|
|
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Notable Reissue of Arthurian Legend, 10 Oct 2000
By A Customer
Written in 1905 by Clemence Houseman, the sister of poet A.E. Houseman and playwright Lawrence Houseman, this is the tale of one of Arthur's lesser knights, the elder son of King Pellinore, who appears but briefly in Mallory's "Morte D'Arthur." In Houseman's story a seriously flawed character, the author uses Aglovale to portray the psychologically darker side of the Round Table, the envy and at times murderous contention for acclaim and recognition that haunts Arthur's court. A tale of individual and social spiritual decay, it follows the struggle of Aglovale to discover redemption when his actions have already damned him, not only in the eyes of his peers, but more importantly in his own estimation as well.This is not a work that will appeal to everyone. The author has intentionally mirrored the writing style of Mallory, whom in the text she acknowledges as "The Master." The archaic, and some might say unnecessarily dense, style of writing is bound to deter the casual reader, while at the same time delighting fans of Mallory, and the narrative reads as if a lost chapter of the latter author's work. Nonetheless, for anyone who has loved the Morte D'Arthur, as well as the scholar of Arthurian romance, this will be a valuable addition to the literature surrounding the legend, and a book not to be missed. The publisher, Green Knight, who is devoting itself to the publication of out of print "classics" in Arthurian romance, as well as contemporary works of fantasy based upon the legend, has done a great service in reissuing this long unavailble title.
|
