Lady of Avalon by
Marion Zimmer Bradley
New York Times best selling
author Marion Zimmer Bradley brings the mesmerizing world of myth,
romance and history to life in the spellbinding novel of epic
grandeur!
Before the legend of King Arthur and Camelot,
there was Avalon, a beautiful island of golden vales and silver
mists. A land where the lives of three powerful priestesses shape
the destiny of Roman Britain as they fight to regain the magic and
traditions of a once gallant past...
An evocative prequel to The
Mists of Avalon recalls the origins and history of Avalon
and the prophecy of the birth of the great King Arthur, as seen
through the successive lives of three powerful priestesses--Caillean,
Teleri, and Viviane, the Lady of the Lake. Read by Davina Porter.
Simultaneous."
"I enjoyed this book immensely. It made me
want to conduct more research into the 3 separate eras of British
history depicted in the text, as well as in Celtic Europe. Thank
you for creating this thirst for greater knowledge... Earth
Mother...God / Goddess... The search for understanding continues."
-- Marion Ziummer Bradley
The
Mists of Avalon by
Marion Zimmer Bradley
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
"There is no such thing as a true tale.
Truth has many faces and the truth is like to the old road to
Avalon; it depends on your own will and your own thoughts, whither
the road will take you." The Mists of Avalon is a
story of another time and place. It's the legendary saga of King
Arthur and his companions at Camelot, their battles, love, and
devotion, told this time from the perspective of the women
involved. Viviane is "The Lady of the Lake," the magical
priestess of the Isle of Avalon, a special mist-shrouded place
which becomes more difficult to reach as people turn away from its
nature- and Goddess-oriented religion. Viviane's quest is to find
a king who will be loyal to Avalon as well as to Christianity.
This king will be Arthur. Gwenhwyfar, Arthur's Queen, is an overly
pious, fearful woman who successfully sways her husband into
betraying his allegiance to Avalon. Set against her is Morgaine of
the Fairies, Arthur's sister, love, and enemy - and the most
powerfully believable person in the book - who manipulates the
characters like threads in a tapestry to achieve her tragic and
heroic goals. The Mists of Avalon becomes a legend seen
through new eyes, with details, majestic language, and haunting
foreshadowing that hold the reader through its more than 800
pages. -- From 500
Great Books by Women; review by Gloria Bauermeister
