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| Date first published |  | |
| ISBN Number | 0 140 23287 7 | |
| Page Count | 477 p/b | |
| h/b= hardback : p/b= paperback | ||
Excalibur
Storyline
Guinevere has betrayed Arthur and left a wound deeper than any spear thrust. The Saxons scenting weakness plan to destroy Arthur and gain control over England. However Arthur faces enemies from all sides, hated by the Christians, and the Pagans, there is also the threat from Lancelot, now a puppet King of the Saxons.Merlin, carries on his great quest to bring the old Gods back to Britain, but at a huge cost, in sweat toil and blood. Nimue is also working to that goal, but in a far more ruthless way, nothing will stand in her way, even if it means killing all of her friends.
This is the final chapter of Arthur's story, telling of his greatest triumph, his greatest danger, and the last enchantment.
Review
The first two stories of the trilogy were fantastic pieces of work, and luckily the standard of Excalibur is just as high.
Merlin and his quest feature less in this. Arthur himself does not appear a great deal, as Derfel relates the battle of Battle of Badon, making only a late entry into the fray. The battle and siege come about by accident, as Derfel unfurls one of Arthurs standards, and they lay siege in the hope of killing Arthur and ending British resistance. As with all Cornwall books the battles are well done, though are a slow paced compared to the action in later wars.
The book is less about war, and more of the political intrigues of the time. Arthur has united the free Britains, but only in hating him. He also unwittingly unleashes Mordred upon the British people. Mordred is finally defeated at Camlann, but at a terrible cost, the loss of Arthur.
Derfel, always the stalwart, is heading for the monastery. How he gets there is long and complicated, but he does it for love, to gain her release from Nimue, who has become and implacable enemy.
The whole story is a lot darker. The wonder of the Saxon defeat is soon lost in the plotting and counter plotting until at last Dumnonia is finally defeated and absorbed into Gwent. With Arthur being carried away with his family. The story finally ends with the defeat of Nimue, with the destruction of Excalibur.
Although battles feature in the trilogy, they have not sat at the heart of the books (unlike Sharpe), and so the character of Derfel, can move from soldier to Councillor to emissary quite easily. I never felt that Sharpe sat easily in the stories set off the battlefield.
An excellent concluding book to the trilogy.
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