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The Fourth Gwenevere

by John James

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Bestseller John James returns with this witty, serpentine novel, which weaves the Arthurian legends into the wider fabric of the struggle for Europe. Gwenevere, Arthur's Saxon wife, is a problem. As the dynastic cement between the British and the Saxons, her marriage to Arthur will result in a child that will unite both sides. At least, that would have been the plan, had the Great Duke Arthur not died and left the petty kings of Britain to squabble over his title. Only Morvran, Arthur's chief fixer, has the wit to see that the Fourth Gwenevere is the key to maintaining a crumbling peace. But when she is abducted, it seems that all hopes might disappear with her. For, in a world where swords and horses have names of honour, where poets speak as oracles of a shifting truth and the raiding of Saxon warriors is set to ruin Britain, perhaps it's only the Fourth Gwenevere herself who has the real solution? This edition contains bonus material!… (more)
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This is the first book by John James that I have read (although I've now stacked up Votan and Not for All the Gold in Ireland for future reading) and I have to say that I enjoyed it tremendously. Where many historical novels fail to give you a sense of the times in which they are set, John James's grasp of the mindset of Dark Age Britain has a rare ring of truth. And it is, in parts, quite hilariously funny:

And while you are ashore... if there come to you out of dark corners and hidden alleyways, women painted to the lips and cheeks and other places I will not mention... shimmering in dyed and patterned clothes,perfumed with musk and smells unimaginable,and glittering in gold and garnets,whispering foul allurements and pressing invitations of the utmost and lepidopterous prurience such as are explicitly forbidden in great detail by Holy Writ - then follow them fast, boys, because you will find none like them in Bedwehlty!

A delight. ( )
1 vote Zambaco | Jun 10, 2015 |
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Bestseller John James returns with this witty, serpentine novel, which weaves the Arthurian legends into the wider fabric of the struggle for Europe. Gwenevere, Arthur's Saxon wife, is a problem. As the dynastic cement between the British and the Saxons, her marriage to Arthur will result in a child that will unite both sides. At least, that would have been the plan, had the Great Duke Arthur not died and left the petty kings of Britain to squabble over his title. Only Morvran, Arthur's chief fixer, has the wit to see that the Fourth Gwenevere is the key to maintaining a crumbling peace. But when she is abducted, it seems that all hopes might disappear with her. For, in a world where swords and horses have names of honour, where poets speak as oracles of a shifting truth and the raiding of Saxon warriors is set to ruin Britain, perhaps it's only the Fourth Gwenevere herself who has the real solution? This edition contains bonus material!

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