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The Mists of Avalon
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Avalon: Book 1

The Mists of Avalon (1982) (edit title/settings)

by Marion Zimmer Bradley (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

This is the tragic tale of the rise and fall of Camelot - but seen through the eyes of Camelot's women: the devout Gwenhwyfar, Arthur's Queen; Vivane, High priestess of Avalon and the Lady of the Lake; above all, Morgaine, possessor of the sight, the wise, the wise-woman fated to bring ruin on... read more

Summary edit see section history

On the surface it appears to be a tale of King Arthur's sister's life, but this story goes so much deeper. Its more about the women in his life than focusing onto the sister.

Characters edit see section history

  • Morgaine: The heroine of the story, she is the daughter of Igraine and Gorlois. Arthur's sister, she has been raised as a priestess of Avalon.
  • Arthur: The high king. He is the younger half-brother of Morgaine, and is married to Gwenhwyfar. While he took part in the old kin-making ceremony and has the serpents on his arms, he has become more Christian.
  • Viviane: Older sister of Morgaine and Morgause, high priestess of Avalon. Lady of the Lake. Very small of stature with dark hair and eyes.
  • Gwenhwyfar: The wife of Arthur, an high queen. A devout and pious Christian, she spent some time in a convent when she was younger. Afraid of the outdoors and the open, she much prefers to stay inside and in enclosed spaces. Very beautiful and fair.
  • Morgause: sister of Igraine and foster mother to Gwydion, married to King Lot of Orkney
  • Kevin: He is a horribly disfigured hunchback, having been burnt by a fire when he was a child. He can sing like an angel.
  • Igraine: She is the mother of Morgaine and Arthur.
  • Elaine: Gwenhyfar's cousin, who resembles her greatly in looks.
  • Gareth: Morgause's and Lot's youngest son who is also a knight of Arthur. He is a lot like Gawaine, only more fearsome in battle. Lancelet is his absolute idol.
  • Mordred (aka Gwydion): Morgaine's son.
  • Galahad: Lancelet and Elaine's( Gwenhyfar's cousin) son and Arthur's heir to the throne.
  • Gawaine: One of Arthur's best knights of the Round Table. Son of Lot and Morgause. He is known for being very kind, compassionate, and devoted to Arthur.
  • Taliesin: The old Merlin of Britain, Arch-druid and harpist of Avalon. He is revered by Christian and Pagan alike as a wise, kind old man. He fathered Igraine and Morgause
  • Nimue: The beautiful daughter of Elaine and Lancelet.
  • Raven: Priestess of Avalon who holds a vow of silence.
  • Accolon: He is the second son of King Uriens, a Druid.
  • Ambrosius: The High King before Uther Pendragon.
  • Balan: Viviane's son.
  • Uriens: He is one of the kings who is loyal to Arthur.
  • Pellinore: He is one of the kings who is loyal to Arthur and he is the father of Elaine.
  • Niniane: Taliesin's daughter, making her Igraine and Morgause's half sister.
  • Gorlois: Igraine's first husband and Morgaine's father. Duke of Cornwall.
  • Balin: He is the foster brother of Balan. Short and red faced with yellow hair and beard.
  • Lancelet: Arthur's First Knight, Viviane's son and Morgaine's cousin and first love. He is an extremely gifted warrior and admired for his very handsome appearance, but has a life-long fear of his mother Viviane. Aka Galahad.
  • Uwaine: Uriens' youngest son and a knight loyal to Arthur. He regards Morgaine as his mother.
  • Uther: The nephew and War Duke of the dead High King Ambrosius and an ambitious warlord who falls in love with Igraine. Tall and fari-haired.
  • Cai: Arthur's disfigured foster brother, son of Ectorius.
  • Lamorak: Brother of Elaine, son of King Pellinore.
  • Priscilla: Balin's mother and Balan's foster-mother. A long-time friend to Viviane.
  • Leodegranz: He is one of the kings who is loyal to Arthur and he is the father of Gwenhwyfar.
  • Cormac: Add a description of this character.
  • Griflet
  • Drustan: He is a young man who falls in love with his Uncle's wife, Isotta.
  • Duke Marcus: He is the uncle of Drustan and the husband of the lovely Isotta. He is known to have a short temper and a love for riches.
  • Mary
  • Lionel
  • Maline
  • Bors
  • Avalloch: He is King Uriens's oldest son.
  • Gaheris
  • Isotta: She is Duke Marcus's young wife who is in love with his nephew, Drustan.
  • Lucan
Show all 42 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “What good are dreams, except perhaps to you ladies in your great house?”
    Lancelet
  • “They lay side by side, barely touching, letting the power of the sun and the earth and the air move through them in harmony... it seemed that some time, a very long time ago, they had lain like this, content, timeless in an endless joyful peace, as if they were a part of the sanding stones which had stood here forever.”
  • “The magic of Avalon never changes... the mists and the reeds and the cry of the water birds... and then the barge, like magic, gliding from the silent shore. I know there is nothing for me here, and yet somehow I always return.”
    Morgaine
  • “A king must protect his people from outsiders, from invaders, and lead his people to defend themselves. A king must be the first to thrust himself between the land and all danger, just as a farmer stands to defend his fields from any robber. But it is not his duty to dictate to them what thier innermost hearts may do.”
    Arthur
  • “We are none of us so young anymore, and are not many of us who remember that time when we were all young together.”
    Arthur
  • “Her voice was very clear and low, but, the trained voice of a priestess, it could be heard to the farthest corners of the hall. "My king, I bid you look now on the sword you bear, and think on those who laid it in your hand, and what you swore-" In later years when all that had befallen that day was talked of far and wide, no two of the hundreds in that hall could agree on what had happened first.”
  • “There are now two Britains, Igraine: their world under their One God and the Christ; and, beside it and behind it, the world where the Great Mother still rules, the world where the Old People have chosen to live and worship. . . Our world -- ruled by the Goddess and the Horned One, her consort, the world you know, the world of many truths -- is being forced away from the mainstream course of time. Even now, Igraine, if a traveller sets out with no guide for the Isle of Avalon, unless he know the way very well, he cannot come there, but will find only the Isle of the Priests. To most men, our world is now lost in the mists of the Summer Sea.”
    Merlin
  • “What of the King Stag when the young stag is grown?”
  • “that by these, I am bound to this land, to suffer and perhaps to die if need be.”
    Accolon
  • “Know you my dearest wish, my lord and king?...That one day---not now, for the land is not yet ready for it, and neither are those who follow Christ---but one day, Druid and priest should worship as one; that within their great church, their sacred Eucharist should be celebrated with yonder cup and dish to hold their bread and wine, in token that all the Gods are as One.”
    Merlin

Setting & Locations edit see section history

Show all 19 settings

First Sentence edit see section history

Even in high summer, Tintagel was a haunted place; Igraine, Lady of Duke Gorlois, looked out over the sea from the headland.

Table of Contents edit see section history

Book One: Mistress of Magic
Book Two: The High Queen
Book Three: The King Stag
Book Four: The Prisoner in the Oak

Glossary edit see section history

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

  • Religion and spirituality: Throughout the Mists of Avalon the two religions of The Goddess and Christianity where driving forces. Religion was the main force that caused many problems, change of actions, and in all put the whole story into motion. Religion is Christianity side of the story while The Goddess and her teaching come from spirituality side of Mists of Avalon.
  • The Goddess: The Goddess is what the people of Avalon worship. She is their God. She represents how dedication pays off. She is also a female symbol for the young priestesses.
  • Fate Vs. Free Will: Each main character must contend with both their fate and their free will. The Druids believe in fate the Christians in Free Will.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 1 of 7 in Avalon. (standard series)

Followed by The Forest House.

This is book 138 of 213 in Best English-Language Fiction of the 20th Century. (authoritative list)
This book is in Big Fat Books. (community list)
This is book 42 of 99 in National Public Radio's Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy. (authoritative list)
This book is in Fairy Tale Retellings. (community list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Marion Zimmer Bradley (Author)

Other Contributors:

  1. Braldt Bralds (Cover Artist)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Knopf
Country: USA
Publication Date: 12 December 1982
ISBN: 0394524063
Page Count: 876

Awards edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PS3552.R228 M5 1982
  • Dewey: 813.54

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Adults

although this book has some adult themes- mainly sex - many young women read it when they are in high school and find it very interesting and empowering.

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • The Forest House
  • Lady of Avalon
  • Priestess of Avalon
  • Sword of Avalon
  • The Jigsaw Woman
  • Lavinia

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history

   
  • Barlowe's Guide to Fantasy

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