The Enchantresses - Softcover

This prequel to a 1970s feminist Arthurian trilogy (The Green Knight; The King's Damosel; King Arthur's Daughter) appears posthumously, Chapman having died in 1996, aged 98. The daughters of Queen Ygraine of CornwallMorgan, Morgause, and Vivianare fated to have a profound influence on the subsequent career of King Arthur. Dark, cruel Morgan is the witch-queen reincarnated; blond, plump, easily swayed Morgause follows Morgan; redheaded, green-eyed Vivian rejects dark witchcraft and falls in love with Merlin when King Gorlais engages him as the girls' tutor. Spiteful Morgan misses no opportunity to wound Vivian. Morgause arranges Uther Pendragon's obsession with Ygraine, so that Uther will demand Merlin's help to bed the queen on the day Gorlais is slain. When Arthur is born, Morgause is delighteduntil Merlin whisks the boy away. Vivian nurtures Arthur, marries Merlin, and bears a daughter, Blaisine, while Morgan, soon discovering Arthur's whereabouts, attempts to harm the boy, so that Merlin fosters him in Ector's household. Vivian and Merlin refurbish Arthur's ancient, magical sword, Caliburn. Later Morgause beguiles King Arthur, sleeps with him, and begets Mordred. Morgan finally kills Vivian and traps Merlin in a tomb of bones; and yet Vivian's shade instructs Blaisine how to extricate her father. Ultimately, Morgan, Morgause, and Vivian together will take possession of Arthur's body. Not entirely convincingthe narrative is patchy and erratic, with many jarring momentsthough fans of Chapman's trilogy (and The Notorious Abbess, 1997) will want to investigate. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

In this novel discovered after Chapman's death at 98 in 1996, the Arthurian fictionist returns to the Matter of Britain to focus on Arthur's three sorcerous half sisters, Morgause, Vivian, and the sinister Morgan. They differ in color and character, but they are all taught by Merlin and apply their magical talents to help themselves and sometimes help or hinder their half brother in his efforts to unite Britain. Chapman's Arthurian scholarship is impeccable, and she does not try to fit either the characters or the intrigues into neopaganism, some procrustean pop psychology frame, or any of the other quirks and quiddities that disfigure some recent Arthuriana. Some readers who have become accustomed to longer explorations of the Matter of Britain may feel that Chapman has not developed as well as she might have some of her more interesting insights, particularly on Merlin. Unless they are dedicated Chapman lovers, they may feel a trifle frustrated. Perhaps this is for thoroughgoing Arthurians only. Still, it is a fine coda to Chapman's work. Roland Green