@Mary-Ellen We were going to name our daughter Carrie (for her grandmother). After reading this book changed it to Keri – only woman who ever tempted Merlin!
Never heard of Keri…I have read of Viviene or Nimue as the woman who enchanted Merlin…must be MZB’s choice for a name for this character in the legend..in fact I named my cat Nimue(years ago) after this enchantress.
I can’t separate an author’s actions from her books. In 2014 Marian Zimmer Bradley’s daughter said her mother had sexually abused her between the ages of 3 and 12. Her brother said the same thing. She was married to a man who was a convicted pedophile. Bradley knew he was molesting a 9 year old boy, and she ignored it. I won’t remove her books from my library’s shelves, but I won’t promote them anymore. I know other authors have been charged with sexual harassment. I don’t like it, but when a child is involved, I can’t stand it.
This was a tough one for me when I first heard it. When I was a teen girl struggling to find myself represented in my favorite genres, sci fi and fantasy, Mists of Avalon was there. It was so empowering to read a feminist reworking of a classic story, with not just one strong female character, but a variety of characters who weren’t just cookie-cutter versions of each other. I haven’t been able to pick up MZB since I found out. I know now that there’s a lot of other great choices out there in the genre, but it’s so hard to reconcile that the author whose works meant so much to me was such a vile human being.
I had no idea about her….it was a favorite, but I don’t think I will be able to read it again and not think of how horrible she is….children, her children, My God!
Her rendering of the Authurian tales (especially her depiction of Morgan Le Fey) renewed my interest in Camelot. That being said, I cannot promote her books knowing her history. Separating the artist from her actions is beyond me.
Thank you for bringing this up – I was about to write a post about it and then saw you had already said something. I was devastated when I heard this news – my heart aches for the children she hurt, and I felt a bit betrayed that someone who had given me such an amazing story filled with powerful women could do something this heinous in her personal life. Since then, I recycled my copy of the Mists of Avalon and have tried to let others know of her atrocities.
This is the first I have ever heard this, MZB’s Mists of Avalon is one of my all time favorites. I wish I hadn’t found out what a perverse person she was. Do I throw the book out or keep it? ?
This is one of those dilemmas in our world people’s actions vs there art. I have no idea how to respond when I like the work but the actions disturb me. Woody Allen comes to mind.
I had 4 of her books on my shelves. I kept Mists of Avalon and donated the other 3. I am ok with it because I bought all of them second hand and her estate didn’t profit from my purchase.
I loved that book until I read about MZB’s personal life and how she sexually abused and was complicit in the sexual abuse of her own children and others. That story has been a big part of my life and I will cherish what it taught me, but I can never read it again or any other book by her. I even recycled my own copy because I couldn’t have something like that in my home. Usually I donate books, but I couldn’t ask anyone else to read it.
For those who may be interested in the Arthurian Legend…non fiction try a translated version of Geoffrey of Monmouth’s “The History of Kings of Briton”(10th and 11th century) and or (another Geoffrey)..Geoffrey Ashe, “The Discovery of King Arthur”..1985..the latter is an easier read than Monmouth’s
This is one of those hard ones for me–I enjoyed the book, but then I learned about Marion Zimmer Bradley and I just…can’t. There are some things that will just color a person’s work too much, and this one of them.
Unfortunately she had a history of abuse in her home. I knew her a and her husband who was a pedifle, they were very odd people. The house was strange too
I don’t have many books that I have saved, but this is one of them
I liked Mary Stewart’s version of the Arthurian legend better. I loved the Darkover series!
The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills.
@Mary-Ellen and The Last Enchantment
@Mary-Ellen We were going to name our daughter Carrie (for her grandmother). After reading this book changed it to Keri – only woman who ever tempted Merlin!
Never heard of Keri…I have read of Viviene or Nimue as the woman who enchanted Merlin…must be MZB’s choice for a name for this character in the legend..in fact I named my cat Nimue(years ago) after this enchantress.
@Sherrie , my mother named her cat after her, too!
@Hillary HEY,HOW COOL IS THAT!
@Sherrie great minds…
I loved that book. Read it once a year for years. I wonder if i still have my copy.
Same for me, my copy finally broke in half
I know ; still love that one…. have a copy sitting on the shelf.
I loved Mary Stewart’s trilogy….read them when I was 21 and it started me on a quest to learn more
I read those, too. I had a period where I was all about the Arthurian Legends.
@Andrea me too..read quite a few non fiction books on the subject…probably 8 novels and 10 or so by historians or Arthurian experts..so interesting
I had forgotten all about Mary Stewart’s books. I loved those also.
Picked that one up at a library book sale a few years ago and still have it.
Loved that book… on my list to read again!!!!
I read Mists of Avalon and Mary Stewart’s books and I loved them. I also enjoyed T.H. Whites The Once and Future King.
Once and Future King might just be my favorite book. Of course, that is like picking a favorite child…
MISTS OF AVALON!!!! YESSSSS!!!??
And Darkover series
@Gerard The Darkover Series is Anne McAffery
sorry – AnneMcAffery is Pern series
That is one of my all time favorites!I always recommend it when I find out that a fellow book lover hasn’t read it yet
that is in my half read book pile 🙂
Loved her Darkover series too
I can’t separate an author’s actions from her books. In 2014 Marian Zimmer Bradley’s daughter said her mother had sexually abused her between the ages of 3 and 12. Her brother said the same thing. She was married to a man who was a convicted pedophile. Bradley knew he was molesting a 9 year old boy, and she ignored it. I won’t remove her books from my library’s shelves, but I won’t promote them anymore. I know other authors have been charged with sexual harassment. I don’t like it, but when a child is involved, I can’t stand it.
This was a tough one for me when I first heard it. When I was a teen girl struggling to find myself represented in my favorite genres, sci fi and fantasy, Mists of Avalon was there. It was so empowering to read a feminist reworking of a classic story, with not just one strong female character, but a variety of characters who weren’t just cookie-cutter versions of each other. I haven’t been able to pick up MZB since I found out. I know now that there’s a lot of other great choices out there in the genre, but it’s so hard to reconcile that the author whose works meant so much to me was such a vile human being.
Mists of Avalon was okay, but I liked Parke Godwin’s and Mary Stewart’s Arthurian novels better.
I can not abide that…she is off my bookshelf.
I had no idea about her….it was a favorite, but I don’t think I will be able to read it again and not think of how horrible she is….children, her children, My God!
Her rendering of the Authurian tales (especially her depiction of Morgan Le Fey) renewed my interest in Camelot. That being said, I cannot promote her books knowing her history. Separating the artist from her actions is beyond me.
Thank you for bringing this up – I was about to write a post about it and then saw you had already said something. I was devastated when I heard this news – my heart aches for the children she hurt, and I felt a bit betrayed that someone who had given me such an amazing story filled with powerful women could do something this heinous in her personal life. Since then, I recycled my copy of the Mists of Avalon and have tried to let others know of her atrocities.
As much as I love Mists…. I’m almost positive this is why the book didn’t make the list.
Ruined the book for me. Especially reading some of the scenes with this knowledge.
Loved Mists of Avalon.
Loved Mists of Avalon.
This is the first I have ever heard this, MZB’s Mists of Avalon is one of my all time favorites. I wish I hadn’t found out what a perverse person she was. Do I throw the book out or keep it? ?
Keep it. Just think of the books without its author. I still reread the Darkover books.
This is one of those dilemmas in our world people’s actions vs there art. I have no idea how to respond when I like the work but the actions disturb me. Woody Allen comes to mind.
@Gerard very true
Serves no purpose to throw out the book. You have already paid for it and would affect only you. I would not buy a copy knowing this.
I had 4 of her books on my shelves. I kept Mists of Avalon and donated the other 3. I am ok with it because I bought all of them second hand and her estate didn’t profit from my purchase.
I recycled mine. Knowing what I know, I couldn’t have it in my home.
Loved that book too
What a great story.
Wow I didn’t know that but loved the book. Back to The Once and Future King by T White. That’s a great read too. Ugh!
I loved that book until I read about MZB’s personal life and how she sexually abused and was complicit in the sexual abuse of her own children and others. That story has been a big part of my life and I will cherish what it taught me, but I can never read it again or any other book by her. I even recycled my own copy because I couldn’t have something like that in my home. Usually I donate books, but I couldn’t ask anyone else to read it.
For those who may be interested in the Arthurian Legend…non fiction try a translated version of Geoffrey of Monmouth’s “The History of Kings of Briton”(10th and 11th century) and or (another Geoffrey)..Geoffrey Ashe, “The Discovery of King Arthur”..1985..the latter is an easier read than Monmouth’s
Thanks. Glad to know about this, Sherrie.
Absolutely wonderful to see MISTS OF AVALON on the list.
This is one of those hard ones for me–I enjoyed the book, but then I learned about Marion Zimmer Bradley and I just…can’t. There are some things that will just color a person’s work too much, and this one of them.
Loved mists of Avalon
Yes!!
I forgot about this book read it years ago when it first came out. Great book.
Try Susan Cooper’s five-volume series “The Dark is Rising,” about the Arthurian legend. Perfect for older teens.
Unfortunately she had a history of abuse in her home. I knew her a
and her husband who was a pedifle, they were very odd people. The house was strange too
That’s so disturbing
@Rosemarie it was quite distessing
That book was amazing!!
Agreed!
Awesome book
If you love Mists I highly recommend Jo Walton’s “The King’s Peace” it’s better imho and no author baggage to unpack
Agreed
One of my all time favorites
A S Byatt is good also. So many great reads?
Possession…incredible
@Gerard love that book. She also wrote the Poetry in it and the book itself. ❤️
I give Mists as a gift frequently. A must read
Or a T H White, The Once And Future King
Yes! Might be my all-time favorite book.
Loved that book! So goid!