The Mists of Avalon - Definition and Overview

The Mists of Avalon is a novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley that re-tells the King Arthur myth from a feminist point of view. The main character is Morgaine (in the old sources often called Morgan Le Fay), and the book follows her life instead of Arthur's, thus removing the negative stigma attached to the character. In her book she depicts Morgaine as a woman fighting for Celtic culture in a country where Christianity threatens to destroy it. Arthur, in her novel, is a weak king, not able to resist the ideas of his Christan wife Guinevere. Marion Zimmer Bradley later expanded the book into a series.

Miniseries

The book was adapted in 2001 by American cable channel TNT into a miniseries directed by Uli Edel.

Cast

• Anjelica Huston as Viviane
• Julianna Margulies as Morgaine
• Joan Allen as Morgause
• Samantha Mathis as Gwenwyfar
• Caroline Goodall as Igraine
• Edward Atterton as Arthur
• Michael Vartan as Lancelot
• Michael Byrne as Merlin
• Hans Matheson as Mordred
• Mark Lewis Jones as Uther
• Clive Russell as Gorlois

External links

• Into the Mists: a Mists of Avalon fansite (http://www.intothemists.com/)