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Posted By: Pat0214 Nov 17, 2004 - 12:05 pm

Greetings everyone,

I just started reading Kingdom Of The Grail by Judith Tarr. I thought this was her first novel but a search on the Internet reveal that she's actualy been writting for almost 20 years. I never seen any of her books before.

I've only read about 100 pages so far but it's a very interesting book.

Kingdom Of The Grail is a mix of The Legend Of King Arthur with the old French Epic poem La Chanson The Roland (The Song Of Roland). Roland was the champion of the Frankish King Charlemagne or Charles The Great. In the poem it's told how Roland was left alone in the rear guard to defend the king's army against muslim attack in Spain. The poem is much longer than this of course and was written in old French (not easy to read)

In the book, Roland his a descendant of Merlin and as a young boy make's a promise to free Merlin. He's told that there's an old enemy of Merlin still about (like Merlin a sorcerer) and still trying to get his hand's on the Holy Grail.

Where I am in the book, muslim from Spain are asking the help of Charlemagne to defeat an upprising and they will give the King lands and treasure if he help's them.

I thought it was a very interesting twist to mix the Arthurian Legends with this old French poem.

Anyone else read this books or others by Judith Tarr? I would be interested to hear about them. I might actualy want to read some of her other books.

Posted By: Magus Nov 17, 2004 - 02:12 pm

I think I saw this in the book store a while back.

"The Song of Roland"? Are there more poems on the same person? Although I haven't yet read it, I know of "Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came". I know a site where I can read it. I'll go and do that now.

Posted By: Pat0214 Nov 17, 2004 - 02:35 pm

I believe there is only one poem called The Song Of Roland....