Synopses & Reviews
Everyone knows the story-how Arthur pulled the sword from the stone, how Camelot came to be, and about the power struggles that ultimately destroyed Arthur's dreams. But what of the time before Arthur and the forces that created him?
How did the legend really come to pass?
Before the time of Arthur and his Camelot, Britain was a dark and deadly place, savaged by warring factions of Picts, Celts, and invading Saxons. The Roman citizens who had lived there for generations were suddenly faced with a deadly choice: Should they leave and take up residence in a corrupt Roman world that was utterly foreign, or should they stay and face the madness that would ensue when Britain's last bastion of safety for the civilized, the Roman legions, left?
For two Romans, Publius Varrus and his friend Caius Britannicus, there can be only one answer. They will stay, to preserve what is best of Roman life, and will create a new culture out of the wreckage. In doing so, they will unknowingly plant the seeds of legend-for these two men are Arthur's great-grandfathers, and their actions will shape a nation . . . and forge a sword known as Excalibur.
Review
"From the building blocks of history and the mortar of reality, Jack Whyte has built Arthur's world, and showed us the bone beneath the flesh of legend."-Diana Gabaldon
"Jack Whyte is a master storyteller . . . . Wyte breathes life into the Arthurian myths by weaving the reality of history into them."-Tony Hillerman
"I loved the book. It was an extraordinary story, totally original and clearly there is a lot more excitement to come in the upcoming volumes."-Rosamunde Pilcher
Synopsis
This first novel in Jack Whyte's riveting Arthurian series tells how the story of Camelot may have actually come to be.
We all know the story--how Arthur pulled the sword from the stone and how Camelot came to be.
But how did it really happen?
The Roman citizens of Britain faced a deadly choice: leave to live in a corrupt Roman world, or stay amidst the violence of the warring factions of Picts, Celts, and invading Saxons.
For Publius Varrus and Caius Britannicus, there is only one answer. They will stay, try to preserve the best of Roman life, and create a new culture from the wreckage.
In doing so, they will plant the seeds of a legend. For these two men are Arthur's great-grandfathers and their actions will shape a nation...and forge the sword known as Excalibur.
About the Author
Jack Whyte is a Scots-born, award-winning Canadian author whose poem,
The Faceless One, was featured at the 1991 New York Film Festival.
The Camulod Chronicles is his greatest work, a stunning retelling of one of our greatest legends: the making of King Arthurs Britain. He lives in British Columbia, Canada.