The Mists of Avalon

The Mists of Avalon is a fantasy novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley retelling the Arthurian cycle from the point of view of the two major female characters, Morgaine and Gwenhwyfar.

Fast Facts

1. Author: Marion Zimmer Bradley
2. Genre: Fantasy
3. Publication Date: May 12, 1987
4. Publisher: Ballantine Books
5. Pages: 912 (Trade Paperback edition)
6. ISBN 0345350499
7. Awards/Distinctions: Locus Award, NYT Bestseller (4 Months)
8. Adaptation: The Mists of Avalon (TV miniseries)

Plot Synopsis

The Mists of Avalon follows the stuggle of Morgaine, a priestess of the Mother Goddess, in her struggle against the encroachment of Christianity during the reigns of Uther Pendragon and his son (and her own half-brother), Arthur. When Arthur and Morgaine, neither knowing their relationship to one another, conceive a son, Modred, the seeds of conflict between Avalon and Camelot are sown. Eventually, the battle between Arthur and Modred leaves no one but Morgaine alive to tell the tale.

Critical Reception

Prolific author Isaac Asimov called The Mists of Avalon, "the best retelling of the Arthurian Saga I have ever read." Germany's largest newspaper, Bild, ranks it among the 25 finest works of popular fiction of all time. Jean Auel, author of the Earth's Children series of books, raved "I loved this book so much I went out and bought it for a friend, and have told many people about it." The Mists of Avalon received some criticism for its unfavorable framing of early Christianity as misogynist and oppressive, and for its portrayal of incest and bisexuality. Many credit its feminist, pagan themes for boosting the popularity of the neo-paganism movement of the 1990s.

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