The Knight of the Sacred Lake

The Knight of the Sacred Lake is a 2001 historical fantasy novel by Rosalind Miles. It was published in 2001 by Three Rivers Press in paperback. The book is a retelling of the Arthurian legend and follows the lives of Queen Guinevere, consort of King Arthur and her struggles with the king's nephews Agravain and Gawain; the queen is torn between her love for her husband, her land, and her lover, Lancelot. The book was part of a series, The Guinevere Novels, and was followed by The Child of the Holy Grail. Reviewing the book, Publishers Weekly described it as "a lush, feminist take on the English epic".

Plot introduction

The Knight of the Sacred Lake is a variant of an Arthurian legend. It follows the lives of Queen Guinevere, or Guenevere, and her strife with Agravain and Gawain, as well as that of her lover's, Lancelot, as they both enter different paths in their lives, away from each other.

Plot summary

As High King and Queen, Arthur and Guenevere reign supreme across the many kingdoms of Great Britain. Still, Guenevere secretly mourns the loss of her beloved Lancelot, who has returned to the Sacred Lake of his boyhood, hoping to restore his faith in chivalry in the place where he learned to be a knight. In a glittering Pentecost ceremony, new knights are sworn to the Round Table, including Arthur's nephews, Agravain and Gawain. After many years of strife, peace is restored to Guenevere's realm.

But betrayal, jealousy, and ancient blood feuds fester unseen. Morgan le Fay, now the mother of Arthur's only son, Mordred, has become the focus of Merlin's age-old quest to ensure the survival of the house of Pendragon. From the east comes the shattering news that Guenevere may have a rival for Lancelot's love. A bleak shadow falls again across Camelot—and across the sacred isle of Avalon, where Roman priests threaten the life of the Lady herself. At the center of the storm is Guenevere, torn between her love for her husband, her people, and Sir Lancelot of the Lake.

Characters in "Guenevere, Queen of the Summer Country"

• Guenevere - Queen of the Summer Country, protagonist, narrator
• Lancelot - Guenevere's lover and second protagonist
• King Arthur - Guenevere's husband
• Agravain
• Gawain
• Merlin
• Mordred - Son of Morgan and Arthur
• Morgan le Fay
• Amir - Deceased son of Arthur and Guenevere

Major themes

Arthurian Legend

Literary significance & criticism

• "The popular and prolific Miles injects the tale with poesy... an engrossing if unorthodox read. No doubt Miles's fans will be pleased with this lush, feminist take on the English epic."

- Publishers Weekly

Release details

• 2001, USA, Three Rivers Press ISBN 0-609-80802-8, Pub date 12 June 2001, Hardcover

Sources, references, external links, quotations

• http://www.randomhouse.com/crown/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780609808023
• http://www.rosalind.net