The White Raven (Paperback)

by Diana L. Paxson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
This haunting retelling of the tale of Tristan and Iseult (here called Drustan and Esseilte in accordance with Celtic legend and language) goes back to early versions, before Mallory and Wagner, to explore the nature of love, duty and loyalty. The story is told by Branwen, cousin and companion to Esseilte, daughter of the High King of Eriu (Ireland). The two young women save the life of a badly wounded harper, later discovered to be Drustan, who had killed Esseilte's beloved uncle and Branwen's father, Morholt, in battle. Drustan seeks Esseilte's hand for his uncle, Marc'h, King of Kernow (Cornwall), an alliance arranged for political reasons. On the way to Cornwall, Esseilte tries to poison Drustan, but the potion they both drink turns out to be a love filtre prepared for Esseilte and Marc'h. Thus the tale is set in motion, with passion and hate binding the lovers together. With Branwen's aid, they are able to deceive Marc'h on the wedding night: Branwen, close in appearance to the queen, sleeps with the king and falls in love with him. For a while Esseilte and Drustan escape detection, but eventually they are caught in cir cumstances that cannot be ignored, leading to the tragic denouement. This is a complex tale, interweaving the political and religious conflicts of the sixth century, when the ancient Druid religion still had a strong hold. Paxson ( The Paradise Tree , White Mare, Red Stallion ) breathes life and wonder into one of the most romantic of the CelticGermanic legends. $60,000 ad/promo .
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Avon Books (Mm) (August 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380752298
• ISBN-13: 978-0380752294
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,063,174 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Odd perspective on this classic tale, April 10, 2006

By	Lilly Flora "by Lilo Drandoff" (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The White Raven (Hardcover)

The White Raven is the classic love story of Tristan and Isolde, but it is told by someone who was slightly outside of the story. Her name is Branwen and she is Isolde's (spelled differently in the book: Esseilte) cousin and best friend and they were raised as sisters.

As the author points out in her ending authors note Branwen is essential to this love story. Esseilte is married to Tristan's (in this novel Drustan) uncle, the high king of Cornwall. But on the voyage from Ireland to Cornwall Esseilte and Drustan manage to drink a love potion accidentally and are forever entwined. (In this version Esseilte was trying to poison Drustan and herself because he killed her uncle, Branwen's father.) Anyway, the point is, none of it would have worked without Branwen to stand guard and make us excuses for the sometimes absent queen of Cornwall. She even has to take her cousins place on her wedding night so that the king, Mark, will think he married a virgin.

Only something happens. Branwen and Mark don't just consummate his marriage to Esseilte, they make the great marriage and become in a sense the green king and queen-living representations of the land and its forever servants. Of course, Esseilte doesn't know that. Branwen is also in love with Mark, but he doesn't know it wasn't Esseilte on his wedding night. And Esseilte and Drustan can't keep their hands off each other.

The situation is a mess and Branwen has to clean it up again and again. So her point of view is interesting, but I feel a little cheated on the romance-you get nothing really of Tristan and Isolde in this book because Branwen is telling the story. Her own love life is interesting-but this is one of the greatest love stories of all time and we get so little of it in this book.

Other than the political mish-mash in this book is impossible to follow. Too many old names that are hard to remember and track. The genealogy charts are no help what so ever.

Basically, three stars. Nice writing, but I'm still looking for a really good retelling of the tale.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars By Far the best telling of this classic myth, March 21, 2006

By	sara - See all my reviews

This review is from: The White Raven (Hardcover)

This is a must for any helpless romantics out there.
I believe its the best telling of this myth by far. There is not only one romance, but two..and both are told beautifully and with their own complications and twists.

Everyone should read it!! one of my favourite books of all time, and just simply stunning

Simply beautiful.
no other version ends it better... i dislike the movie ending, and many other endings dont have such a powerdul impact and leave me upset.




it's a must readdd for lovers of this tale!!!




**Spoilers about the beautiful ending**
i love how isolde (( named Esseilte in this book))
dies after finding tristan (( named drunstan in this book)) dead. It shows how deep their love was for each other. Although Drunstan remarried another woman, he never loved the other woman and when severely wounded called for Esseilte to come back to him. His wife, also name Essilte, lies to him about what colour the sails of the boat are ((indicating whether essielte of ireland (his true love) has agreed to come to him)) his wife is jelous of tristans love for essilte so she lies to him about the colour of the sails, and he dies of dispiar...she dies once she finds him dead. and this version goes on to discribe them being burried together and even a glimpse of them as spirits together.
***

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book that haunted me for years...., February 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The White Raven (Hardcover)

I first read this book quite a few years ago when it first came out. I loved it then but after moving several times I lost my copy. This book haunted me. I recently found another copy through Amazon and was able to read it again. Ms. Paxson's detailed imagery and entrancing writing style carry you along on currents of emotions. Her re-telling of the love story of Tristan and Iseult is ingenius. If you can find this book, get it! You won't regret it!