I didn't realize until recently just how many people have written versions of the King Arthur legend over the years. As an earlier post states, there are hundreds of iterations, written from 1136 to the present day. Most of them are highly "Britainized," "Christianized," and romanticized accounts. They portray Arthur as king of the Britains (England, Scotland, Wales), a good Christian, and full of fantastic adventures (the quest for the grail) and creatures (the questing beast). Arthur, basically, is the first superhero, a medieval Superman, his legend growing with each new adventure.
Cornwell takes a slightly different approach. As a predominantly historical fiction writer, he bases this trilogy in history. He tries to reconcile history with legend, attempting to be as true as possible to both. For example, his trilogy is based on the following concepts:
- Arthur would have been a true Briton (the modern Welsh), fighting the Anglo-Saxons (the modern English)
- He was likely a heathen, not a Christian, in a time where Christianity was just coming to Britain
- Merlin and other "wizards" would have been druids
- There would have been no round table, quests for the grail, etc.
Admittedly, the recorded history of that era (the 480s) is so minimal that Cornwell makes no attempt to claim historical accuracy- he does the best he can with the sparse information available. He also realizes that people have certain images of Arthur based on the stories, and so tries to honor those by working in elements that are familiar to people, yet more grounded in historical truth. It's a tough balance; he pulls it off. All three books are spectacular and highly recommended. Probably the only "historical fantasies" I'll ever read, they hold particular value living in the UK, as some of the locations mentioned are easily visited. If you like Arthur, fantasy, or the Welsh, read these books!
Rating: A+
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