Synopses & Reviews
When Bernard Cornwell embarked on his Arthurian trilogy beginning with
The Winter King and alive again in his latest,
Enemy of God it was his intention to extract the legendary king from the mire of myths. He hoped to set the tale of Arthur's fifth century against a more certain and less chivalrous and romantic historical backdrop. His purist approach demanded that he eliminate both the dashing Lancelot and even the mystical Merlin, because, as Cornwell has noted, "It's almost certain that Merlin had nothing to do with Arthur whatsoever."
Searching for the meaning of Arthur led Cornwell back to the earliest of histories, folktales, and epic poems. Without the colorful additions of Merlin's magic and Lancelot's betrayal, what he found was a relatively dark tale set in an even darker age. And so Cornwell chose to compromise fact and fiction, striking a celebrated balance between the academic truth and the familiar yet compelling, arguably fictional characters who act as a vehicle for his well-researched version of Arthurian history.
Enemy of God picks up where Cornwell's first novel of Arthur, The Winter King, left off, with Arthur having defeated the last holdouts of civil war in southern Britain and secured King Mordred's throne. But the unified kingdom seems no steadier, its balance threatened by Merlin's ceaseless some say futile quest for the last of the Thirteen Treasures of Britain, by conflict between the ancient religion and the new Christianity, and by Britain's war against the Saxons.
Review
"Cornwell...writes more gripping battle scenes than any other contemporary author....Rousing, persuasive entertainment." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Cornwell continues his imaginative retelling of the Arthurian legend in the same spellbinding fashion that characterized The Winter King....This complex and superbly wrought narrative easily eclipses the more sanitized and tepid versions of Arthur's exploits." Booklist
Review
"Despite the overabundance of confusing Celtic and Saxon names (there is a list identifying characters), this is an entertaining read, a fresh look at an old story." Library Journal
Synopsis
Cornwell's magical re-creation of the Arthurian saga continues...
Synopsis
Since the first volume in his magnificent Warlord Chronicles, The Winter King, now the basis for the British TV show, Bernard Cornwell established himself as the storyteller who could reinvent the legend of King Arthur for our time.
In Enemy of God, Cornwell's magical re-creation continues. Having defeated the last holdouts of civil war in southern Britain, Arthur has secured Mordred's throne. But he must still face raging conflicts between the old ways and the new, as well as foes more powerful and more dangerous--because they pose as friends.
Brilliantly written and peopled with the familiar faces of legend along with new ones, Enemy of God is an immensely powerful continuation of a modern classic.
Synopsis
With the Winter King, the first volume of his magnificent Warlord
Synopsis
With
The Winter King, the first volume of his magnificent Warlord Chronicles, Bernard Cornwell established himself as the storyteller who could reinvent the legend of King Arthur for our time.
Now with Enemy of God, Cornwell's magical re-creation continues. Having defeated the last holdouts of civil war in southern Britain, Arthur has secured Mordred's throne. But he must still face raging conflicts between the old ways and the new, as well as foes more powerful and more dangerous--because they pose as friends. Brilliantly written and peopled with the familiar faces of legend along with new ones, Enemy of God is an immensely powerful continuation of a modern classic.
About the Author
Bernard Cornwell, who was born in Britain, is the author of numerous international bestsellers, including the Sharpe series. He lives with his wife in Cape Cod.