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Excalibur: A Novel of Arthur

Excalibur: A Novel of Arthur is a historical fiction novel by English writer Bernard Cornwell, first published in the UK in 1997. It is the third and final book in The Warlord Chronicles series, following The Winter King and Enemy of God. The trilogy tells the legend of King Arthur through the eyes of his follower Derfel Cadarn.

Author

Bernard Cornwell

English

The Warlord Chronicles

Historical novel

Michael Joseph (UK)
St. Martin's Press (USA)

1997 (1st edition UK), 1998 (1st edition US), 1999 (paperback US)

United Kingdom

Print (hardcover & paperback)

448 pp (hardcover edition)
436 pp (paperback edition)

0-7181-0057-3 (hardcover first edition)
ISBN 0-312-20648-8 (US paperback edition)

38171947

Enemy of God 

Embittered by multiple betrayals, Arthur once again assumes responsibility for the defense of free Britain, and as the Saxons threaten imminent conquest he assembles the resistance in a valiant last effort to defeat them. Merlin attempts to summon the gods to earth, but Arthur and Derfel disrupt the ceremony, earning them Nimue's wrath. Though Arthur manages to halt the Saxon advance and repair his broken marriage, his dream of a simple life proves forever out of reach as dark forces renew their commitment to undo, once and for all, his vision of a peaceful Britain.

– Protagonist and narrator, a loyal warrior of Arthur.

Derfel Cadarn

– A Saxon king trying to take Britain, and Derfel's father. Killed by his son at the Battle of Mynydd Baddon.

Aelle

– Son of Uther, protector of Mordred, and famed warlord of Dumnonia.

Arthur

Ceinwyn – Derfel's common-law wife, princess of Powys.

– A Saxon king and Aelle's ally in the war to conquer Britain.

Cerdic

– King of Powys and ally of Arthur. Killed at Mynydd Baddon by Cerdic's champion, Liofa.

Cuneglas

– Arthur's cousin and commander of his guard after he moves to Isca. Killed at the Battle of Camlann.

Culhwch

– Lancelot's half-brother, a Christian and friend of Derfel.

Galahad

– Princess of Henis Wyren and wife of Arthur.

Guinevere

Issa – Derfel's former second-in-command who becomes a warlord of Dumnonia after Mynydd Baddon. Killed by Mordred's forces for being an ally of Arthur and Derfel.

– Exiled former prince of Benoic, now allied with the Saxons against his fellow Britons. Executed by Derfel by hanging after the Battle of Mynydd Baddon.

Lancelot

– Lord of Avalon, a revered Druid priest. Killed by Nimue as a sacrifice to destroy Arthur's escaping fleet.

Merlin

– King of Gwent.

Meurig

– King of Dumnonia. Killed by Arthur in single combat during the Battle of Camlann.

Mordred

– Druid priestess and Derfel's former lover, who desperately tries to bring the old gods back to Britain.

Nimue

– Arthur's Numidian commander. Killed at the Battle of Camlann.

Sagramor

– Treacherous bishop of Dumnonia.

Sansum

– A Druidic bard.

Taliesin

1997, United Kingdom, ISBN 0-7181-0057-3, 2 October 1997, hardcover 1st edition

Michael Joseph

1998, United States, ISBN 0-312-18575-8, 1 June 1998, hardcover

St. Martins Press

1998, United Kingdom, ISBN 0-14-023287-7, 1 October 1998, paperback

Penguin Books

1999, United States, ISBN 0-312-20648-8, 16 July 1999, paperback

St. Martin's Griffin