The Mists of Avalon

By: Marion Zimmer Bradley

Narrated by: Davina Porter

Length: 50 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

A posthumous recipient of the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement, Marion Zimmer Bradley reinvented - and rejuvenated - the King Arthur mythos with her extraordinary Mists of Avalon series. In this epic work, Bradley follows the arc of the timeless tale from the perspective of its previously marginalized female characters: Celtic priestess Morgaine, Gwenhwyfar, and High Priestess Viviane.

©1982 Marion Zimmer Bradley (P)1993 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

“[A] monumental reimagining of the Arthurian legends...” ( The New York Times Book Review)

long

I once was interviewing an aunt about her time spent living at a protest camp, and she told me the only book she had with her was the Mists of Avalon. She said she didn't love it it, but kept it there anyway because it was LONG and so it didn't feel repetitive going through it over and over again.

This book is indeed long, and feels like the kind of book written for the target audience of radical feminists who are chaining themselves to the fences of nuclear power plants to save the children in the 1970s. I think I liked it more than my aunt did. It's very of a certain time and place.

Great book to use your last credit on if you're not going to have more for a while as it is both intriguing and meaty.

narration

Davina Porter enriched an already loved story I enjoyed this the same as I did when first published

thanks

Love this story

This story has resonated with me for decades. I get immersed into the story with Davina Porter narrating. She does a great job.
Highly recommend the extended version.

Finally Leaving The Mists

I have been trying to read this book on and off for the better part of 10 years. My aunt and I always joked that we were “Entering the Mist” when we picked up this book. Being a book lover who’s also dyslexic can be tricky sometimes and this book has been a beacon of that. I have a physical copy that I would pick up and read but sometimes my brain just can’t and this recording was a saving grace. I would listen on my morning walks and when I was doing art or housework. As someone who struggles to focus on reading some months having such a good story told by such a good storyteller became a way for me to continue reading.

just a bit long

This is definitely one of the longest books I've ever read. The epic of Arthur is indeed epic, as much as it is more the epic of Morgaine. There are many lessons about religious tolerance and bigotry here, amd dialogue and desires to spare. Mists of Avalon has indeed become a classic of the genre and deserves a spot on one of the great Arthurian works. This is why I cringe to say it could have been shorter. But Porter's performance is truly epic. Her voice acting and characterizations are beautiful. I kept coming back, in part, to hear her voice. I do recommend the book. And to be promiscuous in your reading and listening.

Immersive

Powerful storytelling. Highly recommend for anyone interested in the Arthurian legend, but also for anyone curious about the post-Roman world of Britain.

Loved The Mists Of Avalon

I really enjoyed this book and the narration was excellent. I felt like I was there at Avalon and Camelot while listening to the book.

the best version of the Arthurian legends told

The author is obviously problematic. All that aside, this set of books is a masterpiece and the best version of Camelot ever told.

I recently listened to these books again. Davina Porter is divine as a narrator.

Gwenhwyfar still sucks. She's a total harpy. The most annoying character ever. It's like nails on a chalkboard when her dialogue appears. Still worth the listen or read though.

Loved it.

Someone recommended this book to me years ago and I never got around to it. So glad that I did. It’s a fantastic story, a bit sad, but captivating. Davina Porter is excellent as always.

A classic

Read it many times. Always a different perspective as I get older. For ALL WOMEN!