In this beautifully executed continuation of The Road to Avalon , her earlier depiction of sixth-century Britain, Wolf tells the story of Niniane, a Celtic princess, and Ceawlin, bastard son of the King of the West Saxons. Eighty years after the death of Arthur, the Celts are disorganized, drifting away from the cities built by the Romans. The vigorous Saxons, on the other hand, have settled down and become civilized, creating in many ways a more viable culture. Niniane and Ceawlin escape from Winchester, the West Saxon stronghold, after he kills his brother in a fight and is disinherited. With help from the Celts and some dissatisfied Saxon thanes, Ceawlin fights for and claims the Saxon crown. Throughout the years, the couple's family and love grow, as does the Saxon kingdom, more Celts realizing that Saxon rule provides stability in a dangerous age. Ceawlin also must the fight treachery of his father's wife, of his trusted adviser, his best friend and most perilously, of his Celtic brother-in-law. Wolf's vivid picture of life among the Saxons and Celts is well imagined--so little is known about the time--and given an air of authenticity with its attention to detail and acute psychological portrayals.
