The Arthurian Name Dictionary

VOYA - Ruth Cox

Readers of Arthurian literature are well aware of the multitude of characters, as well as the name and identity/role changes, that occur in various texts. Bruce's meticulously detailed reference tool, with over 5,600 entries, helps readers keep track of these changes by clearly discussing name and identity variations in relation to the primary sources in which they occur. Entries for the major Arthurian characters such as Arthur, Merlin, Guinevere, Lancelot, and Morgan, are lengthy and detailed, but coverage does not stop here. This comprehensive dictionary also lists minor characters and their identities/roles along with definitions and location information on countries, provinces, towns, lakes, rivers, forests, trees, hills, castles, caves, and other geographic locations. Concluding each entry is a coded list of the sources in which the information was found. These sources are cross-referenced in a table with the author (if available) and legend title; the date, form, and language; a one-sentence plot summary; keywords; and the primary text from which this information was drawn. The author states that this resource "is intended as a general reference for Arthurian scholars, fans, and hobbyists." The YA reader/researcher in search of primary source information on early Arthurian legends may spend hours browsing through this volume, or take just a moment or two to determine the genesis of a particular character or place. However, the cost and potential limited use of this reference tool suggests inclusion in an adult reference collection in a public or academic library, rather than a YA collection. Biblio. Source Notes.

Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Serious students of the Arthurian legends will find this a useful and informative resource. More than 5000 alphabetical entries include the people, places, items, and themes found in Arthurian literature written between the 6th and 19th centuries. The text goes beyond simple definitions, incorporating background on how individuals fit into a particular legend and/or their evolution as characters in the stories. Significant figures such as Guinevere and Merlin warrant several pages. While alternate spellings or names follow the main entries, they are not cross-referenced and there is no name index. A "Source Index" consists of an annotated listing of the hundreds of resources from which the editor drew his material. While some readers may find more detail here than they want, enthusiasts will find that they have tapped into a wellspring of information.-Cheri Estes, Detroit Country Day School Middle School, Beverly Hills, MI Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Booknews

A comprehensive encyclopedia of characters, places, objects, and themes found in the legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round table. Draws from all significant source between Gildas' written about 540 AD and Tennyson's 19th-century , including versions from throughout Europe. The entries range from a short identifying sentence to nearly ten pages for the king himself. Each is referenced to a source, which are presented in a endtable showing author and title; date, form, and language; description; keywords from the entries; and recent editions, a vital bit of information such references usually neglect. The cross-referencing is fairly good, often done as a full entry identifying a name as a variant of another, so the lack of an index is not a problem. Distributed in the US by Taylor and Francis. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknew.com)