Book Review: Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve

Review by Steven, Berkelouw Eumundi

The familiar Arthurian legend is turned on its head in this engagingly
cynical version of the story. The year is 500 AD, or thereabouts. Britain
has been abandoned by the Romans, leaving its inhabitants to sort out their
own power struggles. The warlord Arthur is a minor player. He's ruthless and
greedy, but not very ambitious. Arthur's advisor Myrddin, a storyteller and
master manipulator, thinks that Arthur is destined for greater things.
Myrddin sees Arthur as the only leader capable of driving the Saxon invaders
out of Britain. But first he has to turn Arthur into a hero - someone who
can unite the people and lead them into battle. Arthur's story is told by
Gwynna, a young slave girl caught up in Myrddin's scheme. Philip Reeve
skilfully evokes a time and place where it's possible to believe in legends,
yet he also reminds us about the dangers of credulity. As Myrddin tells
Gwyna, "Just because someone tells a story doesn't mean it's true."

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