- Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: Phoenix; New Ed edition (1 July 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0753817810
- ISBN-13: 978-0753817810
- Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 778,336 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Visit the Amazon.co.uk Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Review
"a course between myth and realism" (SUNDAY TIMES )
"a thoroughly modern telling of a familiar story." (SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )
"a thoroughly modern telling of a familiar story." (SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
"a thoroughly modern telling of a familiar story."
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
First Sentence
The winter sea was grey and the grass was grey and the stone of the little chapel on the hill was grey. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
The winter sea was grey and the grass was grey and the stone of the little chapel on the hill was grey. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I cannot express how awful this book is, I have always loved the Arthurian legends from both an academic viewpoint as well as loving the fictional literature surrounding it, but this dreadful book is abysmal, I know that the legends can be interpreted in many ways, looking at the BBC show Merlin shows this, though its strays a considerable way from the legends, it still has that charm about it that also surrounds the legends. This however goes on about incest and the gang rapes of small boys, made me sick to read it. I am more than happy to suggest some far more fitting Arthurian fictional literature than this rubbish.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It won't change your life, but it's entertaining enough. Don't buy it if you're looking for a traditional rendering of the Arthurian legend or if you have any particular aversion to homosexual rape or incest. I felt that, at times, Massie tries too hard to be original in telling the tale (anyone remember there being vampires...?) Otherwise it's pretty good.
Format:Paperback
The Arthurian legends have taken on many guises and formats over the years and Allan Massie's attempt is as good as most. It does stray in many ways from the original tale but as the whole Arthurian saga is more myth than actual proven fact this does not really matter.
I think that in this particular book Allan Massie writes to shock the reader and for those of a delicate or sheltered upbringing the book will certainly achieve that.
I found the book an interesting read, not the best telling of the Arthurian legend, but certainly not the worst. What does bug me though with many of the books about Arthur is that the book cover illustrators find it necessary to depict the men in suits of armour, a form of protection that is medieval. If Arthur existed at all, he lived many centuries before then and would not know a suit of armour if one dropped on his foot.
I think that in this particular book Allan Massie writes to shock the reader and for those of a delicate or sheltered upbringing the book will certainly achieve that.
I found the book an interesting read, not the best telling of the Arthurian legend, but certainly not the worst. What does bug me though with many of the books about Arthur is that the book cover illustrators find it necessary to depict the men in suits of armour, a form of protection that is medieval. If Arthur existed at all, he lived many centuries before then and would not know a suit of armour if one dropped on his foot.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Arthur the Cad
This telling of the Arthurian story is sometimes splendid and sublime, but at other times patchy, clunking and cursory. Read more
Published on 24 Jun 2008 by R. J. FORDER
Stop/start storyline to a tepid and poorly written novel...
I was expecting good things from this take on the Arthurian legend, and until about half way through the book I was pleasantly surprised on the new direction Mr. Massie was taking. Read more
Published on 12 Mar 2007 by L. A. Powell
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Fiction > Contemporary Fiction
- Books > Fiction > Historical
- Books > Romance > Adult & Contemporary
- Books > Romance > Historical
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
