By: Anya Seton Publisher: Chicago Review Press Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Chicago Review Press Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 448 Publication Date: May 01, 2006
This saga of yearning and mystery travels across oceans and continents to Iceland, Greenland, and North America during the time in history when Anglo-Saxons battled Vikings and the Norsemen discovered America. The marked contrasts between powerful royalty, landless peasants, Viking warriors and noble knights are expertly brought to life in this gripping tale of the French prince named Rumon. Shipwrecked off the Cornish coast on his quest to find King Arthur's legendary Avalon, Rumon meets a lonely girl named Merewyn and their lives soon become intertwined. Rumon brings Merewyn to England, but once there he is so dazzled by Queen Alrida's beauty that it makes him a virtual prisoner to her will. In this riveting romance, Anya Seton once again proves her mastery of historical detail and ability to craft a compelling tale that includes real and colorful personalities such as St. Dunstan and Eric the Red.
Could be better I love Anya Seton's books. Avalon, however was a disappointment. As always the writing style and historical details pulled me in, but I thought the character development of Rumon in particular was lacking. He is introduced in a manner that seems he will be a major character, then for many, many chapters he is absent; I wanted to know more about him as I thought his story was more interesting than Merewyn's. And unlike other reviewers who trashed Philippa Gregory's foreword, I thought she was spot-on in her assessment of this novel. I did enjoy reading about the strange world of the Vikings and thought even that could have gone on a bit longer. This is by no means a terrible book, just fell short of the glory of "Katherine", "Green Darkness" and "The Winthrop Woman".
Very disappointing I got this book because I loved Anya Seton's Katherine. Let me tell you I had a hard time finishing it, I kept thinking it's got to get better, but it didn't. If you want my advice buy Katherine not Avalon.
This book is a real gem! I loved Avalon. It is not the best Anya Seton book (that honor goes to Katherine). However, for a book set in the Dark Ages, it is absolutely fantastic. Anya Seton did a fantastic job transplanting readers into a time about which we know little. I knew nothing going into the novel about the Saxon kings and the Vikings. Seton did a great job in helping readers understand how scary and uncertain this time period was. Seton also gives a fascinating look into Viking society, something I knew little about.
However, I did not give this book 5 stars for two main reasons:
(1) The premise of the book is that Merewyn is living a lie and that she is not descended from King Arthur. Rather, she is the product of a rape. Merewyn's mother was raped by Kettil Redbeard (we learn later), a Viking. He is the same Viking who had murdered Merewyn's purported father. Somehow, at the exact time Merewyn is transporting her aunt Merwinna's heart to be buried in Padstow, her hometown, she is nearly raped by Kettil Redbeard, her father. The local priest recognizes him, as he had witnessed her mother's rape, and puts a stop to it. Merewyn is then kidnapped and taken to Ireland and Iceland (and ultimately Greenland). Now, it does not seem plausible to me that it would be the same viking and that the Viking would recognize her as a daughter and take her home with him. Nor does it seem plausible that Merewyn would just accept him as a father.
(2) Seton takes the controversial view that America was discovered by Irish monks. The idea that Rumon was swept to America, somehow encounters the descendants of these Irish monks and then manages to find Merewyn in Iceland after escaping seems implausible and far fetched.
Aside from these implausibilities, Avalon is a wonderful novel. Anya Seton's writing style is very rich (ignore Phillipa Gregory's horrid forward) and the time period is fascinating.
ENGLAND BEFORE THE NORMAN CONQUEST... Based upon a true story, this is the epic telling of the life of a woman named Merewyn, who lived during the tumultuous tenth and eleventh centuries. Her mother had been the victim of one of the Viking raids on the coast of Cornwall. As a result, Merewyn was born. Her life was to change when a Prince of Provence named Rumon, the sole survivor of a shipwreck, was washed upon the shores near Merwyn's home.
As Rumon is a Prince of the House of Atheling, he is looking for his royal kin. Fourteen year old Merewyn, her mother having died of illness, acts as his guide. When they get to Court, Merewyn, who believes herself to be descended from King Arthur, is afforded a place in the Queen's retinue, while Rumon becomes great friends with the King. The King has two sons, Edward by his first wife, and Ethelred by his second wife, the beautiful Queen Alfrida, who is as evil as she is beautiful.
The years pass, and Merewyn, who was originally fond of the Queen, finally sees her for what she is. Rumon, however, falls under her thrall, much to Merewyn's dismay, as she has fallen in love with him. When the King mysteriously dies, Edward ascends the throne at the age of fourteen. Unfortunately, he, too, meets an ignominious end, and his younger brother, Ethelred, becomes King. He will eventually be known as Ethelred the Unready.
Against this historical backdrop, Merewyn and Rumon live out their lives, star-crossed lovers whose lives, though intersecting, are never able to be joined. They would each find themselves on a path in which happiness would elude them. How they reconcile their respective fates and where the road of life leads them makes for an enjoyable tale told by a master storyteller. Set against the backdrop of Viking raids, battle, and adventure, this is a well-researched and well-written work of historical fiction that those who enjoy this particular genre will relish.
Don't Read The Forward! This a beautiful tale of two people who love each other but whose lives steer them away from each other. This story captured my attention quickly and kept it. There are several awesomely written reviews so I don't have much more to add except to advise potential readers to ignore the forward. Even more tragic that the star crossed lovers is the fact that such a beautiful novel was republished with such an awful condescending forward. This is truly an excellent novel and a writer of Seyton's caliber deserves much better! Read the book, ignore the foreword. You won't be sorry!
Anything Goes Trivia
Last Kiss
Megaton Man
Trevor
