Child of the Northern Spring
Encyclopedia
Child of the Northern Spring is the first novel in Persia Woolley
's Guinevere trilogy
, about the Arthurian legend. The novel is written in first person
perspective narrated by Guinevere
in the form of a frame narrative.
of Rheged
to Logres
, in order to marry King Arthur
. Along the journey, Guinevere recalls scenes from her childhood. Later, Bedivere
retells the story of Arthur's ascension as High King
, focusing on the events that surround Arthur meeting his father Uther, his investiture of Excalibur
by Vivien the Lady of the Lake
(and her subsequent death at the hands of Sir Balin
) and the subsequent war with King Lot
of Lothian
. Afterwards, Guinevere retells how the war with Lot affected Guinevere's people directly. The book continues to show episodes of her youth and several proposed offers of marriage, including, among others, Gawain
, Uwain, her cousin Maelgwn
(who was willing to put aside his own wife in order to marry her), Gildas
and King Mark of Cornwall
(made on his behalf by his nephew Tristan
).
Arthur and Guinevere's marriage is a hasty affair, due to an invasion that was timed to coincide with the wedding celebrations, an act attempt at catching Arthur unaware. During this time Guinevere is left with Igraine
and Morgan le Fey, the latter leaves when Guinevere discovers her and her paramour Accolon
. Following Arthur's return there is the first meeting of the Round Table
, which is a suggestion of Guinevere's.
Persia Woolley
Persia Woolley is an author, perhaps best known for her Guinevere trilogy. She also has written a number of works on writing, such as How to Write and Sell Historical Fiction.-Works:...
's Guinevere trilogy
Guinevere trilogy
The Guinevere trilogy is a trilogy of historical novels written by Persia Woolley about the Arthurian legend from the first-person perspective of King Arthur's wife, Guinevere....
, about the Arthurian legend. The novel is written in first person
First-person narrative
First-person point of view is a narrative mode where a story is narrated by one character at a time, speaking for and about themselves. First-person narrative may be singular, plural or multiple as well as being an authoritative, reliable or deceptive "voice" and represents point of view in the...
perspective narrated by Guinevere
Guinevere
Guinevere was the legendary queen consort of King Arthur. In tales and folklore, she was said to have had a love affair with Arthur's chief knight Sir Lancelot...
in the form of a frame narrative.
Plot summary
The novel begins on the night before Guinevere's departure from her home, the kingdomMonarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
of Rheged
Rheged
Rheged is described in poetic sources as one of the kingdoms of the Hen Ogledd , the Brythonic-speaking region of what is now northern England and southern Scotland, during the Early Middle Ages...
to Logres
Logres
Logres is the name of King Arthur's realm in the Matter of Britain. It derives from the Welsh word Lloegr, a name of uncertain origin meaning "England"....
, in order to marry King Arthur
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
. Along the journey, Guinevere recalls scenes from her childhood. Later, Bedivere
Bedivere
In Arthurian legend, Sir Bedivere is the Knight of the Round Table who returns Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake. He serves as King Arthur's marshal and is frequently associated with Sir Kay...
retells the story of Arthur's ascension as High King
High king
A high king is a king who holds a position of seniority over a group of other kings, without the title of Emperor; compare King of Kings.Rulers who have been termed "high king" include:...
, focusing on the events that surround Arthur meeting his father Uther, his investiture of Excalibur
Excalibur
Excalibur is the legendary sword of King Arthur, sometimes attributed with magical powers or associated with the rightful sovereignty of Great Britain. Sometimes Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone are said to be the same weapon, but in most versions they are considered separate. The sword was...
by Vivien the Lady of the Lake
Lady of the Lake
The Lady of the Lake is the name of several related characters who play parts in the Arthurian legend. These characters' roles include giving King Arthur his sword Excalibur, enchanting Merlin, and raising Lancelot after the death of his father...
(and her subsequent death at the hands of Sir Balin
Sir Balin
Sir Balin le Savage , also known as the Knight with the Two Swords, is a character in the Arthurian legend. Merlin told King Arthur he would have been his best and bravest knight. A knight before the Round Table was formed, Sir Balin hails from Northumberland, and is associated with Sir Balan, his...
) and the subsequent war with King Lot
King Lot
Lot or Loth is the eponymous king of Lothian in the Arthurian legend. He is best known as the father of Sir Gawain. Such a ruler evidently first appeared in hagiographical material concerning Saint Kentigern , which feature a Leudonus, king of Leudonia, a Latin name for Lothian...
of Lothian
Lothian
Lothian forms a traditional region of Scotland, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills....
. Afterwards, Guinevere retells how the war with Lot affected Guinevere's people directly. The book continues to show episodes of her youth and several proposed offers of marriage, including, among others, Gawain
Gawain
Gawain is King Arthur's nephew and a Knight of the Round Table who appears very early in the Arthurian legend's development. He is one of a select number of Round Table members to be referred to as the greatest knight, most notably in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight...
, Uwain, her cousin Maelgwn
Maelgwn
A number of Welsh kings and princes have borne the name Maelgwn:* Maelgwn Gwynedd , king of Gwynedd*Maelgwn ab Owain Gwynedd , son of Owain Gwynedd and ruler of Anglesey...
(who was willing to put aside his own wife in order to marry her), Gildas
Gildas
Gildas was a 6th-century British cleric. He is one of the best-documented figures of the Christian church in the British Isles during this period. His renowned learning and literary style earned him the designation Gildas Sapiens...
and King Mark of Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
(made on his behalf by his nephew Tristan
Tristan
Tristan is one of the main characters of the Tristan and Iseult story, a Cornish hero and one of the Knights of the Round Table featuring in the Matter of Britain...
).
Arthur and Guinevere's marriage is a hasty affair, due to an invasion that was timed to coincide with the wedding celebrations, an act attempt at catching Arthur unaware. During this time Guinevere is left with Igraine
Igraine
Igraine , in Arthurian legend, is the mother of King Arthur. She is also known in Latin as Igerna, in Welsh as Eigyr, in French as Igerne, in Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur as Ygrayne— often modernized as Igraine—and in Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival as Arnive...
and Morgan le Fey, the latter leaves when Guinevere discovers her and her paramour Accolon
Accolon
In Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur, when King Arthur entrusted Excalibur into Morgan le Fay's care, she had a duplicate made; the real scabbard was then passed from her to her lover Accalon ....
. Following Arthur's return there is the first meeting of the Round Table
Round Table
The Round Table is King Arthur's famed table in the Arthurian legend, around which he and his Knights congregate. As its name suggests, it has no head, implying that everyone who sits there has equal status. The table was first described in 1155 by Wace, who relied on previous depictions of...
, which is a suggestion of Guinevere's.
Adaptations of the Arthurian Legend
- Sir BalinSir BalinSir Balin le Savage , also known as the Knight with the Two Swords, is a character in the Arthurian legend. Merlin told King Arthur he would have been his best and bravest knight. A knight before the Round Table was formed, Sir Balin hails from Northumberland, and is associated with Sir Balan, his...
and Sir BalanSir BalanSir Balan le Savage, brother of Sir Balin from Northumberland, is a minor character mentioned in various Arthurian legends. His story is retold, along with his brother's, in The Ballad of Balin and Balan, Book II in Malory's Le Morté d' Arthur and by Alfred, Lord Tennyson in Idylls of the...
, while twins in the Arthurian legend, are two personalities in the same person. Balin/Balan destroys himself in the end, tearing his own flesh limb from limb. - The Lady of the LakeLady of the LakeThe Lady of the Lake is the name of several related characters who play parts in the Arthurian legend. These characters' roles include giving King Arthur his sword Excalibur, enchanting Merlin, and raising Lancelot after the death of his father...
is for the head of the druidDruidA druid was a member of the priestly class in Britain, Ireland, and Gaul, and possibly other parts of Celtic western Europe, during the Iron Age....
order rather than a specific person. VivienVivienVivien may refer to:Women* A character in Arthurian legend, in some versions the name of Lady of the Lake, in others the equivalent of Morgan LeFay* Renée Vivien, British poet* Vivien Leigh, English actress* Vivien Cardone, American actress...
is the first lady of the lake and she is succeeded by Arthur's half sister Morgan le Fey after her death. - Nimue is depicted as a "doire", a keeper of a sacred well, and initiates Guinevere with a blessing before her wedding. She was ostracised by Morgan le Fey, possibly through jealousy, due to her direct contact with the Triple Goddess.
- Morgan le Fey forges ExcaliburExcaliburExcalibur is the legendary sword of King Arthur, sometimes attributed with magical powers or associated with the rightful sovereignty of Great Britain. Sometimes Excalibur and the Sword in the Stone are said to be the same weapon, but in most versions they are considered separate. The sword was...
after the death of her predecessor Viven. She places it in the stone where it is removed by Arthur at a ritual following the war with King LotKing LotLot or Loth is the eponymous king of Lothian in the Arthurian legend. He is best known as the father of Sir Gawain. Such a ruler evidently first appeared in hagiographical material concerning Saint Kentigern , which feature a Leudonus, king of Leudonia, a Latin name for Lothian...
. - The Round TableRound TableThe Round Table is King Arthur's famed table in the Arthurian legend, around which he and his Knights congregate. As its name suggests, it has no head, implying that everyone who sits there has equal status. The table was first described in 1155 by Wace, who relied on previous depictions of...
is not an actual table, rather it refers to the fact that the tables are arranged in a round. It is not only knights that sit there, but women of the court and later political leaders.