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Avalon
by
Anya Seton
Merewyn has grown up in savage tenth-century Cornwall - a lonely girl, sustained by stubborn courage and by pride in her descent from the great King Arthur. Rumon, a young French prince, has always dreamt of finding the idyllic island of hearsay and legend, Avalon. He gladly leaves his home in Provence but his hopes are dashed when his ship is wrecked off the Cornish coast...more
Paperback, 384 pages
Published
February 22nd 2007
by Hodder & Stoughton
(first published January 2nd 1965)
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I decided to read this book because I really enjoyed Anya Seton's book "Katherine". I didn't like this one nearly as well. Toward the end I just didn't care anymore what happened, I just wanted it to be over. I also had a hard time with the pronunciation of the names of some of the people and places. I wasn't sure how some names were pronounced and I would get bogged down in the story trying to figure out how they should sound. It wasn't the worst book I've ever read, but it was far from the bes...more
I can't honestly bash on the woman who wrote "Katherine" but I didn't really like this book. By the end of the book I felt like I didn't even know Merewyn. She was so fickle and confusing. And Rumon was so conflicting. I don't think I liked either of them. Well I liked Rumon at the end. You can tell the extensive research that went into this book and I found that interesting, but the plot was ineffective. I felt like I was in three different plots by the end: with Alfrida in the beggining and th...more
Apr 18, 2010
Mandy Moody
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
i-own
Avalon was my 3rd Seton novel, and my least favorite of the three.
Even a sub-par Seton is a good read, though :)
Merewyn and Rumon, both orphans of royal descent, are on their way to the court of King Edgar. Merewyn plans to live with her aunt, Abbess of Romsey. Rumon hopes to be given a place at court.
But Rumon carries a secret - the truth of Merewyns birth. She is not the descendant of Arthur, as she was always told by her mother, but the product of rape by a viking raider. Her parentage will u...more
Even a sub-par Seton is a good read, though :)
Merewyn and Rumon, both orphans of royal descent, are on their way to the court of King Edgar. Merewyn plans to live with her aunt, Abbess of Romsey. Rumon hopes to be given a place at court.
But Rumon carries a secret - the truth of Merewyns birth. She is not the descendant of Arthur, as she was always told by her mother, but the product of rape by a viking raider. Her parentage will u...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
May 29, 2009
Carrie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
history-middle-ages,
modern-fiction
This book is a peculiar one to critique. The historical basis is fascinating and impressive (although Ethelred and the Queen Mother come off [inaccurately:] as cartoonishly evil, for what I can only think of as dramatic effect). Her writing is compelling. But what a sap of a hero and a colorless heroine. As a matter of fact, in such a sweeping drama I can count on one hand the characters that I actually gave a hoot about -- and none of them important! I think part of the problem is the sweep of...more
Meh. This book was okay, and it did hold my interest all the way through... however, there was a huge emphasis on Catholicism and Catholic guilt that was awfully heavy-handed. The part of the book where one of the main characters lives in Iceland and Greenland (and for a time gives up her religion) was the most engaging for me, as it wasn't beating me over the head with religious issues. I don't mind religious characters, but I don't enjoy religious books, and this was definitely the latter. Als...more
Sep 15, 2010
Margaret
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
culled,
historical-fiction
This historical novel, set mainly in 10th century Britain, tells the story of a young Cornish girl and a Breton knight, who become caught up in English politics and Viking raids. As usual for Seton, it's well researched and convincing, and I liked the first half or so all right, when Merewyn and Rumon are caught up in English politics and the machinations of beautiful Queen Alfrida. Later, though, it became too episodic, skipping years at a time and interrupting character arcs; often, the charac...more
This was good and well-written but rather formulaic: dirt-poor ignorant girl with blue-green or gray eyes gets accepted into English court and becomes lady-in-waiting to a beautiful, manipulative queen; gets married to wrong guy while pining for another; falls into abject poverty when husband dies, only to be redeemed in the end.
What's interesting about this one is that it was written in the 1960s and part of the story is based on the contention that Irish and Viking settlers made it to the new...more
What's interesting about this one is that it was written in the 1960s and part of the story is based on the contention that Irish and Viking settlers made it to the new...more
If ever been a book has been written that perfectly captures the human experience, then Avalon is it. Anya Seton is able to write a story about impossible love, and longing, of pride, and mistakes and the consequences we pay for them for the rest of our lives.
The story is centered around the characters Rumon and Merewyn, and their love for one another (albeit at different points in their lives), and all the places this love or lack of it takes them.
The story may not exclusively be a romance no...more
The story is centered around the characters Rumon and Merewyn, and their love for one another (albeit at different points in their lives), and all the places this love or lack of it takes them.
The story may not exclusively be a romance no...more
This was a Jekyll & Hyde reading experience -- the first half was excellent, but the second half dragged.
-spoiler warning-
Half #1 centers around Merewyn & Rumon's time at the royal court of Edgar & his son Edward (roughly 970-80 AD). The secret of Merewyn's non-royal birth is a deathbed vow that Rumon carries only by accident; he's a petulant, haughty, & sanctimonious whinger who thinks entirely too much of his worth to God's creation. Merewyn was more likable, though not always...more
-spoiler warning-
Half #1 centers around Merewyn & Rumon's time at the royal court of Edgar & his son Edward (roughly 970-80 AD). The secret of Merewyn's non-royal birth is a deathbed vow that Rumon carries only by accident; he's a petulant, haughty, & sanctimonious whinger who thinks entirely too much of his worth to God's creation. Merewyn was more likable, though not always...more
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Mar 04, 2010
Audra (Unabridged Chick)
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historicals
One-sentence summary: Set in 10th century Britain, the book follows the tumultuous lives of French prince Rumon and Cornish lady-in-waiting Merewyn as they take part in court life and struggle to survive the constant Viking attacks.
Why did you get this book?: I love historical novels; I love Anya Seton; this is a time period I know very little about.
Do you like the cover?: Yes, because I like Pre-Raphaelite art, but I think it is the wrong image for the story; something more medieval would have...more
Why did you get this book?: I love historical novels; I love Anya Seton; this is a time period I know very little about.
Do you like the cover?: Yes, because I like Pre-Raphaelite art, but I think it is the wrong image for the story; something more medieval would have...more
I loved Avalon. It is not the best Anya Seton book (that honor goes to Katherine). However, for a book set in the Dark Ages, it is absolutely fantastic. Anya Seton did a fantastic job transplanting readers into a time about which we know little. I knew nothing going into the novel about the Saxon kings and the Vikings. Seton did a great job in helping readers understand how scary and uncertain this time period was. Seton also gives a fascinating look into Viking society, something I knew little...more
Avalon started out strong, guided by Seton's amazing ability to transport the reader back in time to a place with which I was totally unfamiliar. Seton does such a good job of setting the scene that I often found myself distracted by the landscape. The characters are less vital but still somewhat engaging. Many are so stock in their actions and motivations that I found them unconvincing. The two main characters, Rumon and Merewyn, are more complex, but neither are all that memorable in their own...more
I have to say I really enjoyed this novel. There were some problems with it (like the ending which was a little bit to happy-go-lucky for me. I mean it was great that no one in court cared but at the same time would the of really happened.) The viking parts were fun to read and it is heart breaking that the two main characters can't find love with each other when all you want for them is to be happy. I think it is on par with Katherine and is a must read for Seton fans.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This is an intelligently written historical fiction account of Great Britain in the 10th century. The book takes some very poorly understood periods of history and crafts a reasonable story around them. The lead female character is a Cornish woman who believes she is descended from King Arthur, and the main lead male character is a Breton-raised man who does not have the characteristics most desired in men of that time--bravery, a willingness to fight and desire for power. He is not a very inpsi...more
This book wasn't bad, but it wasn't fantastic either. The attention to historical accuracy and detail was amazing; the author made a time period that is still very shadowy in most imaginations very real and relatable. But the story was odd, very unsatisfying, and seemed to follow a randomly descriptive pattern. I would recommend it if you're looking for a book that describes Britain during the Viking era..but not much else.
I want to give it another half star because I loved the historical parts of this so much. The background story is fascinating--10th century English and Viking history, which includes travellers to Greenland and North America--and I also enjoyed getting to know the characters, but there was something missing for me in the meat of the story about Rumon's searching for his "vision" of Avalon.
The historical part (late 900s England, Iceland, Greenland, Vikings, Celts, history of English royalty - all stuff I love) of this historical novel/romance is much more interesting than the the story of the main characters. I wish there was a 3 1/2 star option. I prefer Seton's novel Katherine for story and character development, but I found this historical period fascinating.
I read this in high school and was totally fascinated by the fact that one of the characters was the grandaughter of a character from another book by another author. Okay, so they are both historical figures but not particularly famous ones. This is about a young girl who claims to be a direct descendant of King Arthur, amongst about 500 other plots lines. Anya Seton seems pretty good a the sprawling historical type of novel.
This was the first time I have read Anya Seton. I probably should have started with her more popular Katherine. Seton wrote very well, and I enjoyed reading about 10th century England, Iceland, Greenland and Vikings. But the hero and heroine were quite unlikeable. The hero especially, was so fickle! I thought this was supposed to be a love story, but I don't believe either Rumon or Merewyn, as portrayed, knew what love is. They both seemed very shallow. One of these days I'll try Katherine. I ho...more
Jul 10, 2010
Allie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
2010-reads
This story took place in late 10th century England, Iceland, Greenland and a couple other places and tells a sort of "love story" between Merewyn and Rumon. I liked Merewyn and her character development, but I was not impressed with Rumon. I am having trouble deciding between 3 and 4 stars for this one. The "flow" of the book is kind of awkward. There is sort of three parts to this story that are different periods in Merewyn's life. I loved though Seton's descriptions of Iceland and Greenland an...more
"Avalon" was the first of Anya Seton's novels I've read, but it will be far from the last.
The historical detail and vibrant descriptions made it incredibly easy to slip into the world of the late-10th and early-11th centuries. This epic saga spans over thirty years in the lives of the French prince, Romieux de Provence, seeking the mythic island of Avalon, and Merewyn, a lonely Cornish girl who loves him. Always on opposite ends of the spectrum, the story of Rumon (as the prince is called) and...more
The historical detail and vibrant descriptions made it incredibly easy to slip into the world of the late-10th and early-11th centuries. This epic saga spans over thirty years in the lives of the French prince, Romieux de Provence, seeking the mythic island of Avalon, and Merewyn, a lonely Cornish girl who loves him. Always on opposite ends of the spectrum, the story of Rumon (as the prince is called) and...more
One of my favourites, and I think the one AS that I like the best. Tale of a young girl with ties to the mythical King Arthur, her love for a man she can't have and the adventures that followed for both of them. Great stuff, and very much recommended.
For the complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_24319...
For the complete review, please go here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_24319...
This was the first book I ever read in English. I was really thrilled that I could understand most of the words by the time and I was a big fan of Marion Zimmer Bradley's Avalon series, so I expected there would be more of the same. But the story turns out to be quite different. I got pretty attached to the characters.
Anya Seton researches so accurately that her facts can be trusted. She is able to weave these facts seamlessly into a good story that grips the attention and is not the least bit historically tedious. I read her books with a map at hand. try her books! Another good one is The Winthrop Woman, about Colonial Boston.
I first read this book as a youngling, and loved it then. Avalon qas one of the first books I read that gave a fairly accurate depiction of early medieval times. I found a copy in a used bookstore, and had to re-read it. I was able to pick up most of her books for a song, so will re-read those also
I loved this book. I found it well-researched, well-written, fascinating and somewhat a-typical in terms of the main "romance" of the story. I loved Merewyn - found her strong and complex. I'd highly recommend this to anyone interested in this somewhat murky time period. 5 stars.
I LOVED this book, it's another historical epic by Seton and it doesn't fail to deliver. The lives of two people are connected by a chance happening which affects their actions for many years to come. If you read and enjoyed Katherine then read this novel too.
This book was a little hard to get into at first, but eventually I fell into the rhythm of the book. I really liked Merewyn and I thought she had a great character. I liked a lot of the decisions she made, especially involving Rumon. I liked Rumon too although he could get on my nerves. I loved the historical background, including having Erik and Lief Erikson. Both their lives turned out rather well and the ending was nice.
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Anya Seton (January 23, 1904 (although the year is often misstated to be 1906 or 1916) - November 8, 1990) was the pen name of the American author of historical romances, Ann Seton.
Ann Seton was born in New York, New York, and died in Old Greenwich, Connecticut. She was the daughter of English-born naturalist and pioneer of the Boy Scouts of America, Ernest Thompson Seton and Grace Gallatin Seton....more
More about Anya Seton...
Ann Seton was born in New York, New York, and died in Old Greenwich, Connecticut. She was the daughter of English-born naturalist and pioneer of the Boy Scouts of America, Ernest Thompson Seton and Grace Gallatin Seton....more
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