The Story of King Arthur and His Knights (Signet Classics) | 
|  | | | Title: | The Story of King Arthur and His Knights (Signet Classics) | | Author: | Howard Pyle
John F. Plummer (Afterword) | | Publisher: | Signet Classics | | Type: | Book / Paperback | | Publication Date: | 05 September, 2006 | | ISBN / ISBN-13: | 0451530241 / 9780451530240 | | List Price: | $5.95 | | Amazon Price: | $5.95 | |
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Product Description
The thrilling and timeless legend, masterfully illustrated.
The story of the incomparable Arthur, the lovely Guinevere, the wicked Morgana le Fey, and the magical Merlin has enthralled and delighted readers for centuries.
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Customer Reviews:
• This Doth Be An Exceedingly Good Book! 31 December, 2005
Howard Pyle delivers yet another splendid book which recaptures the enchantment and chivalry of the legend of Kind Arthur and his knights. Some have complained of the archaic english, but I love it. It only adds to the magic of Pyle's story. This book is filled with the adventures of noble knights, and it does an amazing job of keeping your interest. Somehow, even after many previous jousts and sword matches, Pyle makes each one more interesting than the last.
I also love the "moral of the story" section he does at the end of most major book divisions. He did not do that in the other Pyle book I have read (The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood), and I very much liked them. In such he made allegories of Excalibur and its sheath (to God's Truth and faith), and does likewise with many things, always wishing to teach to us some truth through his writings about Arthur and his knights. I also loved the oath of the knights of the Round Table:
"And this was the covenant of their Knighthood of the Round Table: That they would be gentle unto the weak; that they would be courageous unto the strong; that they would be terrible unto the wicked and the evil-doer that they would defend the helpless who should call upon them for aid; that all women should be held unto them sacred; that they would stand unto the defence of one another whensoever such defence should be required; that they would be merciful unto all men; that they would be gentle of deed, true in friendship, and faithful in love. This was their covenant, and unto it each knight sware upon the cross of his sword, and in witness thereof did kiss the hilt thereof."
This except, I think, well sums up this book, in which these oaths are held, and if they are not, retribution always follows swiftly. In the land of Camelot, good deeds before God are of highest value, and wicked deeds are always subject to disapproval and punishment.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A10T0OW97SFBB
• Not The Best Telling 26 March, 2007
I read three versions of the Arthurian legends recently, and this one was the weakest. The language is somewhere between Malory's archaic form and modern prose, but does not succeed well at being either. The tales were also, in my opinion, less well told than in the others.
For your consideration, I read La Morte D'Arthur in an abridged version and Roger Lancelyn Green's "King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table" from the Puffin Classics series. I enjoyed Green's telling the best, as it was credibly compiled from a number of works (including Malory) and had some excellent atmospheric illustrations. Though it is a Puffin Classics edition, I did not find the usual condescension or "dumbing down" that often occurs in youth literature.
Get Green's version. It was just as cheap right here on Amazon, and well worth every penny.
- Reviewed by customer ID: AJLHNCGI8R7W
• Not The Traditional Tale, But Very Good... 10 November, 2006
This novel is about King Arthur and his knights - more specifically the tale of how Arthur became king and found excaliber and various stories about some of his knights, Merlin, and others. While not the traditional tale, a very good compilation of short stories about a variety of the characters. Would highly recommend.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A3QXS29SVAL8WG
• One You Really Need To Add To Your Reading List Or Library! 25 October, 2008
I think it would be difficult to find a folk hero, historical figure or group of legends that are better known, have spawned more literature and have had more movies made of them than King Arthur and his legendary Round Table and the Knights and Ladies who were a part of his story. To be frank, I grew up on this stuff, and furtherer more, admit to having been tremendously influenced by these stories when I was younger. In a fashion, they are very much a part of my total make up. I can well remember reading and being read to out of this very rendition. That being said...
Howard Pyle first published this work in 1902. This book represents the first volume of Pyle's retelling of the Arthurian Legend. These books, as most of this author's work, were directed toward young people of that time. Do not though make the mistake of considering this work a simple child's story, as it is far more than that. When I was in high school and then college, I ran headlong into Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur, and like many other young students, when completely numb. Later, I read Baines' rendition, which was of course more readable, but still quite a chore. While these works are certainly worthwhile, and should certainly be read by anyone with the least bit of interest in classical literature, they never-the-less are not easy works. Actually, they are rather difficult and you actually have to work at them. This is good, but sometimes you just want to relax and enjoy a good story. (I often speculate as to just how many people have been completely turned off to classical literature via having been forced to read these old tales when they were young. For those of you who were; a suggestion...try rereading them now. It is amazing what twenty or thirty years will do to your outlook!
This offering by Pyle fits that need, both for the younger reader and for the adult. I admit to taking great delight in reading this author's rendition of these old tales and am absolutely thrilled that they are again in print and in such a wonderful edition. The language Pyle uses stays true to the archaic style it was meant to be, yet it is not overwhelming. While the Malory translation is just a kick above G. Chaucer's, it is never the less difficult in this day and age. Pyle has toned things down so that the average reader can read and enjoy without a lap full of arcane dictionaries setting in their lap, yet he has not lost the essence and beauty of the original work.
This volume starts with the birth of Arthur and then covers many of the tales concerning the various Knights of the Round Table. We meet Sir Kay, Queen Morgana le Fay, Sir Pellias, Sir Gawaine, the wicked down fall of Merlin; The Lady Vivian, Merlin himself and many, many others. The courtly manners, speech and now long outdated attitudes are all meticulously recorded in a readable manner. Now do beware; this is not a politically correct book by any means. The original basis for the story goes back hundreds of years and Pyle's rendition was, after all, written in 1902. Actually, if this one is read to a much younger child, an adult really should do the reading and offer explanations as to why events were handled in the way they were.
This particular volume is of course illustrated by Howard Pyle himself. I must admit that he is probably one of my most, if not the most, favorite of the older illustrators. The pen and ink drawings are so typically Pyle that it is difficult to confuse him with others. The ample illustrations in this volume are all of that style and in fact strongly resemble old wood engravings. Pyle of course was the creator, or at least the inspirational origin of the Brandy Wine School of Illustration, which include some of the best of the past and are still quite influential today.
For a pure reading joy, this volume is difficult to beat. I cannot wait to get my hand on the rest of the things.
Don Blankenship
The Ozarks
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1MC6BFHWY6WC3
• Nice Copy 18 July, 2008
Great looking book, unnfortunately it is not the edition we need fo my son's class
- Reviewed by customer ID: A35RUI6NMY1AFX
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