[Merlin's Harp 02] • Gawain and Lady Green

Honor, pride, love, and betrayal abound in Crompton's latest work, as a mysterious green stranger gallops into King Arthur's court. A unique challenge is posed by this outsider: any knight sitting at the Round Table may try to chop off his head on the condition that if they succeed, he will have the same opportunity one year later. After a shameful silence, Sir Gawain steps forward, and beheads the stranger, who then picks up his head and leaves, reminding Gawain of their date in one year's time. What leads up to this encounter and what happens as a result of it is pure fantasy, filled with powerful women, magical druids, ethereal children, and unforeseeable surprises. Written in lyrical prose, this graceful, magical tale presents a new twist on the classic Middle English poem while capturing the essence of Arthurian legend.