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I've done two overviews on Arthur- an initial one here and more polished and succinct (yet comprehensive) version here.
Below are a selection of movies and books pertaining to Arthur.
Movies
Of the below, only The Green Knight satisfactorily captures the magic and essence of an Arthurian tale.The Sword in the Stone (1963)
Excalibur (1981)
King Arthur (2004)
Books
Nennius: Historia Brittonum (800s)
Morris' work is about Edward, of course, but he includes an excellent summary of Arthur.
Many quality Arthurian works have been produced and are worthy of mention. The below list is by no means exhaustive- it's a snapshot of the most important or popular works on Arthur, separated into categories. Dates of writing are given in parentheses after the work, and if I've read it, I link to my review of it. I give brief descriptions of some titles, as I felt need. I produced the below as much for me as anyone to use for future reference. To that end, I hope you enjoy and find value here.
Medieval Chronicles & Romance
Initial mentions of Arthur are historical, though the methods of the day meant speculation and legend were easily inserted into such chronicles. The first two selections below fit this mold. With de Troyes onward, Arthur moves into the realm of romance. Though these selections are the basis for all Arthurian literature that has followed, I'd argue that they are best left for die-hard enthusiasts.Nennius: Historia Brittonum (800s)
Geoffrey of Monmouth: The History of the Kings of Britain (c. 1136)
(Unknown): Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (late 1300s)
(Unknown): The Alliterative Le’ morte d'Arthur (~1400)
(Unknown): The Alliterative Le’ morte d'Arthur (~1400)
note: a modern version by Simon Armitage was released in 2012
Sir Thomas Malory: Le’ morte d'Arthur (1485)
note: a modern, condensed version by Peter Ackroyd was released in 2012
Sir Thomas Malory: Le’ morte d'Arthur (1485)
note: a modern, condensed version by Peter Ackroyd was released in 2012
Modern Historical
Many authors have written historical treatises on who Arthur may have been.
Anne Berthelot: King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (1997)
Chris Barber & David Pykitt: The Legacy of King Arthur (2005)
Marc Morris: Edward I: A Great and Terrible King (2008)Morris' work is about Edward, of course, but he includes an excellent summary of Arthur.
Children's
The selections here are written with children in mind, though pay attention to the date of publication- what's considered a tale for children has varied considerably over time.
James Thomas Knowles: The Legend of King Arthur and His Knights (1860)
James Thomas Knowles: The Legend of King Arthur and His Knights (1860)
Sidney Lanier: The Boy's King Arthur (1880)
Howard Pyle:
The Story of the Grail and the Passing of King Arthur (1910)
There is a Great Illustrated Classics version of Pyle's tales (2008)
There is a Great Illustrated Classics version of Pyle's tales (2008)
Henry Gilbert: Tales of King Arthur (1911)
T.H. White: The Once and Future King (1940s)
Roger Lancelyn Green: King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table (1953)
T.H. White: The Once and Future King (1940s)
Roger Lancelyn Green: King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table (1953)
Susan Cooper: The Dark is Rising Sequence (1960s/70s)
Over Sea, Under Stone; The Dark is Rising; Greenwitch; The Grey King; Silver on the Tree
Weaves elements of Arthurian legend, Celtic, Norse myths into a children's fantasy saga.
Rosemary Sutcliff: The King Arthur Trilogy (1970s/80s)
If you read one Arthur book, I recommend this one.
Gerald Morris: The Knights' Tales series
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great (2008)
The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True (2011)
Kevin Crossley-Holland: The Arthur Trilogy (2000s)
The Seeing Stone; At the Crossing-Places; King of the Middle March
This series looks at a medieval boy's life and development- a boy who is not King Arthur, but he has the "Seeing Stone" through which observes the remarkably parallel early life of said King, several hundred years before.
Over Sea, Under Stone; The Dark is Rising; Greenwitch; The Grey King; Silver on the Tree
Weaves elements of Arthurian legend, Celtic, Norse myths into a children's fantasy saga.
Rosemary Sutcliff: The King Arthur Trilogy (1970s/80s)
If you read one Arthur book, I recommend this one.
Gerald Morris: The Knights' Tales series
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot the Great (2008)
The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True (2011)
Kevin Crossley-Holland: The Arthur Trilogy (2000s)
The Seeing Stone; At the Crossing-Places; King of the Middle March
This series looks at a medieval boy's life and development- a boy who is not King Arthur, but he has the "Seeing Stone" through which observes the remarkably parallel early life of said King, several hundred years before.
Tracey Mayhew and Mike Phillips: The Legends of King Arthur (2020)
This series is a 10-book chronicle covering the major Arthurian tales. For young children.
Alternative Approaches
The below selections deviate from the standard delivery of the Arthurian tales.
Mark Twain: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889)
An amusing mockery of Arthurian literature and Medieval culture.
Marion Zimmer Bradley: The Mists of Avalon (1970s)
Told from the women's (Morgan le Fay, Guinevere, etc) perspective. There are several other offerings in this series, penned 20 years later, with Diana L. Paxson.
The below selections deviate from the standard delivery of the Arthurian tales.
Mark Twain: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889)
An amusing mockery of Arthurian literature and Medieval culture.
Marion Zimmer Bradley: The Mists of Avalon (1970s)
Told from the women's (Morgan le Fay, Guinevere, etc) perspective. There are several other offerings in this series, penned 20 years later, with Diana L. Paxson.
Ian McDowell: Mordred's Curse and Merlin's Gift (1990s)
The legend of Arthur, as told from Mordred's perspective.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson: The Idylls of the King (1850s-1880s)
The legend of Arthur, as told from Mordred's perspective.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson: The Idylls of the King (1850s-1880s)
Poetry that doesn't rhyme . . . humbug. The illustrations in the above are fantastic, though- Gustave Dore is superb.
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fall of Arthur (1920s-30s?)
Looks at Arthur's final days in alliterative verse.
Kieron Gillen:
Kieron Gillen:
King Arthur comes back as a zombie to terrorize England in this amusingly twisted graphic novel series.
Historical Fiction/Fantasy
The titles in this section make some attempt to bring Arthur within an appropriate historical context. You could deem these selections "historical fiction" or "historical fantasy," depending on the extent to which the authors allowed magic/etc to seep into the story.
Rosemary Sutcliff: The Sword at Sunset (1960s)
Mary Stewart: The Arthurian Saga (1970s/80s)
The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, The Last Enchantment, The Wicked Day
Stephen Lawhead: Taliesin (1987)
Incorporates Atlantis into Arthurian legend.
Helen Hollick: The Pendragon's Banner Trilogy (1990s)
Rosemary Sutcliff: The Sword at Sunset (1960s)
Mary Stewart: The Arthurian Saga (1970s/80s)
The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, The Last Enchantment, The Wicked Day
Stephen Lawhead: Taliesin (1987)
Incorporates Atlantis into Arthurian legend.
Helen Hollick: The Pendragon's Banner Trilogy (1990s)
The Kingmaking, Pendragon's Banner, Shadow of the King
Bernard Cornwell: The Warlord Trilogy (1990s) The Winter King, Enemy of God, Excalibur (my thoughts on the whole trilogy)
Jack Whyte: The Camulod Chronicles (1990/2000s)
The Skystone, The Singing Sword, The Eagles' Brood, The Saxon Shore,
The Fort at River's Bend (The Sorcerer, part 1), Metamorphosis (The Sorcerer, part 2),
Uther, The Lance Thrower, The Eagle
The Skystone, The Singing Sword, The Eagles' Brood, The Saxon Shore,
The Fort at River's Bend (The Sorcerer, part 1), Metamorphosis (The Sorcerer, part 2),
Uther, The Lance Thrower, The Eagle
Reference
Not meant to be read cover-to-cover, these selections are best left to die-hard enthusiasts.
Alan Lupack: The Oxford Guide to Arthurian Literature and Legend (2007)
Ronan Coghlan: The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Arthurian Legends (1995)
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I hope you enjoy watching and reading about the once and future king.
Not meant to be read cover-to-cover, these selections are best left to die-hard enthusiasts.
Alan Lupack: The Oxford Guide to Arthurian Literature and Legend (2007)
Ronan Coghlan: The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Arthurian Legends (1995)
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I hope you enjoy watching and reading about the once and future king.
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