The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)

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The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights: (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)

Editorial Review

Steinbeck's only work of fantasy literature--in an illustrated deluxe edition
John Steinbeck's retelling of Malory's beloved Arthurian stories will capture the attention and imagination of legions of Steinbeck fans, including those who love Arthurian romances, as well as countless readers of science fiction and fantasy literature. Featuring the icons of Arthurian legend--including King Arthur, Merlin, Morgan le Fay, the incomparable Queen Guinevere, and Arthur's purest knight, Sir Lancelot of the Lake--these enduring tales of loyalty and betrayal in the time of Camelot flicker with the wonder and magic of an era past but not forgotten.

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
• Age Of Chivalry, Rebooted
  At one stray moment in "Acts Of King Arthur And His Noble Knights", a lazy knight named Sir Lyonel is pressured to join his uncle Lancelot on a quest. In casual conversation, he catches a glimpse of Lancelot's heroic nature, staring unblinking in the face of doom.
  "...suddenly Sir Lyonel knew why Lancelot would gallop down the centuries, spear in rest, gathering men's hearts on his lance head like tilting rings."
  In "Acts Of King Arthur", written in the 1950s but unpublished until 1976, John... more info
• One of the best fantasy stories.
  Now, I have never read the original King Arthur stories or any other attempts to re-tell it. So, I do not know how I would compare them. That however may not be really important, for this book can stand on its own. It starts with very terse language and becomes more and more colorful as stories progress. Indeed it reaches its apogee in the last tale of Sir Lancelot, which should really be thought as one of the best fantasy stories. It has a sad and ominous feel as story seem to move to its fateful and... more info
• An overlooked pleasure...
  I read this book as a teen and loved it and forgot about it until I came across it again recently. I forgot what a little jewel it is. Steinbeck, with his own inimitable style, has taken the ancient stories and retold them with his own wry, wise perspective of live and of human frailty.
  I am particularly partial to the story of Sir Marhalt, an under-appreciated knight in the romantic pantheon. Marhalt is a fierce warrior and a great knight but he is very independent and doesn't want to be part of the... more info
• I have a pile of these King Arthur books!
  I've read Tennyson's "Idylls of the King" several times and Malory's "Le Morte D'Arthur"
  too. The other more modern classic is T. H. White's two books " The Once and Future King" and
  " The Book of Merlin". John Steinbeck is an unexpected scholar here:
  he has translated the classic so that they make sense in modern prose.
  It is hard to say if he "got it right" as there are several versions of these tales historically
  in everything from Welsh folk tales to classic literature. more info

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