The Mists of Avalon
by Marion Zimmer Bradley
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Book Summary Information
Author: Marion Zimmer BradleyEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1982
ISBN: 0345350499
Number of pages: 912
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Book Reviews of The Mists of Avalon
Book Review: A respectful but feminist account brings the legend alive
Summary: 5 Stars
Marion Zimmer Bradley is a jewel among feminist authors. She writes with restraint and tenderness, and love for her subject, and her characters. The cool regard of her scrutiny touches male and female characters alike, as does her compassion.
This book does many things on many levels, and I'll list a few of them, in case they happen to be important to potential readers.
(1) It is a plausible, and generally complete telling of the Athurian story, even if it is a different point of view from the traditional one. It's all there, with the additional advantage of motivations understandable to modern readers.
(2) It is a distillation of the supplanting of the matriarchal culture of ancient Britain with the patriarchal culture of the early Church. She perhaps does not present the philosophical and anthropological (religious and social) issues as well or as persuasively as do certain other feminist writers (e.g. Karin Kallmaker), but they are there.
(3) It is a somewhat restrained indictment of the rigidity of the clergy of the Middle Ages, and indeed of Christian clergy generally. Indeed she is more gentle with some of these men than I could ever bring myself to be. This is not a book for Christian True Believers; they will feel persecuted at every turn. Merlin the Druid is a more eloquent advocate for the new religion than its own bishop Patricius (later St Patrick), whose purging of Ireland of serpents is represented as ridding it of druids. On the other hand, even if the author does not rub the reader's face in the more chilling aspects of druidic rites, they are represented honestly.
(4) It provides, as I say, plausible motives for what the principals in the legend did. The traditional legends would have us believe that women of those days were mindless, lust-driven and evil, or saintly and weak. The men, likewise, were cunning, manipulative and crafty, or brave but innocent. But the author gives us a look into the missing years of upbringing and education that fills in the logic behind the sketchy stories of the legends. Until 'Avalon', I could never understand why these people might have done the things they did.
(5) The story creates a remarkably believable character in the agoraphobic, short-sighted, tender-hearted Guinevere (Gwynhyfar). The famous exposure of the adultery of Guinevere and Launcelot (Lancelet) is set when they are in their fifties, after the court has turned a blind eye to the long-standing affair for decades. The author also portrays the troubled relationship between Guinevere and Morgan, whom she hated, envied and feared, as also often loving and caring. What a genius is Marion Zimmer Bradley! No one can represent ambiguous feelings better than she could!
(6) It provides a satisfying explanation of the mystery of the Holy Grail, and other legends connecting ancient Britain with the Holy Land, and Joseph of Arimathea, long before the crusades. It does not dispel the mystery, but acquaints the reader with collected stories about the Chalice that are interesting in their own right.
This first large-scale literary work by this author has a few shortcomings: she works hard at explaining the philosophical problems that the characters struggle with, and with which we struggle today. In subsequent works (e.g. Firebrand) she succeeds better in laying the underlying tensions between the lines. But even if parts of the book appear to be rewritten to the point of self-consciousness, it largely succeeds in keeping enough momentum and continuity of tone that enables the reader to gallop along with the story.
No matter how I study the genius of Marion Zimmer Bradley, I can't believe how I feel about Queen Guinevere. Much as I expect to feel nothing but anger and disgust towards the weak, closed- minded, jealous woman, the author leaves me feeling only admiration and compassion. Her portrayal of Arthur is equally brilliant; instead of seeming weak and pathetic, he comes across as consistent, patient and responsible. But most magical of all is her portrayal of the passionate Morgaine, Arthur's half-sister. From the moment the tiny eight-year-old is commanded to look after her infant brother (which she does), to the moment when he dies in her arms, one never stops believing in the tender love between them. Somehow Marion Zimmer Bradley is able to depict it as beautiful, rather than the tainted, ugly, lustful thing shown in other accounts.
This is a mythic book, in that all the characters are true individuals, but also achetypes of people we all know and love. If she had succeeded too well, they would all be cliches. But if she had failed in that, we could not respect this book as a worthy retelling of the legend. But it is just right, as Goldilocks might have said, and here it is!
A must-read.
Arch, 5/20/2005
Summary of The Mists of Avalon
A Literary Guild Featured AlternateHere is the magical legend of King Arthur, vividly retold through the eyes and lives of the women who wielded power from behind the throne. A spellbinding novel, an extraordinary literary achievement, THE MISTS OF AVALON will stay with you for a long time to come....
Even readers who don't normally enjoy Arthurian legends will love this version, a retelling from the point of view of the women behind the throne. Morgaine (more commonly known as Morgan Le Fay) and Gwenhwyfar (a Welsh spelling of Guinevere) struggle for power, using Arthur as a way to score points and promote their respective worldviews. The Mists of Avalon's Camelot politics and intrigue take place at a time when Christianity is taking over the island-nation of Britain; Christianity vs. Faery, and God vs. Goddess are dominant themes.
Young and old alike will enjoy this magical Arthurian reinvention by science fiction and fantasy veteran Marion Zimmer Bradley. --Bonnie Bouman
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