Customer Reviews

Arthur (The Pendragon Cycle, Book 3)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

These books sold very, very well for the author in what can only be described as an impossibly crowded genre. It seems every fantasy novelist attempts, at some point, a re-telling and definitive edition of the Arthurian myth. It is the only subject more trampled and copied than Tolkien. It is also the genre that lapses in to the most astonishing absurdities. Lawhead, with these three books (Taliesin, Merlin, and Arthur) has contributed something very relevant and very new to the genre. It gives the myth a burst of idealism and Christianity not seen since Tennyson with the Celtic traditions not seen since the Mabinogion. Sadly, with the publication of the latter three--and far lesser novels (Pendragon, Grail, and Avallon) the series is much damaged and diminished. We believe that Lawhead would've been far better served to let the trilogy stand on its own where it's not so intimidating and probably would've enjoyed subsequent reprinting. As it stands, our rating for this book is slightly tarnished by these later publications and endanger the proud work of a very, very good author.

WHO SHOULD READ:

Readers who enjoyed Tolkien a great deal and who read Terry Brooks, Robert Jordan, and others searching for that same idealism will come closest to finding it here with Lawhead. Readers who enjoyed Marion Zimmerman Bradley's feminized version of the legend in The Mists of Avalon will find this work operating as a kind of opposite: Bradley employing the traditional pagan religious elements and feminism while re-working the French side of the myth while Lawhead invoking Christian theology and masculinity in t the Celtic side of the myth. They are very interesting to read together. These books are excellent choices for teenagers for whom idealism is second nature. Oddly, readers deeply impressed with the idealism of the people living in "The Land" in The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever will find themselves deeply compelled by this work.

WHO SHOULD AVOID:

Scholars of Arthuriana, those more versed in Malory, Monmouth, Eschenbach, de Troyes, and even Tennyson, will probably be a bit disappointed. They are going to be much less impressed with what they might regard as overly-dramatic prose and much more sensitive to the liberties--particularly the Christian liberties--that Lawhead takes with the story. Certainly those readers who are inclined to much more cynical writing styles of the late 20th and 21st century--people who enjoy the subtle undercurrents and "un-heroism" of more modern irreverent works--will probably become bored and irritable with the constant nobility (just as they would become bored with Tennyson's Idylls of the King). People looking to investigate the actual history and evolution of the mythology would not be well-served by reading this book but should look to the actual source material of Malory and perhaps some of the earlier Celtic works such as Monmouth and The Alliterative Morte d'Arthure.

READ THE ENTIRE REVIEW AT INCHOATUS.COM

This is a tremendous, well-written, well researched book. It is however following a different path than was presented in the classic Morte de Arthur and The Once and Future King (a storyline visually portrayed in Excalibur). There is no incest, no tale of forbidden love between a queen and the best knight. Rather, in avoiding the tales of court intrigue which were so prevalent in the middle ages, Lawhead seeks to tell a story which reveals a more accurate look at life in the 6th century. We see characters as they were in that era, rather than the height of the feudal period. These are Celts, not Normans. This is the story of the later Celts attempting to fight off the invasions of the Saxons and others who sought to topple the peace that Arthur was able to bring by uniting warrring tribes. There is certainly the mystical events and a well crafted spirituality which certainly would have reflected 6th century Wales and England. This book seeks to tell the story of Arthur in his historical context, while still maintaining the fantasy aspects which have made the story so popular. A very nice book, and a welcome relief to the social intrigue that characterizes other tales of Arthur.

Stephen Lawhead continues his extraordinary Pendragon Cycle with the climactic Arthur. While the cycle continues on for three more books, the series could have ended here, for Lawhead provides a well-written overview of Arthur as a child, young king, and veteran king. Narrated by those around Arthur, the story takes the old legend and breathes new life into it. Most of the beloved parts of the Arthur legend are from the sword in the stone, to the Lady of the Lake to the dissapearance of Avalon, Lawhead does it all in one novel. Although a section after Arthur's marriage is explored in Pendragon and Grail, Arthur gives a complete picture of the warrior king with several twists and turns along the way. Merlin, the king's tutor and advisor looses his sight in a battle with Morgian is just one example of the way Lawhead creates a different take on the old tale. It's not Malory but I enjoyed it more.

I'd just like to point out that Arthur could not have incestuous sex with his sister: he had no sister! Morgian was the step-sister of Charis, she was the youngest child of the King of Atlantis! I also agree with the reviewer who pointed out that this is set, not in the middle ages, but in the 6th century. At this point, Arthur had no established capital. No Camelot, no established court, no court intrigue, and Gwenhwyvar's protector may or may not have been Lancelot Du Lac, who was a knight of France, not Ireland. Lawhead brings in a great historical perspective with the true setting and the Gaelic names. I love how he, in the series, connects legends from all over the classical world. He perfectly fuses the Mediterranean stories of Atlantis with the Gaelic and Celtic myths about Taliesin, the Greatest bard who ever lived... the characterization is wonderful. Merlin really comes alive, because he's not just an old wizard in a pointy hat, he's a man who was born from a union of two great cultures. You see him live and love, you see him suffer. He's a real person, as are all the characters. Morgian is evil, but she is beautiful, and seductive. She's a mother. Arthur isn't the perfect king. He's not the perfect man. He struggles. He loses. This story is anything but flat!

With "Arthur", the third title in his acclaimed "Pendragon Cycle", Lawhead finally progress beyond the stage-setting scenes of the first two titles. Not surprisingly, the spotlight in this novel is Arthur, as Lawhead chronicles his progression from a fatherless and unknown teenager, to the Duke of Britain, to the High King of Britain, and finally to the Emperor of the West.

Unlike the preceding titles, "Arthur" features countless battles, and plunges the reader from glorious victories to devastating defeats. But the primary note is one of victory, as Arthur overcomes the hostile forces both from within and outside of Britain to establish a magnificent Summer Kingdom. "Arthur" is especially characterized by exciting medieval warfare, complete with clever and ingenious military strategy (sieges, ambushes), military tactics of infantry and cavalry, naval jousting, and plain man-to-man combat. The sheer intensity of the action layered with political intrigue and suspense alone makes this a gripping read.

But this is so much more than a novel about military conquests. Arthur's leadership and kingdom have definite overtones of the remarkable Israelite victories under Moses, Joshua and Gideon. With the battle cry "For God and Britain", Arthur and his brave warriors fight valiantly, but constantly ascribe victory to God alone. "If the High King of Heaven fights for us, who can prevail against us?" (p.294)

But not only is the conflict helped by God, it is also for God. Lawhead identifies Arthur's kingdom with the cause of Christ, and portrays his battles against the barbarians as a conflict between Arthur and the True God and "the barbarians and their loathly idols." (p.265) His battles are God's battles, and battles for God's kingdom. Arthur's glorious kingdom strongly resembles the legendary kingdom of justice and peace of king Solomon. It is clearly a symbol of the kingdom of Christ, the glorious Kingdom of Summer, described by prophecy as follows: "...a land where kings extend their hands in justice rather than reach for the sword; where mercy, kindness, and compassion flow like deep water over the land, and men revere virtue, revere truth, revere beauty, above comfort, pleasure, or selfish gain. A land where peace reigns in the hearts of men; where faith blazes like a beacon from every hill and love like a fire from every hearth; where the True God is worshiped and his ways acclaimed by all." (p.136) As High King of Britain, Arthur serves as steward of the justice of the High King of Heaven (p.383). Just like the days of Solomon, men flock from far and wide to learn from Arthur's justice, and marvel at his prosperity and peace.

Because Arthur's kingdom is a symbol of the Christ's great Kingdom of Light, it is set over against the Kingdom of Darkness. Arthur's true foes are not just physical warriors armed with spears and battle axes. He must wage war especially against a spiritual foe armed with the powers of darkness: the evil sorcery of Morgian.

But Arthur's desire to bring peace to the ends of the earth ultimately proves to be his downfall. The book ends with an ambiguity that leaves your heart burning for the kingdom of light and sorrowing over the waves of darkness that assault it. Is the conclusion intended to be an indictment of modern Britain for abandoning the principles of the Kingdom of Summer? At any rate, it will not leave you unmoved.

Does the book have weaknesses? Although it is clearly symbolic, one might question the wisdom of marrying church and state too closely, not unlike the excesses of emperor Constantine. And Lawhead's understanding of the extent to which God controls evil is questionable (p.369). Further, this book (along with others in the series) would benefit immensely from a more detailed map, as well as a extensive glossary of terms, people and places. Readers should also be forewarned that even though "Arthur" is only volume 3 in a series of 5, the last part of "Arthur" concludes the life-story of Arthur. If you want to get the most enjoyment out of the two following volumes (Vol. 4 "Pendragon" & Vol. 5 "Grail"), you would be well-advised to read them in their correct chronological place, namely before the third part of "Arthur". The ending of "Arthur" is best read at the very end of the series. The ending is somewhat sudden and surprising, but on the other hand the dash of tragedy injected in the concluding pages makes the novel all the more convincing and makes our passion for the Kingdom of Summer burn all the brighter. A more fitting ending to the life of Arthur is hardly conceivable.

But such weaknesses will be quickly buried under the novel's countless strengths. There is so much to say about this novel - the gripping plot, the marvellous descriptive language, the evocative mood where even the landscape contributes to the atmosphere in a manner strongly reminiscent of Tolkien (a high compliment indeed!), the religious imagery. Typical of Lawhead, you will find yourself partaking in genuine glory and in genuine grief. Lawhead has an uncanny ability to stir emotions and passions. The passion that Lawhead ignites for a king and a kingdom ultimately proves itself to be a passion for God and His kingdom. And that is a significant achievement indeed.

"Arthur" is the best book in the cycle. It is especially good if you have already read "Taliesin" and "Merlin". This is the height of action and intrigue. I like the changing of narrarators, even though first person writing is my fancy. It annoyed me when the nararator would say "They said something interesting, but I didn't hear them", which happened more than a few times.

I have read many Lawhead books in my day. He seems to get better with time, his latest books are the ones you should go for.

I have read too many accounts of Arthurian fiction, and I very much liked the Pendragon cycle. Lawhead writes like a poet. His writing can get pretentious at times, and a bit thick and hard to read, but it is well worth it. It definitly enriched my mind and made me want to write epic poetry. It's not the kind of book that you can't put down, the narrative doesn't flow like a best-selling novel, but if you like the subject matter, it is not hard to get though.

Many people critisize this series of books because it deviates from legend. This bothers me. The reason it is "legend" and not fact is because it is largely unknown. I love how lawhead makes everything seem authentically celtic, ("Bedwyr" instead of "Bedivere" and so on)and he puts his own version of the legend, which every author has the right to do. If you're anything like me, your sick of hearing about Lancelot and Guenivere and you want a new and refreshing version of the saga. Lawhead has done his research and knows what he is writing.

Strongly recommended, especially if you have read the two before it and plan on reading the two after it. But this is as good as it gets.

This book is an amazing end to a wonderfully woven tale. Lawhead takes the debates of current Arthurian scholarship, does his own digging, has produced a masterful story that creates a hint of realism in an otherwise fantastic late medieval tale.

The heavy Christian influence is indeed important, as Christianity not only was the excepted religion of Roman Britain at the time, but also the state religion of Rome (the great bishop Germanus was sent to Britain around 400 AD to battle the Pelagian heresy). This is refreshing compared to Malory and those who have attempted to re-tell the story in a 'magical' way.

Lawhead's Arthur seems to be more of the heroic Christian Warrior-King that Geoffrey of Monmouth describes than the tragic king of Malory and Chretien de Troyes.

The end is just that: the end. Pendragon is a mixture of tales that piece together Lawhead's story in Arthur. Its that simple.

Mr. Lawhead has retold this story in a way that is actually believable. Not all "goody-goody" and boring, but dynamic and fresh. The battle scenes are very well done, and the characters are superb. The including of so much Christianity makes it more realistic because in those times, they truly believed and were held in rapture be God's power.

A long time fan of Stephen Lawhead, I must admit there has been a lapse of at least four years since I read "Merlin", the precursor to this book in the Pendragon Cycle. Yet Lawhead's storytelling is such that one does not need to read previous works to enjoy this climactic segment of this series. "Arthur" incorporates both the characters and the mysteries of the two books that precede it, and breathes new life into an oft-told tale.

The story of King Arthur remains such a legend because there is so much mystery around it. Other reviewers have written against the fact that Lawhead doesn't include certain elements of the better-known legends into his series: that isn't a bad thing, but rather helps him give Arthur a new, and in my opinion, better, voice. Lawhead also draws upon his own faith and demonstrates how the burgeoning Christian faith sprouted and flourished under Arthur's reign in the Isle of the Mighty. The reader follows Arthur's life from teenager to veteran king, and from warrior to peace-maker. We learn of Arthur's trials and triumphs by three men who are in his inner-circle and have watched him over the course of his life.

Lawhead is a gifted writer, who can describe entire worlds and vistas that the reader can vivdly imagine. His characters are always well-rounded and brought to life through believable diaglogue and Lawhead's insatiable quest for historical accuracy. Although Arthur needed to unite Britain in order to have peace in the land, the book often seems bogged down by battle after battle; there are only so many ways to make each battle different from the next, and I sometimes found myself skimming through these skirmishes in order to get back to the story.

Though written to be enjoyed by any reader, Lawhead's "Arthur" is especially enjoyable for scholars of Arthurian legend. Despite the fact that Lawhead's story does not directly parallel most of the traditional legends about King Arthur, he weaves into his tale the thread of the young Christian faith as it spreads throughout the Isle of the Mighty. It is a tale of peace-making at a time when war was the only way to deal with enemies, of kingmaking at a time when kings were more than bureaucrats, of balancing a desire for glory with a love of honor, of friendship that sacrifices everything, of loyalty that demands the ultimate price, and of faith in a King who is higher than any earthly lord. Lawhead very skillfully uses three different narrators to tell this tale, successfully developing their personalities through three separate writing styles. This technique does more than merely give the reader three perspectives of the story; it lends insight into Arthur's personality gleaned from three vastly diverse relationships. I highly recommend this book as a study of Arthurian legend, a study of the cultural history of Britain, and as a challenge of faith.