- Paperback: 640 pages
- Publisher: St Martin's Press; New edition edition (21 Nov 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0765306506
- ISBN-13: 978-0765306500
- Product Dimensions: 23.3 x 16.1 x 3.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,019,633 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
"Whyte's story has an undeniable power that goes beyond the borrowed resonances of the mythic tales he's reworking."
Product Description
Merlyn Britannicus and Uther Pendragon---the Silver Bear and the Red Dragon---are the leaders of the Colony, lifeblood to the community from which will come the fabled Camulod.
But soon their tranquillity is in ruins, Uther lies dead from treachery, and all that is left of the dream is the orphaned babe Arthur. Heir to the Colony of Camulod, born with Roman heritage as well as the blood of the Hibernians and the Celts, Arthur is the living incarnation of the sacred dream of his ancestors: independent survival in Britain amidst the ruins of the Roman Empire.
When Arthur is adopted by Merlyn Britannicus, an enormous responsibility is placed on Merlyn's shoulders. Now he must prepare young Arthur to unify the clans of Britain and guard the mighty sword Excalibur.
And, above all, Merlyn must see that Arthur survives to achieve the rest of his ancestors' dreams, in spite of the deadly threats rumbling from the Saxon Shore.
But soon their tranquillity is in ruins, Uther lies dead from treachery, and all that is left of the dream is the orphaned babe Arthur. Heir to the Colony of Camulod, born with Roman heritage as well as the blood of the Hibernians and the Celts, Arthur is the living incarnation of the sacred dream of his ancestors: independent survival in Britain amidst the ruins of the Roman Empire.
When Arthur is adopted by Merlyn Britannicus, an enormous responsibility is placed on Merlyn's shoulders. Now he must prepare young Arthur to unify the clans of Britain and guard the mighty sword Excalibur.
And, above all, Merlyn must see that Arthur survives to achieve the rest of his ancestors' dreams, in spite of the deadly threats rumbling from the Saxon Shore.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Jack Whyte's Camulod Chronicles series just gets better and better with each book, developing into one of the best series of historical novels of recent years. In a sense, I feel it somewhat of a shame that with this book we have now fully entered into the realm of Arthur and Merlin, as this is such a wonderful and grounded series of historical novels set in post-Roman Britain that it may suffer, in the eyes of some potential readers, from the stigma associated with Arthurian fiction.
But, like other recent Arthurian series by Bernard Cornwell and Helen Hollick (both excellent) for example, this one strips out all the fantastic elements of the Grail and so on, and we are left with convincing human characters in recognisable dilemmas, even if our main protagonists survive a few too many close scrapes for complete realism... Still, this is thrilling stuff and a great read.
What perhaps distinguishes these books from those most immediately comparable with them is the degree to which the narrative focuses on domestic political and social issues. There are battle scenes and so on, but much of the action is at home in Camulod, with the protagonists involved in questions of how best to govern the settlement and the philosophical, social and theological issues that these raise.
Looking forward to moving on to the next book after a decent break...
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Jack Whyte was born and raised in Scotland, but has lived in Canada for the last forty odd years. He is the author of the Camulod series of books and has just had published the first in a trilogy about probably the most famous Order of knights, ever to come through the pages of history, the Knights Templar.
This is the fourth volume in the continuation of the Camulod Chronicles a series of novels about the Arthurian legends. But anyone expecting the conventional, or Hollywood slant on the legend of Arthur, i.e. knights riding around on destriers in full body armour, something invented several hundred years after Arthur had gone to his grave, if he ever existed at all, will be in for a sharp shock.
The books are set in the 5th century AD a much more likely time for Arthur to have existed, a time when Britain, although free of the Romans, who had gone back across the channel to Rome, was still very much influenced by their occupation.
Camulod, a settlement founded by the descendants of both Roman and Celt continues in its development. Arthur has been born and orphaned and is in the care of Merlyn. It is in Camulod that Arthur's mind is fashioned under the teachings of Merlyn. Arthur is growing towards manhood and coming closer and closer to what has been foretold as his destiny. To take his place as High king of all Britain.
This is the fourth volume in the continuation of the Camulod Chronicles a series of novels about the Arthurian legends. But anyone expecting the conventional, or Hollywood slant on the legend of Arthur, i.e. knights riding around on destriers in full body armour, something invented several hundred years after Arthur had gone to his grave, if he ever existed at all, will be in for a sharp shock.
The books are set in the 5th century AD a much more likely time for Arthur to have existed, a time when Britain, although free of the Romans, who had gone back across the channel to Rome, was still very much influenced by their occupation.
Camulod, a settlement founded by the descendants of both Roman and Celt continues in its development. Arthur has been born and orphaned and is in the care of Merlyn. It is in Camulod that Arthur's mind is fashioned under the teachings of Merlyn. Arthur is growing towards manhood and coming closer and closer to what has been foretold as his destiny. To take his place as High king of all Britain.
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