Bradley's Lancelot, while not totally the same as the
older
portrayals, is not really different either. Lancelot does appear to be
blessed with a Goddess given ability to beat everyone up, and he manages
to grab
Guenivere; yet their affair is more one of desire then
culmination, unlike in other tales. However, it is made to appear that
Lancelot loves Arthur in much the same way he cares for the queen.
Unfortunately, this revelation comes and goes so fast, that if you yawn,
you miss it. The real problem with the character is that he just isn't
that interesting. The possibilities of his latent homosexuality are
never explored and dropped almost as soon as it is mentioned. The books
main characters are the women, and the men
really just play off them as objects of sexual desire or repression. You
might like this book, but, if you are looking for a tale that advances the
characterization and complexity of Lancelot, look elsewhere.Return to Abstract List