The Story of Sir Launcelot and His Companions (Howard Pyle)

The Story of Sir Launcelot and His Companions is the third of an Arthurian quadrilogy by American author and illustrator Howard Pyle (Part 1 and Part 2). Written in 1907, it covers: Sir Launcelot, Sir Tristram, and Sir Percival. In this third volume, we have the following stories:

• The Chevalier of the Cart
• How Sir Launcelot rescued Queen Guinevere from the castle of Sir Mellegrans
• The Story of Sir Gareth of Orkney
• How Gareth lived anonymously in Arthur's court and took up an adventure, humbly traveling with Lynette and proving his worth as the Lady Layonesse's champion
• The Story of Sir Launcelot and Elaine the Fair
• How Launcelot defeated the Worm of Corbin, fought in the tournament at Astalot, and met the Lady Elaine
• The Madness of Sir Launcelot
• How Guinevere's jealousy drove Launcelot away from court and to madness
• How he was restored and married Elaine, living at the Joyous Isle
• The Story of Sir Ewaine and the Lady of the Fountain
• How the knights quested to find Lancelot
• How Ewaine served the Lady Lesolie of the Fountain, was enchanted by the Sorceress Vivien, and restored 
• The Return of Sir Launcelot
• How Percival and Ector found Launcelot, and how Launcelot and Elaine returned to Arthur's court
• How Elaine was driven away by Guinevere's jealousy, and her health declined
• The Nativity of Galahad
• How Bors and Gawaine searched for Launcelot (before his return); how Gawaine was enchanted by Vivien and later restored
• How Galahad was born and to be raised; how Elaine met her end, and that affected Launcelot

This book focuses on Launcelot, excepting the parts on Sirs Gareth and Ewaine. As with the first two volumes, there is a good deal of adventuring and repetition, but this time, there is more purpose (finding Launcelot), coupled with a foreboding sense of sadness and decay. Pyle's version is still idyllic and off theologically, but less so than his earlier works: Guinevere in particular comes off as the villain, mildly aware of (but helpless to resist) her envy of Launcelot's attention, even though she is married to Arthur. And Launcelot has genuine remorse and confusion as he seeks to be loyal to both women. It was sad in places, but the best of the bunch so far.

Rating: A