Here Lies Arthur
by Philip Reeve
This is an inventive and refreshing retelling of the traditional Arthur story. Gwyna is an orphan, on her own and on the run after her village has been destroyed and burned. Arthur is not yet king, but rather an arrogant, thick-headed bully on his way up with the help of his bard and adviser, Myrrdin. Myrrdin, a wise and cunning man, takes Gwyna finds Gwyna and uses her to help him build the legend of Arthur, ensuring his rise to fame, glory and, finally, to kingship. Myrrdin has Gwyna pose as a boy, his servant, using her to pose as the Lady of the Lake and perpetuate other myths that we now all associate with great and noble King Arthur.
What if Arthur really was just another war mongering brute, a typical man of his day who was more interested in his sword and battle victories than the soul of chivalry? What if it was all an elaborate ruse, manipulated by an ambitious confidence trickster? Gwyna’s story is a wonderful imagining and “what if” scenario that explains the mystical tales and impossibly heroic exploits that surround Arthur – tales and exploits that are still retold and handed down today.
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Filed under: 6th Grade Book Talk, adventure, Fantasy
