The Great Book of King Arthur: And His Knights of the Round Table

Foreword by Neil Gaiman The world's leading Arthurian authority reimagines one of the most beloved and influential legends--the story of King Arthur and his Knights--for a new century. The stories of King Arthur and Merlin, Lancelot and Guinevere, Galahad, Gawain, Tristan and the rest of the Knights of the Roundtable, and the search for the Holy Grail have been beloved for centuries and are the inspiration of many modern fantasy novels, films, and shows. These legends began when an obscure Celtic hero named Arthur stepped on to the stage of history sometime in the sixth century, generating a host of oral tales that would be inscribed some 900 years later by Thomas Malory in his classic Morte D'Arthur (The Death of Arthur). The Great Book of King Arthur brings these legends into the modern age, using accessible prose for contemporary readers for the first time. In addition to the stories in Morte D'Arthur, John Matthews includes many tales of Arthur and his knights either unknown to Malory or written in other languages, such as the story of Avenable, the girl brought up as a boy who becomes a famous knight; Morien, whose adventures are as fantastic and exciting as any found in Malory's work; and a retelling of the life of Round Table favorite Gawain, from his strange birth to his upbringing among the poor to his ascension to the highest position--Emperor of Rome. In addition, there are some of the earliest tales of Arthur, deriving from the tradition of Celtic storytelling. The epic hero is represented in such powerful stories as The Adventures of Eagle-boy and The Coming of Merlin, which is based on the early medieval text Vita Merlini and tells a completely new version of the great enchanter's story.

About the Author :
John Matthews is a world-renowned authority on the Celtic wisdom tradition and the Arthurian legends. He is the author of numerous books, including The Encyclopedia of Celtic Wisdom. Neil Gaiman is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of books for children and adults whose award-winning titles include Norse Mythology, American Gods, The Graveyard Book, Good Omens (with Terry Pratchett), Coraline, and The Sandman graphic novels. Neil Gaiman is a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR and Professor in the Arts at Bard College. Gareth Armstrong is a professional actor and stage performer with a number of appearances in cult-classic television favorites to his credit, including Doctor Who: The Masque of Mandragora, Witchcraft, Star One, and Hammer House of Horror, in which he played Dr. Melburg. Jot Davies is an acclaimed actor, voice-over artist, and narrator. He has held roles in such plays as The Baby Diary and Our Share of Tomorrow, and his audiobook narrations include titles by Mo Hayder, Charles Cumming, and Andrew Kaufman. Jot Davies is an acclaimed actor, voice-over artist, and narrator. He has held roles in such plays as The Baby Diary and Our Share of Tomorrow, and his audiobook narrations include titles by Mo Hayder, Charles Cumming, and Andrew Kaufman.