- Paperback
- Publisher: Bantam Books (Mm); Reprint edition (May 1985)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 055324924X
- ISBN-13: 978-0553249248
- Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 10.4 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 3,629,038 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
King Arthur is dead. Surrounded by traitors and usurpers, Guinevere must defend the empire she struggled so desperately to help forge. Aided by the loyalty of Bedivere, Gareth, Lancelot, and others from Arthur's reign, she works toward settling her uneasy nation. But when faced with unthinkable treachery, Guinevere is swept into a life she never understood, driven to the depths of servitude to a bold Saxon who is unaware of her true identity. Much like Arthur, he is an idyllic dreamer with a magnificent mind. With him, she discovers more of humanity than she ever imagined! And we see Guinevere for all she is: brilliant leader, shrewd schemer, compassionate ruler, heartless tyrant, lover, warrior, slave - and always, always a Queen.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
In Firelord, Arthur tells his story from his deathbead, while in Beloved Exile Guinevere tells her surprising story of the next forty years. In Beloved Exile, more so than in Firelord, Godwin's imagination is free to run. The result is interesting, but with less of the high drama of Firelord.
In both novels Godwin explores the difference between British and Saxon societies: the former being aristocratic, kin-based, honour-bound, poetic and chivalric; the latter much more democratic, land-based, law-bound, prosaic and pedestrian. These are stereotypes, for sure, but it gives the novels a sense that something is at stake in the struggle between the two societies.
Godwin's portrait of Guenevere as a woman of power is compelling. Her power comes from her intelligence, pragmatism, and royal birth (unlike in lesser novels where she is often portrayed as a warrior-princess, or mystical priestess, or girl-next-door).
In both novels Godwin explores the difference between British and Saxon societies: the former being aristocratic, kin-based, honour-bound, poetic and chivalric; the latter much more democratic, land-based, law-bound, prosaic and pedestrian. These are stereotypes, for sure, but it gives the novels a sense that something is at stake in the struggle between the two societies.
Godwin's portrait of Guenevere as a woman of power is compelling. Her power comes from her intelligence, pragmatism, and royal birth (unlike in lesser novels where she is often portrayed as a warrior-princess, or mystical priestess, or girl-next-door).
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
8 reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Gritty and realistic
16 Feb 2000
Format:Paperback
More historical fiction than fantasy, you will not find any magic swords or sorcery in this gritty and realistic story of Guenevere and Britian after the death of Arthur. When the story begins, Guenevere is already middle aged, and Britian is on the brink of chaos. As the story progresses we learn of the maturing of Guenevere as a person and as a queen.
The novel starts off fast and furious with battles and betrayals. Then it settles down into a serious character study as it builds towards a strong and satisfying climax. Sometimes slow, but always interesting, this was worthwhile reading.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
One of the very best portraits of Guinevere
28 Sep 1998
Format:Paperback
This is a worthy sequel to the exciting "Firelord." It tells the story of the rest of Guinevere's life after Arthur's death, and she is even more of a vivid and strong personality than she was in that enthralling novel. Godwin's account of her captivity as a Saxon slave, and her adaptation to that way of life, is purely imaginative, but who could mind? It relates a sensitive and entertaining account of how this proud queen grows to maturity in her adjustment to a jarring change in her fortunes. Guinevere has never seemed more real, alive and captivating than in these pages.You can well believe that a woman this remarkable has captured popular imagination for 1500 years. Someone, please--put this book back into print! It deserves it.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Interesting and unique portrayal of Guinevere!
11 Feb 2006
Format:Paperback
A few months ago, I read a novel called Queen of Camelot by Nancy Mckenzie, a recreation of the King Arthur story that centers on Guinevere. I thought that the retelling was very interesting and showed Guinevere as a flesh and blood, three-dimensional, kind woman and not the treacherous, adulteress that is shown in the original story. Beloved Exile, however, shows quite a different take on Guinevere, one of an ambitious, treacherous woman that would do anything for survival and to rule as queen with results as interesting as the one in Queen of Camelot. Guinevere is the Medieval/fantasy Scarlett O'Hara in this retelling. After King Arthur dies, Guinevere, along with Lancelot and Gareth, tries to bring Camelot to its previous glory, but things don't turn out that way, to say the least. Instead, she becomes a Saxon slave, and her struggles has just begun. But Guinevere is an intelligent, scheming woman, and she will do just about anything to reign again. There are various twists throughout the novel.
Beloved Exile takes quite a departure from the original King Arthur tale and the results are incredible. Parke Godwin gives Guinevere the sort of depth and layers that is absent in King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table. And the anti-heroine here is also a departure from Queen of Camelot. Both of these novels show a very interesting portrayal of Queen Guinevere in very different ways and I cannot decide which one is the best one of the two. In this adaptation, Guinevere is an unsympathetic protagonist, but has enough complexity to make her compelling at the same time. That is why I compare her to Scarlett O'Hara, for she made me feel the same way when I read Gone with the Wind. This Guinevere is very interesting indeed. I just loved the complexity and many dimensions of this character. Mr. Godwin has created a wonderful and unique portrayal of this classic character. And he added gothic undertones to boot! I cannot recommend this gem enough!
Beloved Exile takes quite a departure from the original King Arthur tale and the results are incredible. Parke Godwin gives Guinevere the sort of depth and layers that is absent in King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table. And the anti-heroine here is also a departure from Queen of Camelot. Both of these novels show a very interesting portrayal of Queen Guinevere in very different ways and I cannot decide which one is the best one of the two. In this adaptation, Guinevere is an unsympathetic protagonist, but has enough complexity to make her compelling at the same time. That is why I compare her to Scarlett O'Hara, for she made me feel the same way when I read Gone with the Wind. This Guinevere is very interesting indeed. I just loved the complexity and many dimensions of this character. Mr. Godwin has created a wonderful and unique portrayal of this classic character. And he added gothic undertones to boot! I cannot recommend this gem enough!
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