Gwydre is eager to take the throne because he believes that he can be a better King than Mordred, and his father, Derfel, Sagramor and Issa all appear willing to support him. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. There doesn't seem to be an easy way to tell. Enemy of God: A Novel of Arthur (The Warlord Chronicles Book 2), The Winter King: A Novel of Arthur (The Warlord Chronicles Book 1), Vagabond (The Grail Quest, Book 2): A Novel, The Archer's Tale (The Grail Quest, Book 1): Book One of the Grail Quest, The King Arthur Trilogy: The Winter King, Enemy of God, Excalibur (Warlord Chronicles). Sansum has also been imprisoned because of his secret attempt to have Meurig seize the Dumnonian throne once Mordred dies. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Peopled by princesses and bards, by warriors and magicians, Excalibur is the story of love, war, loyalty, and betrayal-the work of a magnificent storyteller at the height of his powers. Derfel, along with Ceinwyn and Guinevere, leads a group of survivors who are trapped at Mount Baddon. Author:Cornwell, Bernard. 2. So apologies for any duplication, Derfel the main character is the central character and surrounded by a whirlwind of other titan like characters. Cornwell treats them all with warmth and dignity, revealing their human qualities without unnecessarily reinventing them. Equally central is Derfel's devotion to his mate, Ceinwyn, for whose life he sacrifices his shield hand, averting Nimue's curse. One feels the element of fantasy only in the incredible integrity of Derfel and Arthur, men who sacrifice all for a vow?but our reluctance to believe may be only a sign of our times. But I enjoy reading this kind of historical fiction and prefer Cornwell, even 2nd best Cornwell, to most others in the genre. Now, in this riveting final volume of The Warlord Chronicles, Cornwell tells the unforgettable tale of Arthur's final struggles against the Saxons and his last attempts to triumph over a ruined marriage and ravaged dreams. A lot of the main and familiar characters are there but sometimes in VERY different roles. Praise for Bernard Cornwell's King Arthur series: The third novel in the Warlords Chronicle. ... Excalibur : a novel of Arthur by Cornwell, Bernard. The ageing warlord of Gwent, Agricola, is killed during the battle. She has also captured Merlin and tortured him into insanity to rip every last secret about being a druid from his mind. However, after the British push back two assaults and expect the third to finish them off, Cuhlwch and Irish king Oengus mac Airen arrive with fresh troops and Merlin, who uses the dead body of a killed prince riding into battle to terrify the Saxons who believe a ghoul is attacking them. As Meurig's forces finish off the remnants of Mordred's army, Nimue arrives to claim Gwydre and Excalibur. Rebuilding their forces, the Saxons apparently overrun the combined forces of Gwent and Dumnonia and, as the story is completing, they are threatening Powys. However, Derfel casts the sword into the sea, ending Nimue's hopes of bringing back the Old Gods. It is also the tale of the reconciliation of Arthur, honest to a fault and tortured by his wife's betrayal, with Guinevere, extraordinary in her bravery, wisdom and forthrightness. Publication date 1998 Topics However, his efforts are undermined by Mordred's wife, Queen Argante, and Bishop Sansum, who has become the king's chief counsellor. Number of Pages:N/A. Priestess Nimue wants to sacrifice Arthur's son Gwydre to this end, but Merlin resists, as do Arthur and his warrior friend Derfel: for this they suffer terribly. The winter king: a novel of Arthur (Volume 1.) Although Arthur temporarily halts the invading Saxons at the battle of Mynydd Baddon (during which Lancelot meets a coward's death and Guinevere is reconciled with her husband), his dream of a unified Celtic kingdom is doomed. Search for Library Items Search for Lists Search for Contacts Search for a Library. Derfel returns to Dumnonia to find Mordred still alive and learns that he faked his injuries and plans to take revenge on both Derfel and Arthur. Excalibur a novel of Arthur First published in 1997 Subjects Fiction, Kings and rulers, Arthur, in fiction, Britons in fiction, Great Britain in fiction, Britons, History, Arthurian romances, Adaptations, Kings and rulers in fiction, Legends, Rulers, Sixth century, Saxons, War, Merlin (Legendary character), Large type books… The trilogy tells the legend of Arthur seen through the eyes of his follower Derfel Cadarn. This is the tale not only of a broken love remade, but also of forces both earthly and unearthly that threaten everything Arthur stands for. Cornwell's Guinevere has betrayed and left Arthur, while Lancelot too departs as both coward and traitor. The third novel in the Warlords Chronicle, Excalibur: A Novel of Arthur immerses the reader in the Britain of the Dark Ages. However, he refuses to lift Nimue's curse, saying that a part of him wants her to succeed where he failed. 4. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! Chief among the Druids are Merlin and his nemesis, Nimue, who cast spells and preside over rituals of fire and human sacrifice in order to bring about a return of the old gods, saving Britain from the Saxons. Issa - Derfel's former second in command who becomes a warlord of Dumnonia after Mynyd Baddon. The Arthurian legend has never been better told. --People, "The action is gripping and skillfully paced, cadenced by passages in which the characters reveal themselves in conversation and thought, convincingly evoking the spirit of the time." An illustration of a 3.5" floppy disk. This detailed literature summary also contains Topics for Discussion and a Free Quiz on Excalibur: A Novel of Arthur by Bernard Cornwell. Create lists, bibliographies and reviews: or Search WorldCat. Both take to undoing the rulings proclaimed by Derfel and the magistrates he appoints in exchange for money. In his last moment of sanity, Merlin tells Derfel that he arranged a last trick for him and Arthur as they were the two men he loved most in the world. Please try your request again later. He writes in his story his own desire to be burnt upon his death as opposed to a Christian burial and hopes that Igraine will grant him his desired funeral. Realizing they can no longer oppose Mordred and his army, the survivors head to Camlan where Merlin has arranged for a ship to take them away to safety. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Excalibur: A Novel of Arthur by Bernard Cornwell (Paperback, 1998) at the best online prices at … Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. The final instalment of this series. The audible narration of this series is one of the best I've ever encountered. Derfel escapes with the bishop. Cornwalls language and story telling creates characters which are lifelike and very believable supported by a storyline which is compelling. Merlin is preparing a pagan rite at Mai Dun that will bring the Old Gods back to Britain. The narrative is written by a monk in the Christian monastery of Dinnewrac in the Kingdom of Powys in what is modern Wales. Lancelot goes down in legend as the greatest hero of Arthur's retinue, when in truth he was a coward, a rapist, and a traitor. Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone. Ceinwyn - Derfel's common law wife, princess of Powys. --This text refers to an alternate, "Medieval times burst to life in Cornwell's canny retelling of the King Arthur myth." In contrast, Gwydre and his wife Morwenna (Derfel and Ceinwyn's eldest daughter) have two children, Arthur-Bach and Seren. Cerdic is forced to retreat with a greatly weakened army and Sagramor conquers several parts of western Lloegyr. Derfel is impressed by Guinevere's efforts in the battle, as she uses several tricks to hamper their enemies' forces, winning them much needed time and victories until Arthur reaches them. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. 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