The Search For King Arthur [Hardcover]

David Day (Author), Terry Jones (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1995

King Arthur is a topic of perennial popular interest, the focus of novels, films, and a Broadway play. Bedecked with 170 glorious color illustrations, this book recounts the legend and all its incarnations, focusing not only on Arthur, but on the people surrounding him, including Guinevere, Galahad, Morgan le Fay, and others.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA?Beginning with Artorius the Dux Bellorum, Lord of Battles, Day weaves fact and myth, politics and religion, literature and art into a readable, entertaining, structured account that breathes life into the Arthurian legends. Dragons, Merlin, Morgan Le Fay, the Lady of the Lake, Excalibur, Camelot, the Round Table, Guinevere and Lancelot, the quest for the Holy Grail, the Last Battle, and the Isle of Avalon are all traced and put into historical context. Over 170 reproductions, many of them works by Arthur Rackham, Alan Lee, Walter Crane, and Aubrey Beardsley, provide a visual history of Arthurian illustration. Teens seeking information for reports or who have an interest in illustration and/or mythology can dip into a specific chapter or submerge themselves in one of the world's greatest myths.?Barbara Hawkins, Oakton High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Day is a popular and wonderfully eclectic writer with more than 30 books to his credit on such topics as mythology, fantasy, heraldry, alchemy, and natural history. Each of these realms of knowledge, as well as Day's adept storytelling skills, comes into play in this fresh interpretation of the legend of King Arthur. Day carefully sorts facts from fancy as he traces the historical roots of King Arthur to the fifth-century champion Artorius Dux Bellorum and then analyzes the social and political forces that turned him into one of the "world's most popular heroes." Day retells many key Arthurian legends, paying special attention to Merlin the Magician, reputed to be the prophetic and supernatural offspring of a virgin nun and a demon, and the source of the mystical aura surrounding the tales of King Arthur. Day's illuminating and thoroughly enjoyable narrative is enhanced by more than 170 luscious full-color illustrations by such celebrated artists as Gustave Doreand Arthur Rackham as well as contemporary illustrator Alan Lee. The only complaint is that these artists are credited in a list at the back of the book. Captions would have been much more appropriate. Donna Seaman

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Facts On File (October 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816033706
• ISBN-13: 978-0816033706
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 7.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,484,032 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent illustrations!, June 29, 1998

By 

Jane Walrath ([e-mail]) (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Search For King Arthur (Hardcover)

I have long had an interest in Arthurian legend and myth. This book, with its beautiful illustrations and wonderful recount of the myths that surround Arthur, was one of the most enjoyable texts on Arthur I have read. Not only did it include the myth, or legend, as it is told, but detailed how the myth came about and/or how it has changed through the years. Anyone who has ever been interested in Arthurian legend, history, or popular myth should own this book. It will become one of your favorites!

5.0 out of 5 stars THE SEARCH FOR KING ARTHUR IS A MUST HAVE FOR ARTHUR FANS!, October 28, 2000

By 

Patricia M Lariviere (Richford, VT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Search For King Arthur (Hardcover)

I am a new fan to Arthurian legends. I read this book and it hooked me. I have since read many books, fiction and non, about the life and legends of Arthur. This book provides detailed descriptions of all the players in the legend.