The Mists of Avalon

by Marion Zimmer Bradley
The Mists of Avalon (Avalon #1) - Marion Zimmer Bradley 7.76   130

A huge enthralling novel of King Arthur – one of the most perpetually fascinating of all our legends – now recast and told through the lives and visions of the women central to the story.

For the first time, the Arthurian world of Avalon and Camelot with all its passions and adventures – the world that, through the centuries, each generation has re-created in countless works of fiction, poetry and drama – is seen from the perspectives of its heroines: Guinevere, who marries Arthur while loving Lancelot; Igraine, Arthur's mother; Viviane, the majestic Lady of the Lake and High Priestess of Avalon; and, most important, Arthur's sister Morgaine, possessor of the Sight. Small, dark and intense, Morgaine herself has a passion for Lancelot which is never fulfilled; her ultimate fate is to destroy those whom she loves most, including her brother, the King.

As we follow Morgaine and Guinevere – and the immense cast of characters who surround them – we follow as well the destiny of Britain from the threat of the Saxon wars to the glory of Camelot and a world at peace, to the tragedies that accompany the death of Arthur, a death symbolisng the profound conflict between Christianity and the old religion of Avalon, the core of the book.

It is the special accomplishment of this novel that we read it as if we have never before heard the legend – yet with a total sense of recognition and sympathy. A wonderful book and a brilliant addition to the literature of Arthur.



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Release date January 1983
Details updated August 31, 2022

Avalon :: Series

Series contains 7 primary works and has 7 total works.

The Mists of Avalon (Avalon #1) 7.76   130
The Forest House (Avalon #2) 5.82   55
Lady of Avalon (Avalon #3) 5.70   41
Priestess of Avalon (Avalon #4) 5.50   2
Ancestors of Avalon (Avalon #5) 2.00   1
Marion Zimmer Bradley's Ravens of Avalon (Avalon #6) 2.00   1
Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword of Avalon (Avalon #7) 2.00   1

Community Reviews & Rates

Seregil of Rhiminee
3520 ratings
260 reviews
3604 posts
October 16, 2007
10 / 10

The Mists of Avalon is definitely the best retelling of the Arthurian legend I've ever read. This historical fantasy book is in a league of its own. I can highly recommend this book to all fantasy fans. It's very entertaining and well written - in other words, it's a great book. If you like historical fantasy books and haven't read The Mists of Avalon, you should read it as soon as possible. You'll probably like it very much. By the way, the other Avalon books aren't as good as this book.

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