Enemy of God
Autor: Bernard Cornwell
Tema: Historical Fiction
Editorial: MacMillan
EneÂmy of God is the secÂond novÂel of the WarÂlord seÂries, and imÂmeÂdiÂateÂly folÂlows the events deÂscribed in The WinÂter King. In that book the King of DumÂnonÂia and High King of Britain, Uther, dies and is sucÂceedÂed by his lamed baÂby grandÂson, MorÂdred. Arthur, a basÂtard son of Uther's, is apÂpointÂed one of MorÂdred's guardians and in time beÂcomes the most imÂporÂtant of those guardians. Arthur is deÂterÂmined to fulÂfil the oath he swore to Uther that MorÂdred, when he comes of age, will ocÂcuÂpy DumÂnonÂia's throne.Arthur is alÂso deÂterÂmined to bring peace to the warÂring British kingÂdoms. The maÂjor conÂflict is beÂtween DumÂnonÂia and Powys, but when Arthur is inÂvitÂed to marÂry CeinÂwyn, a Princess of Powys, it seems that war can be avoidÂed. InÂstead Arthur elopes with the penÂniÂless Princess GuinÂevere and that inÂsult to CeinÂwyn brings on years of war that are endÂed onÂly when Arthur deÂfeats King GorfyÂddyd of Powys at the BatÂtle of Lugg Vale. Powys's throne then passÂes to CuneÂglas, CeinÂwyn's brothÂer, who, like Arthur, wants peace beÂtween the Britons so that they can conÂcenÂtrate their spears against the comÂmon enÂemy, the SaxÂons (the Sais).The WinÂter King, like the present book, was narÂratÂed by DerÂfel (proÂnounced Dervel), a SaxÂon slave boy who grew up in MerÂlin's houseÂhold and beÂcame one of Arthur's warÂriors. Arthur sent DerÂfel to ArÂmorÂica (toÂday's BritÂtany) where he fought in the doomed camÂpaign to preÂserve the British kingÂdom of Benoic against FrankÂish inÂvaders. Among Benoic's refugees who reÂturn to Britain is Lancelot, King of Benoic, whom Arthur now wants to marÂry to CeinÂwyn and place on the throne of SilÂuria. DerÂfel has fallÂen in love with CeinÂwyn.DerÂfel's othÂer love is Nimue, his childÂhood friend who has beÂcome MerÂlin's helpÂmate and lover. MerÂlin is a Druid and the leadÂer of the facÂtion in Britain that wants to reÂstore the isÂland to its old Gods, to which end he is purÂsuÂing a CaulÂdron, one of the ThirÂteen TreaÂsures of Britain, a quest which for MerÂlin and Nimue far outÂranks any batÂtle against othÂer kingÂdoms or inÂvaders. OpÂposÂing MerÂlin are the ChrisÂtians of Britain, one of whose leadÂers is BishÂop SanÂsum who lost much of his powÂer when he deÂfied GuinÂevere. SanÂsum is now in disÂgrace and servÂing as AbÂbot of the Monastery of the Holy Thorn at Ynys Wydryn (GlasÂtonÂbury).The WinÂter King endÂed with Arthur winÂning the great batÂtle at Lugg Vale. MorÂdred's throne is safe, the southÂern British kingÂdoms are alÂlied and Arthur, though not a king himÂself, is their undisÂputÂed leadÂer.