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The Three Damosels #1-3
The three damosels
Originally published separately in 1976 as the novels "The Green Knight", "The King's Damosel" and "King Arthur's Daughter", these tales tell the stories of Vivien, niece of Morgan Le Fay, Lynett, unwilling bride of Sir Gaheris, and Ursulet, daughter of Arthur and Guinevere.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published September 7, 1978
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261 people want to read
About the author
Vera Chapman
39 books38 followersVera Chapman, also known as Vera Ivy May Fogerty or, in The Tolkien Society, as Belladonna Took. She founded The Tolkien Society, and also wrote a number of psudeo-historical and Arthurian books.
She was born in Bournemouth, England on the 8 May 1898 and lived in South Africa until she went to Oxford where she was one of the first woman to matriculate as a full member of Oxford University. She founded the first Tolkien Society of which she was secretary. She persuaded J R R Tolkien to become the society's honorary president. She wrote her first novel in 1975 and continued writing until her death in 1996.
She was born in Bournemouth, England on the 8 May 1898 and lived in South Africa until she went to Oxford where she was one of the first woman to matriculate as a full member of Oxford University. She founded the first Tolkien Society of which she was secretary. She persuaded J R R Tolkien to become the society's honorary president. She wrote her first novel in 1975 and continued writing until her death in 1996.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 27, 2021
Halloween Bingo 2021
This collection of three short novels are intertwined, all examinations of the King Arthur legend. When I was in my teens (more years ago than I can believe), I read the third novel, King Arthur's Daughter. It was my first brush with Arthur and it started me on a lifelong reading pattern, trying out the many versions of Arthurian fiction. I was excited when I found a used copy of this anthology for a reasonable price and I nabbed it.
It was a treat to finally read the first two books, but I was shocked when I made it to my remembered favourite and very little was familiar. It has been a long, long time. But I see very clearly why Vera Chapman's fiction inspired me so much. She features the women of Arthur's court: Vivian, Lynette, and Ursulet—the three damosels of the anthology title. Despite the limitations on femininity, they forge roles for themselves and are crucial to the tales. Also, Chapman includes magic unapologetically. Morgan le Fay is a dark rival to Merlin, another prominent female presence.
Chapman rejigs some of the genealogy of these mythic figures, but as she notes in a foreword, that has been a tradition by bards and jongleurs for centuries. From that time period, daughters are insignificant and Chapman gives Arthur a daughter, Ursulet, who could easily be left out of the official history. Chapman tells a very compressed version, in fact, using legendary characters to populate the story and relying on their iconic status to tell the reader what to expect. The action is unceasing and there is little effort spent on setting or fleshing out the plot. I found myself using descriptions of court life from other books to help me envisage the surroundings.
These works are a combination of the mythic and historical detail, obviously a patriotic work, showing why the British people can believe themselves to be exceptional. Chapman states very clearly that the blood of Arthur infuses them and one day Arthur will come again, dare I say it, to make Britain great again. I'm very glad to have revisited the third novel and to have finally read the first two. I certainly see why it appealed to my romantic teenage notions of history especially since Canada was still strongly linked to Britain when I was first exposed to Chapman's writing. I still enjoyed it a great deal, but I'm much less nostalgic now. I will hang on to this volume, I think, and read it again in the future.
This collection of three short novels are intertwined, all examinations of the King Arthur legend. When I was in my teens (more years ago than I can believe), I read the third novel, King Arthur's Daughter. It was my first brush with Arthur and it started me on a lifelong reading pattern, trying out the many versions of Arthurian fiction. I was excited when I found a used copy of this anthology for a reasonable price and I nabbed it.
It was a treat to finally read the first two books, but I was shocked when I made it to my remembered favourite and very little was familiar. It has been a long, long time. But I see very clearly why Vera Chapman's fiction inspired me so much. She features the women of Arthur's court: Vivian, Lynette, and Ursulet—the three damosels of the anthology title. Despite the limitations on femininity, they forge roles for themselves and are crucial to the tales. Also, Chapman includes magic unapologetically. Morgan le Fay is a dark rival to Merlin, another prominent female presence.
Chapman rejigs some of the genealogy of these mythic figures, but as she notes in a foreword, that has been a tradition by bards and jongleurs for centuries. From that time period, daughters are insignificant and Chapman gives Arthur a daughter, Ursulet, who could easily be left out of the official history. Chapman tells a very compressed version, in fact, using legendary characters to populate the story and relying on their iconic status to tell the reader what to expect. The action is unceasing and there is little effort spent on setting or fleshing out the plot. I found myself using descriptions of court life from other books to help me envisage the surroundings.
These works are a combination of the mythic and historical detail, obviously a patriotic work, showing why the British people can believe themselves to be exceptional. Chapman states very clearly that the blood of Arthur infuses them and one day Arthur will come again, dare I say it, to make Britain great again. I'm very glad to have revisited the third novel and to have finally read the first two. I certainly see why it appealed to my romantic teenage notions of history especially since Canada was still strongly linked to Britain when I was first exposed to Chapman's writing. I still enjoyed it a great deal, but I'm much less nostalgic now. I will hang on to this volume, I think, and read it again in the future.
March 1, 2017
I first read this book many years ago. For some reason (perhaps the magic of Morgan le Fay?) it returned to my mind recently and I decided to buy a second-hand copy for myself.
It is actually three novels in one, concerning Vivian (niece of Morgan le Fay), Lynett (who becomes Arthur's messenger) and Ursulet (Arthur's daughter.) Their tales do, however, link together.
I don't usually 'do' fantasy, because my mindset is too prosaic, and these books are essentially that rather than HF. However, I enjoyed them very much and this is a book I shall keep and read again. Probably many times. The author has, shall we say, embroidered the Arthurian canon, and introduced her own ideas to it. However, this is all of a piece with the natural development of these stories over the ages.
I loved it, and recommend it; but I suspect that this will not be a book that everyone will enjoy.
It is actually three novels in one, concerning Vivian (niece of Morgan le Fay), Lynett (who becomes Arthur's messenger) and Ursulet (Arthur's daughter.) Their tales do, however, link together.
I don't usually 'do' fantasy, because my mindset is too prosaic, and these books are essentially that rather than HF. However, I enjoyed them very much and this is a book I shall keep and read again. Probably many times. The author has, shall we say, embroidered the Arthurian canon, and introduced her own ideas to it. However, this is all of a piece with the natural development of these stories over the ages.
I loved it, and recommend it; but I suspect that this will not be a book that everyone will enjoy.
July 4, 2019
So disappointed. I recall enjoying the King's Damosel when I was younger, and I still think it's the best of the three stories, but that really isn't saying much.
I will say that the writing was decent, and the concept of remakings Arthurian legends almost in the style of fairy tale retellings is a lovely one. But that's about where my appreciation for this ends.
Excepting Lynett, every protagonist is whiny and weak-willed. Death means absolutely nothing. The stories got progressively sadder and more pointless. The last one--King Arthur's Daughter, I thought might be enjoyable because the author's note stated that it was pure whimsy, but it was the worst of the three. Ursulet is at once the pious, tearful maid and the fierce general, flipping back and forth between the two as the story requires. Ambris started out likable, but all I can say is that when he decided he'd rather have his than his right hand (and comparing himself to Tyr for it), he lost me.
I can't even begin to wade into the sheer volume of Christian values crammed down the reader's throat in all three stories, so I'll suffice it to say that if you're the sort of person who doesn't think that--trigger warning for sexual assault-- then this definitely isn't the book for you, because pages and pages are dedicated to that lovely little plot thread. I can't believe I forgot about that after reading it when I was in high school.
#readdownyourbookshelf verdict: Sad to say, as this is the rarest book I own, but I don't want it in my collection anymore. I'm selling it.
I will say that the writing was decent, and the concept of remakings Arthurian legends almost in the style of fairy tale retellings is a lovely one. But that's about where my appreciation for this ends.
Excepting Lynett, every protagonist is whiny and weak-willed. Death means absolutely nothing. The stories got progressively sadder and more pointless. The last one--King Arthur's Daughter, I thought might be enjoyable because the author's note stated that it was pure whimsy, but it was the worst of the three. Ursulet is at once the pious, tearful maid and the fierce general, flipping back and forth between the two as the story requires. Ambris started out likable, but all I can say is that when he decided he'd rather have his than his right hand (and comparing himself to Tyr for it), he lost me.
I can't even begin to wade into the sheer volume of Christian values crammed down the reader's throat in all three stories, so I'll suffice it to say that if you're the sort of person who doesn't think that--trigger warning for sexual assault-- then this definitely isn't the book for you, because pages and pages are dedicated to that lovely little plot thread. I can't believe I forgot about that after reading it when I was in high school.
#readdownyourbookshelf verdict: Sad to say, as this is the rarest book I own, but I don't want it in my collection anymore. I'm selling it.
November 29, 2022
The Three Damosels by Vera Chapman.
The Three Damosels consists of three novella length stories, all around 150 pages each.
The Green Night.
The King's Damosel.
King Arthur's Daughter.
As the titles suggest this is an Arthurian book following three female main characters. All based in the time of King Arthur on the throne and encapsulating a time period of around 5 decades. The three stories, although separate from the other all have characters that show up in the next with the third and final story tying both the first stories together. Merlin and Morgan Le Fay are also prominent characters.
I really enjoyed this book and the style in which it was written. It felt quite authentic to the time and was told like a fairytale. This is old school fantasy, first published in 1975. I feel its stood the test of time and so glad that @read.write.janis brought it to my attention many months ago. I just wish I could find the post of the person who's review I read 🤔
The Three Damosels consists of three novella length stories, all around 150 pages each.
The Green Night.
The King's Damosel.
King Arthur's Daughter.
As the titles suggest this is an Arthurian book following three female main characters. All based in the time of King Arthur on the throne and encapsulating a time period of around 5 decades. The three stories, although separate from the other all have characters that show up in the next with the third and final story tying both the first stories together. Merlin and Morgan Le Fay are also prominent characters.
I really enjoyed this book and the style in which it was written. It felt quite authentic to the time and was told like a fairytale. This is old school fantasy, first published in 1975. I feel its stood the test of time and so glad that @read.write.janis brought it to my attention many months ago. I just wish I could find the post of the person who's review I read 🤔
May 31, 2020
This was such a joy to read - I'm glad I picked it up from a book box!
June 21, 2021
Stylistically good and historically sound, just didn't hit the right tone for me.
Less unicorns than depicted.
Less unicorns than depicted.
November 20, 2021
4.5/5 stars!
Beautiful, female driven re-telling of Arthurian lefends. The language is rich, romantic, and full. The story is a great mix of action, romance, and charm. A new favorite for sure.
Beautiful, female driven re-telling of Arthurian lefends. The language is rich, romantic, and full. The story is a great mix of action, romance, and charm. A new favorite for sure.
October 15, 2023
The Green Knight- 4/5
The King's Damsel- 3/5
King Arthur's Daughter- boring, gave up on chapter 7.
The King's Damsel- 3/5
King Arthur's Daughter- boring, gave up on chapter 7.
November 26, 2012
Not a bad read, the stories are well told, more like legends and less like romances, they tell of adventure and religion and good prevailing over evil and with the heroes being constantly put to the test by evil forces. It focuses on the legend that Arthur's "seed" survived unknown and without title (meaning that anyone, anywhere could be his heir - one amongst many) and it seeks out to speak to humanity with the same sense of unity that Arthur and his knights sought for in Britain. In short, that the belief in Arthur's legend and his knightly vows will lead the world to a united kingdom, and of course that Arthur will come again, when "it's time".
I keep my doubts when talking about this early Christian innocence that good men will lead good people and peace will prevail, human interaction is a little more complex than that, I believe.
Still a good read and a beautiful set of legends that after all really have the power to inspire in us a will to be better.
I keep my doubts when talking about this early Christian innocence that good men will lead good people and peace will prevail, human interaction is a little more complex than that, I believe.
Still a good read and a beautiful set of legends that after all really have the power to inspire in us a will to be better.
April 24, 2010
Hmm. This book started out okay but in the second part (The Kings Damosel) it got extremely...twisted in extremely twisted ways (It came to a point of twistedness that I couldn't finish reading it. I didn't make it far after Lucius came in). I would not reccomend it at all. For those who want to read this book for the same reason i did, because of the movie "based off it" (Quest for Camelot), don't waste your time. It has almost nothing to do with the movie The movie was WAY better (and not twisted in grotesque ways.) Comparement of book and movie would be made but this is about the book not the movie. Yeah, it was a super twisted. I wish I never started reading the second part. The first part (The Green Knight) was good though.
April 22, 2020
Three short Arthurian novels, gathered together in one volume. The stories are vaguely connected, as the author takes a somewhat unique approach to the legendary stories. In The Green Knight she creates a young Gawain, and also envisions someone else pulling the strings behind Sir Bertilak and his lady.
The King's Damosel is the story of what happens to Lynett's after her unwilling marriage to Gareth's brother Gaheris.
What if Arthur and Guinevere had had a daughter? That is the premise behind King Arthur's Daughter.
The characters are all interesting, and believable. And the plots fit well into the author's world. Recommended.
The King's Damosel is the story of what happens to Lynett's after her unwilling marriage to Gareth's brother Gaheris.
What if Arthur and Guinevere had had a daughter? That is the premise behind King Arthur's Daughter.
The characters are all interesting, and believable. And the plots fit well into the author's world. Recommended.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews