20 Best Arthurian Books (2023 Update)

Age range 10 to 13 the legendary adventures of king arthur, his knights of the table round, and the court of camelot come to life in a lively and accessible retelling by howard pyle. when the young arthur pulls the embedded sword from the stone, his future as the king of england is foretold. this imaginative retelling of the classic legends recounts the story of arthur's formation of the knights of the round table, his securing of the enchanted sword excalibur, his wooing of the lady guinevere, and many other beloved arthurian tales.

They're puffin classics for a reason, it's because they're the best.step up to the round table and join the knights of the realm! king arthur is one of the greatest legends of all time. from the magical moment when arthur releases the sword in the stone to the quest for the holy grail and the final tragedy of the last battle, roger lancelyn green brings the enchanting world of king arthur stunningly to life. one of the greatest legends of all time, with an inspiring introduction by david almond, award-winning author of clay, skellig, kit's wilderness and the fire-eaters.

Many medieval writers, especially from france and wales, wrote stories about the great british leader that was king arthur. legends, folklore and myths from this period come together to paint a picture of who he was. some describe him as a great warrior, defending britain from its enemies, while others suggest arthur had magical qualities. throughout this mystery, king arthur has become an iconic figure, known for his court and knights, all over the world. this collection offers a selection of myths, featuring arthur’s knights of the round table, his love for queen guinevere and of course the ultimate betrayal by one of his most trusted knights, sir launcelot. all awaken the magical and exciting world of king arthur.flame tree 451: from mystery to crime, supernatural to horror and myth, fantasy and science fiction, flame tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic.

The hour fortold has come at last! edward the ninth, reprobate king of england, is dead and a proud an venerable institution is to be buried with him. a new political orderencouraged by an ambitious prime minister and supported by a public wearied by a succession of royal scandalsis about to render the old obsolete. with signed abdications of all potential throne claimants already in p.m. thomas waring's hands, it is a near-certainty that the british monarchy will not survive the twenty-first century. but in the scottish highlands, a young man makes a remarkable discovery that will change the seemingly unaltered path of his beleaguered nation. for captain james arthur stuart is not the commoner he has always believed himself to be, but rather the scion of an obscure branch of the royal family, raised in ignorance of his true station. even more astonishing, the monarch-to-be does not merely share the name of the legendary king of summerhe is, in fact, king arthur reborn! claiming a throune, however, is one thing, while holding it is quite another, as jamesnow ruling the land as arthur ii? turns to those most beloved and most loyal for support, guidance, and assistance: his adored wife, jennifer; his best friend, calum; and his enigmantic and mystical advisor, a certain mr. embries. better known as "merlin." their road will be rocky and perilous, and there are powerful enemies arrayed against themnot only prime minister waring and his ruthless political machine, but the forces of an ancient, far more potent, destructive evil. for arthur is not the only one who has returnedand merlin's magic is not the only sorcery that has survived the centuries. with avalon, one of the premier voices in the literature of the fantastic offers us an unparalleled adventure as replete with bravery, treacher, romance, and magic as the beloved tales of the table round, yet cast in a setting as recognizably real as that which surrounds us.

Everything you ever wanted to know about king arthur and his knights is covered in this fascinating volume: the origins of the grail legend, the tristan and isolde love story in opera and literature, spielberg's use of arthurian motifs in star wars , the depiction of arthur in paintings, the presentation of camelot on the broadway stage, the twitting of the legend in monty python and theholy grail and much more.this critical survey of arthurian history and legend, archaeology, literature, and the arts from the fifth century to the present provides an introduction for the general reader and a useful summary for the specialist. it offers both historical facts and key discussions on arthurian subjects, from post-roman britain to the most recent novels and films. there is a lengthy glossary of arthurian characters, motifs, and places, a chronology of major historical and literary items, a guide to pronunciation, and a full bibliography.what's new inthe second edition: all the material has been revised and updated to 1996 since the original 1988 edition; the chapter on modern literature has been thoroughly revised, with new material on writings from france, germany, england, and america; the coverage of king arthur in the arts has entirely rewritten by one of the premier authorities in arthurian studies. brand-new geneological charts of the ancestry of arthur and his family and the grail kings and knights. ; a fully up-to-date chronology; many new illustrations.

Enter a mystical landscape peopled with archetypal characters and rich in myth and legend – the world of king arthur and his knights of the round table. the universal appeal of the arthurian tales lies in their primal quality: they deal with every aspect of human life, from the eternal struggle to overcome obstacles to the continuing search for fulfillment. working with the oracle cards and the map of the lands adventurous you will travel from camelot with your champion on your quest. your chosen path leads to a place of significance where your challenger waits to hear your questions. consulting the guidebook will reveal the answers and the guidance you require. the camelot oracle explores inner realms and takes you on an unforgettable journey – the journey of life itself.

Steinbeck's only work of fantasy literature—in a deluxe edition with a foreword by christopher paolini, new york times bestselling author of eragon, eldest and brisingra penguin classic malory’s le morte d’arthur was the first book that john steinbeck truly enjoyed reading as a child. fascinated by arthurian tales of adventure, knighthood, honor and friendship, in addition to the challenging nuances of the original anglo-saxon language, steinbeck set out to render these stories faithfully and with keen animation for a modern audience. here then is steinbeck’s modernization of the adventure of king arthur and the knights of the round table, featuring the icons of arthurian legend—including king arthur, merlin, morgan le fay, the incomparable queen guinevere, and arthur's purest knight, sir lancelot of the lake. these enduring tales of loyalty and betrayal in the time of camelot flicker with the wonder and magic of an era past but not forgotten. steinbeck's retelling will capture the attention and imagination of legions of steinbeck fans, including those who love arthurian romances, as well as countless readers of science fiction and fantasy literature. this edition features a new foreword by christopher paolini, author of the number-one new york times bestselling novels eragon, eldest, and brisingr. it also includes the letters john steinbeck wrote to his literary agent, elizabeth otis, and to chase horton, the original editor of this volume.for more than seventy years, penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the english-speaking world. with more than 1,700 titles, penguin classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

About the book from the incredible wizardry of merlin to the passion of sir lancelot, these tales of arthur and his knights offer epic adventures with the supernatural as well as timeless battles with our own humanity. features a new afterword. revised reissue. book synopsis from the incredible wizadry of merlin to the passion of gwynevere and sir lancelot, these tales of king arthur and his knights of the round table offer epic adventures with the supernatural as well as timeless battles with our own humanity. in a time when there were damsels in distress to save and mythical dragons to slay, king arthur and his knights were there to render justice in the face of any danger. keith baine's splendid rendition of le morte d'arthur faithfully preserves the original flavor of malory's masterpiece–that of banners and bloodshed, knights and ladies, christians and sorcerers, sentiment and savagery. it remains a vivid medieval tapestry woven about a central figure who symbolizes the birth of an age of chivalry. includes an introduction by robert graves and an afterword by christopher cannon about the author sir thomas malory was born in approximately 1410 and is believed to have been a knight serving under the earl of warwick. for a few years he was a member of parliament but ultimately spent several long terms in prison for a variety of crimes, including robbery and assault. he completed le morte d'arthur, the first great english prose epic, in newgate prison around 1469-70, shortly before his death. the book was eventually published in 1485 by william caxton, the first english printer. keith baines was born in london, england. he studied at private schools in london and hampshire, at the royal academy of music, and at university college, london. he fought in world war ii, and after his discharge, he turned to his main interest, poetry. mr. baines's poems appeared in periodicals both in the united states and the united kingdom. he died in 1986.

Tolkien into the legends of arthur, king of britain, may well be regarded as his finest and most skillful achievement in the use of old english alliterative meter, in which he brought to his transforming perceptions of the old narratives a pervasive sense of the grave and fateful nature of all that is told: of arthur's expedition overseas into distant heathen lands, of guinevere's flight from camelot, of the great sea battle on arthur's return to britain, in the portrait of the traitor mordred, in the tormented doubts of lancelot in his french castle.unhappily, the fall of arthur was one of several long narrative poems that tolkien abandoned. he evidently began it in the 1930s, and it was sufficiently advanced for him to send it to a very perceptive friend who read it with great enthusiasm at the end of 1934 and urgently pressed him, "you simply must finish it!" but in vain: he abandoned it at some unknown date, though there is evidence that it may have been in 1937, the year of publication of the hobbit and the first stirrings of the lord of the rings. years later, in a letter of 1955, he said that he "hoped to finish a long poem on the fall of arthur," but that day never came.associated with the text of the poem, however, are many manuscript pages: a great quantity of drafting and experimentation in verse, in which the strange evolution of the poem's structure is revealed, together with narrative synopses and significant tantalizing notes. in these notes can be discerned clear if mysterious associations of the arthurian conclusion with the silmarillion, and the bitter ending of the love of lancelot and guinevere, which was never written.

Aided by merlin, the magician, arthur draws the sword from the stone to become king of britain and lord of the knights of the round table.

The daring and bold adventures of king arthur told for children growing in reading confidence and ability. when arthur pulls a sword from a stone, he is proclaimed king of britain. however many challenges lie ahead, including treacherous knights, a mysterious lady in a lake and a fight for his kingdom.

An essential collection of chivalric romance, swordplay, wizardry and brutal feats of courage, malory’s 15th century morte d’arthur is one of the world’s greatest pieces of myth-making, with most gothic and modern fantasy finding its roots in this splendid mix of history, magic and literature. this selected edition features all the best stories and many of aubrey beardsley’s classic illustrations.

Includes free downloadable audio via qr codes! epic battles, thrilling quests and forbidden love combine in the medieval story of the boy who would be king. a retelling of the arthurian legends, adapted and illustrated to introduce children aged 7+ to classic folklore. great to share aloud, just like the original tales.

The newly crowned king arthur is unsure of himself; worse, the people are unsure of him. too many people want the throne, and treachery is everywhere. merlin must do something before the king is betrayed, or murdered, or–worst of all–gets married. so merlin magically places a sword into a slab of rock, lets it be known that whosoever removes the blade will rule all of england, and invites any man who would dare, to try to pull out the sword.after a bit of showmanship, arthur will draw the blade (with a little magical help, of course), and the people will rally around the young king.except someone else pulls the sword out first. . . .

Arthur writes a story: what makes a story entertaining? that's the question arthur asks himself when mr. ratburn gives a creative writing assignment to the class. when d.w. yawns through arthur's first story, he worries that his tale isn't exciting enough. is the setting too humdrum? maybe he needs to research his subject more thoroughly. with every new angle, arthur's story takes one more hilarious step further away from his original idea — but is the end result really the tale he wants to tell?

Composed by an unknown author in early thirteenth-century france, the quest of the holy grail is a fusion of arthurian legend and christian symbolism, reinterpreting ancient celtic myth as a profound spiritual fable. it recounts the quest of the knights of camelot – the simple perceval, the thoughtful bors, the rash gawain, the weak lancelot and the saintly galahad – as they journey through danger and temptation to reach the elusive holy grail. but only one of them is judged worthy to see the mysteries within the sacred vessel, and look upon the ineffable. enfused with tragic grandeur and an aura of mysticism, the quest is an absorbing and radiant allegory of man's perilous search for divine grace, and had a profound influence on later arthurian romances and versions of the grail legend.for more than seventy years, penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the english-speaking world. with more than 1,700 titles, penguin classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

The legends of king arthur and his knights have passed down through the generations since medieval times. in this spellbinding trilogy, rosemary sutcliff recreates all the mystique and mystery of the golden age of camelot for a new generation.

Young king arthur, troubled by nightmares, doubts he is the rightful king of england. one rainy night, the wizard merlin tells arthur the story of dueling dragons and a fateful clash between good and evil, which reveals the surprising secret of the boy king's true legacy. li ming's arresting oil paintings breathe fire into this magical offering from jane yolen." the legend comes alive on a grand scale, the dramatic narrative and well-wrought dialogue heightening the theatrical effect and inviting a fast-paced read-aloud." — school library journal

A magical glimpse into the legendary age of arthurian chivalry. ursulet, daughter of king arthur and queen guinevere, captured by saxons and doomed to lsoe her family and heritage. knightly chivalry is beset by dark age barbarity in this richly woven tapestry of heroes and heroines, monsters and saints, temptresses and magicians.

In this book gareth knight takes the most famous and most haunting of all british legends and places it in its rightful position as the core of the western mystery tradition, which draws its inspiration from greek, irish and even atlantean myth. the central arthurian themes and characters are brought to life with clear and thorough explanations, while the carefully woven pattern that has developed around the arthuriad is carefully unravelled and its full esoteric significance revealed. this fascinating study, which builds on the work of dion fortune and margaret lumley brown, takes the reader beyond the world of malory and unfolds an inner landscape as real as the isles in which it was created.