Marie A's Reviews > Porius

You'll either love it because it's long, or hate it because it's long... set in the time of King Arthur, populated by Saxons, shadowy forest people, and a hidden race of endangered giants, John Powys's magnum opus follows the odyssey of Porius (heir to the throne of Edeyrnion, and student of Merlin) as he struggles to gain maturity, wisdom, and personal freedom.

Filled with references to (and appearances by) Arthurian favorites like The Lady Of The Lake, Creiddylad (the giantess daughter of King Lludd) and even Blodeuwedd (the girl of Welsh legend who was transformed into an owl), this romance of the Dark Ages is a treat for bibliophiles, using words instead of thread to weave a vivid, engaging, and complex tapestry that details the psychological and moral growth of a man preparing to become a ruler.

As in all of Powys's novels, the descriptions are immersive and hyper-real, transporting the reader to a world that the author must've seen with crystal-clarity in his mind's eye... it's an exhilarating and mind-altering triumph that will leave readers both impressed and enriched!