Excalibur (A Novel of Arthur: The Warlord Chronicles) |
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Bernard Cornwell
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Pages: 496 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0140232877
Pub: Penguin Books Ltd
Pub date: 1998-10-01
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 683
Reader Reviews:
Cutting through the nonsense with Excalibur (0/0 people found this helpful)
Remembering first and foremost that this is myth wrapped into fiction, a dangerous mix at the best of times, this is far and away the best of the 3 books in the trilogy. However, the whole trilogy was spoiled for me by the incessant 'he spat' to the point when I began to believe that Southern England is a place of bogs and marshland due to the amount of saliva spat into it during Saxon times. Unfortunately an author does tend to fasten onto a word (with Martina Cole, for example, in Faces, it was 'sipped') and they do not realise they are overdoing it to an alarming degree. This is where the editor should be taking note and they aren't.
Having said that, this trilogy far outweighs the Holy Grail books in both content and characterisation, even if Arthur is nowhere near the heroic figure he deserves to be and Lancelot is more cowardly than I presumed him to be. But that is entirely a matter of opinion. Enjoy the books. He won't write better than these.
Inspiring (0/0 people found this helpful)
These are the finest books that I have ever read. They tell the tale of King Arthur in the dark ages in a way that makes you believe in such men, or certainly hope they existed. The story is brilliantly told through the writings of the main character Derfel Cadarn and these books blend the myth of King Arthur with what little is known of those times. Derfel tells the tales with such heart that you can almost feel the landscapes and characters he describes, from the mischievous Merlin to the imperious Guinevere. Quite simply, buy these books and treasure them.
A magnificent ending to my all time favorite trilogy. (0/0 people found this helpful)
All the unanswered treads from the previous two books are sorted out here, the Battle of Mount Badon is proberbly the best described and gripping battle i have ever read. The last 100 pages ore amazing and the ending, as you would expect very sad. I only wish Bernard Cornwell would write about what happened to the surviving Charactors from between the end of the book and the start when Derfel is an old Monk re-telling the tale that only he and sly Bishop Sansum remember living through. Maybe he feels some stories should not be told and that we dont need all the answers? Overall the best book in what in my opinion is the Greatest trilogy ever written, highly recommended, now will someone make this series into a movie or tv series (without ruining it!)
The trilogy ends - but what an ending! (1/1 people found this helpful)
And three! Bernard Cornwell managed to finish his Warlord trilogy with another masterpiece - and this is not a small achievement. So many promising book and movies fail at the finish! So here we have a slow buildup leading us to the inavoidable wagnerian great finale! I just loved this book - and loved the whole trilogy. And I will not reveal anything - be surprised. And delighted, although it will be a sad delight.... as you can expect from the end of King Arthur story.
Outstanding! (3/3 people found this helpful)
Cornwell has again provided a novel in which the reader can can become fully immersed. Excalibur picking up from where Enemy Of God left off, cuts straight to chase leaving no lulls in the action or suspense. The story covers a wide time span yet Cornwell handles this expertly, and we witness Arthur and Derfel turn from youthful warriors to middle aged men.
The story again based around existing places gives the reader the added sense of realism, (visiting some of the places really helps with visualisation). The ending appropriately mystical which reminds us that after all we are dealing with "King Arthur".
This third novel easily keeps pace with the other two, and can be read over and over again (3 times already). My only criticism is that Cornwell will find it difficult if not impossible to better this series.
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Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> Authors, A-Z -> C -> Cornwell, Bernard -> Paperback
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> Authors, A-Z -> C -> Cornwell, Bernard -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> Genre -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> Genre -> Myths & Fairy Tales -> General AAS
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