Customer Reviews

Arthur High King of Britain (New Windmill)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is the best I'll probably ever read.I think the illustrations are excellent, and it's made an old story come to life. My favourite thing about the story is how it keep's popping up with new ideas, and how it goes in and out of him telling the story and the boy actually being there in the cave. My favourite character is Bercelet,I like the idea of him being Merlin's eyes and ears. I think it's a shame about Lancelot and King Arthur fighting and that Lancelot took Arthur's wife.It's brilliant! I look forward to reading more books by Michael Morpurgo.

At the time of writing this there are 12 listings (on amazon.ca) of "Arthur, High King Of England" by Michael Morpungo and Michael Foreman. Two are audio cassettes. Eight of the ten remaining books all have the same two reader's reviews and same two product reviews attached to all eight listed editions of this book. The books are all clearly different: hardcover, softcover, different editions range in overall size dimensions and in pages from 144 to 256. Different copyright years and publishers. The price range is from three or so dollars Cdn to about fifty-five. The cover of one appears to perhaps have a different illustrator, but the "search inside" feature takes one to the same single different edition of this book so is not helpful to discern what the differences of this edition or any of the various editions may be.

I came to this book actually searching through Michael Foreman's work, an illustrator whose watercolor work I find very evocative. Imagine my disappointment and the lack of helpfulness when, through eight editions, two (times 8) product reviews and two (times 8) reader's reviews, there is no mention of the illustration whatsoever.

After ordering the book and its arrival I found that this amazon web page of Arthur High King of Britain (with the blue cover of an older adolescent on a charging horse, the Egmont edition) is completely misleading. The reproductions of the illustrations inside are all in black and white and cropped to death, completely destroying Michael Foreman's sense of space, color and action, which you get a taste of on the cover at least, and no where on the web page is this stated. In the "search inside" feature in fact, some of the color plates of a different edition are shown.

Don't order this book, hold out for a color edition. You'll be glad you did. Admonish amazon to represent the product(s) accurately and fairly so that you may make an informed decision, and not have to find out by ordering the book and returning it. I am a little surprised that the author and editor would even allow this edition to come out, so poorly does it portray their work together, but I know that sometimes when a publisher acquires the rights they do with it what they want.

Here are some specific recommendations/requests:
1) Don't attach the "search inside" feature to any different edition of the same title. Attach it to the one from which it was scanned only.
2) For children's or any illustrated book, don't attach a literary product review only. Without a review of the illustration of that particular edition, an equally integral part of the publication, any review is incomplete and inadequate and even misleading, for which, in this case, amazon bears the responsibility for posting it.

More accurate reviews of the various other editions would still be helpful.

I further found after posting this review, that it automatically has been added to editions of the book for which I did not write it, hence my description of the cover of the one to which it applies (the Egmont edition).

I should mention, the text is reviewed in a good cross section in the other reviews currently posted at least on the amazon.ca site. Some five star reviews and one review there that gives it one star based on the morally conservative position that this book exposes the topic of incest in a book ostensibly aimed at children/adolescents.

I think this is the version I had (someone stole mine a year ago - I'm trying to find the right version again). So, if I'm right about the version, this audiobook is the best thing I've ever listened to. The author and narrator makes the entire story come to life! A boy gets rescued from an incoming tide and taken to the legendary 'Avalon' by none other than Arthur Pendragon, High King of Britain. Arthur tells him some of the fabulous stories of himself and his friends: the Knights of the Round Table (Gawain, Lancelot and Tristrum), Merlin and Guenivere, and the horrible treachery of his half-sister and their son, I believe their names were Morgana Le Fay, and Mordred. I was listening to it at the age of 7-8 years old, and I've always thought it was wonderful (I'm 17 now). I miss it so much, I can still hear the sound of the sea, and the voices. I can still imagine the scenes, and remember almost all of most of the stories. It is quite possibly the most intense, wonderful, fantastic audiobook in the world. I find I loved it more than my music and other audiobooks that I've been listening to since (so not a stereotyical teenager then). I've also found that ordering it from Amazon.com makes the handling and shipping price more than the cost of the actual audiobook itself! (I live in England) Which means I'm not allowed to get it, and Amazon.co.uk doesn't stock it. Still, it's a fantastic story, with amazing narration and anyone, kid or adult, who has it or can listen to it is extremely lucky. Don't take it for granted if you love it - it might not always be there.

I had borrowed this book from the library in audiobook format hoping to gain a better understanding of King Arthur's tale. I was not disappointed! The audiobook is read by the author who distinctly brings each character to life. The story itself is vividly full of details and emotion. It brings to light not only the tale of Arthur himself, but of Lancelot, Gawain (and the Green Knight), Tristan and Isolde, along with other colorful characters. Prior to this book I knew very little about Arthurian legend, nor did I really care to know about it. Compared to Greek and Egyptian mythology, Arthurian legend seemed dull. Now I am trying to broaden my knowledge of Camelot and the mythos surrounding it.
To address the claim that the story is too sexually explict, there are mentions of "nights of love" etc. However the descriptions stop there. There is nothing offensive in this book, especially when compared to some other "award winning" (i.e. banned) books children and young adults are made to read.

Michael Morpurgo's Arthur High King of Britain is probaly one of the best books I've ever read (and trust me I've read alot!).I'd Like to compare it with a ice-cream store and the all the different flavours... Something of everything for everyone.Action, drama, love, loyalty, betrayel, you name it and its in there. Its one of the few books that has me reliving the story. I never wanted it to end, I'll recommend it to anyone and everyone.

The classical story of the sword in the stone is retold and starts with young Arthur Pendragon who least expected turns out to be the true High King of Britain. Arthur starts out thinking of all the pleasures of being king but later it is proved that the burden of kingship is not anyone's burden. Along with the live and life of Arthur Pendragon the action, drama, love, loyalty and betrayel turns out to be to much for Arthur. What will he do?

I went ahead and ordered this based on previous reviews on Amazon-even though I keep telling myself I won't get audio books on cassette anymore. I am glad I got it-too bad it is not out on cd.
This is a wonderful account of Arthur and some of the stories of his knights that holds your interest from beginning to end. Not surprising as I just looked again and was reminded it is a British publication-generally British books have so much more to offer (my humble opinion) especially childrens' books (my experience)

I also have the book so my kids can read along if they wish-it is a wonderfully illustrated volume. Love it!

i loved this book to the point i could not put it down