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319th out of 726 books
—
1,236 voters
The Prince and the Pilgrim (Arthurian Saga #5)
by
Mary Stewart
The bestselling author of the acclaimed Merlin Trilogy returns to the magical world of King Arthur and Camelot--to tell a story of daring adventure, unexpected love, and unsurpassed enchantment. . . .
ALEXANDER THE FATHERLESS
Eager, burning, and young, Alexander has come of age to take vengeance on the treacherous King of Cornwall who murdered his father. He sets off toward...more
ALEXANDER THE FATHERLESS
Eager, burning, and young, Alexander has come of age to take vengeance on the treacherous King of Cornwall who murdered his father. He sets off toward...more
Mass Market Paperback, 320 pages
Published
March 2nd 1997
by Ivy Books
(first published January 1st 1995)
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I really enjoyed this novel. It's rather shorter and lighter than Stewart's other Arthurian novels, but that's no bad thing in itself. It also takes place elsewhere in Arthurian Britain (as well as on pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Tours), so is somewhat tangential to the core legends.
The novel tells the tales of Alice the Pretty Pilgrim and Alexander the Fatherless. The two characters and their stories can be found in Malory, but Stewart has woven a full novel from such brief allusive origins.
It...more
The novel tells the tales of Alice the Pretty Pilgrim and Alexander the Fatherless. The two characters and their stories can be found in Malory, but Stewart has woven a full novel from such brief allusive origins.
It...more
Originally published on my blog here in January 2002.
When I first read this novel, quite soon after it was published, I thought it was the poorest that Stewart had written. On re-reading it, I have modified my opinion, and new feel that it is not actually too bad, even if not among her best.
The story is an adaptation from the tale of Alisander le Orphelin and Alice la Beale Pilgrim from the Morte d'Arthur, shorn of the late-medieval knight errantry so that it can be fitted into the sixth century...more
When I first read this novel, quite soon after it was published, I thought it was the poorest that Stewart had written. On re-reading it, I have modified my opinion, and new feel that it is not actually too bad, even if not among her best.
The story is an adaptation from the tale of Alisander le Orphelin and Alice la Beale Pilgrim from the Morte d'Arthur, shorn of the late-medieval knight errantry so that it can be fitted into the sixth century...more
Prince Alexander is born into a dangerous world, since his father is brother to the volatile, unpopular March, King of Cornwall. March murders his brother, leaving widowed Princess Anna and young Alexander vulnerable and fleeing for their lives. Years pass and just before Alexander turns 18 his mother shares the truth of his past with him and taxes him with the quest to avenge his father. Alexander falls into the hands of Morgan, who of course enchants and seduces him, before he at last finds hi...more
This was short, sweet, fairly predictable but still utterly delightful tale based on a brief passage in Malory's L'Morte D'Arthur about Sir Alisander and Alice la Beale Pilgrim.
I think my only complaint is the slightly uneven tone--the juxtaposition of scenes of fairly shocking violence within the rest of the fairly cheerful, buoyant narrative didn't quite fit; in my opinion, the characters reacted/reflected/adjusted/moved on far too quickly to be believable, sort of killing any realism gained...more
I think my only complaint is the slightly uneven tone--the juxtaposition of scenes of fairly shocking violence within the rest of the fairly cheerful, buoyant narrative didn't quite fit; in my opinion, the characters reacted/reflected/adjusted/moved on far too quickly to be believable, sort of killing any realism gained...more
A sweet, if a bit rambling, love story. The five-star system doesn't really work for me; I can better sum up my opinion by saying that, in the scheme of Mary Stewart's works, this didn't come close to the scope of the Merlin trilogy (still my favorite), but better than The Wicked Day. I was unfamiliar with this thread of the Arthurian legend, so spent much of the book wondering where it all was going. But after reading the "original" in the afterward, I have to admire the way Stewart was able to...more
Eager, burning, and young, Alexander has come of age to take vengeance on the treacherous King of Cornwall who murdered his father. He sets off toward Camelot to seek justice from King Arthur, only to be diverted by the beautiful and sensual Morgan le Fay, Arthur's sister. Using her wiles and her enchantments, Morgan persuades the young prince to attempt a theft of the Holy Grail. He is unaware her motives are of the darkest nature. . . .
I adore the Merlin series which I first read as a teenager...more
I adore the Merlin series which I first read as a teenager...more
I was pleased and surprised to come upon this late addition to Mary Stewart's Merlin books. Those are some of the best-researched historical fiction I've ever read, and I was glad to have another one to read. This book is set in that universe, but very few of the characters from the Merlin books appear in it. It takes place during Arthur's reign, probably around the same time period as The Wicked Day, and tells the story of Alexander and Alice, a prince whose father was killed when he was a baby...more
Mary Stewart is the author of a wonderful series of books dubbed "The Merlin Triology" and an interesting supplemental book on Mordred.
This book has nothing to do with that trilogy. It borrows one character, Morgan le Fay, who plays a decidedly secondary role.
The story is an expansion of a very brief legend translated from Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur. It is not complicated or convoluted. It contains no deep meaning and certainly doesn't enlighten or inform us about the Arthurian legend.
Mary...more
This book has nothing to do with that trilogy. It borrows one character, Morgan le Fay, who plays a decidedly secondary role.
The story is an expansion of a very brief legend translated from Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur. It is not complicated or convoluted. It contains no deep meaning and certainly doesn't enlighten or inform us about the Arthurian legend.
Mary...more
This story may not burn with the white radiance of Stewart's Merlin trilogy, but it is, nevertheless, a joy to be allowed to re-inhabit ancient Britain, if only for a while.
A sweetly told story, though there is little here by way of a driving force of plot or action. It is, in some ways, the equivalent of one of her 'modern' mysteries, transplanted into Arthurian legend.
Stewart's writing, on the whole, also lacks the radiance I remember, though I begin to wonder if it was ever truly present. Is...more
A sweetly told story, though there is little here by way of a driving force of plot or action. It is, in some ways, the equivalent of one of her 'modern' mysteries, transplanted into Arthurian legend.
Stewart's writing, on the whole, also lacks the radiance I remember, though I begin to wonder if it was ever truly present. Is...more
Mary Stewart is fairly well known for her retelling of the myths of King Arthur. I picked up this book up quite some time ago. It is the retelling of two less known characters in the king Arthur myth - Alisander the Orphan and Alice the pilgrim. In Thomas Mallory's book, these two characters occupy a few pages of one of the books in his novel. Thus, Stewart did not have too much to work with in her expansion and retelling of the story. It's quite easy to see this in the book.
Most of the book is...more
Most of the book is...more
That feeling when one realises one has read someone's entire work! It was a good book, but not one of her best ones. The story is a little weak. It is based on several themes: Morgan La Fae's plots, the Golden Grail (the golden cup) and the famous Cornwall love-triangle. Tristan appears as the knight who helped the protagonist to escape, and Iseult as the new Irish queen. It is a possitive book, satisfying to those who believe in happy endings, a bit of chevalric actions and a simple love story.
I thoroughly enjoyed returning to Mary Stewart's vision of Arthurian legend and 6th century times! This lovely romance falls in the time period between The Last Enchantment and The Wicked Day. As always, she has used Mallory's Morte d'Artur as well as historical sources as the germ of her story with delightful results. For those like me who find great pleasure in re-tellings and amplifications of the Arthurian tales, this is well worth reading. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
This was a fairly simplistic type of story that was quite enjoyable. It ties in nicely with her earlier series that starts with the Crystal Cave. It seemed that maybe it was a fleshed out version of an old story. It is at least a bit based on Malory's "Alice la Beale Pilgrim and Alisander le Orphelin". It had a lovely nice ending. If you're looking for tense drama and dark endings...check out Sara Douglass...if you want a nice fairy tale, this is a good option.
A thoroughly enjoyable twist on an old legend. I have read Mary Stewart before, primarily her Arthur series, and was delighted to find a book that took place within the same time period. Stewart writes this age with ease and her characters are always lively enough to be enjoyed the reader without being bogged down with copious detail. This was a nice easy historical fiction, heavy on the fiction, based a not-as-well-known legend.
I loved the Merlin series, read them when I in high school. This is the first Mary Stewart I have read since them. I liked it for the most part, but about three quarters through I got a bored and skipped a few chapters. I liked the ending though. I won't give up yet though. I will try a few of her books first, or maybe just reread some of my old favorites.
I was so disappointed with this book, it certainly was not up to Mary Stewart's high standards. Her characters had no depth, the story telling was lack lustre and I often had the feeling I was reading someone elses work. I completed reading it only in deference to her earlier works to be honest.
I like a lot of Mary Stewart's book. They have action, they are fast paced, and they have a little bit of romance without the sex. This book was none of these. It started okay but I just thought it was boring and it didn't have any interesting action or much of a story at all.
Oct 26, 2011
Susan Hatch
marked it as to-read
I am excited to get this book. I have long been a fan of the Merlin series by Mary Stewart, a 4 book collection but only today did I discover there was a 5th book. I bought it on Amazon for a penny and it will be fun to add to my real bookshelves, along side the other 4.
May 17, 2009
Yvonne
marked it as to-read
Why haven't I jumped on this with both feet already? Because I lost it at one point, and only recently found it again, and when I did find it, I assumed I'd already read it. Yes, I am that simple on occasion. At any rate, looking forward to it, when the chance presents itself.
An average love story set in the age of Camelot that suffers from the lack of contact Alexander and Alice have with each other. They don't meet until the very end of the story and their love is as mechanical as two magnets meeting.
The mix of legend and history just didn't work for me in this book. It did spark my interest in learning more about the Frankish Merovingian kings, though. (Predecessors to Charlemagne.) I'm going to read The Crystal Cave next, to see if it still measures up to my 5 star rating from my youth!
Again, better than I remembered, but that may be an effect of reading it straight after her other Arthurian books with all the events fresh in my mind. Alexander is a bit dumb, but Alice makes up for it.
Mary Stewart lite - a lovely little side story of a young knight who heads off to seek his fortune (and revenge the death of his father) and instead meets a girl and falls in love. I liked it.
This book was written better than the previous four books in the Merlin series. Language is simple; descriptions aren't flowery; sentence structure is active, rather than passive. Reads quickly and easily.
It was fine. Nothing great or extraordinary or even rightly exciting. A simple enough love story set in the dark ages. A quick read.
As a HUGE Mary Stewart fan, this did not do it for me. It was o.k. but she has written so many better works previous, this was a disappointment.
"for i have no wish to live the rest of my life in bitterness"
"His smile froze her to the very core of her soul"
"His smile froze her to the very core of her soul"
This was a fun read, well researched and interesting. I still like her romances the best, though......
Set in the same world as her Merlin books but a totally independent stand alone story.
It's an easy escape. Not quite up to the Merlin trilogy, but still an enjoyable read.
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Lady Mary Stewart is a popular English novelist, and taught at the school of John Norquay elementary for 30 to 35 years, but has now retired.
She is one of the most widely read fiction writers of our time. The author of twenty novels, a volume of poetry, and three books for...more
More about Mary Stewart...
Lady Mary Stewart is a popular English novelist, and taught at the school of John Norquay elementary for 30 to 35 years, but has now retired.
She is one of the most widely read fiction writers of our time. The author of twenty novels, a volume of poetry, and three books for...more
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