Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
STRENGTH OF WORDS, February 19, 2003
If you are an Arthurian reader who appreciates insightful, well developed characters this book should be in your collection. I hope it is reprinted someday, it is a fine epic. Told in the first person by Bedivere, it gives an account that is largely from the Malory/Geoffrey of Monmouth stories but with changes that make many events more plausible.
The author skillfully sets the tone to realism, presenting all viewpoints. For example, when Lancelot's son dies in all of his pure and saintly glory, there is a suggestion that he suffered from an actual disease, akin to leukemia. This does not take away the granduer, it wisely grips your empathy.
Bedivere is a bard, but more so an impatient and hard working soldier and statesman who strives through tremendous responsibility. He sacricfices for king and country with stubborn strength and regrets, like any human.
The female characters are not present enough but for this viewpoint, it makes sense. Gratefully, Morgan (Mawgan) is not evil in this book. Morgawse is troublesome, but not a cartoon, like so many other versions. Guenevere is often spoken of but rarely in the scenes. You meet the character of Ygern (who is not Igraine, Arthur's mother) straightaway, I missed her toward the middle of the book.
Another blissful skill Catherine Christian has is to pay due to all religions and the religious conflict of Arthur's time without ever a hint of preference or agenda. The voice is that of Bedivere alone.
This is a book to be read at first sitting, the first eighty pages, with patience. After that, you should be enthralled enough to read it anywhere. It is a wonderful meld of emotion and entertainment, as all fine literature should be.
|
|
|
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent, November 14, 1999
Catherine Christian has created a haunting rendition of the Arthurian legend. She has written the book with great sensitivity and combined this with historical accuracy. The story is told through the eyes of Bedivere, Arthur's milk brother and first companion, and covers the period from Arthur's childhood to his King-making and inevitable death. The end is so sensitively written, that I imagine even the toughest reader would be moved to tears, as was I. I first read "The Pendragon" when I was a teenager and I have never forgotten it. I just finished re-reading my brother's copy and would love to obtain a copy for myself. It is a great pity that the book is out of stock for the world is missing the opportunity of a first class read.
|
|
|
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Pendragon, September 20, 2002
On the down side, this book has almost ruined any chances of me liking any other Arthur books, but only because there aren't any better out there. I've read plenty of books about Arthur and Camelot, but none that was so realistic, so intense in a way. Like every story that has been retold again and again, the books about King Arthur are largely similar in how the people are viewed, such as most Arthur books have "Morgen le fey" as an evil witch and sorceress, not so with this book. This is the book that takes the story and puts life into it and it's characters, bringing these people closer to your heart. I found myself not able to stop reading, and yet, not wanting the book to be over all at the same time. At the end I just sat and thought about it for awhile, wishing the tragic ending didn't have to be like that. This is not a book for people who scorn any Arthur book that is not told in the classic style, for it is not. This is a wonderful book that I very highly recomend, if you can find it.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
by Richard Adams
by Joseph Gies
