The Wicked Day (The Arthurian Saga, Book 4)
by Mary Stewart
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Read in January, 1985
The fourth volume of Mary Stewart's Arthurian series takes place after Merlin has left the story. It is told in Mordred's voice. According to the Annales Cambriae Medraut and Arthur fell at Camlann. That is the closest thing to a historical record 300 years after the fact that we have for the existence of someone that came to be known as Mordred. In early Welsh tradition he was not Arthur's son, but a noble who slapped Gwenhwyfar in a conflict that led to Arthur's fall, but the medieval t...more
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Read in January, 1987
recommended to Linda by:
Jane Lewisrecommends it for: Anyone who loves Arthurian legends
Mary Stewart wrote the quintessential Merlin/Arthur legends. I've read all the Arthur books I could find, from Le Morte Darthur, John Steinbeck's try at it (The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights) to Lawhead. Nothing written can stack up to Stewart's obvious background of the history of the British Isles, and her love for the land. She breathes life into these legendary characters and makes them hers. To prove their excellence--you can still buy the four books of the series in bookstores.
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Read in February, 2008
I did not know that this book existed till today. My copy is just the trilogy and I thought a trilogy stopped with 3....I must read.
OK, I finally got the last book in the Merlin/Arthur saga. I would have given it 5 stars, but it is such a tragic story. Mary Stewart is absolutely AMAZING. I love the authenticity of the books even though much of the story is speculation, she makes me believe that it couldn't have happened any other way. She makes each character live up to and beyond l...more
OK, I finally got the last book in the Merlin/Arthur saga. I would have given it 5 stars, but it is such a tragic story. Mary Stewart is absolutely AMAZING. I love the authenticity of the books even though much of the story is speculation, she makes me believe that it couldn't have happened any other way. She makes each character live up to and beyond l...more
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An interesting follow-up to the Merlin Trilogy. Told from the perspective of Mordred, who becomes a sympathetic character. If you know the Arthurian legends, you know how it's going to end, but I found myself wanting to change it all so that Mordred's story could be a happy one instead. What's really lacking, though, is Merlin. He's such a compelling character, and the way he observed things as he told his story made it that much more compelling. Stewart, using Mordred's voice this time, te...more
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Read in October, 2007
these are my favorite King Arthur, and this was my favorite of the series. mostly b/c it's from Mordred's point of view, and i'm surprisingly ok with Mordred. i like how he isn't just entirely, completely evil in this series. and i probably had a little crush on him with i was 12. what of it!
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It took me forever to read this book, because I knew the encing (who doesn't?) and I always want it to end differently. Mary Stewart, however has a very different take on what happens. Same sad ending, but a wonderful book, nonetheless.
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Well, if you know Arthurian legend, you know this can't end well. Despite that, Stewart gives a good sympathetic portrayal of Mordred and makes some kind of sense of the historical inaccuracies handed down through the years.
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Read in January, 2007
recommends it for:
Everybody
I loved this saga. They're fantastic. Though the author admits to fabricating most of the stories they provide interesting stories about what could have happened. This book follows the life of Mordred, Arthur's bastard son.
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far from being the scourge of Arthur, his bastard son Mordred actually strives to resist Merlin's prophecy of doom. but he is thwarted but the schemes of his mother Queen Morgause and misunderstandings beyond his control.
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I devoured this series during my hardcore Arthurian phase in junior high. They influenced my writing and my illustration, and I remember them fondly. I'm afraid to revisit them, on the chance that they haven't held up...
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Read in August, 2006
King Arthur / When I was younger (20s) I did not want to read this I wanted to keep the romance of Arthur and Guinevere sacred. When I grew up I wanted to find out what went wrong and why, so I started reading more.
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Read in January, 1979
This is the weakest of the four books, but still enjoyable. I'd read the others again, and this one also, but only because it's part of the quadrilogy.(?)
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Read in January, 1984
After seeing the Moving "Camelot" I wanted to know more about King Arthur and Merlin. So when Mary Stewarts books came out in the 70's I read them all.
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I've gotta re-read the trilogy before I can read this book. Too bad it wasn't published when I finished the trilogy.
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I loved how Mary Stewart added this book to the series. It is a great ending to Arthur's story.
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This novel concerns Mordred and portrays him as a more likeable character than usual.
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Love the fact that it's all from Mordred's point of view - very unusual.
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Now the fall of Arthur, oh merlin, the things you have to live through
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A part of my Arthurian legend collection.
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