Guinevere: The Legend in Autumn [Library Binding]

Persia Woolley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2001

Britain's spirited Queen Guinevere recounts the last dramatic years of Camelot, describing Arthur's reign, the Knights of the Round Table, the quest for the Holy Grail, her relationship with Mordred, and more. Reprint. AB.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The final volume of Wooley's Arthurian trilogy, following Child of the Northern Spring and Queen of the Summer Stars , plays out the doom that overtakes King Arthur's dreams of peace and civilization for Britain. While the king works to stabilize his realm after the armed conflicts of earlier years have given way to an uneasy peace, the childless Guinevere takes in and raises Mordred, the offspring of her husband's brief and unknowing coupling with his half-sister Morgause. Mordred, ignorant of their relationship, idolizes Arthur, seeking always to gain his approval; the brutal revelation of his parentage sets the stage for the later battle to the death between father and son. Morgan le Fey, the king's other, power-hungry half-sister, uses Mordred's hurt and his half-brother Agravain's grievances to entrap Guinevere and Lancelot in the compromising situation that leads to the queen's trial. Wooley's colorful, naturalistic portrayals draw the reader into British life after the Roman occupation.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

In this last of Woolley's Arthurian trilogy, Queen Guinevere witnesses the crumbling of the kingdom and knightly brotherhood at Camelot, loses husband and lover, and, though committed to the Mother Goddess and the Old Ways, lives out her days in a Christian convent. Again, as in Child of the Northern Spring 1987) and Queen of the Summer Stars (1990), the old legends are bleached free of that ancient tingly magic, and the dialogue is entertainingly anachronistic (Guinevere on the Holy Grail quest: ``Frankly, I think it's a dreadful idea''). Still, the author has corralled most of the Arthurain heroes--from the Green Knight to the string of G's (Gawain, Gareth, Gahert, Geraint, and Galahad). Narrated by Guinevere (who reports events with the efficient dispatch of a Mary Kay section manager), the story begins in her prison cell; she's scheduled for execution in the morning. By 400 pages later, just why she's in the pokey is revealed and the past few years reviewed: her marriage to Arthur (a union of affection and mutual respect); her platonic affair with Lancelot, the Queen's Champion and the greatest knight, ending in a bittersweet consummation; the ``spiritual'' quest for the Grail, embraced most fervently by Galahad, Lancelot's son by Elaine-not-so-pure; the disastrous relationship between Arthur and Modred, his son by his half-sister; the plots of Morgan, another sister and priestess Lady of the Lake; the clash of Christian and pagan religions. There is much travel and travail, tournaments and tilts of will, deaths and panting messengers. Arthurian tales in a chatty modern idiom, with old buddies like ``Lance'' and ``Tris'' and ``Guin'' doing their still- marvelous stuff. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Library Binding
• Publisher: Bt Bound (March 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785787623
• ISBN-13: 978-0785787624
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,605,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Despite flaws, a strong ending to the trilogy, August 10, 2002

By 

Kelly (Fantasy Literature) (Columbia, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Guinevere: The Legend in Autumn (Hardcover)

This is a good book--even though it perpetuates the flaws seen in Woolley's previous Guinevere books, _Child of the Northern Spring_ and _Queen of the Summer Stars_. Woolley's Guinevere still has a habit of distancing herself from the story, briskly rattling off the legendary happenings like an anchorwoman for the Camelot Nightly News. Woolley's desire to tell the Arthurian legend without the use of "magic" or "fantasy" still results in cumbersome and byzantine plot devices as the author attempts to explain magical events without the magic. Her characters still borrow heavily from other authors--Cai is straight out of Phyllis Ann Karr, and Morgan is a twisted reflection of Bradley's Morgaine. But all of this aside, this is still a good book.

In _The Legend in Autumn_, the dream of Camelot begins to fall apart. There are quarrels--Guinevere and Lancelot fight bitterly over Elaine of Carbonek, whom Lancelot accidentally slept with. And Mordred, whose best friend is a Saxon captive, comes to believe the Saxons are basically OK, and wants to include them in the Round Table--but Arthur, veteran of countless Saxon wars, holds his old prejudices dear, and refuses his son's request. And into this tumultuous court comes the young bard Taliesin, singing of the Grail, and the Round Table warriors begin to scatter to the four winds in search of the mysterious object.

Woolley deftly describes the tale told by each returning knight; she does a great job of showing how the Grail means different things to different people, and what sort of meaning each man finds. (And woman, too, for Guinevere will find her own personal Grail by the end of the story.)

Also wonderfully done was the treatment of Guinevere's punishment for adultery. The usual retelling shows Arthur standing by heartlessly as his Queen is sentenced to the stake, and Lancelot ruthlessly killing his friends to save her. Woolley has a more complicated but more believable theory about what reall happened behind the scenes, one that rings true to the characters of the brave Queen, the idealistic King, and the deadly but good-hearted knight. I won't give it away, but it's good.

After Lancelot makes away with Guinevere, they flee to Joyous Gard, where they live simply and happily--until the threat of war looms. Guinevere is supported by the counsel of Isolde of Cornwall, who has grown wiser since her star-crossed love affair with Tristan, and together they see what must be done. Far from being the downfall of Camelot, Guinevere will now give her all to save it.

This book ought to be remembered, above all, for its sensitive portrayal of the Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot love triangle. Gwen and Lance truly have a love for the ages, but Gwen also shares a special bond with Arthur, which holds Camelot together more than they realize. Guinevere is the human touch that balances Arthur's ideals.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHY is this trilogy out of print?, August 26, 2000

By 

Kristin Swierzbinski (the United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Guinevere: The Legend in Autumn (Hardcover)

It baffles me that my favourite series is out of print! This trilogy is refreshingly told from the perspective of Guinevere, starting with "Child of the Northern Spring," continuing in "Queen of the Summer Stars," and finally culminating in "Guinevere: The Legend in Autumn." This book is fabulous, but to fully appreciate it, you must begin at the beginning. Persia Woolley's portrayal of Arthur's queen will have you laughing and crying through most of her life, so get this book! Don't be discouraged that it's out of print--it's wonderful!!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful conclusion of the Guinevere trilogy, May 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Guinevere: The Legend in Autumn (Paperback)

Ms. Woolley's conclusion of her trilogy is spellbinding and heartbreaking, following Gwen's life's journey in a clear and beautiful first-person narrative.