21. Nancy McKenzie - Queen of Camelot
Continuing along on my Arthurian legend kick…
Here is another tale of King Arthur’s reign; however, this time it is centered on and told through the viewpoint of his wife Guinevere. It starts with her life from birth, when a wise woman calls her gwenhwyfar, the white shadow, who is prophesized to betray not only the king but be betrayed herself. It follows her life as an orphan under the tutelage of King Pellinore in Wales and her selection to be the second wife of King Arthur (as his first wife had died en childbirth). It then follows her years with Arthur and her struggles of not being able to give the king the child he so desperately needs and wants; her being the strength behind Arthur - she is not your typical 5th century woman who is just concerned with babies and weaving – as she helps him with the running of the Kingdom; and her love for Lancelot.
McKenzie does an excellent job in creating Guinevere as the strong and loving woman behind the man, and yet makes her seem just as fallible with many weaknesses as well. It is a very convincing and realistic character. What makes this story different from the others I have read is that she encourages Arthur to take in his bastard son, Mordred, and treats him like her own child. In all of the other stories I’ve read, Mordred was raised solely by his mother for purposes in destroying Arthur. Here, he becomes a very sympathetic character whom you cannot believe would betray Arthur. It was a nice touch. Overall, this was a very good book that I recommend. It is definitely more of a love story than an action novel, but I wouldn’t hold that fact against it.
Here is another tale of King Arthur’s reign; however, this time it is centered on and told through the viewpoint of his wife Guinevere. It starts with her life from birth, when a wise woman calls her gwenhwyfar, the white shadow, who is prophesized to betray not only the king but be betrayed herself. It follows her life as an orphan under the tutelage of King Pellinore in Wales and her selection to be the second wife of King Arthur (as his first wife had died en childbirth). It then follows her years with Arthur and her struggles of not being able to give the king the child he so desperately needs and wants; her being the strength behind Arthur - she is not your typical 5th century woman who is just concerned with babies and weaving – as she helps him with the running of the Kingdom; and her love for Lancelot.
McKenzie does an excellent job in creating Guinevere as the strong and loving woman behind the man, and yet makes her seem just as fallible with many weaknesses as well. It is a very convincing and realistic character. What makes this story different from the others I have read is that she encourages Arthur to take in his bastard son, Mordred, and treats him like her own child. In all of the other stories I’ve read, Mordred was raised solely by his mother for purposes in destroying Arthur. Here, he becomes a very sympathetic character whom you cannot believe would betray Arthur. It was a nice touch. Overall, this was a very good book that I recommend. It is definitely more of a love story than an action novel, but I wouldn’t hold that fact against it.
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