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Cover of Lady of Avalon

Lady of Avalon

expanded novel 1997 The Mists of Avalon

Record

First published1997
Original language EN
Work typenovel
Canon statusexpanded
First-edition ISBN9780670857838
Internal chronology2

Synopsis

This installment of the Avalon series unfolds in three linked parts spanning generations. It opens with Caillean, newly raised to High Priestess of Avalon, and Gawen, a young Druid whose bond with the half-fairy Sianna leads to a ritual marriage before Avalon comes under attack from Roman and Christian forces, prompting Caillean to conceal the island within enchanted mists. Later, High Priestess Dierna draws the novice Teleri into a political marriage with a Roman admiral, a union that tests her loyalty to Avalon. The final section follows Viviane, daughter of a High Priestess, whose path to initiation is blocked by her mother until a relationship with a British chieftain changes her fortunes, eventually placing her at the head of Avalon's priesthood as the world moves toward the age of Arthur.

Where it sits

Notes

  • From the series record (The Avalon Series): Bradley 'expanded the book into the Avalon series' with Diana L. Paxson. The Forest House and Lady of Avalon were co-written with Bradley (Paxson uncredited on the original cover for marketing reasons, per Bradley's own account); Priestess of Avalon was begun by Bradley and completed by Paxson following Bradley's September 1999 death (Paxson's own site frames it as her solo work; Wikipedia frames it as a Bradley/Paxson collaboration completed posthumously -- both sources agree on the underlying facts, only on how to characterize the split; left stated rather than resolved). Registered Expanded Canon per the credited-authorship-as-bright-line precedent -- all 3 are published under Bradley's name/brand. Books 4-6 (Ancestors of Avalon, Ravens of Avalon, Sword of Avalon) are Paxson's solo continuations after Bradley's 1999 death, published under the 'Marion Zimmer Bradley's [title]' brand. Ancestors of Avalon bridges Bradley's own The Fall of Atlantis to the founding of Avalon; Ravens of Avalon is a direct prequel to The Forest House (young Boudica); Sword of Avalon is set at the end of the Bronze Age.

Neighbouring works

Publication order and internal chronology are tracked as two separate orderings, but they resolve to the exact same sequence for this book, so one combined line is shown instead of two identical ones.

Sources

← The Mists of Avalon dossier · All universes

Part of the Library. Fields without an identified source are omitted, never guessed.