King Arthur (Oxford Illustrated Classics) [Hardcover]

James Riordan (Adapter), Victor G. Ambrus (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Series: Oxford Illustrated Classics

In this splendid retelling of the legend of King Arthur, James Riordan captures the magical and mysterious kingdom of Camelot. The magician Merlin, the sword Excalibur, the Lady of the Lake, the beautiful Guinevere, the knights of the Round Table, Lancelot, the Green Knight, and all of the other characters from Camelot spring to life in Victor Ambrus's colorful recreations of the lost world of King Arthur. Beginning when the evil Vortigern poisons his father, The Story of King Arthur follows young Arthur's escape in the arms of the magician Merlin, his education as a knight, and coronation as king after he pulls the sword from the stone, and his reign over Camelot amongst the Knights of the Round Table.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-Riordan opens his Arthurian cycle with a confusing but exciting dream sequence and ends it with Arthur's second coming in some nebulous time "to restore glory to this once-great land." The tales in between tell of the dragons under Vortigern's castle, the sword in the stone, Excalibur, the Green Knight, Guinevere and Lancelot, Morgana and Mordred, war, death, and Avalon. The stories read well but don't always work together as the author forces the focus on Arthur. He makes Arthur the young seer at Vortigern's castle, and with such foresight, how could he marry Guinevere or leave the kingdom in Mordred's hands? Furthermore, in this adventure, Arthur announces he will be king, which takes some of the punch out of the sword in the stone episode. A reference to "football" is jarring and about five centuries too early. Riordan ignores the fact that Mordred is Arthur's misbegotten son. He gives Gawain's adventure with the Green Knight to Arthur, leaving in the knight's wife's attempted seduction of the king. Notes defending his choices cite Nennius's Historia Brittonum as his source for the dragon story, but Nennius called the boy-seer Ambrosius. Arthur appears later in that history. Even so, Riordan can write and Ambrus's dynamic ink-and-wash paintings and black-and-white illustrations bring the action to life. This is an Arthur to browse, enjoy, and take with a grain of salt.
Helen Gregory, Grosse Pointe Public Library, MI
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 5^-7. Riordan draws from a number of traditional sources to create his own version of Arthurian legend. Since he concentrates on developing the beginning and end of Arthur's story, the book leaves out most of the adventures linked to Arthur and his knights, a part of the legend that has drawn many children to the period. The most fully developed here is a version of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," in which Arthur replaces Gawain in the lead role. Victor G. Ambrus' ink drawings with washes appear on every spread. Black-and-white pictures alternate with those brightened by brilliant watercolors, which complement the energy of Ambrus' drawing style. Larger libraries will want to include this large-format book as an interesting interpretation of the British lore. Carolyn Phelan

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (July 2, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192741764
• ISBN-13: 978-0192741769
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,928,539 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST BOOK I'V READ, May 23, 2001

By 

Joe (Colorado Springs,Co. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: King Arthur (Oxford Illustrated Classics Series) (Paperback)

The Tales Of king Arthur is a great book. It is a action paked book. It gives from the begging of King Arthurs life to the end. It is one of the best books I'v ever read. It has great details. The book also has storys of the voyages of his men. It even has the story of the Round Table. The chapters are divided exactly the why they should be. They are very percice. They tell some storys that arn't ever told. It is a book that talks mainly about the Folk hero. Also about how he helps the U.K. come back to life. I would highly recomend that childern from the ages of 10 to 14 should read this book. Specily if you like a book that is action paked. This is one of the best books I'v ever read and I would think that you would also like this Book. Tales of king Arthur.

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