Guinevere

Guinevere

An expert on mythology reveals the truths behind the legend of Guinevere, describing her complex nature, her aloof beauty, and the fascination she has held for fans of Arthurian legend for centuries Described by the publisher as a work which "probes the mysteries surrounding Camelot's infamous queen," Guinevere adds conjecture and broad extrapolation to the small field of scholarly study about King Arthur's queen. Goodrich ( King Arthur , LJ 2/1/86, Merlin , LJ 1/87) assumes the reader has read her previous books and accepted her conclusions about the historicity of Arthur and Merlin. She now adds her interpretations of French romances and Finnish mythology to "prove" Guinevere was a Pictish high priestess. Most of her argument is based on the Prose Lancelot , written in the early 13th century. It is difficult to accept the validity of Goodrich's conclusions when she relies so heavily on these romances as historical proof and provides few footnotes to reinforce her findings. The prose is florid and confusing. Paragraphs often read as though she simply grouped several sentences together. General readers drawn in by the advertising will be disappointed. Not recommended. - Pamela A. Grudzien, Central Michigan Univ. Lib., Mt. Pleasant Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.