2008-01-13 Excellent and that little bit different.

This is the bittersweet story of Cornish girl Merewyn, and Provencal adventurer Rumon who's paths cross in 10th century Britain. Both of them have lessons to learn and their lives are a steep learning curve set against a backdrop of deadly politics at the Anglo Saxon Saxon court and amid Viking raids. The ending, while satisfying, is not a traditional happy ever after.
I do feel that Avalon, while not having the mass popular appeal of Katherine, is perhaps the better novel, although both are excellent. I was interested to read the reviewer who thought Avalon was dated, because Katherine is actually older than Avalon and seems of the two to be the more dated one to me in terms of social mores. I particularly liked the scenes in Greenland in Avalon and Merewyn's life among the Vikings - perhaps because it was unusual for the time it was written and a bit more off the beaten track. Seton is one of those writers who paints with words.
Five stars from this reader.