The book of Arthur : lost tales from the Round Table / collected and retold by John Matthews.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Matthews, John, 1948-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Arthur, King--Fiction.

Arthur.

Arthur, King.

Kings and rulers--Fiction.

Kings and rulers.

Knights and knighthood--Fiction.

Knights and knighthood.

Arthurian romances--Adaptations.

Arthurian romances.

Historical fiction, English.

Fantasy fiction, English.

Britons--Fiction.

Britons.

Genre:

Fiction.

Fantasy fiction, English.

Adaptations.

Physical Description:

416 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

London : Vega, 2002.

Summary:

The tales of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are universally known and loved. Countless retellings exist, based for the most part on Sir Thomas Malory's great work, Le Morte d'Arthur. Yet Malory drew on only a fraction of the vast cycles of stories that circulated throughout the Middle Ages. Many of them are every bit as exciting as those we know so well but have been almost completely overlooked, remaining lost in dusty tomes of 19th- and early 20th-century scholarship. The Book of Arthur offers an extensive selection of these 'forgotten tales' together with an introduction detailing their origins, the traditions that gave rise to them and their place in the Arthurian tradition. They include the adventures of Sir Jaufre in his romantic quest for the fair Brunnisend, and the story of Gawain's strange birth, his upbringing among poor folk and his final rise to Emperor of Rome. There is also a range of the earliest accounts of Arthur, deriving from the Celtic storytelling tradition. Here is the original Arthur, represented in such powerful tales as 'The Life of Merlin' and 'The Tale of Lanval'. Also included is the saga of 'Melora and Orlando', in which we meet King Arthur's daughter, and the first modern retelling of the strange and wondrous romances from medieval Ireland, The Crop-eared Dog' and 'The Visit of the Grey-hammed Lady'. This fascinating compendium of lore, adventure, magic and romance will extend the knowledge of Arthur and his knights far beyond hitherto known and familiar boundaries. In so doing, it will redefine many of the accepted myths and legends surrounding the charismatic figure of Arthur.

Contents:

Introduction: The Lost Tales of Arthur and his knights 7

Part 1 Celtic Tales 17

1 The Life of Merlin 19

2 The Madness of Trystan 29

3 The Adventures of Eagle Boy 37

4 The Adventures of Melora and Orlando 47

5 The Story of the Crop-eared Dog 61

6 The Visit of Grey Ham 75

7 The Story of Lanval 89

Part 2 Tales of Gawain 95

8 The Rise of Gawain 97

9 Gawain and the Carl of Carlisle 111

10 The Wedding of Gawain and Ragnall 119

11 The Adventures at Tarn Wathelyn 127

12 The Mule without a Bridle 133

13 The Knight of the Sword 143

14 Gorlagros and Gawain 151

Part 3 The Medieval Legacy 165

15 The Knight of the Parrot 167

16 The Vows of King Arthur and his Knights 189

17 The Fair Unknown 199

18 Arthur and Gorlagon 219

19 Guingamor and Guerrches 229

20 The Story of Meriadoc 245

21 The Story of Grisandole 267

22 The Story of Caradoc 275

23 The Story of Perceval 291

24 Sir Cleges 309

25 The Boy and the Mantle 313

26 The Lay of Tyolet 321

27 Jaufre 329

28 The Story of Lanzalet 349.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [410]-412) and index.

ISBN:

184333612X

OCLC:

50401088