When two boys save an old man from robbers, they learn of a competition in Londinium to decide the next king of Britain. The elder, Kay, is determined to prove himself worthy as a knight or a king. The younger is Arthur, a farm boy through and through - until he sees the sword in the stone.

The image of Arthur has haunted the poets and writers of western Europe for nearly nine centuries, and there is no sign of an end to the reign of the "once and future king" in the world of literature. The Arthurian epic is as popular a subject now as it was when it was first fashioned, and the stories about Arthur and the heroes associated with him come in a bewildering number of guises. The sheer variety of the legends, both in style and content, is extraordinary; and this collection attempts to present, in a small space, something of this diversity. Sir Thomas Malory, half a millennium ago, plundered a whole range of sources to create his masterpiece, Le Morte Darthur; but he did so to weld them together within the framework of Arthur's own career. Legends of Arthur draws on different sources, but emphasizes the way in which writers have created new stories around the great heroes, or have told the stories in different ways. So there are two versions of each hero's exploits. Arthur is shown as emperor and warlord, and as the triumphant and tragic king of the romances, betrayed by Lancelot and Guinevere. Gawain is the central figure of the wonderful adventures of a Dutch romance, and the courtly and subtle hero of the English masterpiece Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Tristan appears as the single-minded lover of Iseult in the original version of his story, and then as a knight of the Round Table whose devotion to chivalry is almost as great as his passion for his beloved. In these differing versions, we can see how the Arthurian romances held the medieval world spellbound for so long, in all their color and variety.

Arthurian expert Sir James Knowles brings together fourteen tales of King Arthur and his knights, inspired by Alfred, Lord Tennyson's first four 'Idylls of the King'. Here is a fascinating journey through the land of ancient England where magic, mystery and warring factions come together in cataclysmic fashion. Beginning with the finding of the wizard Merlin, Sir James recounts the discovery of the legendary sword Excalibur, King Arthur's victory over the Saxons and his marriage to the beautiful Guinevere, as well as his battles against armies from Europe and his evasion of Queen Morgan's attempts to kill him with a magic garment. Tales include: • The Prophecies of Merlin and the Birth of Arthur • The Miracle of the Sword and Stone • The Lady of the Lake • The Founding of the Round Table • The Adventures of Sir Gawain Revealing the escapades of the Knights of the Round Table, such as Lancelot, Bedivere, Bors, Modred, Tristram and Galahad, as they seek to protect Arthur's kingdom, we discover how these fabled figures found their destiny. ABOUT THE SERIES: Arcturus Classic Myths and Legends brings together beautiful retellings of mythologies from different traditions, from Celtic to Native American.

The heroic legends of King Arthur and his brave Knights of the Round Table is now available in an unabridged, illustrated cloth hardcover edition in Union Square and Co.’s Children's Signature Clothbound Classics series. Although the folklore of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table is centuries old, their spirited adventures continue to capture the hearts of young readers today. Camelot, Merlin, Morgana, the Holy Grail—all originating from Arthurian legend—have been widely adapted in media and modern fantasy world-building. This Children's Signature Clothbound Classics edition of The Story of King Arthur and His Knights is the only widely available edition of Howard Pyle’s version, which was written specifically for children.

From his court at Camelot, King Arthur ruled over a unified Britain in a mythical age of peace and prosperity. His glory, however, would be short-lived. For even as he drew the sword from the stone, a doom settled over Arthur that would see his kingdom fall to betrayal and war. In this book, Daniel Mersey retells the great stories of Arthur, from his winning of Excalibur and his marriage to Guinevere, through his battle with the giant in France and his war against the army of Rome to the treachery of Mordred and his death at Camlann. Supporting this narrative is an exploration of the different facets of Arthurian myth, including the numerous conflicting theories of his historical origin, the tales of Welsh folklore and Medieval romance, and even his various portrayals in the modern media. Presented with both classic and newly commissioned artwork this book is an easy-to-read, yet highly detailed introduction to the complex body of myth and legend that surrounds Britain's greatest hero.

The legends of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table have been told and retold for more than 800 years. Now, new generations of readers will be drawn into the excitement of the Camelot tournaments and the mystical quest for the Holy Grail. 58 full-color paintings. 30 pen and ink illus.

Some of the most fascinating and exciting stories about King Arthur and his knights have been almost completely overlooked. The Book of Arthur offers an extensive selection of these forgotten tales with an introduction detailing their origins and their place in the Arthurian tradition.