Prince of Dreams: A Tale of Tristan and Essylte [Paperback]

Nancy McKenzie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 30, 2003

It is a generation after the fall of Camelot. The legendary figures of Britain’s brief but shining renaissance—Arthur, Lancelot, Guinevere—are gone but not forgotten. Their memories live on in song and story. But Arthur’s dream of a united Britain is fading fast. The hard-won alliance of independent kingdoms is fracturing. Sensing weakness, defeated enemies are returning.

Such is the world of Tristan, Prince of Lyonesse. Born with the soul of a poet and the heart of a warrior, Tristan has been pushed aside by his uncle, Markion, who is determined to succeed King Constantine. Because he shares Markion’s dream of restoring the faded glory of Camelot, Tristan supports his Uncle’s claims to the High King’s throne, against the better judgment of his friends.

Markion dispatches Tristan as his trusted agent to fetch his new bride, the daughter of King Percival. As soon as Tristan sets his eyes on the beautiful Essylte, and Essylte sees the handsome Tristan, a fateful love blooms between the two young people, a love that knows no law but its own fierce and imperious demands. Now, torn between duty and desire, Tristan and Essylte will risk everything—their lives, their souls, Britain itself—to be together. . . .

This powerful tale of love, betrayal, and redemption has echoed down the ages. Acclaimed author Nancy McKenzie brings it stunningly to life for a new generation.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Tristan, son of Meliodas, takes center stage in McKenzie's moving fantasy, the fourth in her well-received Arthurian series (Queen of Camelot, etc.). Despite his being a great warrior and a man of enormous passions, a twist of fate has kept Tristan from the High Kingship of Britain. It is Markion, Tristan's uncle, who rules as High King, and it is Markion to whom Essylte, the daughter of Welsh prince Percival, is promised to ensure peace with Wales. After Tristan accompanies Essylte to her new home at Tintagel, where she's to begin her new life as High Queen, the pair fall in love. Their tragic story unfolds with all the panoply of the legend and comes to a heart-wrenching end. In its depth and emotional impact, McKenzie's series approaches Marion Zimmer Bradley's Mists of Avalon. Her characters live and breathe the ways of King Arthur. Fans of historical romances will also be happy.
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From Booklist

McKenzie, best-selling author of Queen of Camelot (2002) and Grail Prince [BKL D1 02], continues to revamp the Arthurian legends with this dazzling revision of the tragic tale of Tristan and Isolde. Tristan, the true heir to both Arthur's kingdom and his legacy, is sent to Wales by his uncle, King Markion, high king of Britain, to accompany Markion's intended bride back to Cornwall. The arranged marriage between middle-aged Markion and teenage Essylte, daughter of King Percival of Gwynedd, is intended to resolidify increasingly fragile alliances with the discontented Welsh. After falling passionately in love, Tristan and Essylte must either reconcile themselves to their bitter and lonely fates or risk Markion's wrath and certain war between their two kingdoms. McKenzie inserts healthy doses of romance, suspense, and betrayal into this magical saga of star-crossed lovers torn between duty and desire. First-class historical fiction with a mystical twist. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey; 1 edition (December 30, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345456505
• ISBN-13: 978-0345456502
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #734,897 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 You may not understand this review if you don't know the story told within, May 16, 2006

By 

Lilly Flora "by Lilo Drandoff" (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Prince of Dreams: A Tale of Tristan and Essylte (Paperback)

I don't know why, but I tend to get stuck on some stories and search for every book written about them. I obsess over Elizabeth I's relationship with Robert Dudley, faithfully search out tales about and of Sharazard, and lately, I want to know everything about Tristan and Isolde. That's why I picked this book.

This is the story of doomed young love. Tristan, a young knight whose birthright to the high throne of Britain was taken by his Uncle (with his help actually, he gave it up) is sent by the same Uncle (Mark) to fetch his bride from Wales. She is fifteen and will marry over forty Mark. Her name is Esselte.

Of course-you know the story. This is a pretty good re-telling of it but for a few details-the poisoned sword wound that Tristan received is just stupidly healed and treated. Tristan has a gay Uncle (nothing wrong with that) who lends nothing to the story but pops up now and then. Esselte's mother is absurd in her hatred of Esselte and Branwen's actions-she delivered the love potion to our lovers and then agrees to sleep with Mark secretly in Esselte's place-are confusing.

This book has also fallen to a classic mistake that comes with retelling this story. Mark of Cornwall is stupid, mean and downright evil at times. This is supposed to be a triangle of love, respect and duty between a devoted nephew, a wife doing her duty and a king. Instead Tristan constantly bemoans that he cannot save Esselte from the evil Mark. Clearly he could have at any time. His excuse of it taking down the British alliance is stupid-Mark's own actions in this book cause that.

In short the romance in this book is far better than in the other version I read recently, the White Raven by Diana L. Paxton, who focused solely on Branwen's tale. But it's still not very romantic. This book is also far better than Rosalind Miles series-which I'm sorry but was so boring I almost died.

I have to say that the recent movie did a far better job of making three likable characters for the triangle, and the dialog was perfect-not too sappy romantic stuff-but real words from people in a horribly desperate situation.

On its own this book gets 3.5 stars, but I'm still looking for a novel retelling of this story I can love. Who knows, maybe I'll just write it myself.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heart-wrenching, February 16, 2004

By 

S. E. Kennedy "ocinnedeagh" (Minnesota, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prince of Dreams: A Tale of Tristan and Essylte (Paperback)

The tale of Tristan and Essylte - a beautiful but tragic love story. This is sort of the Romeo and Juliet of ancient Briton.
I know the story mainly from the books by R. Miles - but Nancy McKenzie has a style of writing that is second-to-none. She spins a new twist on the story and ties it beautifully to her earilier book "Grail Prince". I couldn't put this down - the descriptions of their feelings for each other - their love - their desperation - their heart-wrenching separations and breath-taking reunions...McKenzie takes you there. You feel it with them and if you've ever been in love you feel it with every beautifully woven detail of the story. McKenzie continues to craft masterful works centered around the Arthurian legends and this one certainly did not disappoint!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fresh New Perspective on Tristan & Essylte!, March 15, 2004

By 

Kimberly Gelderman (Spring Lake, MI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Prince of Dreams: A Tale of Tristan and Essylte (Paperback)

It would seem the story of Tristan and Essylte would be a much told, tired story by now. However, this author puts some new twists on the old legend and breathes life into its characters. The fates are against these two lovers from the beginning but they try to make a valiant showing throughout the book. Essylte's maidservant, Branwen, is not what she seems and she brings about many of the circumstances Essylte and Tristan endure. King Markion, who is now high king of Britain is Tristan's uncle and wishes to wed the Welsh Princess to bring unity to Britain. Unfortunately, his scope is very limited and Tristan and many others only support him because there is no one better to do so. Except for Tristan, of course, however, he does not desire the high kingship, only Essylte, someone he is never destined to have.

It is a wild ride with much intrigue and many interesting twists that will keep the reader enthralled from beginning to end. I highly recommend this novel to anyone interested in "The Matter of Britain."