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Historical Excalibur by Bernard Cornwell $14.95 / Griffin / 1999 Hundreds of books have been written about King Arthur, and Bernard Cornwell's version is yet another addition to the shelves of Arthuriana. Happily, Excalibur is both true to legend and refreshingly original. Arthur, an illegitimate son of King Uther, is bound by oath to protect Uther's legitimate heir, Mordred. A bitter, crippled youth who hates Arthur, Mordred does everything he can to gain control of his kingdom. Meanwhile, Arthur must defend the country against Saxon invaders. His achievements are told by Derfel, one of Arthur's warlords who survives him. Yet that story is not the familiar one of a much-loved king defeated by the corruption of those around him, but rather that of a man who must make the best of his unwanted burdens, including leadership. Though he is committed to defending Britain, at heart, Cornwell's Arthur wants nothing more than a peaceful home in which to grow old, surrounded by friends. Many recent Arthurian novels have been written from a female point of view, but Excalibur is written from a definite masculine perspective, where gory battle scenes are intertwined with magic and myth to provide a backdrop for believable characters. Cornwell's storytelling skill and unique vision of Arthur bring a much-needed human dimension to the legends. —Sara Polsky

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