From School Library Journal
Adult/High School - An attractive introduction to the Arthurian legend. Matthews begins by identifying possible candidates who might have inspired the earliest stories during the sixth century. He shares the meager information known about each man and discusses the reliability of the sources that recorded his exploits. As Matthews traces the development of the legend through the Middle Ages, he shows how the deeds of the Dark Age heroes could have been blended with old Celtic myths into the emerging tales of Arthur and Camelot. Moving through the centuries, the author follows the legends as they pass, embroidered and enriched, through the hands of Geoffrey of Monmouth, Chretien de Troyes, Sir Thomas Mallory, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and others. Paintings, woodcuts, illuminated manuscripts, tapestries, mosaics, and stained glass show how artists from the 12th century to the present have portrayed the king and his court. Photographs of places in England, Wales, and Scotland associated with events in the legends are also included. Men and women of the court (with brief annotations on the most significant) are listed.
- Kathy Tewell, Chantilly Regional Library, VA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From the Inside Flap
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table have captured the world's imagination since medieval times. The tales of King Arthur are rooted in history, but over the years the facts have become shrouded in myth and mystery. In this beautifully illustrated book Arthurian expert John Matthews explores the legends that have grown around the king and uncovers the mysteries of Arthur's Britain. The numerous characters surrounding King Arthur are introduced and the facts behind the epic saga are revealed.
•Contains 120 color and black-and-white images
•Covers Merlin, Guenevere, Lancelot, the Holy Grail, and all the mythic search for characters
