Everyone loves a gripping tale full of intrigue, with interesting characters and story-lines that revolve around human relationships. In the myths and legends of olden times, fantastical creatures and a bit of magic often increased the drama. Even today these elements still make for a gripping read. A common theme for contemporary fantasy romance novels based in England is the legends of long ago, particularly the stories of Camelot.
Fantasy romance is a genre of literature that combines the elements of two other genres, those of fantasy and of romance. Fantasy books deal with magic and myth, while the romance genre deals with romantic love. Many of the stories in Arthurian legend are a perfect combination of these themes, with magic helping or hindering lovers.
Nobody knows whether King Arthur actually existed. According to legend, he was king of Britain in the fifth or the sixth century. At the time, England was a place of conflict: Anglo-Saxon invasions, the spread of Christianity to the detriment of the old religions, and endless struggles for power. Arthur supposedly brought peace with the help of his knights, who would convene around a round table at his castle, the legendary Camelot.
One of the most famous love stories in Arthurian legend is that of Lancelot and Guinevere. Lancelot is one of King Arthur's most trusted Knights of the Round Table. He was raised in Avalon, the magic kingdom of the Lady of the Lake, and among his brave exploits is his killing of a dragon. The relationship between him and Guinevere, the king's wife, makes for a tragic love triangle which eventually helps to bring Arthur's kingdom to a fall.
Lancelot and Guinevere's is not the only love triangle in Arthurian legend. One that inspired a famous opera is the story of the knight Tristan and his uncle's bride, Iseult. It is a love potion that brings these two lovers together and causes mayhem at the court of Mark, the King of Cornwall.
There are also some beautiful stories that have a happy ending. One of these is the tale of Sir Gawain and the Dame Ragnelle. Gawain marries Ragnelle, a truly ugly woman, in order to save Arthur's life. This act partially breaks the spell that destroyed Ragnelle's looks in the first place and Gawain, through his chivalry, eventually breaks the spell completely to restore Ragnelle's beauty.
Several classic works in literature are based on the stories of King Arthur. Contemporary novels, especially those in the fantasy genre, are often inspired by the legends of Camelot too. Sometimes the authors take the old stories and give them a contemporary setting. More often, though, they tell a specific Arthurian story but from a different angle, such as in the extremely popular 'The Mists of Avalon'.
To find stories based on Arthurian legend in your local bookstore or library, look in the sections marked 'fantasy' or 'romance'. You'll find the older versions under the 'classics'. If you want to make the search much easier, simply go online. This way you can also use the reviews to decide whether a specific novel will be for you.
Fantasy romance is a genre of literature that combines the elements of two other genres, those of fantasy and of romance. Fantasy books deal with magic and myth, while the romance genre deals with romantic love. Many of the stories in Arthurian legend are a perfect combination of these themes, with magic helping or hindering lovers.
Nobody knows whether King Arthur actually existed. According to legend, he was king of Britain in the fifth or the sixth century. At the time, England was a place of conflict: Anglo-Saxon invasions, the spread of Christianity to the detriment of the old religions, and endless struggles for power. Arthur supposedly brought peace with the help of his knights, who would convene around a round table at his castle, the legendary Camelot.
One of the most famous love stories in Arthurian legend is that of Lancelot and Guinevere. Lancelot is one of King Arthur's most trusted Knights of the Round Table. He was raised in Avalon, the magic kingdom of the Lady of the Lake, and among his brave exploits is his killing of a dragon. The relationship between him and Guinevere, the king's wife, makes for a tragic love triangle which eventually helps to bring Arthur's kingdom to a fall.
Lancelot and Guinevere's is not the only love triangle in Arthurian legend. One that inspired a famous opera is the story of the knight Tristan and his uncle's bride, Iseult. It is a love potion that brings these two lovers together and causes mayhem at the court of Mark, the King of Cornwall.
There are also some beautiful stories that have a happy ending. One of these is the tale of Sir Gawain and the Dame Ragnelle. Gawain marries Ragnelle, a truly ugly woman, in order to save Arthur's life. This act partially breaks the spell that destroyed Ragnelle's looks in the first place and Gawain, through his chivalry, eventually breaks the spell completely to restore Ragnelle's beauty.
Several classic works in literature are based on the stories of King Arthur. Contemporary novels, especially those in the fantasy genre, are often inspired by the legends of Camelot too. Sometimes the authors take the old stories and give them a contemporary setting. More often, though, they tell a specific Arthurian story but from a different angle, such as in the extremely popular 'The Mists of Avalon'.
To find stories based on Arthurian legend in your local bookstore or library, look in the sections marked 'fantasy' or 'romance'. You'll find the older versions under the 'classics'. If you want to make the search much easier, simply go online. This way you can also use the reviews to decide whether a specific novel will be for you.
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