Helen Hollick's Website Blog: KING ARTHUR - THE PENDRAGON'S BANNER TRILOGY

“Helen Hollick has it all! She tells a great story and writes consistently readable books” Bernard Cornwell

"A wonderful book...breathes new life into an ancient legend" Sharon K. Penman

A historical novel re-telling of the King Arthur story, set in post-Roman 5th/6th century Britain, based on the early Welsh legends and the theories of Geoffrey Ashe. There is no myth or magis, no Merlin, no Lancelot. No Holy Grail, just the boy who became the man, who became the king who became the legend. The story as it might have really happened...

(originally published by Heinemann/Random House in 1994-6. Several editions since then)

available in paperback and e-book
UK worldwide from Amazon

USA & Canada from Amazon

(note: the trailer is out of date. Publisher and book cover details have changed)

Buy Book 1: The Kingmaking

Buy Book 2: Pendragon's Banner

Buy Book 3: Shadow Of The King

(these books contain scenes of an adult nature)

Buy The Kingmaking
Book One

The Boy Who became a Man: Who became a King: Who became a Legend... KING ARTHUR

There is no Merlin, no sword in the stone, and no Lancelot.

Instead, the man who became our most enduring hero.

All knew the oath of allegiance:

‘To you, lord, I give my sword and shield, my heart and soul. To you, my Lord Pendragon, I give my life, to command as you will.’

This is the tale of Arthur made flesh and bone. Of the shaping of the man who became the legendary king; a man with dreams, ambitions and human flaws. A man, a warlord, who united the collapsing province of post-Roman Britain, who held the heart of the love of his life, Gwenhwyfar - and who emerged as the most enduring hero of all time.

A different telling of the later Medieval tales.

~ Reviews ~

"If only all historical fiction could be this good." Historical Novels Review

"... Juggles a large cast of characters and a bloody, tangled plot with great skill. " Publishers Weekly

"Hollick's writing is one of the best I've come across - her descriptions are so vivid it seems as if there's a movie screen in front of you, playing out the scenes." Passages To The Past

"Hollick adds her own unique twists and turns to the familiar mythology" Booklist

"Uniquely compelling... bound to have a lasting and resounding impact on Arthurian literature." Books Magazine

In an author's note, Hollick writes: "Arthur Pendragon, to those people who study him, is a very personal and passionately viewed character. We all have our own ideas, insist ours is the correct one, and argue like mad with anyone who disagrees!"

US edition

UK Publisher: Taw River Press ISBN: 978-1-7399371-2-6

USA Publisher: Sourcebooks ISBN 13: 978-1-402-21888-0

Buy Pendragon's Banner
Book Two

459 A.D. Arthur has the kingdom he fought so hard to gain. But keeping it – and his family – safe, proves to be even harder.

Two enemies threaten everything that is dear to him: Winifred, his vindictive first wife, and Morgause, priestess of the Mother and malevolent Queen of the North. In this story of harsh battles, treasonous plots, and the intrigues of political upheaval during Britain’s Dark Ages we do not have the familiar tales of the Arthurian legend, but one much older, darker and deeper.

~ Reviews ~

"Hollick's interpretation is bold, affecting and well worth fighting to defend."

Publishers Weekly, November 11 1996

"Helen Hollick has once again shown why publishers Heinemann were so keen to sign her up. This is the second of her Arthurian trilogy and is another excellent read. This time Arthur, now king of Britain, has to fight off a number of dangerous threats to his crown - from his first wife Winifred, Morgause, Queen of the North, and an ever increasingly powerful Christian church. The writing style is simple, yet effective, cleverly capturing the feel of such far away days. Helen has not only relied on legend to create her stories, but has spent 11 years researching the history of her chosen time - and it shows. A magic read from an inspired new writer." National Publication

"Arthur's legend lives on. Anyone who enjoys a good historical yarn will be well satisfied with Pendragon's Banner by Helen Hollick. The tale begins with Arthur, at just 23, King of Britain. But tragedy strikes when Gwenhwyfar finds herself in perilous disharmony with Arthur." Western Morning News - Plymouth, 2 Aug 1996

"I devoured rather than read this amazing trilogy about the life of Arthur Pendragon."

"Here is an author who combines historical (mostly) fact with a great dollop of fiction - makes for a great read!"

"I was completely gripped by Helen Hollick's retelling of the legend of King Arthur. Not for her the romanticised version of the old story books. She paints Arthur as the ambitious, violent and passionate man of his time, who despite his shortcomings is an exciting and worthy hero. And Guinevere too, is not the regal queen we have come to know. Again, reality takes hold and we see how hard life was for women in the 5th century. This is a beautifully written book which I could not put down and will definitely read the rest of the series."

US edition

UK Publisher: Taw River Press ISBN: 978-1-7399371-0-2

USA Publisher: Sourcebooks ISBN 13: 978-1-40221-889-7

Buy Shadow Of The King
Book Three

500 AD. Britain is at peace. But after the war cry – bitter the grave.

At long last, the peace King Arthur has fought for has settled over Britain, but he is a warrior, restless for battle. When his territory of Less Britain is under threat from barbarian raiding he sails to Gaul, intending to be away for only a few months.

When he fails to return, and rumour spreads of his death, who will take his place as King of All Britain – and who will Gwenhwyfar, his wife, take as a new husband?

Not accepting her widowhood she is determined to discover Arthur’s fate. But sometimes it takes more than courage to face the reality of truth...

~ Reviews ~

"A uniquely compelling novel which is bound to have a resounding and lasting impact on Arthurian fiction." Books

"An epic tale... Helen Hollick has done her homework meticulously and her story gleams with convincing Dark Age detail." Ms. London

"Fascinating book. You can see the Arthur of legend - everyone there that should be apart from Lancelot who was noted in other Arthur stories as Bedwyr. I loved Arthur and Qwen but I didn’t like the way they kept missing each other. Thoroughly enjoyed Miss Hollick’s Pendragon story but be aware you could miss quite a few night’s sleep as it’s very difficult to put down!"

"I am not often moved to write reviews but The Pendragon Trilogy is sufficiently special to make an exception. For me this is possibly the best imagining of Arthur I have come across. Here is a man with all too many flaws, grounded in vivid, sometimes bloody, reality (definitely no magic here, except in the prose itself) yet at the same time a man portrayed in such a manner that still one is left weeping when the sun finally sets on his tale."

"Had a job to put down wanted to know what happened next. Got to love Arthur. But you need to read the first books to get the feel of the love his people had for him and his family. He is no saint but life in those times seemed to be kill or be killed. Hope he did exist and Helen's fantastic books are close to the truth of his life."

"How does one review a book that has kept you spellbound for evening after evening? Compared to Ms Hollick’s evocative writing my comments will seem lame. Her descriptions of the medieval world of warring Britain and its charismatic leader Arthur Pendragon bring this distant, bloody and confusing period to life. Maybe not historically accurate - but then not a lot is from the sixth century - but a very believable portrait of a warrior king and his brave queen. As this is book three in the series I had not expected Ms Hollick to keep the tension going, but she has and more so. Is he still alive? Or is he dead? The temptation to skip forward is great. Thank you for writing such an informative and riveting trilogy."

UK Publisher: Taw River Press ISBN: 978-1-739270-8-1

USA Publisher: Sourcebooks ISBN 13: 978-1-40223-910-6