Thomas Spok

The Arthur legend or myth, the Knights of the Round Table, Merlin, Camelot, Avalon, the Lady of the Lake, ... In itself, quite interesting and wonderful. Especially in France, the myth is very much alive: Brocéliande en Bretagne (Facebook-page) and Centre de l'Imaginaire Arthurien (rel="nofollow" target="_top">the Facebook-page). Definitely a place I'd like to go to some day.

In 'Uter Pandragon', Thomas Spok decided to take a different approach on the Arthurian myth. There are no Knights of the Round Table, no Guinevere (or does Ronwen fulfil that role?), no Lancelot, and so on; there is Hengist, Vortigern, Merlin, Oberon, etc. Uther Pendragon (or Uter Pandragon, in French) is split into two characters (hence the title, Uter Pandragon): Uter and Pandragon, two brothers, each with a different Personality. Their father, King Constant, actually had three sons, but the eldest son died prematurely (or was murdered). The then-seneschal, Vortigern (Wikipedia), becomes the new king of (large) Brittany (in France and England), but rules in a totally different manner: lots of taxes, not really caring about the population, and so on. The man wants riches, gold, and personal pleasure. And an own tower.

Uter and Pandragon grew up in Constantinople, far away and safe under Byzantine rule. As several barons in Brittany are dissatisfied with how Vortigern rules the country, they set up a campaign to bring back the two brothers, so that peace can be restored. Uter is like a teenager, a wild character, seducing women and what have you. His hormones rule his life. Pandragon, on the other hand, is the more educated, the more calculated one. And so, the quest to reclaim the throne and their heritage begins. To reign in Uter, he was given a page, Ulfin. Ulfin is in fact the wizard Merlin, who can shape-shift as he sees fit.

The brothers return, with the help of a part of the Byzantine army. The two sides are opposed: Uter/Pandragon and co. vs Vortigern and co. (including Picts, Scots, Vikings). The battle is a bloody one, but it will lead to Pandragon and Vortigern meeting face-to-face. Vortigern is so subdued by his wine-intake, that he doesn't recognise Pandragon, but thinks it's Constant. Pandragon has two of three artifacts that prove his kingship, his right to the throne. All he needs is the crown itself, to complete the set. Vortigern hands it over (I know, a personal fight, a bit more action would have been welcome, but as Vortigern was drunk...), and as Pandragon leaves the tower - which he entered in an unconventional way -, said tower starts to collapse. In addition, Pandragon's kingship doesn't last long after that. So, out with Vortigern, but also no Pandragon on the throne.

Uter, the lad who wanted to ride solo, dreamed of a life of perpetual war against the Saxons (ah, youthful silliness). Pandragon would have none of it, but still needed Uter's help in reclaiming the throne. Uter was given a lecture to make him see the error of his ways if he abandoned the mission prematurely. So, he sets out to improve his life, to aid his brother and even rid the world of demons threatening the lives of everyone, not in the least of those seeking to reclaim the throne and set aright what was wronged.

As Uter's dream of perpetual war (and playing the eternal warrior) will not come true, he doesn't want to rule, doesn't want to take his responsibility, since his brother Pandragon wasn't teh chosen one after all. The sword given to him by the Lady of the Lake gets stuck in a rock, one of which Uter was slashing out of anger, and so the sole survivor to rise to the throne is... Merlin. With a small guest appearance by Igraine. Where did she come from? Or was it the little girl who sang in some of the previous chapters and who didn't have a name, who would choose herself a name depending on the circumstances?

'Uter Pandragon' is a beautifully written (yes, you have to be proficient in French, without a doubt) story of politics, deceit, love (brotherly, but also one in which women play a decisive role, but have to submit to men's rule and commands; except for Ronwen - spouse of Vortigern -, who vows to show that women can fight their own battles), and magic (magical creatures, shapeshifters, ...). And when you thought that either Uter or Pandragon would take the throne and lead Brittany into a prosperous future, the ending presents us with a totally different outcome.

An original, alternative take on the Arthurian myth, very much recommended!

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List of Arthurian characters: Wikipedia.

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Other Arthur-related stories/books I've read:

[a:Bernard Cornwell|12542|Bernard Cornwell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1504578807p2/12542.jpg] - 'The Warlord Chronicles' / 'The Arthur Books':
01) [b:The Winter King|7297518|The Winter King (The Warlord Chronicles, #1)|Bernard Cornwell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327937401l/7297518._SY75_.jpg|115813] (my review)
02) [b:Enemy of God|828347|Enemy of God (The Warlord Chronicles, #2)|Bernard Cornwell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1332535893l/828347._SY75_.jpg|66401] (my review)
03) [b:Excalibur|828348|Excalibur (The Warlord Chronicles, #3)|Bernard Cornwell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1341340532l/828348._SY75_.jpg|3314752] (my review)

In French:
* [a:Lionel Davoust|2820698|Lionel Davoust|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] - L’Île close (my review)
* [a:Jeanne-A Debats|2879334|Jeanne-A Debats|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/f_50x66-6a03a5c12233c941481992b82eea8d23.png] - [b:Lance|42424179|Lance|Jeanne-A Debats|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1540319862l/42424179._SX50_.jpg|55973753] (my review)
* [a:Karim Berrouka|2123540|Karim Berrouka|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] - [b:Pourquoi dans les grands bois, aimé-je à m'égarer|42383287|Pourquoi dans les grands bois, aimé-je à m'égarer|Karim Berrouka|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539848348l/42383287._SX50_.jpg|55973750] (my review)

And back when I was little, one or two books by [a:Rosemary Sutcliff|26457|Rosemary Sutcliff|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1300512422p2/26457.jpg], at which time I wasn't really into reading and certainly not when it was an obligation for school.

Recently ordered: [b:Le Morte D'arthur|93297|Le Morte D'arthur|Thomas Malory|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348226467l/93297._SY75_.jpg|1361856], of which I hope it's a complete, unabridged edition, because the information on Goodreads isn't always reliable.

On my TBR-list:
[a:T.H. White|426944|T.H. White|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1246071532p2/426944.jpg] - [b:The Once and Future King|24500353|The Once and Future King|T.H. White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1421265787l/24500353._SY75_.jpg|1140206]… (altro)