- Hardcover: 304 pages
- Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson; First Edition edition (11 Sep 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0297816780
- ISBN-13: 978-0297816782
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.4 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,436,748 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
"If you have only a dim recollection of the Arthur legends, this is an opportunity to rediscover their variety. And Massie entertainingly adds his own, deliberately anachronistic, original ingredients." (SALLEY VICKERS, THE TIMES )
"The Arthurian legends... always bear a fresh telling, especially from such a well-versed historical novelist as Massie... a cracking story." (THE OBSERVER )
"I hope Massie doesn't stop at a mere trilogy. With entertainment as high-wrought and glittering as this, even a dodecalogy would be too short." (DAILY TELEGRAPH )
"a lively and colourful yarn." (SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )
"A timely examination of the power and pitfalls of myth in political life." (SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY )
"This novel simply adds to my admiration for this absurdly underrated author." (GLASGOW HERALD )
"Well-handled" (TLS )
"It is in the mists of sinister suggestion that Massie's skill truly glitters... you are held by the throat from beginning to end." (INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY )
"The Arthurian legends... always bear a fresh telling, especially from such a well-versed historical novelist as Massie... a cracking story." (THE OBSERVER )
"I hope Massie doesn't stop at a mere trilogy. With entertainment as high-wrought and glittering as this, even a dodecalogy would be too short." (DAILY TELEGRAPH )
"a lively and colourful yarn." (SUNDAY TELEGRAPH )
"A timely examination of the power and pitfalls of myth in political life." (SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY )
"This novel simply adds to my admiration for this absurdly underrated author." (GLASGOW HERALD )
"Well-handled" (TLS )
"It is in the mists of sinister suggestion that Massie's skill truly glitters... you are held by the throat from beginning to end." (INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY )
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
"a lively and colourful yarn."
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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
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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.
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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
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