Kingdom of the Grail - Softcover

Tarr, Judith

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0451457978 ISBN 13: 9780451457974

Publisher: Roc Trade, 2000

Synopsis

Centuries following the fall of Camelot and the disappearance of King Arthur, Roland, a descendant of Merlin, vows to free the imprisoned wizard and resumes the quest for the Holy Grail, taking on one of Arthur's historic enemies in the process. Original.

About this title

About the Author

Judith Tarr is a World Fantasy Award nominee best known for her historical novels, such as The White Mare’s Daughter, Lord of the Two Lands, Throne of Isis, King and Goddess, and Pillar of Fire. A graduate of Yale and Cambridge Universities, she holds degrees in ancient and medieval history, and breeds Lipizzan horses at Dancing Horse Farm, her home in Vail, Arizona.

Reviews

Tarr's latest fantasy (King and Goddess, 1996, etc.) combines medieval French romances and the historical Charlemagne in a post-Arthurian yarn. Merlin, still unable to escape the magical trap prepared by his perfidious lover, Nimue, is visited by his descendant, Roland. With his powerful magic, Roland vows one day to free Merlin. Outside Merlin's enclave, Roland serves Charlemagne, King of the Franks, who's being offered a deal by a Moorish faction to invade and occupy part of Spain; in exchange, Charles must agree to treat his Muslim subjects fairly. With the Moorish delegation is Sarissa, beautiful healer and powerful magician. She creates a dazzling magic sword and arranges a competition among the Franks, the winner to take the sword. Sarissa hopes Charles will win and become their champion. Instead, Roland wins the sword, but Charles agrees to the deal anyway. Roland's true foe is the devil incarnate, whose human guise is Ganelou the monk. A favorite of Charles, who refuses to dismiss him, Ganelou beguiles and corrupts Charles's deformed young son, Pepin. Ultimately, the fate of the world hinges on the outcome of a battle between the forces of darkness, led by Pepin and Ganelou, and the forces of light, championed by Roland and his Grail mages.Solid, more than a tad stolid: Tarr's historical expertise puts flesh on some rather ordinary fantasy bones. -- Copyright © 2000 Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

A descendant of the wizard Merlin, the young warrior known as Roland vows to free his ancestor from centuries of imprisonmentDunaware of his own monumental destiny. With her customary artistry and feel for period detail, the author of The Shepherd Kings weaves together the legends of Camelot and the Song of Roland, creating a tapestry rich with love and loyalty, sorcery, and sacrifice. Tarr's ability to give equal weight to both history and myth provides her historical fantasies with both realism and wonder. Highly recommended.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Centuries after the fall of Camelot, Merlin, one of the two protagonists of Tarr's new yarn, remains imprisoned in an enchanted forest. One day Roland, a young shape changer, visits the magician and leaves vowing to free him. Years pass. Roland, who carefully conceals his powers, is now a champion at Charlemagne's court. When one of Merlin's old enemies comes on the scene, however, old ethical and physical conflicts break out anew. A master of historical fantasy, Tarr successfully links the Arthurian legends to the Chanson de Roland by means of the Holy Grail, which predated Christianity but was strengthened by it, and she also weaves in the legend that Roland, renamed Huon of the Horn, was a king of the Hidden Folk after his supposed death. Tarr makes the blending of medieval legends, often attempted by lesser writers with indifferent success, into a worthwhile addition for most fantasy collections. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Roc Trade
• Publication date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0451457978
• ISBN 13: 9780451457974
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 464