Child of the Northern Spring

Arthur's Queen Guinevere is a tantalizing and controversial figure, metamorphosing in legend from ancient Britain's gracious first lady to an imperious adulteress, Lancelot's lover, tried for treason and held responsible for the Round Table's decay. Woolley's pleasing first novel, the inaugural volume of a planned trilogy, portrays a sensitive young woman who will appeal to modern readers. A princess of Rheged in Northern Britain, Guinevere is betrothed for political reasons to the High King, Arthur. Riding to meet her husband, Guinevere learns about Arthur's conquests as a rising warrior. The new Christian religion threatens to displace the Druid mysteries and their priestesses, one of whomMorgan le Fey, the Lady of the Black Lakeviews Guinevere askance. Lancelot is as yet an off-stage character, but other companions of Camelot (Merlin, Gawain and a gangly Tristan) are introduced as Woolley leads up to the royal wedding and prepares the scene for Guinevere's future troubles. The author's inventive use of research enables her to vividly recreate sixth century Britain in the throes of change. BOMC alternate. (May 25)