The Winter King is the first book in Cornwell’s Arthurian trilogy presenting the reader with a believable take on the legend that is firmly grounded in the history of the times. The post Roman Britons are being displaced by the invading Saxons, the remnants of druidic religion have never really recovered from Roman persecution and the remaining Briton kingdoms are too busy fighting with each other to unite and fight the invaders. Into this mess steps a flawed but militarily brilliant warlord; Arthur.
Once again, Cornwell ends this book with a historical note putting everything into the best context the rather limited historical records allow him. He tells us with disarming honestly where he has taken best historical knowledge, where he has occasionally modified it and where he has purely speculated or given himself artistic licence. I strongly recommend reading this note before reading the story as it gives a solid foundation to the reader’s understanding of these times. As does Cornwell’s interlude technique of showing the story being written down by one of the main protagonists in his old age. All of which results in, for me, my first reading of an Arthur story that is totally convincing and believable; that has completely done away with all the ridiculous nights in shining armour charging out from under the portcullises of castles centuries ahead of their time and replaced them with the grim world of a society still declining after the departure of the Romans a century earlier. A land full of superstition and ancient religion struggling against the growing but still very grubby pockets of Christianity.
Having just finished Cornwell’s Saxon stories of Uhtred which I mostly loved this trilogy seemed like a good logical next step. They are set in a world that is, to some extent, rather grimmer than the Saxon world of four centuries later but also not so dissimilar. And I find myself deeply intrigued by that world and loving Cornwell’s matchless ability to bring it to vivid life. I am very much looking forward to the remaining two books.
Once again, Cornwell ends this book with a historical note putting everything into the best context the rather limited historical records allow him. He tells us with disarming honestly where he has taken best historical knowledge, where he has occasionally modified it and where he has purely speculated or given himself artistic licence. I strongly recommend reading this note before reading the story as it gives a solid foundation to the reader’s understanding of these times. As does Cornwell’s interlude technique of showing the story being written down by one of the main protagonists in his old age. All of which results in, for me, my first reading of an Arthur story that is totally convincing and believable; that has completely done away with all the ridiculous nights in shining armour charging out from under the portcullises of castles centuries ahead of their time and replaced them with the grim world of a society still declining after the departure of the Romans a century earlier. A land full of superstition and ancient religion struggling against the growing but still very grubby pockets of Christianity.
Having just finished Cornwell’s Saxon stories of Uhtred which I mostly loved this trilogy seemed like a good logical next step. They are set in a world that is, to some extent, rather grimmer than the Saxon world of four centuries later but also not so dissimilar. And I find myself deeply intrigued by that world and loving Cornwell’s matchless ability to bring it to vivid life. I am very much looking forward to the remaining two books.
