"*An absorbing portrait of the Arthurian age.** "*****
-San Francisco Chronicle
Among the first to look at the story of Camelot through Guinevere's eyes, Woolley sets the traditional tale in the time of its origin, after Britain has shattered into warring fiefdoms. Hampered by neither fantasy nor medieval romance, this young Guinevere is a feisty Celtic tomboy who sees no reason why she must learn to speak Latin, wear dresses, and go south to marry that king. But legends being what they are, the story of Arthur's rise to power soon intrigues her, and when they finally meet, Guinevere and Arthur form a partnership that has lasted for 1500 years.
This is Arthurian epic at its best-filled with romance, adventure, authentic Dark Ages detail, and wonderfully human people.
Praise for Persia Woolley's Guinevere Trilogy
"Original...accurate in detail...Child of the Northern Spring**** is rich and sweet."
-New York Times__
"Vivid...dramatic...once again we are captivated by the magic of the legend that has long fed our appetite for pageantry and romantic adventure."
-Washington Post
"Vividly re-creates sixth-century Britain in the throes of change...Child of the Northern Spring**** portrays a sensitive young woman who will appeal to modern readers."
-Publishers Weekly__
"Richly textured, evoking the sights and sounds of castle and countryside, the qualities of knight and servant. Highly recommended."
-Library Journal
From Publishers Weekly
____Starred Review. The standout opening volume of Woolley's Guinevere trilogy, first published in 1987, describes the Celtic princess's childhood in loving, sensuous detail with an uncannily accurate historical eye for day-to-day details. As Guinevere comes of age to marry Arthur, the recently crowned high king of Britain, Woolley does a marvelous job of portraying the political upheaval of the time. Despite the struggle between Celtic and Roman culture, Guinevere finds herself working with Arthur to unify a divided country and repel the onslaughts of Saxon invaders and rebellious kings. The sharply delineated cast will be familiar to any fan of Arthuriana, though many characters get new twists. While hardly the first book to retell these myths from a woman's perspective, this is an engrossing and satisfying addition to the canon. (Nov.) (c)
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Review
____The writing was sophisticated, the characters stem from legendary stories and there was enough action and romance to keep readers engaged. (Palmer's Picks for Reading 20101101)
____Guinevere is bold and strong, a true heroine in every sense of the word. Guinevere truly gets a rework here. Rather than being the wishy-washy fair-headed maiden of the romantic legend, she is a formidable Queen. (Queen of Happy Endings 20101101)
____An enthralling read with fascinating three-dimensional portrayals of Arthurian legendary characters set in a historical accurate Britain. (Laura's Reviews 20101108)
____This is quality storytelling that has stood the test of time, and I look forward to seeing the other two volumes in this trilogy back in print. (Historical Novels Reviews 20101108)
____Fans of the Arthurian legends will appreciate and love this re-telling. (Debbie's Book Bag 20101118)
____It is evident from the beginning that Woolley took her time researching the history of the time period as she goes into extraordinarily vivid description. Her characters come to life. (Rundpinne 20101118)
____The world of Arthur and Guinevere was masterfully created. (The Maiden's Court 20101123)
____eeing developments through the eyes of Guinevere... gave the story an entirely different feel, rhythm, and emphasis. (Apprentice-Writer 20101129)
____Persia Woolley delivers in Child of the Northern Spring... it has garnered itself a spot in my permanent collection. (Read All Over Reviews 20101201)
____Every little detail was so spot on and it was very impressive. You feel as if you are a part of it. (Books Like Breathing 20101201)
____Woolley brings light to the to this time period and she paints vivid images of what life was like at the time of the 'Celtic Renaissance' when the many Celtic tribes revolted against marauding Anglo-Saxons. (Books by the Willow Tree 20101206) ____