The Mists of Avalon

The Mists of Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley's novel, tells the King Arthur myth from a feminist point of view. The book tells the story from Morgaine's (in the old sources often called Morgan Le Faye) viewpoint, following her life instead of Arthur's, thus removing the negative stigma attached to her character. In the book Bradley depicts Morgaine as a woman fighting for a (more archetypal than historical) matriarchal Celtic culture in a country where patriarchal Christianity threatens to destroy the druidic way of life. Arthur, in her novel, is a strong leader and king, but is unable to resist the ideas of his Christian wife Gwenhwyfar. The novel was a best-seller upon its publication in 1983 and has remained popular to this day.

Reference

• Marion Zimmer Bradley. The Mists of Avalon. c1982.