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King Arthur book recommendations?

10 replies

atigercametotea · 14/04/2009 23:29

So, I've done the Tudors to death and need to get my teeth into somethinng else, so where should I start?

I realise that the Arthurian legend covers quite a lot, so any advice appreciated...

OP posts:
frisbyrat · 14/04/2009 23:49

I'm not sure you'll get much joy in non-fiction, to be honest!

The once and future king is great, though (although I'm still ploughing through the final book, having started it in 2008)

Prufrock · 14/04/2009 23:52

bernard cornwell wrote an excellent series on Arthur as a more realistic figure than Malory's romantic hero.

And it's children's literature, but Susan Coppers Over Sea, Under Stone series is really really excellent

solidgoldshaggingbunnies · 14/04/2009 23:53

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

MoominMymbleandMy · 15/04/2009 00:19

Philip Reeve's "Here Lies Arthur" is an unusual take on the legend, and very readable.

I'd also second Susan Cooper but I think the series is now published as one large book called "The Dark is Rising Series".

Pan · 15/04/2009 00:25

Second Mists of Avalon, though gets a bit carried away with the 'romance' of it all. Great seeing the stories from the 'underdog' as it were.

cornsilk · 15/04/2009 00:56

Hello Pan!
I'd like to read some stuff to my ds's. They think Arthur is that blond geezer from the BBC program.

Pan · 15/04/2009 19:16

Evening Cornsilk!

you mean Arfa Daley???

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 15/04/2009 19:21

The Mary Stewart Arthur trilogy (Crystal Cave, Hollow Hills and, er, something else) is my favourite.
Kevin Crossley-Holland did a teen version that is good too.
Rosemary Sutcliff's Sword at Sunset also brilliantly atmospheric and makes you feel sixth-century Britain probably was the way she describes it.
Philip Reeve is very enjoyable too.
You won't find much in the way of non-fiction though, because, I hate to break it to you, but...

Pan · 15/04/2009 22:07
Shock
YohoAhoy · 26/04/2009 14:30

You could look at some of the 'original' books - Chretien de Troyes or the Mabinogien, Geoffrey of Monmouth.

From a historical viewpoint, they show where some of the legends come from which is very interesting.

Or Morte d'Arthur by Malory, which despite being a bit of an Arthur fan, I find hard to read!!

Alternatively there are various non-fiction (ish) books by Geoffrey Ashe.

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