The Tale of Sir Gawain [Hardcover]

Neil Philip (Author), Charles Keeping (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

"Old and ill, Sir Gawain . . . tells his young squire old tales of courage and treachery of the Holy Grail, of courtship and magic and betrayal. The pen-and-ink drawings are starkly dramatic and handsome, echoeing the holdness and drama of the story".--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Book, starred review.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Neil Philip has edited more than a dozen anthologies and books for children, including The Penguin Book of English Folktales, A New Treasury of Poetry, The Adventures of Odysseus, The Illustrated Book of Myths, and Christmas Fairy Tales.

Charles Keeping was born in Lambeth, South London. He illustrated over 100 books and is widely recognised as one of the most brilliant artists of his generation. His last book, Adam and Paradise Island was published by Oxford in 1989. He died in May, 1988.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: Lutterworth Press (September 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0718826701
• ISBN-13: 978-0718826703
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,086,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not for the little ones, March 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tale of Sir Gawain (Hardcover)

The Amazon.com entry for this book recommends it as reading for ages 4-8. This book is grossly inappropriate for young children. This novel tells the entire cycle of Arthurian legend from the point of view of the dying Sir Gawain who is dictating his memoirs to his young squire. As such, the novel focuses on the violence and sexuality inherent in the subject matter and uses sophisticated language appropriate for the young adult (12-14 and above), but not for the pre-school and elementary school set. For the right audience, this is a very interesting and unusual take on the legend of Arthur and well worth the reading. And Charles Keeping's illustrations (too intense for the very young) are a bonus for those old enough to appreciate them.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great book, especially for young children, August 26, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Tale of Sir Gawain (Library Binding)

This is a great book! I being an adult enjoyed it and I feel that it would be enjoyed just as much by a young child as well. This book gives the reflections of Sir Gawain as he lies dying outside Lancelot's castle towards the end of the time of arthur

2.0 out of 5 stars Brave and Bold, January 8, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Tale of Sir Gawain (Hardcover)

Brave and Bold

Neil Philip writes the book, The Tale of Sir Gawain. He also is a critic who has written many other books such as: Guteesh and the King of France's Daughter and Drakesdail Visits the King. The story is made up of many different tales and legends that tell about Sir Gawain numerous ventures. The tales vary from quests, to banishment, marriage and death. Although it does have a few differences, the book doesn't have many contrasts. For one, it's the fact that the story is not based on King Arthur, but the brave and loyal knight Sir Gawain and the hardships he journeys through. He tells the story of his years at the round table, from his perspective.
I would not recommend this book for younger children because I think that the story is confusing and with so many of the tales, you can't tell who is speaking. I also believe that the word choice is also confusing from the way we speak today. I may not have enjoyed this book but they're still others who would be delighted to read this book.