The Pendragon's Banner Trilogy · Book One of the Pendragon's Banner Trilogy
The Kingmaking
There is very little evidence for what really happened in the hundred years or so between the going of the Romans and the dominance of Britain by the Anglo-Saxons, the English. There is a period of myth and romance, a Dark Age where knowledge has been forgotten and replaced by stories. We have a few, challengeable facts and even fewer names, the best-known being Arthur and his wife Guinevere or, as I call her, Gwenhwyfar.
Whether Arthur was real or a character of fiction is not certain. We do know fifth century Britain was in turmoil, and that someone had the strength to apply organisation to the chaos. If it was not 'Arthur', there is no other legendary character to fit the gap. My Pendragon's Banner trilogy is my personal view of those Dark Ages.
Early references to Arthur do not portray him as a chivalric, benevolent king - the opposite in fact. A down-to-earth, ruthless war leader. This, then, is my Arthur. There are no court niceties in The Kingmaking.
Available in paperback.
“Hollick mixes elements from fifth-century history, myth, early romances, contemporary fantasy and other novels about Arthur, adding her own inventions for good measure. The treatment of Gwenhwyfar and her love for Arthur is especially vivid. This big-hearted novel's historical speculations alone should make it of interest to the non-fantasy reader as well.”
- Publishers Weekly
“Stripped of its medieval trappings, the story of Arthur's rise loses none of its legendary power. Most libraries will want to add this well-researched, skillfully constructed trilogy opener to their collections.”
- The Library Journal
“Helen Hollick has it all! She tells a great story, and gets her history right.”
- Bernard Cornwell
“Helen Hollick's writing is very rich and lush. I'm very impressed.”
- Suzanne McLeod