The Once and Future King
by Terence Hanbury White | Literature & Fiction | This book has not been rated.
ISBN: 0441627404 Global Overview for this book
ISBN: 0441627404 Global Overview for this book
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
Picked this up at The Book Thing in Baltimore, Maryland. I read this recently and this is what I had to say then:
I thought I'd read this for a class in high school, but I know now that I did not. This lengthy tome is actually four books in one. "The Sword in the Stone," which inspired the Disney film of the same name, is the charming story of Arthur's childhood with Sir Ector, Kay, Merlyn, and the rest. Easily my favorite of the four. Next is "The Queen of Air and Darkness," which introduces the Gaelic Orkney clan, headed by Morgause. It's probably the funniest book, between the silliness of King Pellinore's lovesickness and the darker humor of the Orkney sons' desperate attempts to get their mother's attention. "The Ill-Made Knight" was my least favorite. It's all about Lancelot and his unending angst. "The Candle in the Wind" more or less wraps up the Lancelot story, with a sometimes irritating amount of commentary on how much better everything and everyone was back in those days. I wish the story could have gone all the way through Arthur's death and successor, but by and large I could see why this is considered one of the quintessential books on Arthurian Legend. I could spot the inspiration for many other works, from Excalibur to Monty Python's Holy Grail. If you're a fan of Arthur, I would definitely recommend reading. If you only have a passing interest, just read "The Sword in the Stone." It's delightful.
I thought I'd read this for a class in high school, but I know now that I did not. This lengthy tome is actually four books in one. "The Sword in the Stone," which inspired the Disney film of the same name, is the charming story of Arthur's childhood with Sir Ector, Kay, Merlyn, and the rest. Easily my favorite of the four. Next is "The Queen of Air and Darkness," which introduces the Gaelic Orkney clan, headed by Morgause. It's probably the funniest book, between the silliness of King Pellinore's lovesickness and the darker humor of the Orkney sons' desperate attempts to get their mother's attention. "The Ill-Made Knight" was my least favorite. It's all about Lancelot and his unending angst. "The Candle in the Wind" more or less wraps up the Lancelot story, with a sometimes irritating amount of commentary on how much better everything and everyone was back in those days. I wish the story could have gone all the way through Arthur's death and successor, but by and large I could see why this is considered one of the quintessential books on Arthurian Legend. I could spot the inspiration for many other works, from Excalibur to Monty Python's Holy Grail. If you're a fan of Arthur, I would definitely recommend reading. If you only have a passing interest, just read "The Sword in the Stone." It's delightful.
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
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Left on a table.
Welcome to BookCrossing!
Thank you so much for picking up this book. Please make a journal entry here on this page if you haven’t already done so to let me know that this book has found a good home. You may choose to remain anonymous or to join (it is entirely free). If you choose to join, please consider using any previous reader of this book, or me, melydia, as the member who referred you.
I really hope you enjoy the book you found! When you’re done reading it, you can make another journal entry with your comments here to let me know what you thought of it. You can keep the book forever and ever or pass it on to someone else. If you’re giving it to someone directly, make another journal entry saying so. If you choose to leave it somewhere “in the wild” for anyone to catch, make release notes that indicate where you left it. If you register, you will be alerted by e-mail each time someone makes another journal entry. It’s all confidential (you’re known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address), free, and spam-free. Then you can track this book as it goes on its journey!
