The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Arthurian Legends is exactly what it claims to be. "This book is primarily intended as a reference book and its main aim is to provide a detailed 'who's who', 'what's what' and 'where's where' covering all the different strands of the Arthurian legends, something which no book has hitherto achieved." After a brief introduction concerning a potential historical Arthur, author Ronan Coghlan produces a 250-page encyclopedia, dotted with relevant artwork from the ages.
Long have I sought this out-of-print book, and delighted to find it on ebay for $12, I tore into it upon its arrival. Though thorough and informative, I was disappointed. The fault is not with the author- he accomplishes what he sets out to do. I was expecting many more and larger illustrations, which I now realize is my ultimate interest. This is mostly text. Encyclopedias in the digital age are of limited value . . . google searches can tell me much of what exists herein. But if you're fanatically interested in all things pertaining to King Arthur, this book would be a nice addition to your collection.
Rating: B
No comments:
Post a Comment