Beginning with the young King Arthur who is preparing for the war that will unite Britain, the book recounts the marriage of Guenevere and Arthur, the growth of Arthur's court, and Guenevere's adulterous affair with Lancelot. Although told mainly from Guenevere's point of view, this is a truly epic narrative, encompassing pageantry, political intrigue, war, and the conflict between the old pagan religion and Christianity. At times earthy, sensual, and violent, it is a powerful romantic drama firmly rooted in historical Britain, a modern yet traditional retelling of the stories given definitive form in the first four books of Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur. The characters are grippingly evoked as realistic, living, and breathing human beings rather than simple archetypes, yet the writing is effortlessly lyrical, with the elegant flow of folktale. In emotional depth, Guenevere is comparable to Parke Godwin's fine Arthurian romance, Firelord. For Book 2 see below Knight of Sacred Lake. [2 copies available]
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THE HALLOWED ISLE: THE BOOK OF THE SPEAR (A Novel of King Arthur,
Book 2)
by Diana Paxson. Condition: NEW 1999 Avon EOS Trade Paperback, first printing.Clean, tight, perfect. Content: Part two of a four-part Arthurian saga that focuses on the diverse and conflicting cultural groups occupying fifth-century Britain, this volume tells the story of Oesc, a Saxon warrior whose magical spear opposes Arthur's famous sword. [1 copy available]
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THE HEDGE OF MIST: A Book of the Keltiad (The Tales of Arthur, Volume III)
by Patricia Kennealy-Morrison. Beautiful wrap-around cover art by Thomas Canty. Condition: UNREAD 1996 HarperPrism large hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. Slight weakness at Title Page. Content: Reviewer: "In this third volume of the Tales of Arthur series, Taliesin Glyndour, chief poet of Keltia, reveals the climax of the epic of Arthur, his sister Morgan, his beloved Gweniver, and the quest for the Graal -- and finally brings his own Triad to triumphant completion. This conclusion the tale of Arthur, King of Kelts, against a backdrop of warriors, druids, space travel and romance. Kennealy-Morrison manages to re-invent Arthur in a manner never before attempted, and does it beautifully. Sweeping prose, poetic descriptions, and heart-wrenching emotion play against a tapestry of stars " [1 copy available]
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THE IDYLLS OF THE QUEEN
by Phyllis Ann Karr. Beautiful cover art but no credit given. Condition: UNREAD 1985 Berkley paperback edition, first printing. Shelfwear hinge crease with light edgewear and tanning to inside covers and pagae edges. . Content: Karr takes an incident (the murder of Sir Patrise) from Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur and creates an intelligent, complex, and fascinating mystery novel perfect for fans of historical mysteries, of British legends, and of fantasy. Queen Guenevere is giving a dinner to honor King Arthur's knights when one guest, Sir Patrise, falls dead of poison. The dead man's cousin accuses the Queen of murder, and she is taken away, to be held until her trial by combat. If her knight-champion wins, Guenevere will be declared innocent and freed; if he loses, she will be burned to death as a murderer. She is unlikely to survive the trial. Most of Britain's mightiest knights were at the dinner, and therefore cannot fight for the Queen. Her champion and secret lover, the invincible Lancelot, has vanished. And, as Sir Kay realizes, trial by combat determines only is who is the better fighter, not who is guilty. Kay knows the Queen is innocent and an unsuspected murderer is loose in feud-filled Camelot -- a murderer who intended to kill a person or persons other than the obscure knight Patrise, and who is poised to kill again. With the trial only days away, Kay joins with the great knights Gawaine and Gareth and their half-brother, King Arthur's bastard son Mordred, in two quests: to find the missing Lancelot, and to uncover the true murderer.While the setting is Malory's medieval world, where magic works, the author plays fair; she doesn't use magic to solve the mystery. [1 copy available]
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KING ARTHUR'S WORLD
by Kevin Crossley-Holland. B&W illustrations by Hemesh Alles. Condition: NEW 2004 Orion (UK) small hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: Legend, anecdote, historical fact and shadowy speculation - this is the world of King Arthur as it was seen in medieval times when the stories were first written down. A map of Arthur's Britain, the origins of the Round Table, the skills of Merlin and the sorceress Morgan le Fay, all help to create a rich background to the tales themselves. Punctuated with engaging quotations from medieval texts and with highly entertaining lists of places, characters and magical things, the book is full of information about medieval life: about knights, castles, heraldry, troubadours and courtly love, how to joust and win a fair lady, how to be a butler, and what to expect at a banquet (roast swan and peacock pie). Called 'a box of delights' by the TES and 'a fascinating guide to the Arthurian world' by the Guardian, this was first published in 1998 as The King Who Was and Will Be - with color illustraitons. It is now completely repackaged as a charming small hardback with line drawings inspired by medieval woodcuts. Ages 10+. Questions welcome. [2 copies available]
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KING OF THE CELTS: Arthurian Legends and Celtic Tradition
by Jean Markale. Condition: Gently pre-read, IF at all, 1996 Inner Traditions Trade Paperback, third printing. Light shelf wear "ding" top pages. Interior clean & tight. Content: Markale opens with an argumentative introduction about historians' general reluctance to deal with myths and oral traditions. She moves directly into a discussion of how Arthurian lore in the medieval world was comcreated by ardent and undiscriminating propagandists of the courtly nobility who misappropriated Celtic legends and in the process betrayed and ridiculed them. Her survey of Arthurian legendry in Celtic history purports that through such Celtic notions of kingship, especially the king's obligation to the people, his role was clarified as more than one of personal gain or divine right. For serious students of Arthurian legends and history. Questions welcome. [2 copies available]
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THE KNIGHT OF THE SACRED LAKE (Book 2 of the Guenevere Novels)
by Rosalind Miles. Cover art by Joel Peter Johnson. Condition: UNREAD 2000 Three Rivers Press Trade Paperback, first printing. Tiny edgewear. Content: Guenevere appears to lose some of the strength she exhibited in the earlier book as a warrior queen. Her ill-fated love for Lancelot does irreparable damage to her marriage and her commitment to her people and her realm. The plot lags somewhat as the author concentrates on exploring the queen's inner turmoil. Miles is at her best in her treatment of Morgan le Fay, half-sister to Arthur and mother of Mordred, Arthur's bastard son. After being immured in a convent where she was starved and beaten for much of her youth, Morgan is determined to avenge herself on all who have wronged her. The scene of the convent's slow but inevitable destruction is superb, and Mordred is the perfect tool to use against Arthur and Guenevere. As the story ends, Mordred is discovered by Merlin, who has spent years searching Britain for the boy, and returned to Camelot - opening the door to a third novel in this saga. I love these books! [1 copy available]
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THE LOST BOOKS OF MERLYN: Druid Magic From the Age of Arthur
by Douglas Monroe. B&W photos & drawings illustate. Condition: NEW 2004 Llewellyn large Trade Paperback, fourth printing. Content: Part adventure tale and part grimoire, this book remains true to the Druids' method of wrapping important knowledge in a story. Monroe's tale of the British Celts, their conflict with the Romans, and the last days of King Arthur, recounts the demise of the Druids but reveals the hope of their resurrection today. Coupled with an abundance of spells, charms, and sacred rites, this is more than just a well-written fantasy, more than just a well-stocked spell book. The Lost Books of Merlyn is both teacher and course. Whether you read it as a work of fiction or dig for a deeper meaning, you will hear a voice in these pages speaking to you as Merlyn speaks to the author: "Now, at last, it is your turn to understand what has already been lived, and what may come of it." [408 pages] Questions welcome [1 copy available]
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MERLIN (Fantasy Anthology)
edited by Martin Greenberg. Cover art by Scott Grimando. Condition: NEW 2004 ibooks Trade Paperback, first printing. Content: Merlin is one of the most powerful names in the annals of fantasy, a name to conjure with, a name that is synonymous with Arthur, Morgan le Fay, the Lady of the Lake, Nimue, the Knights of the Round Table, Camelot and Avalon. Was he the greatest of Druids, a true caster of spells, a weaver of tales and legends, a maker of kings, or a tragic hero in his own right? Wonderful fantasy stories by Jane Yolen, Charles de Lint, Andre Norton, Jean Rabe, Lisanne Norman, Michelle West, Tim Waggoner, et al. [384 pages] Questions welcome [1 copy available]
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MERLIN: Priest of Nature
by Jean Markale. B&W decorations. Condition: NEW 1995 Inner Traditions Trade Paperback, second printing. Tiny, tiny edgewear. Content: Was Merlin a mythical character or a real person? If he was a real person, when and where did he live? In this provocative survey of all the known literary and historical sources, Jean Markale pieces together a compelling story of who and what Merlin might have been. Combining his investigation of the sources with fragments of Celtic mythology, Druidic culture, and the esoteric tradition, Markale draws an enlightening portrait of the archetypal Wild Man and shaman known as Merlin, who lived in the Lowlands of Scotland late in the sixth century, some fifty years after the reign of King Arthur. In a state of divine madness Merlin sought refuge in the forest, where he inherited the gift of prophecy. With him was his companion, Vivian, an essential element of the Merlin legend. Their sacred clearing in the woods -- described in some legends as an invisible castle of glass or air -- was the site of their ecstatic journey of enlightenment and union with nature. From his place in the Cosmic Tree and outside of time, Merlin the enchanter challenges us to reexamine our way of life. When the Merlin legend resurfaced in the twelth century, his message of the universal brotherhood of all beings and things called out to a rapidly urbanizing society that was losing touch with nature. His warning, which went unheeded, is no less relevant to us today than it was at the dawn of the modern era. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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MERLIN'S BOOKE (13 Tales and Poems About the Arch Mage)
by Jane Yolen. Beautiful wrap-around cover art by Thomas Canty. Condition: UNREAD 1986 Ace Fantasy paperback, first printing. Tiny edgewear bottom front cover edge. Pale short shelfwear crease top front cover edge. Interior clean & tight but with light tanning. Better than it sounds. Content: 13 stories and poems about the Arch Mage. Reviewer: "As enchanting as Arthur's court in our own age, this book lures readers of Arthuriana into a timeless myth of literary history--by its title alone. With breathtaking imagination and panoramic scope Jane Yolen delicately draws aside the veil surrounding The Matter of Britain. We may think we are familliar with the legends of the mysterious wizard, but she has skillfully embroidered her own versions of the basic mythos. Who can resist the call of the bejeweled Excalibar, held aloft in shimmering triumph by a dainty hand from beneath the waters of the lake? Yolen has bequeathed to 20th century civilization this amazing collection of short stories, woven around the provocative and highly-disputed cult of Camelot's sorceror. Readers may expect unique versions of his birth, boyhood, the search for Guineviere, The Sword in the Stone and his sylvan demise. The ensemble is capped by her delightfully cynical scenario of a modern press conference, at which a fervent Arthurian anthropologist and the charming Prince of Wales attempt to convince skeptics of the validity of Merlin's life and death. Let your hearts and imagination run riot: surrender to the spell cast--not only by the wizard himself -- but by this talented author, as she swirls the mists of time to reveal a new slant an on old friend." Questions welcome [1 copy available]
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THE MYSTERY OF KING ARTHUR
by Elizabeth Jenkins. Full-page color plates & B& W illustrations. Beautiful production. Condition: Very good + 1990 Dorset Press (London) first thus hardcover & DJ (in mylar cover). No flaws; just gently pre-read. Content: Originally published in 1978 in London. Who was Arthur, this majestic figure shrouded in the mists of early Avalon? Jenkins separates legend and history, presenting at once, the rich literary tradition born of the historical ruler. The text is accompanied by numerous illustrations that present the image of Arthur as interpreted by artists over fourteen centuries. Well worth the read. [1 copy available]
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PARSIVAL or A KNIGHT'S TALE (Volume 1)
by Richard Monaco. Wrap-around cover art and B&W illustrations by David McCall Johnston. Condition: UNREAD (appears so) 1978 Pocket Books paperback, first printing. Light edgewear with pale tanning to page edges. Binder's glue string down spine. Content: Reviewer: "Bawdy and bloody retelling of the Grail quest. This is the first of a now out of print four volume series based on the Arthurian Grail quest of the hero Parsival. The other three volumes are:The Grail War; The Final Quest; and Blood and Dreams. This first volume follows Parsival from his overprotective mother and his childhood home on his first quest to become a knight at King Arthur's round table. Once he is a knight, he begins his second quest to find the Grail Castle and discover its secret. A parallel story tells of Broaditch, a servant from his mother's castle, who sets out soon after to find Parsival. The two quests compliment each other with short episodic chapters from each telling the tale of the book. The book is not for the squeemish. There is a war and lots of bloodshed. The people are bawdy rather than chivalric, and the sexual relationships are not always consensual. However, it is an exciting and humorous retelling of a medieval tale. " [1 copy available]
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THE PENDRAGON CHRONICLES: Heroic Fantasy from the Time of King Arthur
edited by Mike Ashley. DJ cover art by Tim Hildebrandt. Condition: UNREAD 1993 Wings Books hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Moderate tanning to page edges. Content: Reviewer: "This is the best anthology of Arthurian fiction I've ever come across. Ashley treats us with every variety of the legend imaginable. First, he draws from pre-Malory sources: a retelling of the last chapter of Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of Britain; "The Lady of the Fountain" from the Mabinogian, an ancient collection of Celtic myths; and the 12th century epic poem Jaufry, which was forgotten for 600 years. He also includes retellings of famous selections from Le Morte D'Arthur, including Steinbeck's take on Sir Balin and the Dolorous Stroke, and Roger Lancelyn Green's somewhat liberal translation of the "Tale of Perceval". And finally there are many modern fantasy stories that treat the Arthuran mythology in turns as comical, idyllic, historical, or romantic. The depictions of Merlin and Arthur vary from author to author depending on the mood and setting, but that is what makes the legend so exciting to study. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in the stories of King Arthur and Camelot." Authors include: John Brunner, Phyllis Karr, Joy Chant, Jane Yolen, John Steinbeck, Ian McDowell, Andre Norton, et al. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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QUEEN OF CAMELOT: Guinevere, The Child Queen and The High Queen - 2 novels in 1 (Arthurian Fiction)
by Nancy McKenzie. Condition: NEW 2002 DelRey Trade Paperback. Small shelfwear to the corner of one interior page corner. Content: Return to a time of legend–the days of Guinevere and Arthur and the glory that was to become Camelot. On the night of Guinevere’s birth, a wise woman declares a prophecy of doom for the child: She will be gwenhwyfar, the white shadow, destined to betray her king, and be herself betrayed. Years pass, and Guinevere becomes a great beauty, riding free across Northern Wales on her beloved horse. She is entranced by the tales of the valorous Arthur, a courageous warrior who seems to Guinevere no mere man, but a legend. Then she finds herself betrothed to that same famous king, a hero who commands her willing devotion. Just as his knights and all his subjects, she falls under Arthur’s spell. At the side of King Arthur, Guinevere reigns strong and true. Yet she soon learns how the dark prophecy will reveal itself. She is unable to conceive. Arthur’s only true heir is Mordred, offspring of a cursed encounter with the witch Morgause. Now Guinevere must make a fateful choice: She decides to raise Mordred, teaching him to be a ruler and to honor Camelot. She will love him like a mother. Mordred will be her greatest joy–and the key to her ultimate downfall. [1 copy available]
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QUEEN OF THE SUMMER STARS (Arthurian Fiction)
by Persia Woolley. Condition: UNREAD 1991 Pocket small hardcover (pictorial boards - no DJ), first printing. Name top loose end page. Content: The second volume of Woolley's Arthurian trilogy (Child of the Northern Spring) follows Guinevere from the second to the 10th year of her marriage to King Arthur. In this vivid, colorful and homey retelling, Guinevere is a caring and faithful wife and queen, deeply in love with her husband and despairing of her childlessness. As Arthur and his men strive to unify Britain and preserve it from invading Saxons, the various Companions are shown as courageous but all-too-human warriors and courtiers. Lancelot, the king's chief advisor, is cold to the queen, but when he serves as her champion after she is accused of attempted murder, this hostility is dispelled. Loyalty and their mutual love for Arthur keeps them from succumbing to desire. Morgan le Fay, Arthur's half sister, lusts for the crown; her machinations lie behind many of the troubles that afflict the royal couple, a fact Arthur is slow to accept. Other figures of legend, limned with clearly defined personalities, work out their destinies--Gawain and Ragnell, Merlin and Nimue, the two Elaines, Tristan, Isolde and King Mark. Faintly intimated in this volume is the tragedy that will finally strike. [1 copy available]
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SIR GAWAIN & THE GREEN KNIGHT
retold by Michael Morpurgo. Beautiful color illustrations by Michael Foreman. Decorated end pages. Condition: NEW 2004 Candlewick Press hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), third printing. Content: In the vibrant and compelling voice of a storyteller, Morpurgo retells this classic tale. With a lively, page-turning style, he sets the scene as a crude, gigantic stranger rides into King Arthur's hall. Sir Gawain accepts the challenge of the monstrous man and beheads the Green Knight with a single swing of his battle-ax. But then the enchanted knight picks up his severed head and announces that Gawain must, on his honor, meet his dreadful opponent on the next New Year's Day to receive the same blow. Gawain's travels to the Green Chapel at the end of the year, and the temptations he encounters along the way, are the stuff of legend and, like all folklore, are rich in metaphorical meaning about what it means to be human. Morpurgo's sprightly writing brings out all the humor as well as the horror of the original tale, and Foreman's profuse, evocative watercolor-and-pastel illustrations highlight the drama in each scene so that this version can easily be read on two levels–as a rollicking adventure tale or an allegorical saga, depending on the age and inclination of the reader. Morpurgo's version is notable for including every nuance of this complex and compelling tale. Grades 5 - 8+. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT, PEARL, & SIR ORFEO
by Anonymous. Translation by J.R.R. Tolkien. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1982 Ballantine paperback, third printing. Small edgewear with moderate tanning to interior page edges. Small "spot" on fore edges. Content: It's author is unknown, a poet lost in the rides of time and language. It is a tale as luck and dark as England's medieval forests. And it's language and verse are the rough-hewn and beautiful descendants of antiquity, courtly and wise in their story, sweeping and pwoerful in their adventures. It is a romance interlaced with scenes of the hunt and temptations of the flesh; it is a fairy tale of giant warriors in armor and King Arthur's most noble knight; and it is a rousing adventure of epic enchantment and the destiny of human desires. Tolkien's translation of the fourteenth-century anonymous narrative poem effectively preserves the alliterative verse of the original. That alone makes it a great resource for students, teachers and general readers enjoying this classic. [1 copy available]
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THE SKYSTONE (The Camulod Chronicles # 1) (Arthurian Fiction)
by Jack Whyte. Wrap-around cover art by Edward Miler. Condition: NEW 2002 Forge Trade Paperback, first paperback edition, first printing. Small remainder dot top edges. Content: During the days of the decaying Roman Empire, the legions of Britain struggle to preserve the ancient principles of loyalty and discipline-virtues embodied in the Roman general Caius Britannicus and his friend Publius Varrus, an ex-soldier turned ironsmith (King Arthur's great-grandfathers). Whyte re-creates the turbulence and uncertainty that marked fifth-century Britain and provides a possible origin for one of the greatest artifacts of Arthurian myth-the legendary sword Excalibur. Strong characters and fastidious attention to detail. [1 copy available]
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SWORD AT SUNSET
by Rosemary Sutcliff. Kevin E. Johnson cover art. Condition: Very good 1987 TOR paperback, second printing. Cover has a few problems: small edgewear with pale tag removal mark top front corner. Pale spine crease. Interior clean & tight. Content: Reviewer: "Sutcliff specialized in Dark Age Britain, although this is the only novel she wrote for adults. She weaves a haunting portrait of a misty, troubled, ancient land where Roman civilization and Celtic pagan culture are threatened by the barbaric Saxon invaders. Arthur, Guinevere, Lancelot (here shown as the original character of Bedivere-- Lancelot is strictly an invention of the Middle Ages)are portrayed as the historical characters they surely were. Don't look for a fantasy Camelot, with banners and Round-Tables. Here, Arthur is a Romano-Celtic warlord, desperately working to stave off the inevitable invasion. There is a brooding quality of impending doom that pervades the entire book. No one has ever drawn a more convincing canvas of Romano-Celtic Britain, in my opinion, or a more realistic portrait of the kind of man that Arthur probably was. A treat to be savored and re-read." Immortal Arthur brought to passionate life. [1 copy available]
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UTHER (The Camulod Chronicles Book 7) (Arthurian Fiction)
by Jack Whyte. Condition: Very Good pre-read 2001 TOR paperback, first printing. Spine crease with tiny edgewear. Interior clean & tight. Content: The seventh book in Jack Whyte's Camulod Chronicles, Uther is a parallel novel to The Eagle's Brood. It fills in some gaps about another major character in the Arthurian legend, Uther Pendragon, who is Merlyn's cousin and King Arthur's father. Uther tells the tale of a young man torn between his love for his adopted Camulod and for the land of his birth, Cambria. Born to be one of the seven Chiefs of the Pendragon federation of Cambria, with the possibility of becoming its king one day, Uther goes from being a carefree boy to a seasoned leader of his people who must wage war to protect his land. Along the way, Uther loses his friendship with Merlyn and falls in love with the wife of his enemy, thereby forging a union that will lead to the birth of Arthur, King of the Britons. [1 copy available]
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WARRIORS OF ARTHUR
by John Matthews & Bob Stewart. Color & B&W illustrations by Richard Hook. Condition: Gently pre-read 1988 Blandford Press large hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: Reviewer: "Excellent book - gives plenty of information on the basics of Arthurian myth, on Britain and the Celts under Rome and in the early Dark Ages, and the role the historical Arthur might have played in the wars against the Picts and Saxons. The book also has several rewritten versions of Arthurian legends with their origin pagan Welsh names and themes, such as the 'Beheading Game' that led to the legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and the champion Lugh Strong-Arm who inspired the myth of Sir Launcelot. [It] Also has detailed and colorful artwork to support both the stories and the main text. Highly recommended!" Also covers other Celtic warriors, i.e., Queen Boudicca. [1 copy available]
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