King Arthur in 20th century

[MsPellinore]

Hi there! I'm an ungergraduate researching literature about King Arthur in the 20th century, and I'd really appreciate some help in finding some books or poetry.

I'm looking for decent material- it doesn't have to be 'academic', but I'm not looking for a fantasy epic about an vaguely arthurian sounding chap in 70 thick paperback volumes! (sorry if that makes me sound like a literature snob!)

Actually, the shorter the better, as I am pressed for time. I have read The Once and Future King by T.H.White, but have been forced to shelf Zimmer-Bradley's Mists of Avalon because it would just take too long to read.

A short novel or poetry would be ideal. It doesn't have to be overtly Arthurian- I'm also using Glyn Jones's Island of Apples which, if any of you know it, is set in contemporary wales, but as you can tell from the title, it has deeply Arthurian themes.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!:)

Thanks x

[PeterL]

You might look at "The Last Defender of Camelot" by Roger Aelazny. Iy is built on Arthurian legand, and it's a damned good story.

[genoveva]

Actually, the shorter the better, as I am pressed for time. I have read The Once and Future King by T.H.White, but have been forced to shelf Zimmer-Bradley's Mists of Avalon because it would just take too long to read.



Your research will fall short if you don't read Zimmer-Bradley's Mists of Avalon, sorry to say, and I strongly recommend that you make time to read it. It is a feminist view of the legend. Nothing else addresses this perspective (that I know of). I hope you will reconsider shelving this important contribution.

[Matrim Cuathon]

you might try the crystal cave though it is a little more about merlin and the perspective on author is kind of weird.

[dorindapaige]

Peter David has written a triolgy of books about King Arthur returning to modern Manhattan. It's marvelous satire about modern politics and morals, and ripping good fun, to boot.

The first in the series is Knight Life (I should warn you--he's heavy on the puns!)

[aeroport]

I guess you probably don't have time, but Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series definitely contains much of the King Arthur story.

[seasong]

Wheel of Time? No one has time to read it any more it just goes on and on and on and on.

Anyways, some really interesting contemporary king Arthur is Jane Lindskold's Changer and Legends Walking. They might not be what you're looking for but they're amazing.

[Whifflingpin]

I'd second "The Crystal Cave" and its sequels.

"Any Old Iron" by Anthomy Burgess, is a quality read and related to the subject.

But, really, if you've read "The Once and Future King" a couple of times, and you're in a hurry, there's no need for anything else. T H White says all that needs to be said about the myth & the relationships.

[Nightshade]

NOt so much about King aruthur although there was an intersting point about the lady of the lake vs the lady of shalot legends ( what am I doing admiting to reading this..:rolleyes: ) in I think its called Avalon High, maybe camelot High pink teen book anyway By Meg Cabot.
There is Camelots Honour series I cant think who writes them althogh I can tell you where I shelve them...Oh yes here we go Sarah Zettel but they are laccording to the cover a 'romance' but then again the cover of Lord of the rings says the same thing, but Im not sure wha type of romance they mean.

Then there was the series I started the otherr week very intresting about a rencarnated Arthur , The Forver King trillogy it has 2 authrs Molly Cochran and Warren Murphy.
Oh wait your in a hurry?! well Vera CHapmans stories are pretty short I think the ominbus that carries the 3 Arthurian ones is called 3 Damosels. You might be familiar with on of the stories as the base of the animated film A quest for Camelot ( the music from which I love) . But her stories are darker and more tragic if I rember corretcly but I read them about 3 years ago.

[Whifflingpin]

Oh, just remembered - Henry Treece - "The Great Captains" and maybe "The Eagles Have Flown." Written in the early fifties, I think, these two kicked off the Arthur-in-true-historical-context genre, as opposed to the Arthur-as-found-in-Malory. So, if you wanted a tension or balance you could use the T.H.White as the summary of and farewell to the Malory, and Treece as the start of the historical/pseudo historical approach.

.

[Niamh]

I'd also vito the Crystal Cave, the Hollow Hills, the last enchantment and the wicked day by Mary stewart. Also the 'Pendragon' trilogy by Helen Hollick. They are quite roman in there setting, and merlin 'isnt' a magician so less fantasy, more 'historical'.

[MsPellinore]

Thanks, you've given me some great ideas, I'll look into those:)
I suspect you're right that I should ideally read Mists of Av, but this is a dissertation, and I have to have a draft by easter. Reading that monster of a book just aint gona happen, however much I'd like it to:(
Anyway, thanks for the bibliography!!! x

[damianswife]

Can I just add "King Arthur's Enchantresses,-Morgan and her Sisters in Arthurian Tradition" by Carolyne Larrington. I am sure it would make for an interesting and informative reference book. There is plenty of 20th century Arthurian material in there.

[JBI]

Marion Zimmer Bradley wrote some interesting Arthurian books set through the eyes of the female characters. T.H. White's famous The Once and Future King also was written in the 20th century. Guy Gavriel Kay wrote a series called The Fionovar Tapestry which is loosely based on the Arthurian legend. There is also a book by Nancy Springer entitled I am Morgan Le Fay, set through I the eyes of Morgan (I think, I haven't read this one, but I am told it is all about Mordred.)

That's just a start. The Arthurian legend was very popular for writers last century, and there are hundreds of adaptations and re-tellings.

[Rosalind]

Ooh! Ooh! Just a couple more?

Since you're pressed for time, I'd reccomend Gerald Morris's 'The Squire's Tale' and sequels. They're juvenile books, and very short. But still, I'd reccomend them anyway. They make be children's, but they're written by a bloke who really knows his stuff, and hilarious to boot. Normally I roll my eyes at modern takes on Arthur, but I've been reading the Squire's Tales regularly since about the third grade.

Susan Cooper's 'Dark Is Rising' Sequence is also juvenile, but well done and with a very interesting (less direct) take on Arthur.

Jack Whyte and Bernard Cornwell both have pretty quick, readable series on Arthur, though they're from a more quasi-historical than literary perspective.

[JBI]

I guess you probably don't have time, but Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series definitely contains much of the King Arthur story.

Mostly names, after the third or so book I am told that he doesn't follow Arthur at all.

[aeroport]

Mostly names, after the third or so book I am told that he doesn't follow Arthur at all.

That's probably right. I think it's the third when he gets the sword from the Stone. I never finished the sixth, so I don't know about the rest.