Arthur: Book Three of the Pendragon Cycle

by Stephen R. Lawhead

Book Overview

In a forgotten age of darkness, a magnificent king arose to light the land They called him unfit to rule, a lowborn, callow boy, Uther's bastard. But his coming had been foretold in the songs of the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380708906
• ISBN13: 9780380708901
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Harper Voyager
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 0.57 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Sincere, idealistic, dramatic... exceptional for the young

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 I

Fine Re-Telling of King Arthur's reign

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.

What is "A bit flat"? Certainly not this book.

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!

The Best Arthur you'll find

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.

Ignites a passion for a king and kingdom.

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 o