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Something I only just realized about the Arthur Saga-
This is passed on from eleanor X, who had posted the video to her own livejournal. It really is a terrific song; I can't get it out of my head, and the lyrics (in spite of a couple of infelicitous words like "puppetile" - why not "puppet-like" or simply "puppet's"?) are pretty astonishing. If you watch this, consider the relationship described between Morgana and young Mordred, and then go here:
http://sigune.livejournal.com/93168.html#cutid1
Follow the links for "the Darkest Hour" and read the whole thing - and you will see, quite clearly, what I only just realized. The Arthur legend is, at heart, a revenge tragedy about a seriously disordered family. And young Mordred - if you read him as the instrument of his mother's revenge; there are other ways of reading him - is actually not so much a villain, as the last victim of this family. Why didn't I see this before?
Anyway, the song and the comic are both terrific, and I look forward to reactions to them both. ) BTw, the little fellow who plays Mordred is much, much closer to my idea of young Harry than Dan Radcliffe. For one thing, he is slender and actually has greenish eyes.
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http://sigune.livejournal.com/93168.html#cutid1
Follow the links for "the Darkest Hour" and read the whole thing - and you will see, quite clearly, what I only just realized. The Arthur legend is, at heart, a revenge tragedy about a seriously disordered family. And young Mordred - if you read him as the instrument of his mother's revenge; there are other ways of reading him - is actually not so much a villain, as the last victim of this family. Why didn't I see this before?
Anyway, the song and the comic are both terrific, and I look forward to reactions to them both. ) BTw, the little fellow who plays Mordred is much, much closer to my idea of young Harry than Dan Radcliffe. For one thing, he is slender and actually has greenish eyes.
object width="560" height="340">
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but - didn't Mordred pass for King Lot's son? I'd have to check Malory again, but I don't think it is generally known at court that he is Arthur's son. Consequently, he had the status of the youngest Lothian/Orkney prince. (In Geoffrey of Monmouth, he really is Lot's youngest.) That places him well behind Gawain in the line of succession, but still, there are worse situations.
Cornwell's trilogy is pretty good - I'd recommend it too. I mean, it's not T. H. White-good, but it's a very entertaining read, with a great Arthur and a strong Guinevere (and a silly little Gawain, but... *g*).
I'm curious about The Winter Prince; I'll look it up.