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A review by nerysatis
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
0.25
I can think of few days more heartbreaking than the one I learned a book foundational to my love of fantasy (and reading in general) was written by a monster.
Marion Zimmer Bradley raped and abused her own children, and supported her (later convicted) husband in doing the same and victimizing many others.
While in many cases I do support, even advocate, separating the work from the creator, this is not a case where death of the author can apply: it is impossible to ignore that, given the author’s proclivities, the depiction of young girls being involved with much older men was not so much an attempt at acknowledging the norms of the time period as a very intentional glorification. Framing a blatant love letter to child abuse as a feminist retelling of Arthurian lore is simply a bridge too far.
Marion Zimmer Bradley raped and abused her own children, and supported her (later convicted) husband in doing the same and victimizing many others.
While in many cases I do support, even advocate, separating the work from the creator, this is not a case where death of the author can apply: it is impossible to ignore that, given the author’s proclivities, the depiction of young girls being involved with much older men was not so much an attempt at acknowledging the norms of the time period as a very intentional glorification. Framing a blatant love letter to child abuse as a feminist retelling of Arthurian lore is simply a bridge too far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Violence