Fate of
Camelot
by
Cynthia Breeding
A treat for medieval Arthurian junkies
Cynthia
Breeding's FATE OF CAMELOT
focuses on the later days of Camelot: the Grail Quest and King Arthur's
healing at Avalon. Cynthia Breeding reshapes the medieval Arthurian
texts by returning to the medieval texts themselves, history and modern
scholarship. Using these as a springboard for her imaginative vision of
the last days, Cynthia Breeding presents a vision of the more
mysterious aspects of the Arthurian legends as she incorporates both
the pagan and Christian elements. If a reader wants a romanticized and
simplified Hollywood version of Camelot, readers should turn elsewhere
than the tales of Cynthia Breeding. On the other hand, FATE OF CAMELOT will appeal to
Arthurian junkies, especially those versed in the medieval Arthurian
literary traditions. FATE OF CAMELOT
is closer to the term roman arthurien than the modern romance
tradition. Cynthia Breeding incorporates the magical paranormal into FATE OF CAMELOT and yet her details
are so grounded in the medieval tradition, both of Arthurian romance as
well as the chronicle tradition (medieval historical writings), as seen
in Geoffrey of Monmouth etc, giving her story both a historical and
magical atmosphere.
FATE OF CAMELOT opens with
Arthur's trip to Avalon. As his queen and a woman devoted to the realm
of Camelot, Gwenhwyfar accompanies Arthur, choosing to stand by his
side despite the risks to herself and her love for Lancelot. Once on
Avalon, she may never be able to see Lancelot once Arthur is healed and
returns to Camelot. Time on Avalon is not in direct proportion to the
years outside so that one day in Avalon encompasses more time in the
history of Camelot. Furthermore, Avalon is surrounded by the
ever-shifting Land of Faerie, a realm that Morgan le Fey and Medraut
(Mordred) use to their own ends. Lifelike visions of Lancelot trouble
her, reminding her of the deep love she has for her champion knight.
When Gwenhwyfar attempts to pass through the Land of Faerie, Cernunnos,
god of the Wild Hunt, captures Gwenhwyfar, intending to keep her as his
consort. Enraged at her abduction, Lancelot plans to get her back but
Morgan Le Fey once more schemes against them. Will he be able to save
her?
Meanwhile,
back in the realm of Camelot, Galahad and Peredur seek the mysterious
Grail, the one thing that might bring healing to the kingdom and the
land. FATE of CAMELOT expands
upon some of the less developed threads in the medieval texts, giving
readers the opportunity to revisit lesser known characters with stories
and details that fill in the gaps. Readers will recognize the concept
of the Fisher King, Pelles, and the Grail Maiden. The brilliance of
Cynthia Breeding's writing in FATE
OF CAMELOT truly shines in her handling of the Grail Quest. By
shifting the placement of the Quest within the Arthurian time line, the
quest makes sense. In Thomas Malory's medieval version, the quest seems
out of place and even as a distraction from the kingdom which
eventually leads to the downfall of Camelot. In Cynthia Breeding's
version, the Quest occurs within the context of healing, both
individual and political. Cynthia Breeding's portrait of Galahad is one
of the finest moments in this novel. Like Malory, she softens the
highly misogynist tone found in the French Vulgate cycle in La Queste del Saint Graal, a text
so obsessively focused on the concept of chastity that scholars assume
it was written by a cleric. Like Malory, Cynthia Breeding focuses on
the relationship of Galahad to his father Lancelot. Cynthia Breeding
explores this relationship even more deeply by taking readers into the
family relationships, an element that uses the modern romance tradition
to shed light on the medieval traditions. Cynthia Breeding does not
gloss over the misogyny of the Old French version but rather she
presents readers with a context that makes Galahad a more fully
developed character.
In
FATE OF CAMELOT,
Cynthia Breeding develops the Arthur-Lancelot- Gwenhwyfar relationship
so well developed in her book CAMELOT'S
DESTINY. In many Arthurian tales, Guinevere is a rather flat
character. Cynthia Breeding gives her a depth of character as the
reader sees both her love for Lancelot and her devotion to the realm as
its queen. The reader feels the pull she experiences between both men.
In addition, the reader feels more of the deep friendship between
Arthur and Lancelot seen in Malory's Arthurian tales. In this area,
Cynthia Breeding is more faithful to the medieval Arthurian tradition
than a glamorized Hollywood version. She does not gloss over the
difficulties of Gwenhwyfar's role as queen and as woman but rather
develops them to give the reader a vision of a woman who lives her role
as queen and lover with all that she is.
In
her narrative style, Cynthia Breeding pays homage to the medieval texts
with a style characterized by dialogue and seemingly episodic (but not
unrelated) as stories unfold together and yet different elements come
together chronologically and thematically. In many ways, I felt
like I was reading a medieval story itself and in style, I find it
close to Malory himself... but a Malory who is not a man but a woman,
with a woman's insights (oh how feminist medieval scholars all craved
to hear a woman telling this story!). FATE
OF CAMELOT combines both the Christian and pagan elements in
proper proportion to create a tale that does not avoid the French
cleric author's vilification of women but rather speaks back to it by
incorporating it within the whole context. Some modern readers might be
thrown by her narrative structure just because it is so authentic to
the period but for me, it was part and parcel of the brilliance of this
book.
More personal details:
My
enjoyment of Cynthia Breeding's FATE
OF CAMELOT was heavily influenced by my previous reading
history. I spent 10 years in graduate school studying Medieval
literature exclusively (in addition to literary theory/criticism). My
specialty and planned dissertation topic was Arthurian romance (Sir
Thomas Malory and an unpublished French Arthurian manuscript). I
do not believe a reader has to have this reading background to enjoy
this story but I do think that readers versed in the medieval
traditions will discover a special delight in the subtle nuances of
this book, appreciating the author's impeccable attention to the source
material and the fictional imagination she adds. Unlike her previous
romances, FATE OF CAMELOT was
published by a small press. While this book may not appeal to the mass
market of romance readers (the market for her previous books), I feel
like the move to a smaller press has allowed her more freedom to
develop her authentic vision of Arthurian romance. If you are an
Arthurian junkie like me, FATE OF
CAMELOT marks Cynthia Breeding as an author to watch with
increasing interest. It seems to me as if this book marks a transition
of the author from writing for a modern romance audience to more of a
fiction/fantasy/Arthurian audience.
Book Description
LOVE...
ILLUSION...
When a god desires a
mortal queen...
Can her champion save her from her fate?
Accompanied by
Gwenhwyfar, King Arthur is healed on the holy isle of
Avalon. But Avalon is surrounded by the ever-shifting Land
of
Faerie. When Myrddin attempts to pass them through, Cernunnos,
god of the Wild Hunt, captures Gwenhwyfar, intending to keep her as his
consort.
Enraged that
Gwenhwyfar has been abducted, Lancelot swears he will
bring her back. A vision of the Holy Grail allows him to find the
portal to Faerie, but Morgan le Fey has other desgns for him.
Will Lancelot's love
for Gwenhwyfar be strong enough to endure in a
world where Time is distorted and illusion reigns?
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Fate of Camelot
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