Pendragon Audiobook By Stephen R. Lawhead cover art

Pendragon

Pendragon Cycle Book 4

 Preview

$0.00 for first 30 days

Try for $0.00
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

Pendragon

By: Stephen R. Lawhead
Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.46

Buy for $21.46

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel
Arthur is King - but treachery runs rampant throughout the beleaguered Isle of the Mighty. Darkest evil descends upon Britain's shore in many guises. Fragile alliances fray and tear, threatening all the noble liege has won with his wisdom and his blood. His most trusted counselor - the warrior, bard, and kingmaker whom legend will name Merlin - is himself to be tested on a mystical journey back through his own extraordinary past. So in a black time of plague and pestilence, it is Arthur who must stand alone against a great and terrible adversary. For only this way can he truly win immortality - and the name to treasure above all others: Pendragon.©1994 by Stephen R. Lawhead (P)1996 by Blackstone Audiobooks Epic Fairy Tales Fantasy Historical Scary

Critic reviews

"Though Lawhead brilliantly creates an authentic and vivid Arthurian Britain, he never forsakes the sense of wonder that has graced the legend throughout the ages." (Publishers Weekly)
Lyrical Storytelling • Heroic Tales • Authentic Pronunciations • Historical Realism • Hopeful Narrative
Highly rated for:
All stars
Most relevant  
This is the first book in the Pendragon Cicle. A story which tells you the mystery of britains early days. A bit longwinded and detouched, but all in all a fantastic tale.

detouched

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I like the story even though it's more British Imperialism defeating the savages and infidels of the world. The narrator once again does the best to bring you into the store with authentic pronunciations and by manipulating both the tone and pace of the reading. The narrator is a master and the story is good as well.

I Love the narrators ability to capture

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Well written by Stephen Lawhead and well read by Fredrick Davidson who has a dry and lofty tone of voice, but he makes the effort to pronounce words that are difficult for English speakers. The book seems somewhat disjointed as it skips from episode to episode in Arthur's life from boyhood to defeat of the Vandals. Merlin comes through sounding more like Gandalf in some places as he descends into the Earth on a voyage out of time.

An excellent program but a little slow in places

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book, and the Pendragon Cycle as a whole, is a great idea with a so-so execution. The characters are developed and noble. I also appreciate that, in contrast to so much produced today, the story can acknowledge gritty and violent historical realities while still being grounded in hope rather than descending into cynical nihilism. The main weakness is how much the plot drags. The series has a remarkably high word count for so little plot variation. There’s much more focus on monotonous and repetitive battle sequences and scenes of petty leaders squabbling, rather than the features that make the Arthurian legend, legendary. Those mythic elements (Avalon, the Lady of the Lake, the Fisher King, Merlin's "burial") make appearances, but they’re almost like cameos dropped into a sea of monotony.

By this point in the series, it seems we should be enjoying the high point of the Summer Realm, but instead it feels like that's always just a promise and never a reality. I think to myself, Arthur's character is great, but what's so great about his kingdom? Ceaseless invasions and battles, a plague, and grumbling kings who, even after all this struggle, still don't fully buy into his leadership as high king. It feels like not enough progress since years ago when Arthur drew the sword from the stone and had to deal with the rebellious kings. The overall tone of the books feels like a Christian version of the Mary Stewart books in its lyricism, but Stewart (mostly) stays closer to the traditional legends that are familiar from Malory while still putting them in their context of post-Roman Britain. If Lawhead had also stayed closer to that material while recasting it in his own way, I think I’d find this cycle more satisfying.

A footnote: The reader's style doesn't bother me with most characters, but it's very grating how he does Merlin (which is unfortunate since Merlin is the narrator of this book and also the second book of the cycle). Merlin's voice sounds pretentious and condescending and makes me feel little liking for him personally, even as I respect his actions and dedication to God, Arthur, and the Summer Kingdom.

One part inspiration, two parts monotony

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
For who love tales of heroism and warfare, along with some romance and magic while paying respects to God, this is a great series. Stephen Lawhead is a gifted author and the reader’s voices are perfect as narrator and for each part played.

Outstanding

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The last shining light of a fading civilization. Set in a richly crafted historical world of Celtic and Roman Britain after the legions were gone but before the Saxon conquest was certain. Arthur united the country of Britain for a brief and hard fought peace.

A beautiful and moving tale of courage at the end of the world

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A pleasant revisitation with our heros, with a new enemy to conquer. "Pendragon" details futher some of the events mentioned as having happened in the first three books. A very worthwhile 'listen', good fun!

Filling in the Blanks

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is a great story and a great performance. I would highly recommend reading the entire series.

Excellent

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
have many books about the "King Arthur" legend. This five book series which starts with "Taliesin" and narrated by Nadia May is a wonderful interpretation. I have read and listened to at least 6 times and have always found something I might have missed when I first listened. The next three books are narrated by another of my favorite narrators Fredrick Davidson, and the last book in the series "Grail" is narrated by Robert Whitefield. Each narrator does a brilliant job and if you enjoy the legend of Merlin and Arthur, you will enjoy this series. It is different and you should start with this book, then Merlin, Arthur, Pendragon and finally Grail. I have at least 6 other audio books about the "Arthur Legend" and most are enjoyable, but this to me takes the reader or listener to fantasy and legend that has not been touched upon before. Always try the free listen that Audible gives to see if you will like the narrator, I have only found maybe 3 in the entire ten and a half years I have been a member to annoy my ears, but if the story is truly good I can usually get past.

Again, this is book 4 in my favorite Arthur legend

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Pendragon is told from Merlin' s point of view, and contains lost tales of battles against the Vandali and the pestilence of the black plague. It begins with Arthur's boyhood and fostering with Ectorius, his friendship with Cai and Bedwyr. Then the struggles he battled against, on his journey to become high king. It then tells of his great battle against the Vandali where Arthur is grievously wounded. Well told by Stephen Lawhead and good narration by Frederick Davidson who has narrated all the books in the Pendragon Cycle.

Lost tales of battles and pestilence

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews