I, Morgain: A Novella

Ostensibly the old-age memoirs of King Arthur's half-sister, this slim volume, chronicling Arthur's origins, reign and downfall, breaks no new ground and preserves the Malory depiction of the narrator as an evil manipulator. In a Britain gradually shifting from Druidic paganism to Christianity, Morgain seeks to destroy Arthur because he will not share power with her. Morgain comes across as a willful and rather petulant aristocrat who suffers when her attempts to avenge the rape of her mother and destruction of her father cause a young woman's death. Morgain recounts her life and attachments, including Merlin, her first love, and those whom she uses in her plots. She seduces a drunken Arthur, secretly bearing Mordred, the destroyer, and is banished from court, here Cadbury Castle, for lasciviousness, in particular for her dalliance with Guinevere's brother. Morgain's consistent erotic interests, while not overly explicit, will preclude this tale from children's lists. (Feb.)