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    The Prisoner in the Oak: The Mists of Avalon
    The Prisoner in the Oak: The Mists of Avalon
    The Prisoner in the Oak: The Mists of Avalon
    Audiobook12 hours

    The Prisoner in the Oak: The Mists of Avalon

    Written by Marion Zimmer Bradley

    Narrated by Davina Porter

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    Book Four finds Morgaine moving closer to the fate that will set her intractably against Arthur--her lover, brother, and now, enemy. Returning to Camelot during the Feast of Pentecost, Morgaine accuses Arthur of compromising the crown, and demands that he return Excalibur to her. When he refuses, Morgaine arranges a confrontation between her lover, Accolon, and Arthur in the kingdom of Fairy, resulting in Accolon's death. Grieving and still without Excalibur, Morgaine makes a hasty retreat to Avalon. When she finally returns to Camelot, it is to retrieve Avalon's Holy Regalia, now being used in a Christian mass. Enraged at this betrayal, Morgaine calls upon the Lady's magic, which results in the mysterious "disappearance" of the holy chalice, prompting the companions of the Round Table to embark on a 12-month quest to find it. Events spiral out of control when Lancelet returns, resumes his adulterous relationship with Gwenhwyfar, and is finally exposed. The novel closes with the King Stag's death and Morgaine's long-anticipated return to Avalon.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateMar 6, 2009
    ISBN9781436198509
    The Prisoner in the Oak: The Mists of Avalon
    Author

    Marion Zimmer Bradley

    Marion Zimmer Bradley is the creator of the popular Darkover universe, as well as the critically acclaimed author of the bestselling ‘The Mists of Avalon’ and its sequel, ‘The Forest House’. She lives in Berkeley, California.

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    Reviews for The Prisoner in the Oak

    4/5

    148 ratings49 reviews

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    • 4/5
      This was on my summer reading list for my freshman year of high school. I remember that I felt like it was my first exposure to King Arthur. I also thought it was a little racy for freshmen, but maybe I was naive!
    • 4/5
      I liked this book a lot, but it became slow when the new queen was to be joining the king. I was so infuriated with her and she just wouldnt shut up. I stopped reading the book for a year before reading all of it in 3 days, :D I think the queen ruined the whole kingdom with her impudence and short- mindedness. But however it ended, it was definitly a good read. I gave it 3.5 stars because it was slow, and ive read 800 page books without stopping.
    • 5/5
      Probably one of my top 10 choices. Others have talked about the plot, so I'll just say that I loved the drama, the gloriousness of the story, and the women. Although Gwynhwyfar sometimes drives me bats***, and I want to slap her pious little snot-face right off her head, the other characters more than make up for her. I don't know how many times I've re-read this book. It's gorgeous, lush, and VERY HIGHLY recommended for fans of the Arthurian legends.
    • 4/5
      My tome read for the summer, Bradley’s 876 page Arthurian drama is told mainly from the point of view of Morgaine, Arthur’s sister. There is a lot of good stuff here, but more than anything, the extremely detailed, well drawn characters make this novel.
    • 4/5
      This is the story of King Arthur told from a feminist perspective rather than that of the Christian male. Most of the book focuses on Morgaine, Arthur's sister, and her role in shaping the reign and the fate of Arthur. The book is just as much about the land of Avalon, the religion of the goddess, and how with time it is overshadowed and pushed into irrelevancy and the mists by Christianity. (CW)
    • 5/5
      Probably THE women's version of the King Arthur tale. It hardly gets better than this. Some portions are grisly, but you have to say they are memorable. A classic.
    • 3/5
      I read this a long time ago. As I remember it, it was a nice enough read, a bit of fantasy and a bit of romance. A plus for the feminist perspective.
    • 4/5
      I put off reading this book simply because of it's length. I wanted to be sure that I could read it straight through. I had some time off work and chose to use it reading this book. I love the retelling of the Arthurian legend from the womens point of view. More interesting to me was that most of the book was about the conflict between Christianity and the Old Religion. Religion fascinates me so I was pleasantly surprised by this book.
    • 5/5
      Very intriguing novel about the legend around King Arthur, the knights of the round table, Merlin and, of course, Avalon -- an island hidden in the mystic mists of time. The story is told by Morgan Le Fay, and thus, through the eyes of a woman and high priest. Actually, the story is only loosely related to the well known legend but instead ...
    • 5/5
      Simply amazing. No other words are necessary.
    • 4/5
      some things i found interesting--seeing the characters age, die or just disappear, how christianity took over and wiped out previous culture, very little focus on battles and fighting because this is a woman's story. but as a woman's story it was also interesting that the women characters were generally not very likeable.
    • 5/5
      One of my favorite books of all time--have read it three times. Although written for adults, easily crosses over to young adults. Definitely would appeal to teen girls who are interested in the Arthurian legend, written from a female perspective.
    • 5/5
      A great take on the Arthurian mythos, narrated from the viewpoint of three women involved: Guinevere, Morgan and Viviane (the Lady of the Lake). The first (and I think only) telling, to put Morgan Le Fay in a sympathetic light.
    • 5/5
      The retelling of Authur and his sister Morgaine from a feminist point of view, incorporating the meeting of Christianity and the Maternal Goddess is wonderful. Some of the passages are poetic and comforting guideposts for us today. (ex: 868 "you did not fail..." or pg 876 "Mother forgive me. I thought I must do what I now see you can do for yourself") The concepts are originally told.
    • 5/5
      A must read for anyone who enjoys the King Arthur legend. Told from a female perspective, this is still my favorite historical rendering of this classic story, and one that I have, and will, revisit over and over again.
    • 5/5
      This is probably the best Arthurian novel I have ever read. Bradley's writing is beautiful, and all the characters have something to offer. An excellent novel with truly beautiful writing and a great plot.
    • 5/5
      Very lovely, captures the feeling of frustrated femininity perfectly in a magical retelling of the tales of the arthurian knights.
    • 5/5
      I first read this when it came out....in 2 days flat. (okay, so I really didn't get anything done, hey, I was on college break). The rhythym of the book just flowed and was difficult to put down. A different perspective...and probably closer to actual historical/religios truths.
    • 2/5
      this sort of proved to me that i wasn't going to be a fantasy head. i like the cloaks and the swords and the clothes, but that's really as far as i take it. i'm certainly not a medieval-revisionist-activist thing.
    • 3/5
      A fantastic re-telling of the Authurian legend, from the female point of view. I Have read it approx seven times and never get sick of it.
    • 1/5
      I know, I must be missing something! I trudged through this book completely bored to tears hoping it would click at some point and it never did for me :-(
    • 5/5
      A beautiful, sensual, feminist and spiritual re-telling of the Arthurian legend, where the traditional bad guys get their voice. It is pretty hard on Guinevere, but she gets to be perfect in most tellings.
    • 5/5
      "By what men think, we create the world around us, daily new."--What a fabulous quote! I love this retelling of the Arthurian myth/story. I see connections between this and some aspects of The DaVinci Code. This is one of those books you'll return to many times to re-read, it is such a joy. Just fun to read.
    • 4/5
      This book tries to address what may or may not have been the political motivations at the time of potentially fictional people. With all those intangibles, I feel Bradley did a good job, but the story does falter at times. Hardly difficult to believe, seeing the length.
    • 4/5
      This sweeping epic fantasy based on Arthurian legend is a must read for fantasy lovers and devotees to Arthurian tales. I would only recommend it to older teens or serious fantasy die hards. Things that could make some squeamish: incest, orgies, rape, murder, meandering theological debates, etc.Read-a-likes: The Once and Future King, Le Morte d'Arthur, Queen of Camelot by Nancy McKenzie
    • 4/5
      The King Arthur legend from (the much-maligned) Morgan le Fay's point of view. If for no other reason, read it to find out a possible alternative truth about St Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland.
    • 5/5
      Only one word is needed - Magnificent
    • 4/5
      I LOVED this book as a kid! I am sucker for alternative histories/perspectives on stories, especially when told from a feminist perspective; also, I really enjoy authors that do a good job of incorporating magic into daily activities, which Zimmer-Bradley does very well.
    • 4/5
      I'm a sucker for Arthuriana, and this was a good one. I liked the solution for the conflicting portraits of Merlin (the name becomes a title owned by two characters in the novel.) After this read Bernard Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles for another, even more historically realistic portrait of the Matter of Britain. The characterizations are wonderful. But Mists of Avalon is, I think, the better book, a little more mysterious, lyrical and magical.
    • 5/5
      One of the best books I have ever read. Very deep on multiple levels, and has gained a special place in my heart. Like most books of its nature, it lacks a little in plot, but more then makes up for it in description. There have only been two amazing books that I've ever read, and this is one of them.