Booklog 24/2022: Bernard Cornwell: The Winter King – Warlord Chronicles #1

[jacey]

This is a post-Roman Arthurian story, but don't expect the sword in the stone trope. The story is told by the elderly monk, Derfel Cadarn, who is writing the story of Arthur in secret. We pick up the story when Derfel is little more than a child, raised by Merlin who has gone off to seek 'the matter of Britain'. The resident druid, Nimue, Merlin's lover, is Derfel's childhood friend, whom he loves but knows he cannot have except in friendship. Also resident is Morgan. The High King, Uther, dies, leaving his baby grandson on the throne - that's Mordred, born with a club-foot. There's a lot of politicking between the tribes, and eventually Arthur, Uther's bastard son, already grown and a fine warrior, returns to protect Mordred and his kingdom from Saxon incursions and the other British tribes. Everything's going swimmingly and Arthur is about to be betrothed to the lovely daughter of a rival tribe when he sees Guinevere and all common sense goes out of the window, leaving the Dumnonians vulnerable on several fronts. This is really a coming of age story of Derfel. Arthur doesn't appear until about half way through and Merlin eventually slips in and out of the story even later than that. And the names? I'm presuming Welsh in nature with a lot of double Ds. Though I'm sure they're authentic-ish, I could wish for some of them to be a little more pronounceable. Though this was a fresh take on the Arthurian legend, the first half was a little too slow I'm not rushing to read books two and three yet, though I do have them on my kindle in case I get the urge. I don't think this is a patch on Cornwell's Richard Sharpe novels (which I read avidly about twenty-some years ago). I haven't read The Last Kingdom, though I've very much enjoyed the series on TV. I should give that a try next.

Comments

[watervole]

Having tried some of Cornwell's non-Sharpe books (and chosen not to read the sequels), I'd agree. The other stuff I've tried simply isn't as well written. No idea why, but it might be to do with historical research and the way he works it into the novels?

[jacey]

The Sharpe books were very engaging and set in a time period much closer to modern day. Richard Sharpe was a fully realised human being with concerns that we could identify with. Maybe it's because the Arthurian books are mired in the little we know of the history of the dark ages. I found I was distanced from the main (viewpoint) character.

[watervole]

Could be. I think I found the POV characters both less believable (perhaps because of the fantasy setting) and also with less depth.

Sometimes, authors in later life just churn the books out relying on their reputation to sell them.

[jacey]

I didn't see this books as fantasy. I would put it squarely in the historical novel pigeonhole, even though the very existence of Arthur is hotly debated. Though people believe in magic, there doesn't seem to be actual magic. It's all what Terry Pratchett would have called 'headology'. Magic is in the mind of those who believe and therefore see it as real.