Helpful Score: 3
The story of Tristan and Iseult retold in a romantic 6th century Celtic setting. If you liked Marion Zimmer Bradley's classic, The Mists of Avalon, you'll love this one, too.
Helpful Score: 1
Paxon recreates a Celtic world to tell the timeless legend of Tristan and Iseult.
A rich, beautifully realized story.
A rich, beautifully realized story.
Helpful Score: 1
This is a romantic retelling the beautiful story of Tristan and Iseult. I cried as I read the last few pages. It's enchanting. The author explains that Drustan and Marc'h lived as believed. It appears that Drustan could have been Marc'h's son and the author explains how this may be so. Discovering a faint carving that was later addded to the Drustanius gravestone indicates that Eisseilt may well have existed as well. And, because of the rules governing royal behavior at the time, Paxton explains why Branwen or someone like her may have helped the couple meet in spite of Eisseilt's marriage. The author, who has been devoted to this romantic tale since college, details origin of the ballads, poems and stories told by Drustan and others. Furthermore, she explains how the books parallels the political history of the time. The research was considerable making the book even more fun.
The White Raven
A magical new telling of a story as old as love itself
"In writing this book, my intention has been not only to place the Tristan and Iseult legend in the context of the history of the sixth century, but also to attempt to harmonize my interpretation (wherever possible) with those of the major works of fantasy which have dealt with this period already. In particular I have attempted to reconcile genealogies and placenames with those used by others, mainly Rosemary Sutcliff in her classic series of books on Roman Britain, especially Sword at Sunset, Marion Zimmer Bradley in The Mists of Avalon, and Poul and Karen Anderson in the King of Ys."
-- Diana L. Paxson
from the Acknowledgements
from the Acknowledgements
