Arthurian - Historical Fiction

[Rob H]

So I've been getting into Bernard Cornwell's "The Winter King" and this genre is really getting to me. There's so much grit, depth and detail crammed in and it leaves me begging for more. I'm looking forward to reading the other two books in the series but I'd still like some suggestions.

First of all, has anybody read The Warlord Chronicles? What did you think.

Second, if possible, please recommend other Arthurian/historical fiction. I'd love to read more.

Oh, and yeah, I know about "The Mists of Avalon".

[Indigo Al]

I know a lot of people who slam them, but I've always loved Mary Stewart's series of books - The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, The Last Enchantment, The Wicked Day. Wicked Day in particular gives an interesting and sympathetic account from Mordred's POV.

There is, of course, The Once & Future King which is a classic.

One thing: do not be suckered by this series:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0380781956/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_1/103-3510686-2980640?ie=UTF8

A smug, nasty, cynical take on the Arthurian legend that pretends to be sophisticated but really is just an adolescent attempt at making it all "Vertigo" (the author even name checks Neil Gaiman).

[Roquefort Raider]

They're definitely not written as modern adventure novels and don't quite rate as page turners, but when it comes to the Arthurian legend I prefer to turn to the original texts rather than their modern interpretations.

Chrétien de Troyes, Wolfram von Eschenbach and their assorted colleagues are usually still available from Penguin classics and such.

The tales they tell are quite charming, if a bit repetitive... and you can really tell that the original storytellers were making it up as they went along, seguing into digressions that never resolved and usually forgetting about the original plot!

[Indigo Al]

They're definitely not written as modern adventure novels and don't quite rate as page turners, but when it comes to the Arthurian legend I prefer to turn to the original texts rather than their modern interpretations.

Chrétien de Troyes, Wolfram von Eschenbach and their assorted colleagues are usually still available from Penguin classics and such.

The tales they tell are quite charming, if a bit repetitive... and you can really tell that the original storytellers were making it up as they went along, seguing into digressions that never resolved and usually forgetting about the original plot!

And on that vein, John Steinbeck's retelling of Le Morte D'Arthur is great. Tolkien also does a "translation" of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight which is a lot of fun.

[rick]

I'm a complete sucker for Arthur Rex by Thomas Berger.

The Little Big Man writer has a cynical take on the entire mythos, but it's a well done, funny read.

[Jonathan Bogart]

They're definitely not written as modern adventure novels and don't quite rate as page turners, but when it comes to the Arthurian legend I prefer to turn to the original texts rather than their modern interpretations.
Me too. The Arthurian cycle is more about the high medieval era (when the legends were actually written) than the Dark Ages (when they were supposed to have happened), anyway. Although both Malory and Tennyson deserve a shout-out.

The only interpretation from the previous century that I can stomach is Charles Williams' unfinished poetry cycle in Taliessin through Logres and Region of the Summer Stars. It's way out of print, of course, and is a tough slog for modern novel-readers, but it's pure distilled genius to its bones. The edition that's easiest to find includes a fat introduction by C. S. Lewis and some of Williams' own thoughts on the Arthur myth.

Of course, the Arthurian collection of legends is really a blank slate upon which writers can inscribe their own political, religious, and philosophical agendas. That's one reason I can't stand the dismal twentieth-century rehashings: the twentieth century's track record in politics, religion, and philosophy is pretty dismal.

[berk]

Malory's "Le Morte d'Arthur" is indispensible.

I also love T.H.White's "The Once and Future King." And I remember really enjoying the first two books of Mary Stewart's series, "The Crystal Cave" and "The Hollow Hills," when I read them back in the 70's.

[Kirayoshi]

I'd recommend Jack Whyte's Camulod Chronicles. Strips the Arthurian mythos of most of the fantasy elements and creates a historical context for the legends of King Arthur. The first book, The Skystone, introduces the ancestors of Arthur and Merlin, Roman general Caius Britannicus and his closest friend and brother-in-law Varrus Publius, as they seek to protect their home in the British Isles from invaders, with the knowledge that the glory of Rome is at an end and the Empire won't help them. Plus an interesting and plausible explaination for the origins of Excalibur.

[Shem the Penman]

Another vote for Steinbeck's and White's versions here. Mrs. Shem loves Stewart, but it left me cold.

[Rob Allen]

This isn't fiction, but has anyone read From Scythia to Camelot? I haven't found a copy yet, but it's supposed to trace the origins of many Arthurian stories and themes to the Sarmatians (who happen to also be the ancestors of a group called the Alans, from whom I may be descended).

[Ryan Day]

It's not actually Arthurian, but Cornwel's Grail Quest trilogy - Harlequin, Vagabond, and Heretic - is very good: It's about an English archer caught up in the search for the Holy Grail during the 100 Year's War. Quite similar to the Warlord trilogy, with some great battle scenes.

It's not quite as good as his Arthur books, which I really enjoyed, but it's an enjoyable read.

[Sir Tim Drake]

I recommend that you just read Malory's Morte Darthur, preferably in the Norton Critical Edition edited by Stephen Shepherd. Malory is one of the great prose stylists in the history of the language, and his stories have lost none of their original vitality and pathos. I also agree with Ben's recommendation of Chretien de Troyes.

[Blueferret]

I recommend that you just read Malory's Morte Darthur, preferably in the Norton Critical Edition edited by Stephen Shepherd. Malory is one of the great prose stylists in the history of the language, and his stories have lost none of their original vitality and pathos. I also agree with Ben's recommendation of Chretien de Troyes.

I agree with this as well. Mallory and Chretien are good supplements to each other and cover most of the genre, if not create it.

[SoulOnIce]

So I've been getting into Bernard Cornwell's "The Winter King" and this genre is really getting to me. There's so much grit, depth and detail crammed in and it leaves me begging for more. I'm looking forward to reading the other two books in the series but I'd still like some suggestions.

First of all, has anybody read The Warlord Chronicles? What did you think.

Second, if possible, please recommend other Arthurian/historical fiction. I'd love to read more.

Oh, and yeah, I know about "The Mists of Avalon".

Before I saw this post I happened to stumble across a book called Mordred, Bastard Son which looks terrific and seems to be getting really good reviews.

Here is the Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Mordred-Bastard-Son-Trilogy-Book/dp/1555838995/ref=sr_11_1/104-0182701-5935925?ie=UTF8