Persia Woolley (1935–2017)

This is the first in a trilogy about Guinevere, written from her point of view. I found this series a while ago and really enjoyed it but have only ever read the first two until recently; despite being written in the late 1980s/early 1990s, they're already out of print. It's a shame because they are my favourite versions of the Arthurian legends and the best books I've read written about Guinevere. She's not the usual simpering, wishy-washy, shallow or two-dimensional kind of girl which is show more how she's usually depicted in most versions. She's written as a strong character, feisty and so proud of her Northern heritage. It's extremely well written and the attention to detail, in both setting and history is impressive. I heartily recommend these books as being one of the best versions of Arthurian legend I've read. show less

A rare reread of something I loved in high school that completely holds up. Beautifully written, tightly plotted, a meaningful update of the Matter of Britain that is simultaneously immaculately researched and sensibly feminist. Cannot recommend this highly enough.

Guinevere has never been a character I enjoyed. In fact, I often find her the spoiled and nettlesome one from Arthurian legend and much like Viviane says of her in of The Mists of Avalon, a bit of a ninny. Indeed, the only version of Guinevere I have ever found myself rallying behind was Angel Colby’s adaptation on BBC’s Merlin.

In my mind (and if the adage of a man only being as strong as the woman behind him holds true), Arthur—High King and unifier of a warring Albion—would not show more fall in love with a mollycoddled and sapless damsel. He would fall in love with someone with spirit, with fire, someone multi-faceted and with such devoted belief in him and his abilities to rule Britannia that he would never need doubt himself … and this is what Persia Woolley delivers in Child of the Northern Spring and why it has garnered itself a spot in my permanent collection.

As far as historical accuracy goes, Persia stayed true. We have a post-Roman England being invaded by the Saxons, England and Wales stand as two separate kingdoms and the pagan ways of the land are being tried by the new religion of Christianity. Child of the Northern Spring delivers the tale of Guinevere’s journey South to marry Arthur. On this journey Guin does a lot of reminiscing. As such, the book does include a great deal of flashbacks but it isn’t overly confusing or anything.

We learn that Guinevere is a very independent tomboyish girl, tempered with a kindness above her station as Princess of Rheged and sole heir, and loves to ride horses. Unlike what we have come to know as far as princesses go, Guinevere is known to give a hand to the servants and even helps commoners in the kingdom. This book did for Guinevere what The Mists of Avalon did for Morgan Le Fay: gave her a voice and showed us the events in Arthurian Legend as seen through her eyes.

Child of the Northern Spring is somewhat “and they lived happily ever after”, so if you are a fan of Arthur and Guinevere sans Lancelot, you will love this book. However, if you are like me and revel in angst and agony, you are very much looking forward to see what Persia does, if anything, with the infamous Lancelot/Guinevere/Arthur love triangle.

All in all, I am absolutely thrilled that Sourcebooks has revived this late 1980’s out-of-print trilogy for future generations (though I still cannot wrap my head around why such a strong novel would even go out of print to begin with), and I wait with bated breath for the next installment!

http://www.read-all-over.net/fiction/historical/book-review-child-of-the-norther... show less

I downloaded this onto my Nook and had a great time sneaking in a few pages every time I had a few minutes no matter where I was. This is a refreshing telling of the days leading up to Princess Guinevere's marriage to King Arthur. You follow Guinevere through parts of her childhood and then the long journey from north to south to become queen. Rich details about the time period are woven in and both Guinevere and Arthur are well-developed as interesting people with many dimensions to their show more characters. Historical fiction at its best and I plan to search out more of Persia Woolley's works to read. show less