tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post7428138954930964474..comments2023-11-29T07:39:34.401+00:00Comments on Carla Nayland Historical Fiction: The Wicked Day, by Mary Stewart. Book reviewCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11901028520813891575noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-19637477080211916102007-10-15T19:45:00.000+01:002007-10-15T19:45:00.000+01:00Elizabeth - I read them a long time ago as well, a...Elizabeth - I read them a long time ago as well, and recently re-read them. They were still just as vivid on a reread as they were first time round, which for me is one of the markers of a good read. Like you, I liked <I>The Crystal Cave</I> best, which I think is because she was more or less completely unfettered by tradition, whereas with the later two there was such a lot of legend to shoehorn in that it tended to weigh the story down a bit. It's odd that even when I know what happens I can sometimes still be on the edge of my seat - the entry into Tintagel at the end of <I>Crystal Cave</I> has that power.Carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11901028520813891575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-52355547648630742642007-10-14T16:32:00.000+01:002007-10-14T16:32:00.000+01:00Thanks for the review Carla. I read this many year...Thanks for the review Carla. I read this many years ago, so I've forgotten most of it. The general impression is that I preferred the first two and more especially The Crystal Cave, but I think it perhaps comes down to knowing what's going to happen - a sense of the inevitable. I think as a whole it was a good read - as are all of Mary Stewart's books.Elizabeth Chadwickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16911841862257909703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-87395577105260063402007-10-13T15:36:00.000+01:002007-10-13T15:36:00.000+01:00Constance - Apart from (possibly) Morgause, there'...Constance - Apart from (possibly) Morgause, there's very little that's either black or white in Mary Stewart's Arthur novels. Makes a nice change :-)Carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11901028520813891575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-12863288308219253132007-10-13T01:00:00.000+01:002007-10-13T01:00:00.000+01:00Yep, that helps a lot. Just how I like my stuff. N...Yep, that helps a lot. Just how I like my stuff. Nice and grey. :)Constance Brewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17964121072645959593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-83279153063670818442007-10-12T14:49:00.000+01:002007-10-12T14:49:00.000+01:00Hazel-rah - Hope you find a copy and enjoy reading...Hazel-rah - Hope you find a copy and enjoy reading it! If you do, I'll be interested to hear what you think.<BR/><BR/>Constance - Arthur is still good, benevolent and wise. Mordred in <I>The Wicked Day</I> is not truly opposed to Arthur. Although they have their conflicts and differences, they are not enemies until a series of (outrageous, or Fateful) coincidences lands them on opposing sides of the last battle even though neither willed it so. Does that help?Carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11901028520813891575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-89167535915855155662007-10-11T14:21:00.000+01:002007-10-11T14:21:00.000+01:00You know, the Arthur is all good, benevolent, wise...You know, the Arthur is all good, benevolent, wise, etc. image we've been spun.Constance Brewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17964121072645959593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-60288908889303880942007-10-10T14:46:00.000+01:002007-10-10T14:46:00.000+01:00Carla, No I hadn't read Gidlow's book.Thanks for t...Carla, <BR/>No I hadn't read Gidlow's book.<BR/>Thanks for the recommendation.Magpiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15489091434613178568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-70515776218615094642007-10-10T10:54:00.000+01:002007-10-10T10:54:00.000+01:00Constance - Propaganda machine? Can you expand on...Constance - Propaganda machine? Can you expand on that, please?Carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11901028520813891575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-20132890110068463292007-10-10T00:39:00.000+01:002007-10-10T00:39:00.000+01:00How does Mordred fare as a protagonist, considerin...How does Mordred fare as a protagonist, considering a lot of people are predisposed to dislike him, having been won over by the Arthur propaganda machine? *g*Constance Brewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17964121072645959593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-5306870350253999072007-10-09T18:14:00.000+01:002007-10-09T18:14:00.000+01:00Hazel-rah - It's definitely a trilogy plus a stand...Hazel-rah - It's definitely a trilogy plus a standalone, so most people tend to think of the trilogy and miss Mordred's story. Which I think is a shame. If you're interested in the possible historical basis for Arthur, have you read Christopher Gidlow's recent <A HREF="http://www.carlanayland.org/reviews/reign_arthur.htm" REL="nofollow">book on the subject</A>? I thought it was excellent. <BR/><BR/>Bernita - thank you.<BR/><BR/>Gabriele - It's well worth a read. I have a contrary liking for Mordred, too :-) It tends to be harder to find than the Merlin trilogy, so good luck. Ebay or interlibrary loan may be your best bets.Carlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11901028520813891575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-90109299912712723442007-10-09T15:48:00.000+01:002007-10-09T15:48:00.000+01:00That sounds an interesting book. I've always had a...That sounds an interesting book. I've always had a soft spot for Mordred and thought legend was too hard on him. <BR/><BR/>Ok, now try and find that book.Gabriele Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17205770868139083575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-52053772579681029212007-10-09T12:34:00.000+01:002007-10-09T12:34:00.000+01:00A very good review of a fin de seicle story.A very good review of a <I> fin de seicle </I> story.Bernitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05264585685253812090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19922276.post-63025277154596562662007-10-09T12:00:00.000+01:002007-10-09T12:00:00.000+01:00I read these books many years ago and somehow it e...I read these books many years ago and somehow it escaped my recollection that there were actually four of them. I haven't read this one.<BR/>I would have been just a boy at the time and remember being very impressed with the idea of a Romano-British link with Arthur.<BR/><BR/>The idea of taking someone with a particular image in fiction and revealling him to be something with a tangible historical basis - that was quite different - was something of an epiphany to me.Magpiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15489091434613178568noreply@blogger.com