Albion (novel series)
Encyclopedia
Albion is a trilogy of historical novel
s set in Arthurian
Britain by British author Patrick McCormack.
, and ten years after Camlann. It is told in third person, from the point of view of numerous different characters. Through flashbacks and narrations by some of them, details of the past are revealed, concentrated in the periods before and after Arthur’s great victories over the Saxons. The plot centres around the 'Chalice of Sovereignty', a cup which Arthur obtains in mysterious circumstances and which leads to his acclamation as Amherawdyr (Emperor) of Britain. Now, ten years after his death, certain kinglets are trying to obtain the Chalice, while former members of Arthur's court struggle to stop them. As the series progresses towards its climax, these characters are drawn together, and are joined by younger companions, both Britons and Saxons. For a moment the spirit of Arthur's Britain is revived, but at the same time it is clear that the future belongs with the Saxons. The novels are steeped in the early Welsh history, myths and legends, uninfluenced by the later Arthurian Romances. While there are strong elements of fantasy, such as scrying
and the echo of legends in present events, the setting is mostly realistic, even gritty.
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
s set in Arthurian
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
Britain by British author Patrick McCormack.
Series
- The Last Companion (1997)
- The White Phantom (2000)
- The Lame Dancer (unpublished, but available )
Overview
The story takes place around 520, thirty years after the battle of BadonBattle of Mons Badonicus
The Battle of Mons Badonicus was a battle between a force of Britons and an Anglo-Saxon army, probably sometime between 490 and 517 AD. Though it is believed to have been a major political and military event, there is no certainty about its date, location or the details of the fighting...
, and ten years after Camlann. It is told in third person, from the point of view of numerous different characters. Through flashbacks and narrations by some of them, details of the past are revealed, concentrated in the periods before and after Arthur’s great victories over the Saxons. The plot centres around the 'Chalice of Sovereignty', a cup which Arthur obtains in mysterious circumstances and which leads to his acclamation as Amherawdyr (Emperor) of Britain. Now, ten years after his death, certain kinglets are trying to obtain the Chalice, while former members of Arthur's court struggle to stop them. As the series progresses towards its climax, these characters are drawn together, and are joined by younger companions, both Britons and Saxons. For a moment the spirit of Arthur's Britain is revived, but at the same time it is clear that the future belongs with the Saxons. The novels are steeped in the early Welsh history, myths and legends, uninfluenced by the later Arthurian Romances. While there are strong elements of fantasy, such as scrying
Scrying
Scrying is a magic practice that involves seeing things psychically in a medium, usually for purposes of obtaining spiritual visions and less often for purposes of divination or fortune-telling. The most common media used are reflective, translucent, or luminescent substances such as crystals,...
and the echo of legends in present events, the setting is mostly realistic, even gritty.