Hawk of May by Gillian Bradshaw (1980)

Hawk of May
by Gillian Bradshaw
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Copyright: 1980
Book Club Edition

In the wonderful tradition of T. H. White's The Once and Future King, this exciting historical fantasy recreates the magical world of King Arthur's England. It transports the reader to the Dark Ages when warring kings still divided the realm and Arthur sought to unite the Britons under his self-proclaimed leadership. This is the tale of Arthur's own nephew, Gwalchmai -- son of his bitter enemy, the evil sorceress Morgawse, and the powerful Celtic chieftain, King Lot -- and Gwalchmai's quest to join the legions of Arthur's men.

Young Gwalchmai lives in a world of warriors and warleaders, but is himself an inadequate soldier. Unable to fulfill the duties of a king's son, Gwalchmai turns to his mother for a different way of life. The coldly beautiful Morgawse, a ruler of the Darkness, offers knowledge and power beyond that of humans, and strength beyond that of warriors. Compelled by the desire to prove himself in some way, Gwalchmai accepts the challenge of magic. The boy soon discovers that his mother's world is one of evil, of human sacrifice and bargains with demons. After witnessing her horrifying rituals, Gwalchmai flees -- knowing that he can never again return home, and also knowing that in some way or form the Darkness will follow him.

It is in rejecting the deadly realm of Morgawse that Gwalchmai discovers his quest: to join the one man against whom the Queen of Darkness seems powerless -- his uncle, the High King Arthur. And so begins the young man's difficult journey to the court of Camlann. Armed with a fiery, glittery sword from the Kingdom of Light, the reluctant young warrior faces the fierce Saxons, the pursuing demons of Morgawse, a fantastic white stallion that cannot be tamed, and Aldwulf the sorcerer -- one of Arthur's cruelest enemies. When at last Gwalchmai reaches his destination with a few successful battles behind him, he finds that he must yet win over the King himself -- and overcome the dreadful secret that prevents Arthur from accepting him.

Hawk of May, winner of the University of Michigan's Hopwood Award, is the first in a trilogy of Arthurian novels by a young writer who has captured the darkest years of Britain's history while creating a world as fantastically alive and imaginative as any in fiction.

Condition: Used. Hardcover. Dust cover shows discoloration, scuffing, shelf wear and a bit of edge wear. Pages are tanning from age. Previous owner's "Library Of" stamp is on the front endpaper.

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