Review: The Mists of Avalon

Title: The Mists of Avalon
Author: Marion Zimmer Bradley

We all think we know the story of Camelot: King Arthur, Gwenevere, Lancelot, and of course, Morgan Le Fey, the evil sorceress sister of Arthur who bears him Mordred.

Marion Zimmer Bradley reimagined the myth, and told it completely from the viewpoint of the women in the story.  Early in the book, we see the prelude of the story from the eyes of Arthur's mother, Igraine, and the Lady of the Lake - Viviane - who maneuvers to have Arthur conceived.  But the true story begins when Morgaine (as MZB names Arthur's sister) becomes the true center of attention in the tale.  We also hear extensively from Arthur's bride, here named Gwenhwyfar, for these two women are in a constant struggle for control of the High King.

The title refers to the mists which hide the world of Avalon, which is the home of the Goddess worship and druid magic which ruled the land before the Romans, and before Christianity.  As the novel begins,  Avalon and its stone rings -- which are co-located with a Christian church in the outside world -- are moving farther and farther from the world of Arthur.  Key to this story, and integral to the theme, is the conflict between the Mystery religion and Christianity.

In this conflict, Morgaine is always portrayed as more educated and more intelligent than Gwenhwyfar, but each woman is as dedicated to their theology -- and as narrow-minded in its application -- as the other, and far more than the key men.  Whether Arthur, his best knight Galahad (called Lancelet) or the Merlin, the men are more pragmatic and have much more flexibility in their view of religion.  But, the women -- fanatics and frustrated at their inability to truly participate in ruling a male-dominated society -- are also trapped by desire for love in many forms.

I suppose I need to read The Once and Future King now, to get a more familiar view of Camelot.  But I can tell you that The Mists of Avalon was well worth the read, and a very thought-provoking way to hear the story.

[Another in my series of books which are very popular and well-reviewed, but which I had missed reading for some reason.]