The Road to Avalon (5) (Rediscovered Classics)

This is just as engrossing as Mary Stewart's Merlin series...and that is saying a lot!! The problem with Arthurian stories is that most angles of the classic story have been done, in books and in movies. Stewart's series takes the point of view of Merlin, and develops his character in a way that has not been done before. Joan Wolf's book concentrates on Arthur as king, and the history of Britain in the 6th and 7th centuries. It imparts both a great deal of history (Saxon threat, for example) and it is probably the most romantic Arthurian telling yet. The fun part, is that though the character names are all there, you will not expect the way the events unfold.

Merlin is no magician, he's a Roman general. Mordred is responsible for Arthur's death..but this is a new take. No Lancelot, but there is Bedwyr, Arthur's right hand in battle, close friend, and yes he's Guenevier's lover. Morgan, Merlin's daughter, is the love of Arthur's life, for his entire life. This all made for a fantastic read, one that kept me up past my bedtime numerous times. The book is part of a trilogy focusing on this early British history, the final book being the story of Arthur the Great. The only down side to these books is that they are out of print. They are not hard to find used, but unfortunately they were printed at a time when Harlequin Romance covers were all the rage..it's rather embarrassing to read in public! I don't understand why such covers ended up on these books, they have some romance, but they are by no means romance novels.

I absolutely ADORED this book.

It is a reimagining of the Arthurian legends, which is always fun! I think Wolf's creativity really shines through because she managed to keep the magical elements of the original legends while giving them a realistic twist. By this I mean to say that the reader can clearly see how certain everyday events could have been transformed into the stuff of myth and legend over time, even though at the base these events were commonplace, ordinary.

The story centers around Morgan and Arthur, which was why I bought the book. I normally dislike Gwenhyfar in every version of the legend, as her story and character is defined by her relationships with men... obviously, the legends were not conceived in a feminist time, and it would be perhaps unreasonable to expect her to comply to the current ideal of femininity or womanhood, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that in this story I did not mindlessly loathe her. In fact, in a lot of places, I actually felt sorry for her. Her relationship with Arthur was infinitely more interesting than in many adaptations where her affair with Lancelot subtracts from Arthur's image as an exceptional ruler. In this version, I completely understood Gwenhyfar's motivations and rooted for her and Bedwyr (or Lancelot in this adaptation). In his interactions with Gwenhyfar, I considered Arthur to have been just and even generous as a king, even if as a husband he was obviously lacking. As an other reviewer said, he was definitely progressive for his age in relation to women.

Moreover, I loved Arthur as a character. He was just the right measure of stern and fun to both be a king you can take seriously and a character a reader can love. His ascent to the highest position in Britain was believable, and I found myself rooting for him in the beginning of the book despite knowing the outcome - Wolf has a way of drawing you in!
Not to mention, the battle descriptions were far better than I would have expected from a novel that focuses primarily on romance and relationships. I found myself pulled into the battle scenes, almost as I were present, and rooting for the good guys. I also felt like the author knew what she was talking about even in the war-related scenes. I loved it! It was definitely one of the highlights of the book for me.

I loved Bedwyr and Cai's characters as well, who were both very distinct helpers of Arthur. Their friendships with Arthur go to show that no matter how great a ruler is, he will not get far without trustworthy, good advisors who want to see him succeed. I thought that was a realistic touch, as some adaptations forego the inclusion of this, further contributing to this mythical vision that a lot of people have of King Arthur.

Last but not least, Morgan and her relationship with Arthur. It was beautiful! I have to say that the author has a way of making you feel for characters that are the bad guys (Agravaine, for example), and I was absolutely enthralled by her version of the romance between Morgan and Arthur. I definitely prefer this relationship of his to the one with Gwenhyfar, no matter the adaptation, because Morgan, no matter the adaptation, usually has a lot more agency than Gwenhyfar (although in this adaptation, she does have agency). I find this true to a degree in this case too, because Morgan is such a potent healer that she becomes known as "The Lady of Avalon" while Gwenhyfar is... she is a willful and larger-than-life woman, but her primary role I felt was a lover and didn't feel as independent (or as independent as a woman could be in that time) as Morgan.

I thought Arthur and Morgan's relationship was very touching, and I will definitely revisit the book for the most beautiful passages describing their love. The last scene especially was very moving - the last line KILLED me. I was so drawn into the story that I felt depressed for the rest of the day after finishing the book, as though I was mourning Arthur and the end of a beautiful era in history myself.

All in all, I will definitely buy more books from this author and would love to see this book turned into a TV show or a movie one day! It is just mesmerizing.

I was first introduced to this book way back in 10th grade English. We all loved it, of course, because it's incredibly romantic without being a bodice-ripper, and the highly realistic Arthur retelling was appealing after all the magical versions we'd seen in childhood.

I recently ran across it on Amazon and practically shrieked with joy that it was back in print and I could order it--because I lost my old copy a while back, and have been wishing I could read it again. I ordered it immediately and when it arrived I sat down and read it straight through.

Does it hold up, now that I'm reading it with an adult's taste (and a degree in literature)? In most ways, yes. In some ways, no. But did I still love it? Yes.

Now that I'm much older and have a better eye, I can see that the writing, while crisp, is a little lazy and shoddy in places (example: to describe a character reaction, she constantly just writes "His/her eyes were _____", inserting a whole variety of adjectives, many of which make little sense when you think about it). However, unskilled wordsmithing aside, Wolf's ability to create deeply interesting, multi-faceted characters and make them fit into a realistic, historical version of a well-known fantastical setting (Camelot) remains incredibly impressive. I immediately remembered why I was so obsessed with this book when I was fifteen. Her Arthur is so real, so fascinating, and yet she still manages to walk the line of fantasy subtly enough that you can understand how her real-world Arthur could have become a magical legend. You understand how the Morgan/Mordred entanglements (here, made into an entirely mundane and yet incredibly moving family drama) could have been lost in translation, exaggerated, and transformed into the enduring story. You can perfectly picture and feel the bond between Arthur and Morgan; you totally buy into their relationship, the relationship between Bedwyr and Arthur and Bedwyr and Gwenhwyfar, and the eventual darker motivations of Agravaine. She manages to make it all relatable. They're just normal people dealing with normal human relationships, and yet at the same time, they're all so slightly larger-than-life, so wonderful and memorable, that the leap to them being legendary is easy to make. This tricky balance between realism and legend is incredibly difficult, and Wolf's real triumph with this book.

One relationship I remember sort of glossing over as a teenager was that between Arthur and Gwenhwyfar; as an adult, this was the most fascinating thing in the book, by far. Gwenhwyfar is a pretty progressive, feminist character, which I didn't understand 15 years ago. More importantly, Arthur is also written basically as a feminist, understanding the feelings and needs of his wife, realizing he can't give her the emotional bond she craves, and bearing no grudges when she finds that love elsewhere; indeed, he brings her into his small circle of close friends and advisors, and treats her as an equal, worthy of his respect and trust. Their partnership is a highly satisfying side note to the story, even if they're not the main love story.

This book remains a wonderful story with deeply memorable characters. I've always wished a movie would be made from this version of the Arthur story. I'm glad I have a new copy to keep on my shelf and re-read as I want to; I think it'll always be a favorite of mine.

I love shopping here, come right and smoothly, it is worthwhile. I'd love to do more shopping, came properly to Brazil, and very fast.

A new view at the Camelot story, but I couldn't put it down! This is the second book by Joan Wolf I have read and loved both of them.

If you want an original historical Arthurian novel full of romance and good plot lines, I would recommend this one. Joan Wolf has done her historical research --- her Arthur is the Riothamus "King of the Britons" recorded in reliable continental sources. And there is no magic or fantasy here (apart from the special connection between Arthur and Morgan, which I didn't think was necessary for the plot.)

But many aspects don't add up historically, which is why I only give it 4 stars. For example, the opulence of Camelot, and Arthur minting coins are highly unlikely. The authentic British kings Wolf names, such as Maelgwn and Urien, are from a century or so after this novel is set. The topography is sometimes made up to suit the story. Most puzzlingly, Wolf seems to imply that Riothamus' actual, well recorded, battle against the Visigoths in Gaul was a story invented by Agravaine!

Joan Wolf's novels, except her romance novels, are some of my favorite books.