The Once and Future King (1958)

Finished book 1 of 4 just now.
I felt rather sceptical about this book, but once I read about a walking musterd jar that got slapped for being vain, I was hooked.

Will now continue reading!

I have finished this book and enjoyed reading it very much.

A pleasant surprise was, to learn that Lancelot indeed may have been dark. (He was described as 'monkey face in the first book of the 4.) Which makes the choice for an African American Lancelot in the Netflix serie Once more understandable.

The interruptions (when you want to read about... please consult....) and other side tracks were okay. Funny at times, in the beginning, but later on in the book they started to become irritating.

Nevertheless, like I said: interesting, nice to read AND another one off the list! :-) ( )

This is one of my most favorite books ever. I just love all the stories of King Arthur and Merlin. I read this a while ago, but I can still remember my favorite parts.

I felt the story flowed along quite nicely and the characters were all engaging. There might be better King Arthur novels, but this one is still my favorite! ( )

What an exciting book about King Arthur…. before he pulled Excalibur out of the stone, and after! Merlyn showed him a wonderful world! The book is exceptional at describing everything that is going on. ( )

I've just finished reading this, my first reading and I'm nearly 65 years old. I find it a bit trite, which may be unfair because what has become trite is what other writers have done with White's own vision. Perhaps if I'd read this fifty years ago my feelings might be more favorable. No way comparable to The Mists of Avalon, but I guess I prefer more imaginative retellings like Marion Zimmer Bradley's. ( )

What a way to end a year. This book is so full of hope and laughter, and then becomes one of sadness and despair, yet its views on humanity and human nature are just as profound as they were when I first read it at age 14.

And now, knowing how anachronistic this re-telling of the tale is, I understand so much more of what White was describing: how the suppression of the Saxons by the Normans was the start of Arthur's kingship, followed by the flowering of the High Middle Ages, and ending all by cannons. I am especially struck by Mordred's twisted spirit, Agravain's mindless focus on his mother (and his own hidden monstrosity), and the pulling of Arthur into his lawfulness and sadness. The principal actors become archetypes in this re-telling, and many tips of the hat are given to Mallory's description of the battles and panoply.

I know, I know, that Arthur was probably an anglicized Roman general, but the depth of feeling and heights of joy and despair just reflect so much better the heights and depths of the Dark and Middle Ages. ( )