La matiere de Bretagne is a name given collectively to the body of medieval literature and legendary material associated with Great Britain; especially King Arthur and his knights and their association to the Grail. It is the link between the Grail stories and the legends of both King Arthur and Joseph of Arimathea and their connection to Glastonbury, the Island of Avalon, which is central to this investigation. The legend of King Arthur at Glastonbury is primarily derived from Geoffrey of Monmouth's mention of King Arthur's arrival at the Island of Avalon after his fatal fight with Mordred. It is the later bogus disinterment of King Arthur's manufactured grave at Glastonbury, which establishes Glastonbury's synonymy with Avalon. This volume sets out to show how the abbot of Glastonbury, Henry Blois, used Geoffrey of Monmouth as a nom de plume and concocted the epic tale from Brutus to Arthur which is now known as the 'History of the Kings of Britain' and was responsible for composing the Prophecies of Merlin"

The magical saga of the women behind King Arthur's throne. “A monumental reimagining of the Arthurian legends . . . reading it is a deeply moving and at times uncanny experience. . . . An impressive achievement.”—The New York Times Book Review In Marion Zimmer Bradley's masterpiece, we see the tumult and adventures of Camelot's court through the eyes of the women who bolstered the king's rise and schemed for his fall. From their childhoods through the ultimate fulfillment of their destinies, we follow these women and the diverse cast of characters that surrounds them as the great Arthurian epic unfolds stunningly before us. As Morgaine and Gwenhwyfar struggle for control over the fate of Arthur's kingdom, as the Knights of the Round Table take on their infamous quest, as Merlin and Viviane wield their magics for the future of Old Britain, the Isle of Avalon slips further into the impenetrable mists of memory, until the fissure between old and new worlds' and old and new religions' claims its most famous victim.

Avalon is a site of great power, revered since ancient times as an entrance to, and exit from, the Otherworld. Book provides a coherent context in which to understand Avalon's many mysteries, including the * Isle * Tor * Glastonbury Zodiac, * Abbey * Tor Labyrinth * St. Michael ley line The author invokes the magical, spiritual power of the English landscape with a wealth of detailed information encompassing other belief systems and scared sites. He discusses * Physical and sacred topography * Symbols * Architecture * History

A tale of the origins and history of Avalon and the prophecy of the birth of the great King Arthur is revealed through the successive lives of three powerful priestesses--Caillean, Dierna, and Viviane, the Lady of the Lake.

In the long-awaited return to Avalon by the beloved author of The Mists of Avalon and her collaborator, bestselling author Diana L. Paxson, Marion Zimmer Bradley fuses myth, magic and romance in a spectacular unfolding of one woman's role in the making of history and spirit...

Epic in its sweep and peopled by the remarkable women who have always inhabited Avalon, Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword of Avalon expands the legendary saga that has enchanted countless readers over the years and is sure to please Bradley's loyal readership and anyone who loves wonderfully told stories of history, myth, and fantasy.

Shimmering with pageantry, emotion and the court’s passionate intrigues, here is the epic story of Arthur—the conqueror, the once and future king, who vanquished the Saxons and loved but one woman, the beautiful Morgan of Avalon. She was the lover his country forbade him to wed but could never keep him from desiring. Held captive by deep feelings, the two dream of one future together…until fate sweeps them into a world where love is balanced on the knife’s edge of danger. Never before has the telling of the story of Arthur made the drama of this charismatic king more real or more moving. Here, a legend and a tale so vigorous with heroic deed and conflict, so glowing with wondrous love, are brought close enough for us to experience all the unforgettable emotions of Avalon…and all the magical moments of Camelot…