I'd like to post the carnival/round-up on Wednesday evening, so you still have time to put up a post if you'd like to participate.
You can send me a link to something you've already written, or if you'd like to post something new for the occasion, that works too. If you'd like an idea-starter, the discussion question that I'm throwing out is this: do you prefer the more fantastical versions of the story, or the more realistic? What role does Merlin play in your favorite version?
New deadline is noon-ish on Wednesday. Looking forward to seeing what you've got! Email me: nicola327 AT hotmail DOT com.
The Collection I have a shelf dedicated to Arthurian fiction. I didn't start out intending to collect the books, it just sort of happened that way. I've kept most of the ones that have come into my possession, even some that weren't particularly remarkable.
In addition to novel-style treatments of the legend, I have a few semi-academic references and a book on armor and arms, with illustrations.
Eventually, the collection bled into related legends, like Gawain and the Green Knight, and Tristan and Isolde... then further out into general Celtic mythology; books on Dierdre of the Sorrows and Bran and Brian Boru and some wonderful stuff by Morgan Llewellan.
This is a somewhat random assortment of books that are actually on my shelf at the moment, mostly novels. (Before you read on, I must warn you that looking these up on Amazon can be highly dangerous; I was checking some titles and the "people who looked at these also liked..." links are pure evil. I saw at least 3 titles that made me go OOOOOO at mere glance. Consider yourself warned!)
THE THIRTEEN
1. The Once and Future King – TH White 2. The Crystal Cave – Mary Stewart 3. Idylls of the King – Tennyson 4. Firelord - Parke Godwin 5. The Road to Avalon, Joan Wolf 6. Child of the Northern Spring; Queen of the Summer Stars; and Legend in Autumn - Persia Woolley 7. Mists of Avalon – Marion Zimmer Bradley 8. The Winter King; Enemy of God; and Excalibur - Bernard Cornwell 9. The Pendragon – Catherine Christian 10. Merlin - Steven Lawhead (there are at least 5 books in his Pendragon cycle, not sure why I only have the one!) 11. Guenevere: Queen of the Summer Country; Knight of the Sacred Lake; and Child of the Holy Grail - Rosalind Miles 12. The Child Queen; The High Queen; Queen of Camelot - Nancy Mackenzie 13. The Fionavar Tapestry—Guy Gavriel Kay
Keep an eye out early next week for the Bookworm Carnival post that will bring it all together!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun!
I wish I could find a clip from the actual production. You can see Vanessa Redgrave do a much more seductive version if you like.
The musical Camelot, and more largely, the Arthurian legend, is one of my very favorite romances in the same way that Gone With The Wind is. I do not care that there is no HEA, I do not care about the ways in which either does not follow genre protocol. I just love them.
I'm using May Day as an excuse to kick of a week or so's worth of Arthurian related posts, which I'll cap off with a Bookworm Carnival roundup the week of May 10.
Today though, I just wanted to post about this song. As a kid, I was thrilled-- in a relatively innocent way-- by how it celebrated misbehavior, amorous or not. Of course, the lyrics also foreshadow the tragic ending: It's time to do/A wretched thing or two/And try to make each precious day/One you'll always rue but it sounds so merry and joyful that you just don't think the consequences could be serious... until they are.
GUENEVERE Tra la! It's May! The lusty month of May! That lovely month when ev'ryone goes Blissfully astray. Tra la! It's here! That shocking time of year When tons of wicked little thoughts Merrily appear! It's May! It's May! That gorgeous holiday When ev'ry maiden prays that her lad Will be a cad!
It's mad! It's gay! A libelous display! Those dreary vows that ev'ryone takes, Ev'ryone breaks. Ev'ryone makes divine mistakes The lusty month of May!
Whence this fragrance wafting through the air? What sweet feelings does its scent transmute? Whence this perfume floating ev'rywhere? Don't you know it's that dear forbidden fruit! Tra la la la la! That dear forbidden fruit! Tra la la la la!
GUENEVERE: Tra la! It's May! The lusty month of May! That darling month when ev'ryone throws Self-control away. It's time to do A wretched thing or two, And try to make each precious day One you'll always rue! It's May! It's May! The month of "yes you may," The time for ev'ry frivolous whim, Proper or "im."
It's wild! It's gay! A blot in ev'ry way. The birds and bees with all of their vast Amorous past Gaze at the human race aghast, The lusty month of May.
[CHORUS]
When all the world is brimming with fun, Wholesome or "un."
[CHORUS]
(I snipped out some of the more repetitious lines)
So anyway, I encourage you to enjoy the springtime, if you're in the Northern Hemisphere, and to revel in a little romance - a genre that celebrates love and life and lust
Just watch it on the wretched acts, 'kay? Let's try not to bring down western civilization as we know it.
One of my own enduring romances is my love affair with King Arthur.
Or Lancelot.
Or Merlin.
Depending on who tells the story, anyway.
I have a whole bookshelf dedicated to Arthurian fiction, but it's been awhile since I read any new ones, so I thought it would be a great topic for a carnival.
In fact, I could go on so much about the topic, I will likely dedicate a week or so worth of posts here at Alpha Heroes leading up to May 7.
One of the guidelines for the Book Worm's Carnival hosts is to provide a discussion question for participants. (You don't have to answer the question to submit a related post). One of the fascinating things about Arthurian stories is that they can take almost any direction-- adventurous, political, romantic, fantastic. So here's my question: do you prefer the more fantastical versions of the story, or the more realistic? What role does Merlin play in your favorite version?
To participate, create your blog post on the topic and send me the link by May 7th. If you don't have a blog, you could post in a public Facebook note, or a Shelfari or GoodReads review.
send links to: nicola327 at hotmail dot com by May 7th.
If you can't think of somewhere to post where a link could be provided, you can always stop back here and post your thoughts in comments, OR, contact me ahead of time for a guest-post slot.
In the meantime, maybe this will inspire you:
For more information on the Book Worm's Carnival, check out the main carnival site -- you may see some upcoming topics you'd like to participate in, or perhaps you'd like to sign up for your own theme. Slots are available coming up in June/July, I believe.
DISCLAIMER: Some books reviewed here are provided by publishers or authors. I review these as honestly and fairly as those that I purchase. I do not accept any other compensation for reviews.
I'd like to post the carnival/round-up on Wednesday evening, so you still have time to put up a post if you'd like to participate.
