King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table

by Roger Lancelyn Green

Retold out of the old romances, this collection of Arthurian tales endeavours to make each adventure — "The Quest for the Round Table", "The First Quest of Sir Lancelot", "How the Holy Grail Came to Camelot", and so forth — part of a fixed pattern that effectively presents the whole story, as it does in Le Morte d'Arthur, but in a way less intimidating to young readers.

Genres: Classics, Fantasy, Fiction, Arthurian, Mythology, Historical Fiction, Childrens

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1953

About the author

Roger (Gilbert) Lancelyn Green was a British biographer and children's writer. He was an Oxford academic who formed part of the Inklings literary discussion group along with C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Born in 1918 in Norwich, England, Green studied under C. S. Lewis at Merton College, Oxford, where he obtained a B.Litt. degree. He delivered the 1968 Andrew Lang lecture. Green lived in Cheshire, in a manor which his ancestors owned for over 900 years. He died in October 1987. His son was the writer Richard Lancelyn Green

Reviews

[Leonard Gaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roger Lancelyn Green may not be quite as famous as his teachers and fellow Oxfordians, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. He is, nonetheless, one of the major popularisers of ancient myths and legends in English culture — Neil Gaiman recently acknowledged (in his introduction to Norse Mythology) that Lancelyn Green’s books profoundly influenced his early vocation as a writer.

King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table was published a few years after World War II, around the same time as Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia and T. H. White’s The Once and Future King… Let’s say that the romances of chivalry were all the rage in the 1950s — just as dragons and magic fantasies have been all the rage since the 1990s, with George R.R. Martin and J.K. Rowling at the forefront.

Lancelyn Green’s book, however, is not a complete redesign of the old tales: instead, it is a straightforward and condensed retelling of the Arthurian legends, intended for young readers who are, for the most part, unfamiliar with this vast body of literature. It covers the whole cycle: the story of Uther Pendragon, Merlin and Nimue, the youth of Arthur and the sword in the stone, the establishment of the Round Table at Camelot, the story of Tristan and Isolde, the Fisher King, the quest of the Grail and the adventures of Gawain, Percival, Bors, Galahad, Lancelot and Guinevere, and finally the plots of Morgan Le Fay and Mordred, the battle of Camlann and the end of the fellowship. Lancelyn Green, mindful of his readership, toned down and ironed out the most explicit aspects (the sex and the gore) of these legends and the story is written in simple, slightly archaic, yet elegant prose.

The whole narrative feels seamless and thoroughly consistent. Better yet, some episodes are rendered in a genuinely moving way: for instance, the tragedy of Tristan, the ordeals of the Grail nights and, most of all, the death of Arthur and his departure to Avalon (Frodo’s setting out to Valinor at the end of Tolkien’s masterpiece is an imitation of this ending); which is no small feat, since the Arthurian legends have multiple and, sometimes, conflicting sources from French, German and English medieval literature: Chrétien de Troyes, Béroul, Robert de Boron, Gottfried von Straßburg, Geoffrey of Monmouth, The Mabinogion, Wolfram von Eschenbach, and most of all, the massive 13th-century Lancelot-Grail Vulgate cycle.

The Matter of Britain is primarily made up of new versions of older stories, which in turn are retellings of even older legends, dating as far back as the songs of the troubadours. Lancelyn Green — along with T. H. White — is a worthy successor of Thomas Malory. He compiled these novels of the Round Table together in his all-encompassing rendition, Le Morte d'Arthur. For those curious about modern interpretations of these stories, I would recommend listening to Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde and Parsifal. I’d also suggest John Boorman’s film Excalibur, which proceeds by condensations and displacements of characters and plotlines but is still a masterpiece. I do not know if the TV shows Camelot or Merlin are any good — anyone?

Aubrey Beardsley’s illustrations in this edition of King Arthur are lovely Indian ink pictures, in a style that reminds me of Gustav Klimt.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had this book for awhile and am not shamed to admit that watching Merlin had pushed me into finally reading it.

Before I read it I'd already had some background knowledge on the tales of King Arthur, in which I knew of a lot of the knights and some of the tales. I also knew that it would be nothing like the television show, so I wouldn't let that deter you, if that's what you're hoping for. The tales may be old and written in an old way, but they're still fun to read nonetheless.

Roger Lancelyn Green's version of King Arthur was based off of Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur, as well as other sources of Arthurian legend, in the hopes that he could string the tales together in a way that more represented a story with a beginning, middle and end. In King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table we see Arthur's development from small boy having just pulled the sword from the stone to beloved man and king of Camelot. We also get to read about Arthur's knights, many of whom anybody with a touch of Arthurian legend would recognize; Lancelot, Gawain, Galahad, etc. Their quests are the main source of action and adventure in this book, and they don't leave room for disappointment.

Even before I started watching Merlin, I was always a fan of Arthurian legend. Really, I enjoy reading about any kind of legend, mythology or fairy tale. So, I wasn't surprised as to how easy it was to get into the stories and actually enjoy what I was reading. While I know that this book draws from other sources than just Malory, I will most probably still read Le Morte d'Arthur just to compare.

The original stories were written down quite a long time ago, and this book reads with a lot of the old language that we're not so used to today. So, while it might read a bit slow and boring, it still does detail fantastic (while a bit repetitive) quests and characters. There was romance and a lot of killing, which I suppose are only to be expected in a time of knights.

The characters, I believe, were really fleshed out in this book, and I give props to Green for being able to do so. The only thing that I was weary of was the fact that they all seemed to be very rash and quick to fight or kill. I'd hate to be one of the people who said one sore thing in their presence.

Overall, I was completely enthralled with this book and really enjoyed reading the Arthurian legends all woven together as one story. I particularly enjoyed the Quest for the Holy Grail. The writing was a bit stiff and not easy flowing, but that didn't deter me too badly from the story. The characters were superb and made me want to see them all sitting at the round table.
If anything, this book has caused me to look more in-depth into the life of Arthur and his knights, and especially eager to read Malory's version and of course finish Merlin.

☆☆☆☆/5
Recommend?: If you dig legends of any kind. Especially that of the Arthurian kind.
If knighthood and quests sound appeasing to you.

[Mohammad.Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

خود کتاب روایت کاملی از داستان آرتور رو داره - که از نظرم بعضی روایتاش فوق العاده سم بود
اما امان از ترجمش. امااااااان
دو نمره فقط به خاطر ترجمه‌ای که زجر کشم کرد
مثال
سر لونسلت که صحیحش لنسلات باید باشه(روی س ضمه)
اما برای آشنایی و اسطوره شناسی کتاب مناسبیه

[Metodi Markov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Единствената книга успяла да заинтригува достатъчно брат ми като дете - прочете я за месец цялата. Може би помогна и факта, че лежеше в болница със счупен крак, без никаква друга възможност за развлечение. :)

Аз съм чел тази и "Робин Худ" от същия автор неколкократно и винаги с голям интерес.

Г-н Грийн е истински майстор!

[J. Aleksandr Wootton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but not great. I very much appreciated Green's organization of the stories; it highlights, for example, the very different tone of the Grail cycle compared with the episodic chivalry-quests and pseudo-histories that go into the rest.

What it lacked, for me, was locus: Green follows Geoffrey of Monmouth and positions Arthur's kingdom shortly after the Roman withdrawal and the conflicts and alliances which immediately followed. But then Logres seems to fall out of time, its borders uncertain, its neighbors unfixed. Ancient legend, fairy tale, and monastic (almost pre-Gothic) imagination wax and wane from chapter to chapter, corresponding to Green's source material for a given story; perspectives on Arthur from many different time periods and cultures bleed through, and are not much harmonized. The surface is smoothed, but underneath, the composition feels a bit hodge-podge.

By contrast, Green's prologue and epilogue are quite good. I hope he delivered lectures on his whole Arthurian research, because I'd love to read them.

[Calzean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plenty of people being smote and slewed. Heads being chopped off seemed to be a popular choice for the demise. Damsels were in distress and damsels sometimes plotted evil. There were good knights and bad knights. And a bit of magic thrown in.
The tales in this book still make fun reading.

[Fonch · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are in front of excellent compilation of the adventures of the Knight Round Table. Roger Lancelyn Green tests that he is worth to be a member of the Inklings he is somebody that we must rediscover him. To know the arthurian cycle is necessary to read it.
................................................................................................................................................................................
Nosotros nos encontramos ante una excelente compilación de las aventuras de los Caballeros de la Tabla Redonda. Roger Lancelyn Green demuestra, que es digno de ser digno de los Inklings, y a alguien, que merece ser redescubierto. Para conocer, y comprender el mito Artúrico la lectura de este libro es básica.

[Alexandra S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Чела съм я стотици пъти. Съвсем скоро си я припомних, защото се опитах да разкажа на приятели 2 от историите за сър Гауейн. Гледаха ме като Шехеразада, дано съм ги запалила :)

[Lucía · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hacía mucho tiempo que tenía ganas de conocer la historia del Rey Arturo. Pese a saber que es uno de esos muchos personajes de la Historia que anda entre la verdad y la leyenda, siempre tuve cierta fascinación por él. Creo que todo empezó con la serie Las Tres Mellizas que tenía un episodio donde las niñas conocían a los caballeros de la Tabla Redonda y continuó con la serie Merlín. En fin, que me voy del tema.

Este libro no es una invención del propio Lancelyn sino que, como explica al principio, ha recopilado los relatos, poemas, baladas y crónicas que otros escribieron hace ya muchos siglos. Curiosamente, pese a que Arturo era britano, la mayoría de fuentes son alemanas y francesas. La narración está a medio camino entre el poema, el cantar de gesta y la novela (cosa que me ha gustado mucho) y desprende un tufillo medieval maravilloso. Uno de los componentes de ese tufillo medieval es la inexactitud cronológica. Las leyendas hablan de que Arturo se enfrentó y derrotó a los sajones que invadían Britania (los sajones, anglos, jutos, pictos y escotos invadieron Britannia en el siglo V, cuando el Imperio Romano estaba haciendo aguas) pero por otra parte, las descripciones de las armaduras de los caballeros, la aparición de castillos, el ideal de caballero cristiano comprometido, el propio cristianismo tan arraigado ya y el vasallaje son elementos plenamente medievales que podrían corresponderse claramente con los siglos que van del XI al XIII.

Las leyendas también evidencian la mentalidad de la época en cuanto al ideal que promovió la Iglesia a través de Adán y Eva y el Pecado Original. Por estas fechas, la Iglesia marcó la inferioridad de la mujer con sutilezas tales como "El hombre está hecho a imagen y semejanza de Dios pero la mujer salió de la costilla del hombre" o sea, que la mujer no es la imagen y semejanza de Dios. O también con que Eva fue la mujer que tentó a Adán y trajo la desgracia sobre toda la humanidad por lo tanto las mujeres son malas y traicioneras. ¿Por qué digo esto? Porque en el libro la mayoría de espíritus malignos que tentan a los caballeros son mujeres. También lo son las brujas que intentan engañar a los caballeros y que trabajan al servicio de la mayor bruja de todas: Morgana.

Por otro lado, ha habido veces en que los diálogos me han parecido muy simplistas pero no es culpa del autor ya que él se ha limitado a recoger las crónicas. Por ejemplo:

- La tierra está en paz -le dijo a Merlín- y mis guerras acabadas durante algún tiempo. ¿No es adecuado que el rey piense en tomar esposa?

-Adecuado es, ciertamente -respondió Merlín-. Un hombre de vuestra liberalidad y nobleza no debería estar sin esposa, ni tampoco debe faltarle señora al reino de Logres... Mas venid aquí, decidme: ¿hay por ventura alguna princesa a la que amés más que a las otras?

- Sí, sin duda la hay -respondió Arturo-. Amo a Ginebra, la hija del rey Leodegrance. Es la doncella más hermosa, dulce, tierna y pura de toda la tierra. ¡Con ella me he de casar, o moriré soltero!

-No hay duda de que está entre las más bellas -dijo Merlín-. Aun así, sería deseable que amaseis a otra, pues por su misma belleza ha de venir el fin del reino de Logres, cuando el mejor caballero de vuestra corte la ame, trayendo la vergüenza sobre ella y sobre sí mismo; trayendo la guerra entre vos y él; trayendo el día del triunfo del traidor de Camlann, no mucho después de la llegada del Santo Grial, lo cual señalará la culminación de la gloria de Logres y también su caída. Y con todo, Ginebra es la más hermosa de las doncellas de la tierra, y cuando el corazón de un hombre se fija en una mujer así, como el vuestro se ha fijado en ella, no se le puede hacer desistir.

Y ya está. O sea, Merlín tío. Eres un aguafiestas. Le dices que Ginebra va a traer la desgracia sobre Logres y luego le das una palmadita en la espalda y añades: "Pero, hale. Tira y cásate con ella muchacho". ¿En serio? Y lo peor de todo: ¡A ARTURO DE LA DA IGUAL Y COGE Y SE CASA CON ELLA! ¡TÍO, QUE SE TE VA A VENIR EL CHIRINGUITO ABAJO, QUE TE LO HA DICHO MERLÍN! El caso es que perlitas como estas hay unas cuantas y eso para mí es un toquecito de humor. He descubierto también que Merlín es un asquerosete porque lo mismo que le dice esto a Arturo, luego le suelta otras cosas que a mí, personalmente, de ser el rey me quitaban el sueño, y se va tan ancho. 

El balance general del libro es muy bueno y para todo aquel interesado en saber más (dentro de lo posible, porque es una leyenda) de Arturo Pendragón, le recomiendo este libro porque es bastante ameno y no se hace pesado. Lo peor de todo ha sido el final, no porque fuera malo sino por cómo es en sí ya que todas las predicciones que hizo Merlín se cumplen pero había cosas que el muy... asqueroso se calló y que han hecho que el final haya sido ciertamente sorprendente.

[Saranya De · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a tour de force of medieval soap opera. Think about it... a king chosen by divine intervention (pulling a sword from a rock is a pretty dramatic job interview, no?), a round table designed to prevent arguments about who's sitting at the head (surprisingly modern approach to conflict resolution!) and a cast of characters who could put any reality TV show to shame.

And there's this Lancelot... the epitome of the tragic hero... whose immense skill is matched only by his utterly disastrous love life. And then, of course, the various sorcerers, enchantresses, and mystical creatures who pop up at the most inconvenient moments, offering helpful advice or more often, curses and challenging riddles.

[Emiliya Bozhilova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Книжки като тази навремето бяха създатели на нови светове в детското въображение (конкретно в моето). Светът на крал Артур, синтезиран и компресиран до максимум (никакви 1000 страници в по 10 тома, а все пак обхванати невероятни количество сюжетни линии), но богат на приключения, вълшебства, любов и драматични избори, градеше цялостно отношение и към привидно несвързания с легендите свят около нас.

[Jake Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“the great legends, like the best of the fairy tales, must be retold from age to age: there is always something new to be found in them, and each retelling brings them freshly and more vividly before a new generation — and therein lies their immorality “

- Roger Lancelyn Green (from author’s preface)

[Collin · Rating 4 out of 5]

So it's not the most academic work you could choose to read on Arthurian legend. It's still a lot of fun. Also, if you're like me and have trouble tracking action/motivation/very frequently similar plots of all those "knight meets a damsel and fights a knight to save another damsel and gets wounded and is saved by another knight who was brought by another knight accompanied by a damsel"... if you're like me, aka not very quick, it's a very helpful overview. I want to believe that Green did his research - he makes a few bibliographical notes in the intro - and that, for the most part, everything is fairly accurate. (Galahad's story is a bit truncated, though, according to what Wikipedia says about the Vulgate Cycle/etc. I'm not sure if I care, though, because the way Green told it, it was really sad. And what's Arthurian legend if not a thousand people retelling the same story in different ways?)

Anyway, I liked it. I think I'm ready to move on to Pyle's version. I read the first half of Malory but that was a slog; I probably need a better translation that doesn't try to do the stilted Ye Olde English crap. I wish it was more likely that I could find an edition of the Vulgate Cycle somewhere. And I can't forget about Chrétien de Troyes. Suffice it to say I have a lot to read.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Given the number of scattered King Arthur tales, I'm grateful Roger Lancelyn Green reworked the tales into a cohesive story. Children will definitely enjoy this book, but it also gave me the courage to start Le Morte d'Arthur: King Arthur and the Legends of the Round Table. Wish me luck!

[Solange · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

[яσвεят · Rating 3 out of 5]

این کتاب رو من به خاطر نوستالژی بازی قلعه افسانه
یا توی ایران ما می گفتیم جنگ های صلیبی ۳
با دوبله دارینوس داستانی رو روایت میکرد که همیشه توی بچگی دوست داشتم روایت بیشتری ازش بدونم که با خوندن این کتاب و اضافه شدن تخیل این امر محقق شد

[Lindsay B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good story. Just slow and hard to understand in parts.

[Zahra Adish Keshavarzi · Rating 1 out of 5]

کتابی که محتوای ان در مورد فداکاریهای شوالیه هاست؛ اما خلاف بر پیشنهادی که شده برای کودکان مناسب نیست.

[Jordan Comeaux {barefoot~books~bones} · Rating 3 out of 5]

How do you rate a legend?
How do you dislike the stories written about someone you’ve always loved?

It is no secret that I am not a fan of the way most classics are written. And King Arthur is no different, except maybe worse than most classics.

Why is it not about Arthur? It starts and ends with him and that is it.
The rest is nonsensical tales of men who are supposed to be the most worthy, kind and chivalrous that ever existed and yet, they aren’t. (Do I love a good story about good men being human? Yes.) but if you’re going to say they’re perfect. They should be nearly so.

And don’t get me started on the women in this story.
If I were a knight I wouldn’t have defended half of them.

I have a lot more to say, probably none of it good.
So I’ll just say this, I am still wholeheartedly in love with the IDEA of King Arthur… so may there be many more retellings so that I may fall in love with those.

Still, I am very glad I read it!

May chivalry never die!!

[Rachel Dando · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again checking off an Inklings book from my ever increasing Inklings book list 🥰
I didn't love it as much as I hoped to, but it was still really good! I love Arthur and all of his men of the Round Table

"But never was King Arthur forgotten, and always the belief endured in Britain, and in Wales particullarly, that he would come again to save his land in the hour of its deadliest danger; that once more Britain should become the holy land of Logres, the land of peace and righteousness and of true Christian living."

[Chloe Cotnoir · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first King Arthur novel I've read. I believe this edition is fun to read and very accessible. It's easy to follow the main storyline even though it pulls from many short stories and poems that came before it.

By the end of the novel you feel deeply invested in all the knights and their stories (though Lancelot and I are not on good terms!)

Overall it was a fun rendition of the King Arthur Legend!

[Lydia K · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 enjoyed it more than I thought I would but I don’t think I’ll read it again.

[Nada Sobhi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is by all means a HORRID book! It is an insult to the Tales of Camelot, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. The writing of the book is terrible; it makes you want to skip parts. It is very hard to enjoy this book. I am currently hiding this book in the farthest, darkest shelf in the house.

[Jenny Christensen · Rating 1 out of 5]

so boring.

[Nobi Nobes · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was amazing! great!

[Caroline Lancaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book so much!!! I would give it a 6 star if I could, this was a school read and I’m so glad I got to read it because it was such a fun read and I highly recommend it!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite King Arthur retelling yet.

[Estíbaliz Montero Iniesta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Siempre he sido muy fan de los mitos del ciclo artúrico. Siempre ha habido algo en ellos que me ha fascinado: Arturo, Merlín, Avalón, la Dama del Lago, Lancelot, Ginebra... Sabía que, tras ver varias adaptaciones a la pequeña y gran pantalla, algún día acabaría por leer el libro.

La primera cosa que me ha sorprendido ha sido la ambientación. Por las otras adaptaciones de las que yo tenía conocimiento, para mí Camelot, Avalón, etc. eran ubicaciones de fantasía, y toda la historia se desarrollaba en un mundo que tiene paralelismos con Inglaterra pero no es Inglaterra. Bien, primer error. Camelot es lo que hoy en día se conoce como Winchester y la ubicación es la Inglaterra real. También me ha sorprendido que, siguiendo esta ambientación real, practican el catolicismo, celebran Navidad, Pentecostés, etc.

El primer problema es que con el rey Arturo pasa un poco como con Robin Hood, no hay una obra canónica indiscutible, sino que hay varios compendios que recogen las diversas leyendas y las unifican en una historia. El problema de esto, según lo he visto yo, es que el libro se divide en muchas partes y capítulos claramente diferenciados, pero a veces se contradicen o de repente se aportan detalles que no acaban de cuadrar con lo anterior. Por ejemplo, después de más de 100 páginas, de repente resulta que Nimue y la Dama del Lago son la misma persona, cuando en la primera parte del libro salen ambas pero no se menciona ni una vez que sean la misma persona.

Además, la narración me ha parecido un tanto superficial. Realmente está relatado como una leyenda, de modo que me ha parecido que a los sentimientos y los pensamientos les falta profundidad, porque se tocan muy por encima. Este libro no acaba de recordar a una novela y creo que ese formato me habría cautivado mucho más (no sé si me estoy explicando demasiado bien, pero espero que se capte la idea).

Por último, opino que el libro más bien debería llamarse "Los caballeros de la Tabla Redonda", porque en honor a la verdad, Arturo apenas sale, y cuando sale, interpreta más bien el papel de personaje secundario. Esto es algo que me ha decepcionado profundamente, yo quería conocer mejor su historia, y no es lo que he obtenido.

En resumidas cuentas: la experiencia ha sido interesante, pero no me ha dado todo lo que yo esperaba. Sin embargo, sigo muy interesada en el ciclo artúrico y seguiré buscando libros que traten el tema.

[Judah Gentino · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this book! It was cool to read the source of so many different literary allusions in books. It took a little while getting used to the book being a collection of short stories and not a single account but I enjoyed the writing style.
I definitely recommend it for anyone who enjoys classic literature.

[Márta Péterffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roger Gilbert Lancelyn Green brit életrajzíró és gyermekíró. Oxfordi akadémikus volt, C.S. Lewis barátja.
Az Arthur mondakört és a Szent Grál történeteket írta meg itt, szép elbeszélésekben. Angliában az ötvenes-hatvanas években voltak népszerűek az írásai, Robin Hood legendáját is feldolgozta, többek közt.
Tetszett, nagyon szeretem ezt amondakört, legendákat és történeteket. A Grál keresése nem volt annyira érdekes nekem, a keresztény misztika talán sok volt...
Alapos és könnyen olvasható, de a mai gyerekeknek szerintem már nem érdekes, inkább az Arthur-rajongóknak ajánlom.