The Trials of Arthur
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Arthur Pendragon & Christopher James Stone
ISBN: 0007121148 '
Am I alone in thrilling to this noble throwback to the age of Celtic romance?
Our Prime Minister is a grinning charmless twerp; our Archbishop of Canterbury has as much spiritual charisma as a raw potato; and the House of Windsor is Dullsville.
I'd dump the whole pack of them tomorrow and replace them with a single Royal, Spiritual and Political leader: King Arthur.'
A. N. Wilson, Evening Standard.
Mad, bad and shamelessly bold, self-styled king Arthur Pendragon, Druid and Eco-Warrior, fought a fourteen-year battle for the public's right to attend Solstice celebrations at Stonehenge, and won.
He has taken the Home Office to the High Court and Her Majesty's Government to the European Court, has stood his ground on numerous battlefields, from the wooded enclaves of the Newbury By-Pass construction site, to the studios of Clive Anderson's Talk Back.
Through the wonderfully entertaining story of Arthur, his origins and his exploits, this book explores the state of Britain today, contrasting the old landscape of sacred groves and ancient monuments that Arthur inhabits, with the new landscape of drive-in McDonalds, car parks and shopping centers that have become the moral backdrop of the modern British psyche.
Come with us on a quest for adventure, through fields and forests and sacred places, in the company of bikers and pagans and eco-warriors, in search of the enduring, real Britain behind the dreary spin of modern consumer capitalism.
C. J. Stone is a journalist and author, whose articles have enlivened the pages of countless magazines and newspapers, including The Guardian, The Independent, The Spectator and The Big Issue. He has also written three books, Fierce Dancing: Adventures in the Underground, The Last of the Hippies and Housing Benefit Hill.
This is a book about heroism, patriotism, liberty, poetry, martyrdom, history, mythology, personal self-fashioning and other unforeseen consequences of enjoying cider, cigarettes and laughs with a bunch of mates.
It is an epic true story of war and religion set in Britain during the Dark Ages at the end of the twentieth century, which manages to remain at once, like its main character, passionately serious, irresistibly compelling, and hilariously good-humoured.' Professor Ronald Hutton.
Reviews: Now... This book I never expected to enjoy...but how wrong I was! This is one of the most enjoyable reads I have had for a very long time. The book cuts between Arthur's childhood and early life, the experiences of the journalist tracking him down (C.J. Stone) and Arthur's quest in more recent years. The book is very humorous in places, with serious moments in others. The account of the "duel" between Arthur and an American "King Arthur" on Glastonbury Tor is just one of many hilarious moments.
This book shows what one man can achieve when he has a vision of making a difference, and is a testament to the human spirit, the eccentricity that characterizes the British, and the importance of being true to what you believe, with a lot of cider thrown in. By the time you have finished reading this book and seen the struggles Arthur has been through to help preserve the heritage and sanctity of our sacred sites and the green hills of England. Insane as he might seem, you will have respect for King Arthur after reading this book. A very good book on a hero for the modern age.
November 25, 2003 Reviewer: rassybeds from Luton, Bedfordshire United Kingdom
I have to admit that when I first heard about King Arthur Pendragon, like a lot of people, I dismissed him as a bit of a loony. However, reading this book takes you deeper than the media portrayal.
There is no doubt that Arthur's heart is in the right place. He is far from being a loony. In fact he has the courage to take on issues to a level which armchair ecologists only dream about. Arthur is on the front line of not only the battle against the destruction of areas of natural beauty, but also for the acceptance of the right of religious expression.
The book makes all his motivations clear and you can see where he is "coming from".
A good read about a surprisingly down-to-earth man. Lots of fun.
October 16, 2003 uncle_steve from Ware, Herts United Kingdom
Definitely a book anyone will enjoy. Arthur comes across as a man who has achieved a great deal, with the help of the nearest thing the World has to the real Excalibur and plenty of Cider. Very, very funny and heartwarming, and a great read. The man has been very involved in the anti-road and access-to-Stonehenge protest movements amongst others, but you definitely don't need to be Green, Pagan or otherwise to love this. Brilliant. FANTASTIC BOOK.
August 17, 2003 Brian Larkman from Northamptonshire, England
This is a book for just about anyone, not just Druids or Pagans. Got the book at the Beltaine Bash in London and read it on the train home, Arthur is a wonderful person, you can not help but love him. Maybe if we all applied his outlook on life the world would be a better place. Get this book you will not reget it!!Brilliant! A riveting read...,
June 26, 2003 caius1 from Britain, the Isle of the Mighty
This book is an absolutely riveting read - neither I nor anyone else I know who have read it were able to put it down. Unlike a lot of Pagan or Druidry books, it's not a 'how to' manual, but the inspiring tale of how King Arthur became King Arthur and how he and the protest movement (pagan and non-pagan) put their own lives at risk protecting the environment and the 14 year fight for the right for 'free and open access' at Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice.Spiritual, political and very, very funny - definitely essential reading for anyone interested in paganism, green politics or concerned with protecting our environment - though I'd recommend reading the brilliant and hilarious glossary and appendices before reading the book.