Do you remember the feeling when a book opened your eyes and you had this amazing “Aha!” moment?  Well one of my favorite memories of that was when I read The Once and Future King by T. H White and discovered the world of Arthurian legend.  I became obsessed, in a good way, with this story.  I devoured Mary Stewart’s Arthurian Saga series, and although it was more difficult, given the middle English, Le morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Mallory.  Since then I have read or tried to read any new twist to this story that I could find.  I have been disappointed a time or two but I have also found authors like Jack Whyte (Camulod Chronicles) and Bernard Cornwell (Warlord Chronicles) or Persia Wooley (Guinevere Trilogy) who like me, find this story to be compelling and heartbreaking and treat it with respect and romance it deserves. Now Helen Hollcik  with her Pendrgon Trilogy joins this group of authors who have taken this well know story and breathed new life and perspective into a universal tale of love, vision, heroism, and betrayal.

Hollick tells a darker more nuanced and human story grounding the legend in the reality of the time. Although brought together by love, Arthur and Gwenhwyfar struggle with separation, jealousy and the loss of children. Even thought their personal lives are often shaken, Arthur’s unshakable vision of pulling disparate clans and tribes together to become a nation remains strong and true and still resonates in us today.

It may be too much to say that the Arthurian legend and the vision of forming a united kingdom played a role in the founding of these United States which we celebrate today, but I think the power of that legend, and the vision of overcoming cultural and regional differences to become united was something that our founders also recognized as they began to create these United States, with their Declaration of Independence, and that is the power of legends; they become ingrained, and pass on their vision, defying time, culture, and geography to give us hope.

Brenda’s Rating ****(4 Stars out of 5) 

Recommend these books to: Sharon, Lauren, Marian

Book Study Worthy: yes

Read in ebook format.