Completed: September 7, 2024
Recommendation: Recommended
Recommended By: Nobody, c'mon, King Arthur
Review:
Grossman is pretty clear in his understanding of Arthur and is well aware of all the things that simply could not be in his telling. He includes a historical note that explains all this. So, despite the anachronisms, or maybe because of them, this is a romping tale that is fun to read. Like many Arthurian tales, this one changes perspective throughout the book. I find Grossman's portrayal of Guinevere to be particularly compelling. Addressing sexual orientation in the book, Grossman does a good job of making this an LGBTQ+ novel of sorts without going overboard and throwing in things that would likely have led to a swift death if revealed in this era. Grossman highlights closeted life and details how horribly frustrating it is to be born the incorrect gender as well as how hard it can be to be a homosexual. Grossman alludes to bisexuality in the one character who could truly be bisexual without reproach. In general, from a heterosexual point of view in the 21st century, it feels to me like Grossman did a good job of including a wide range of sexual identities in a tale that has generally ignored such things without making sex the center of the book. I liked this book, but I feel like it was a little long and maybe could have been reasonably shortened without the tales of the Red Knight (I really don't understand the inclusion of this character at all).
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