Excalibur by Bernard Cornwell
“Only a fool wants war, but once a war starts then it cannot be fought half-heartedly. It cannot even be fought with regret, but must be waged with a savage joy in defeating the enemy, and it is that savage joy that inspires our bards to write their greatest songs about love and war.”
“Excalibur” is the third and final installment in Cornwell’s Arthur trilogy. All three books are excellent. Cornwell has taken the mythical Arthur and put him in what is perhaps his true historical setting — 5th century Britain. He brings Arthur, Guinevere, and the rest of the characters from the Arthurian legend to life as real people caught up in the events of the time. He does a masterful job of bringing these people to life against a background of war, intrigue, and the crude manners of the period while adding in a touch of the old magic of the druids and keeping close to the familiar events depicted in the myths.
His descriptions of warfare are unique and compellingly detailed. His use of words is spellbindingly woven to a point of genius. He could give lessons to Shakespeare and to the best of editors. You care about the people he weaves within his books, including those that you wish the most horrid endings; and it is those that survive that you want nothing but a lifetime of pain.
I’ve read many versions of the Arthur story. While it is difficult to rate one version against another as they are often so different, this is one of the best.
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