Arthur-bib - 8/24/99
Bibliography on the King Arthur legends.
NOTE: See also the files: cl-Rom-Brit-art, cl-Celts-msg, Anglo-Saxons-msg, Celts-msg, England-msg, Wales-msg, Roman-Wales-bib.
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From tittle at zmall.com Thu Feb 20 13:36:34 1997
Date: 15 Feb 1997 10:28:01 GMT
From: Cindy Tittle Moore <tittle at zmall.com>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.books, alt.mythology, alt.answers, rec.answers,
news.answers
Subject: Arthurian Booklist (rec.arts.books)
Archive-name: books/arthurian
Posting-frequency: 25 days
URL: http://www.zmall.com/bmm/books-faq/arthurian.html
Last-modified: 12 Dec 1996
ARTHURIAN BOOKLIST
This is a reading list involving the Arthurian legend. For its
original inception, I would like to thank the readers of the old
Camelot mailing list (no longer in circulation). I wrote a good many
of the original reviews when I was a member, but since then a number
of people have submitted additional references for inclusion into this
list. The very latest copy of this file may be found at the above
listed URL.
There are a number of very obscure references in here, especially with
respect to historic works and research. Check out your library's
Interlibrary Loan: chances are that you'll be able to get ahold of a
reference this way even if your local library itself doesn't have it.
Talk to the librarian! That's what they are there for!
My criterion for these books is that it be concerned with the Arthur
legend in some way. I have several categories:
* Fiction: novelizations of the Camelot legend, or novels that use
significant elements of the legend.
* Poetry: poetic renditions of the legend.
* Non-Fiction and research: includes research into the origin of the
legends, speculation on who the original characters might have
been, studies and critiques of medieval sources, literary
criticism, etc.
* Medieval and Early Texts: original or modern translations of texts
written before 16th century or so (an arbitrary divison point I
used).
* Periodicals: references that appear in magazines and articles.
These are typically research notes.
* Arthurian references: novelizations that use the legend in a minor
way or as secondary characters.
* Celtic Fiction: reworkings (novelizations) of traditional Celtic
stories. I suppose I could have a category for research into
celtic fiction, but the ones I consider relevant are in the
non-fiction and research section above.
* Organizations: finally, I provide a list of organizations dealing
with the Camelot legend. This is not exhaustive; in fact, it's
rather incomplete and I would love more information.
In general, related stories are acceptable (such as Tristam and
Iseult). Stories in other time periods are acceptable as long as they
still center on the Arthur myth (Kennealy's Hawk's Gray Feather) or
are talking about his return (Sir Machinery and others). References to
Arthurian elements are also acceptable, but I do not put all of them
in (a complete listing would be very large!); only the ones that seem
interesting. The Celtic works are included, because many of them
apparently provide an early genesis for the Arthurian stories, and
others are stories derived from minor characters in the Arthurian
stories (or perhaps the other way around, characters from well known
stories got honorable mention in these later stories --- who can
tell?).
Disclaimer: I have not vouched for the accuracy of each and every
entry in this list. If you find mistakes or have additional
information on a reference, by all means, let me know. I likewise
appreciate any additions to this list. Send them to the addresses at
the end of this posting.
Also please note that for some books their mere inclusion into this
bibliography constitutes a spoiler of sorts. Don't say you haven't
been warned!
Thanks to: Kurt Anderson, Shannon Appel (of the now defunct Camelot
mailing list), Ed Aubry, Landen Bain, Richard Barber, Ron Bean, Leanne
Bereznak, Wendy Betts, John Brannick, Mike Castle, Peter Chubb, Ben
Cohen, Denis Constales, Dan'l Danehy-Oakes, Peter Davis, James Drew,
Gary D. Duzan, Harry Erwin, A.T. Fear, Scott Federhen, Margaret Martin
Gardiner, Roger Gardiner, Susan Gere, Todd Goldberg, Mark Edward
Harris, Steve Hartwell, Cameron Hayne, Sandra Hereld, Peter Janes, Tim
Johnson, Ray Kaiser, Peter Kumaschow, Jane Lean, Grace Lee, David
Lester, David Librik, Dave Linton, William D.B. Loos, Linda Malcor,
Melchar, Kevin McGuire, Alex Martelli, Francis Muir, Rick Myers,
Patrick Nielsen-Hayden, Terry O'Brien, Lisa Padol, Kimberly
Passarella, Robert Paulsen, Charles Power, Craig Presson, Stephen
Reimer, David Salley, Dale Schierbeck, William Smith, Steve Thomas,
Scott Vandenbe, Peter Van Heusden, Janet Walz, Nick Westgate, Tom
Wicklund, Darren Williams, Jean Wilson, Mary Winters, Erick "a six
foot hobbit," and MJ aka "classic bitch" for their help in putting
this list together.
This compilation is Copyright 1994-1996 by Cindy Tittle Moore. All
rights reserved.
_________________________________________________________________
Table of Contents
* Fiction
* Poetry
* Non-fiction and research
* Medieval and early texts
* Periodicals
* Arthurian references (fictional)
* Celtic fiction
* Organizations
_________________________________________________________________
Fiction
Arthur Sex #7: The Erotic Adventures of King Arthur. Castle of Ill
Repute: Part one of two. This is a comic book. More issues? It is
actually fairly faithful to Malory. Unsure whom to credit.
The Romance of King Arthur (Mayflower, 1979. Reprint of 1917 Edition.
ISBN 08317-7460-6.)
ab Hugh, Dafydd. Arthur War Lord (Avon Books, 1994. ISBN
0-380-77028-8.) Part one of two. Two present day people find
themselves catapulted back in time, replaying events at Camelot with
history at stake.
Anderson, Poul. Three Hearts and Three Lions. Riverdale: Baen
Publishing Enterprises, 1993 (First published 1953).
Ashe, Geoffrey. The Finger and the Moon. St. Albans: Panther Books,
1975 (First published: Great Britain: William Heinemann, 1973).
Geoffrey makes himself a character in this one. He organizes a
ritual/play based on the Grail myth. (There's more to it than that, of
course.)
Ashley, Mike, The Pendragon Chronicles (Peter Bedrick Books, New York,
1991. ISBN 0-87226-228-6. paperback.) Anthology includes stories by
Andre Norton, John Steinback and Jane Yolen.
Ashley, Mike. The Camelot Chronicles. New York: Caroll & Graf
Publishers, 1992. Another anthology by the author of The Pendragon
Chronicles. Van Asten, Gail. The Blind Knight. New York: Ace Books,
1988.
Attanasio, A. A. Kingdom of the Grail. New York: HarperCollins, 1992.
Barthelme, Donald. The King. New York, London, Victoria, Toronto,
Auckland: Penguin Books: 1992 (First published in the USA by Harper &
Row, 1990).
Berger, Thomas, Arthur Rex. This retelling of the Arthur legend is
somewhat reminiscent of the movie "Excalibur" in feel.
Blaylock, James P. The Paper Grail. New York: Berkley Publishing
Group, 1992 (First published: 1991). Bond, Nancy. A String in the
Harp. New York: Penguin Books, 1987 (First published by Atheneum in
1976).
Borowsky, Marvin, The Queen's Knight (Random House, New York, 1955 -
probably out of print). An interesting Arthur, who begins as a
middle-aged bumpkin, crowned to be a puppet to a group of regents. All
in all, this novel is somewhat uneven but quite readable.
Bradley, Marion Zimmer, The Mists of Avalon (Del Rey. Ballantine
Books, New York, 1982. ISBN 0-345-35049-9. Hardcover and trade
paperback.) A female oriented and positive rendition of the Arthurian
legend. Considerably more sympathetic to pagan religions (although
depicted as modern neopaganism) than to Christianity.
Bradley, Marion Zimmer, The Forest House. Prequel to the Mists of
Avalon. Penguin Books, 1995. ISBN 0-670-84454-3 (hc) 0-451-45424-3
(pb).
Bradshaw, Gillian, Hawk of May, Kingdom of Summer, In Winter's Shadow
(Menthuen Paperbacks, Great Britain also Signet Books, 1980 also
hardcover by Simon and Schuster.) The first book is the story of
Gwalchmai, one of Arthur's Knights; the last is told by Guinevere.
Down the Long Wind is the single book volume version of the three
books.
Bulfinch, Thomas, Age of Chivalry: or, King Arthur and His Knights
(John D. Morris, Philadelphia, 1898, many reprints). Published in
their own right, also found in Bulfinch's. Contains long summaries of
the Camelot legends and of the French Charlemagne legends.
Burnham, Jeremy, and Trevor Ray. Raven. London: Corgi Books/Carousel,
1977.
Cabell, James Branch. Jurgen, a Comedy of Justice. 1919.
Canning, Victor. The Crimson Chalice. Originally published as La
Leggenda del Calice Cremisi. Translated by Patrizia Rognoni, Codice
Libro 22 006 CN, Casa Editrice Nord S.r.l., via Rubens 25, 20148
Milano, Italia; Copyright by Victor Canning 1976, 1977, 1978, and for
the Italian edition by the publisher in 1990 (first edition, of the
Italian translation, June 1990). An "Arthur as Celtic Chieftain" book,
with nice twists.
Carlsen, Chris. Berserker: The Bull Chief. London: Sphere Books, 1977.
Carmichael, Douglas, Pendragon: an Historical Novel (Blackwater Press,
New York, dist. by Exposition Press, 1977). Arthurian romances --
adaptions.
Chant, Joy. The High Kings. Toronto, New York, London, Sydney,
Auckland: Bantam Books, 1985 (First printing 1983).
Chapman, Vera, The King's Damosel, The Green Knight, and King Arther's
Daughter. Out of print.
Christian, Catherine, The Pendragon (Warner Books, 1978.) A story told
by Bedivere in his old age recalling the golden days of Camelot.
Unfortunately this results in a lackluster story. Aside from the
intrusiveness of the story framed by Bedivere's old age, it's a decent
retelling. Takes the "Celts reclaiming Romanized Britain" slant.
Cochran, Molly and Warren Murphy. The Forever King. Tor Books, 1993.
ISBN 0-812-51716-4. The return of Arthur to present day, woven in with
the story as it happened long ago. Beautifully told.
David, Peter, Knight Life (Ace Fantasy, 1987.) A comedic book about
Arthur's return in modern day.
Davies, Robertson. Lyre of Orpheus. London, New York, Victoria,
Ontario, Aukland: Penguin Books, 1989. First published: Canada:
Macmillan of Canada, 1988.
Davies, Robertson. The Rebel Angels. Middlesex, New York, Victoria,
Ontario, Auckland, 1983. Copyright Robertson Davies, 1981.
Davies, Robertson. What's Bred in the Bone. London, New York,
Victoria, Ontario, Aukland: Penguin Books,1986. First published in the
United States of America by Viking Penguin, 1985. First published in
Canada by Macmillan of Canada, 1985.
Dickinson, Peter. The Changes Trilogy. New York: Dell, 1986. Includes
The Weathermonger, Heartsease, and The Devil's Children. Merlin is
used as a McGuffin to explain why the world no longer has modern
technology.
Eliot, T. S. The Waste Land. 1922.
Endersby, Clive. Read All About It! Toronto, New York, London, Sydney,
Aukland: Methuen, 1981.
Erskine, John, Galahad, Enough of His Life to Explain His Reputation
(Bobbs-Merrill, Indianapolis, 1926 - certainly out of print)
Ford, John M. The Dragon Waiting: A Masque of History. New York: Avon
Books, 1985 (First published: 1983).
Finkel, George, The Twilight Province (London: Angus & Robinson,
1967.) This is an excellent "young adult" tale about a late Roman,
northern Arthur based on the Bamburgh Castle, Newcastle/Tyne area of
northeastern Britain.
Fraser, Antonia, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
(Illustrated by Rebecca Fraser, Knopf, Random House, New York, 1970).
First published under title: King Arthur. Retellings of seventeen
tales about King Arthur, Lancelot, Gawaine, Tristram, and other
knights of the Round Table. Juvenile.
French, Allen, Sir Marrok, a tale of the days of King Arthur (The
Century Co., New York, 1902).
Frith, Henry, King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table (G.
Routledge and Sons, London/New York, 1884).
Frost, William Henry, The Court of King Arthur; Stories from the land
of the Round Table (Illustrated by Sydney Richmond Burleigh, C.
Scribners Sons, New York, 1903).
Garner, Alan. The Moon of Gomrath. New York: Ballentine Books, 1981.
(First published: London: William Collins, 1963).
Garner, Alan.. The Weirdstone of Brisingamen: A Tale of Alderley.
London: William Collins, 1960; rev. ed. Harmondsworth, Middlesex:
Penguin Books, 1963.
Gash, Jonathan [John Grant]. The Grail Tree. New York, London,
Victoria, Ontario, Auckland: Penguin Books, 1988 (First published:
London: William Collins, 1979).
Gemmell, David. Ghost King and Last Sword of Power. A fictional
account of the life and times of Arthur, bearing little resemblance to
the usual myths.
Gloag, John, Artorius Rex (New York: St. Martin's, 1977.) This is the
final volume in a late Roman trilogy with two "pre-Arthurian" novels
titled The Caesar of the Narrow Seas and The Eagles Depart. Artorius
Rex is another Romano-Celtic tale which attempts a historical
reconstruction.
Godwin, Parke, The Last Rainbow, Fire Lord, Beloved Exile (Bantam).
The characters are terrific, the sense of time and place eye opening.
Arthur in the beginning is a native officer in the Roman legions
guarding the northern borders. First published as short stories in
Fantastic Sept. 1977, and in The Fire When it Comes (Garden City,
Doubleday 1984).
Godwin, Parke, Invitation to Camelot (Ace, 1988.) An anthology
including stories by Tanith Lee, Morgan Llywelyn, Elizabeth
Scarborough and Jane Yolen.
Greeley, Andrew M. he Magic Cup: An Irish Legend. New York: Warner
Books, 1979 (First published: New York: McGraw- Hill, 1979).
Griffiths, Paul. The Lay of Sir Tristam. London: Chatto & Windus,
1991. ISBN 07011 3570 0. A very exciting book which at best can be
described as meta-fiction. It takes on the whole problematic that the
Arthurian/Tristam tradition presents.
Gross, Gwen, Knights of the Round Table (Illustrated by Norman Green,
Random House, New York, 1985).
Haar (Hoar?), J. T. King Arthur (New York: Crane Russak, c.1967,
1975.)
Haldeman, Linda. The Lastborn of Elvinwood. Garden City, NY:
Doubleday, 1978.
Hanratty, Peter, The Book of Mordred and The Last Knight of Albion
(Ace Fantasy and Bluejay Books. ISBNs 0-441-07018-3 and 0-312-94271-8.
Paperback and trade paperback.) A retelling of the Arthurian legend in
a bizarre mix of modern and ancient times.
Hanson, Charles Henry, Stories of the Days of King Arthur (With
illustrations by Gustave Dore, T. Nelson, London/Edinbugh/New York,
1898).
Hastings, Selina, Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady (Lothrop, Lee &
Shepard Books, New York, 1985). ISBN 0-7445-0295-0. This is
beautifully illustrated. The inside cover says that a version of Sir
Gawain and the Green Knight is also available by the same author.
Hawke, Simon [Nicholas Yermakov], The Wizard of 4th Street (1987), The
Wizard of Whitechapel (1988), The Wizard of Sunset Strip (1989), The
Wizard of Rue Morge (1990), The Samurai Wizard (1991), The Wizard of
Santa Fe (1991), The Wizard of Camelot (1993). New York, Warner
Books. Premise: There was a magical alien species which bred with
humans long, long ago. The descendants of these unions were humans
with magical abilities. Merlin was a half-breed, as was Morgan LeFay.
Since magic and technology cannot co-exist, magic went dormant as
technology increased. After the fall of technology, magic returned and
Merlin revived. Unfortunately, the alien species discovered that
Necromancy produces powerful magic and they are now known as demons.
Merlin has to recruit and train magical humans to thwart their plans.
Appearances by Merlin, Morgan Le Fay and Mordred.
Heller, Julek and Dierdre Headon. King Arthur & His Knights. Fiction
which draws on a variety of sources including, but not limited to
Chretien de Troyes' Arthurian Romances & Malory's Morte D'Arthur.
Dragons' World Ltd. 1990 ISBN 1850281149.
Hollick, Helen. Kingmaking, Pendragon's Banner, a third book due in
June 1997 to complete the trilogy.
Humble, William F. A Tale of Arthur (Anthony Blond, London, 1967).
Hunter, Jim. Percival and the Presence of God. London and Boston:
Faber and Faber, 1978.
Jeter, K. W. Morlock Night. New York: DAW Books, 1979.
Johnson, Barbara Ferry. Lionors. New York: 1975.
Jones, Courtway, In the Shadow of the Oak King. It apparently tries to
tell the story in a historically 'realistic' setting (i.e., without
grafting the high middle ages onto sixth century Britain).
Jones, Courtway. The Witch of the North. New York: Simon and Schuster,
1994. Copyright: 1992. Sequel to In the Shadow of the Oak King.
Jones, Mary J., Avalon (The Naiad Press, ISBN: 0-941483-96-7, 1991).
This is set in the closing days of King Arthur's reign and mostly
concerns the Lady of the Lake at that time (Argante, from Layamon) her
predecessor is Nimue), with some recounting of her childhood.
Definitely a feminist reading, and not as well done as Mist of Avalon,
for example. It is also curiously incomplete. More books may be
planned.
Kane, Gil and John Jakes. Excalibur!. No relation to film of same name
and approximate year.
Karr, Phyllis Ann. The Idylls of the Queen. New York: Ace Books, 1982.
Katz, Welwyn Wilton, The Third Magic (Groundwood Books/Douglas &
McIntyre, ISBN (bound): 0-88899-068-5 (pbk): 0-88899-126-6, 1988). A
"young adult" book, this one has one of the more imaginative
retellings of the Arthurian legend.
Kennealy, Patricia, The Hawk's Gray Feather, The Oak Above the Kings,
and The Hedge of Mist. (ROC (division of Penguin Books), ISBN
0-451-45053-1, 1990). Builds upon the world of The Silver Branch, The
Copper Crown and The Throne of Scone in which the Sidhe were aliens.
This book is set much earlier. A good fantasy/SF blend.
Kuncewicz, Maria. Tristan: A Novel. New York: George Braziller, 1974.
Landis, Arthur H. Camelot in Orbit. New York: DAW Books, 1978. Also
Home--To Avalon (1982), The Majick of Camelot (1981), A World Called
Camelot (1976), all published by DAW Books.
Lanier, Sidney, ed., King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table,
(Grosset & Dunlap, 1950. ISBN 0-448-06016-7.) A reasonable children's
version. The Scribner, New York edition is illustrated by N.C. Wyeth.
Original copyright in 1924.
Lang, Andrew, Tales of the Round Table (London, New York : Longmans,
Green, 1923). Based on the tales in the Book of Romance edited by
Andrew Lang.
Latymer, Baron Francis Burdett Thomas Coutts-Nevill, The Romance of
King Arthur, (London, John Lane; New York, John Lange Co. 1907).
Laubenthal, Sanders Anne. Excalibur. (Publication data not available,
it hit paperback about 1974 or 1975). Arthurian magic in a modern
setting. Incorporates sword and grail symbology with tarot magic. Very
original, and a real page-turner.
Laumer, Keith. A Trace of Memory. Turns out to be very much Arthurian
about halfway through. Difficult to say more without spoilers. First
published as a serial in Amazing Stories in about 1963 and reprinted
since.
Lawhead, Stephen, Taliesin, Merlin, Arthur (Avon Books, plus British
and Australian printings. 1988). Lawhead is an excellent writer and
these stories make a very good read. Be warned, Arthur gets dragged
down by a somewhat stridently Christian slant, in a tale that differs
substantially from the first two books. Pendragon has been just
released, 1994.
Lerner, Alan J. and Frederick Lowe. Camelot. 1961.
Lodge, David. Small World. New York: Warner Communications, 1986.
First published: 1984. It's Arthurian in the same way as Lyre of
Orpheus, but deals with Perceval.
McDermott, Gerald, The Knight of the Lion (New York : Four Winds
Press, c1979). Juvenile: a retelling of the adventures of Sir Yvain
and his faithful lion, as the young knight goes through several trials
to prove himsself worthy of a great triumph.
McGowen, Tom, Sir Machinery (Folet Publishing Company, Chicago, 1970.
ISBN 0-695-40167-X hardback, 0-695-80167-8 trade paperback.) An
amusing children's tale set in modern days. Based upon the notion that
King Arthur will come back to save Britain again.
McKay, David. Bulfinch's Age of Chivalry or King Arthur and His
Knights. Revised by J. Loughran Scott. Philadelphia.
McKenzie, Nancy. The Child Queen. (Del Rey, 1994. ISBN 0-345-38244-7.)
The sequel, The High Queen is planned. A well written tale from
Guinevere's point of view. The setting and feel is similar to Mary
Stewart's, although some details differ. Lancelot is in this version,
and very well done.
Marshall, Edison, The Pagan King (Garden City, N.Y., Doubleday, 1959).
Matthews, John, ed., An Arthurian Reader: Selections from Arthurian
Legend, Scholarship, and Story (Aquarian Press, Sterling Publishing
Company, New York, 1988).
Monaco, Richard, Parsival or a Knight's Tale, The Grail War, The Final
Quest (1983), Blood and Dreams (1985) (Berkley Books, New York, ISBN
0-425-05143-9, etc.).
Munn, H. Warner, Merlin's Godson (1st Ballantine Books ed. New York:
Ballantine Books, c1976). Originally published as 2 separate works:
King of the World's Edge and The Ship from Atlantis.
Munn, H. Warner, Merlin's Ring, (New York, Ballantine Books [1974]).
Sequel or related to Merlin's Godson.
Newell, William Wells, King Arthur and the table round : tales chiefly
after the Old French of Crestien of Troyes : with an account of
Arthurian romance, and notes (1897).
Newman, Sharan, Guinevere, Guinevere, The Chessboard Queen, and
Guinevere Evermore, (Bantam, 1981. ISBN: 0-553-20354-1). A haunting
fairy-tale rendition of Guinevere's childhood, marriage to Arthur, and
participation in the events of Camelot. GtCQ was released in hardcover
and then went out of print. Strangely, it does not appear to have been
available in paper though the other two are currently available in
trade paperback.
Norton, Andre [Alice Mary Norton]. Here Abide Monsters. New York:
Atheneum, 1973.
Norton, Andre, Merlin's Mirror (Daw Books, 1975.) Merlin is a half-
breed: human and space alien, and the war between light and darkness
is recast into a war between two space going races. The premise is
bizarre, but Norton makes it work well.
Norton, Andre. Steel Magic. Cleveland: Collins-World, 1965; New York:
Archway, 1978.
Nye, Robert. Merlin, 1975? Humorous and baudy account of the life of
the mage.
Percy, Walker. Lancelot. New York: Avon, 1978 (by arrangement with
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, the first publisher).
Peters, Elizabeth [Barbara Gross Mertz]. The Camelot Caper. New York:
Tom Doherty Associates: 1988 (First published: New York: Meredith
Press, 1969).
Phelan, Laurel. Guinevere (Pocket Books, Simon & Schuster, ISBN
0-671-52611-1). Written by Guinevere's "reincarnation", a well told
story.
Philip, Neil. The tale of Sir Gawain (illustrated by Charles Keeping.
New York : Philomel Books, 1987).
Phillifent, John T. Life with Lancelot. New York: Ace Books, 1973.
Bound with William Barton, Hunting on Kunderer, as an Ace Double.
Powers, Tim, The Drawing of the Dark. Ambrosius and the Fisher-King.
Powers, Tim. Last Call. New York: Avon Books, 1993 (Published in
hardcover by William Morrow and Co., Copyright Tim Powers, 1992).
Powys, John Cowper. A Glastonbury Romance. New York: Simon and
Schuster, 1932; London: John Lane, The Bodley Head, 1933.
Price, Anthony. Our Man in Camelot. New York: Warner Books, 1988.
First published: London: Victor Gollancz, 1975. Espionage thriller,
well researched.
Price, Robert, The Last Pendragon (Walker and Co. NY 1991) Telling of
Bedwyr, last of the Knights after the Fall, and Irion, son of Mordred,
and the Saxon threat to what's left of old Britain. Arthur himself
appears only in the prolog. "Tactics" oriented.
Pyle, Howard, The story of King Arthur and his knights (New York : C.
Scribner's Sons, 1904, c1903). Classic.
Riordan, James. Tales of King Arthur (Hamlyn, London, 1982). ISBN
0600-35352-4. An illustrated version of several classic tales.
Robbins, Ruth. Taliesin and King Arthur. Berkeley: Parnassus Press,
1970.
Robert, Dorothy James. The Enchanted Cup. New York: Apple-
Century-Crofts, 1953.
Rubin, Michael. "Days of Legend." Song. 4 Feb. 1987, rev. 3 Apr. 1993.
St. John, Nicole [Norma Johnston]. Guinever's Gift. New York: Random
House, 1977. An archaeologist and his assistants recreate the
Arthurian love triangle.
Sampson, Fay, Daughter of Tintagel. Headline Book Publishing, London,
U.K. ISBN 0-7472-3894-4. This is a omnibus volume of 5 separate
volumes: Wise Woman's Telling, White Nun's Telling, Black Smith's
Telling, Taliesin's Telling, Herself. Here's what the book jacket
reads: The bards have sung this tale the length and breadth of
Britain. The story of the momentous birth of the legendary Arthur -
the story of the fear, hate and love between him and his half-sister
Morgan the Fay. But never before have there been five tellings, each
by a witness to the mythical events: Gwennol Far-Sight, Morgan's
childhood nurse and a wise woman in the ways of sacred pagan magic.
Luned, the young white nun, who fears her own soul has been contamined
by Morgan's passions. Teilo, who was once a proud and powerful Smith
of the Old Religion, condemned to live as a woman amongst Morgan's
maids, because of his unwise ambition. The bard Taliesin, bred to sing
of war and red slaughter and glorious death. And finally Morgan the
Fay herself speaks, the Goddess, the witch, whose story has
shape-shifted down the centuries, a force for destruction or a force
for healing...?
Seare, Nicholas, Rude Tales and Glorious (Clarkson N. Potter, Inc.,
New York, 1983. Hardback). [Out of Print] Classic rendition. Title
says it all. This is a retelling of the Arthurian tales. Merlin is a
two bit con artist/pimp, Gwen is a whore that enjoys giving out free
samples, Arthur is Merlin's assistant. It is a riot. Seare is a pen
name for a well known author as yet unrevealed. Speculation centers on
Rodney Whitaker (source William Poundstone, Biggest Secrets).
Service, Pamela F., Winter of Magic's Return, Tomorrow's Magic
(Atheneum, New York, 1987). Five hundred years after the Devastation
destroys modern civilization, the young Merlin and two friends succeed
in bringing back King Arthur to Britain in the grip of a nuclear
winter and together they struggle to build a new and better society
despite the evil plotting of Morgan Le Fay. Juvenile fiction.
Shwartz, Susan, The Grail of Hearts (New York: Tor Books, 1992, ISBN
0-312-85176-6/hardcover). Arthurian; also concerned with the Parsifal
legend and the Wandering Jew, whom Shwartz portrays as a woman.
Sobol, Donald J. Greta the Strong. Chicago, Follet Publishing, 1970.
Stone, Eugenia, Page boy for King Arthur, (illustrated by Rafaello
Busoni. Chicago : Follett Publishing Co., c1949).
Stone, Eugenia, Squire for King Arthur, (illustrated by Rafaello
Busoni. Chicago : Follett Pub. Co., 1955).
Stafford, Greg, and others. King Arthur Pendragon. (Chaosium Inc.,
950-A 56th Street, Oakland, CA 94608. ISBN: 0-933635-59-1.) Other
books in the same series: The Boy King, by Greg Stafford, ISBN
0-933635-78-8; The King Arthur Companion, by Phyllis Ann Karr, ISBN
0-993635-17-6; Knights Adventurous, by Greg Stafford, ISBN
0-933635-70-2. This is part of an excellent role playing game, but the
books are worth reading by themselves as well. There are several books
the game is made of, purchaseable separately. Most of it is a very
detailed glossary of people in the various versions of the saga (with
primacy to Mallory's), but almost half of it is spent on similar
glossaries of notable places, of special "things", and many other
fascinating tidbits, such as an attempt at a self-consistent
chronology of Arthur's reign, and so on.
Steinbeck, John, The Acts of King Arthur and his Noble Knights (Del
Rey. Paperback.) Rendition of Le Morte D'Arthur into modern day
English. Not complete.
Stewart, Mary, The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, The Last
Enchantment, and The Wicked Day (Fawcett Crest.) A modern retelling
of the legend, almost classic in their own right. The first three are
narrated by Merlin, and the last in third person.
Stone, Brian, translater. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. (Penguin
Books, many reprints. c1959. ISBN 0-14-044092-5.) Beautiful
translation.
Sutcliff, Rosemary, Sword at Sunset (Coward-McCann, Inc, New York,
1963. Hardcover and paperback available.) A telling of Arthur as he
might actually have been, a local Celtic warlord.
Sutcliff, Rosemary, The Light Beyond the Forest (1979) and The Sword
in the Circle (1981) (London: Bodley Head.) You can see from the
dates that these are somewhat later than her adult novel Sword at
Sunset. They are technically "young adult" titles.
Sutcliff, Rosemary, The road to Camlann (1st ed. New York : Dutton,
1982). The evil Mordred, plotting against his father King Arthur,
implicates the Queen and Sir Lancelot in treachery and brings about
the downfall of Camelot and the Round Table. "Young adult."
Sutcliff, Rosemary. The Lantern Bearers. New York: Henry Z. Walck,
1959. Prequel to Sword at Sunset.
Sutcliff, Rosemary. ristan and Iseult. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1991
(First published: 1971).
Sutcliff, Rosemary and Taylor, Anna. Drustan the Wanderer: A Novel
Based on the Legend of Tristan and Isolde. Harlow, England: Longman,
1971; New York: Saturday Review Press, 1972.
Sutcliff, Rosemary and Taylor, Keith. Bard. New York: Ace Books, 1981.
Portions of this novel appeared in Fanstastic Stories, 1975, published
under the pseudonym Dennis More.
Talbott, Hudson, King Arthur : The Sword in the Stone (New York :
Books of Wonder, 1991).
Tolstoy, Nikolai, The Coming of the King: A Novel of Merlin (Bantam
Books, 1989. Trade paperback.) Very closely based on the Welsh
mabinogion -- poetry rendered into prose. Makes no attempt at
"realism": the grotesquely fantastic has its day here. Lyrical
writing, worth reading. Long.
Treece, Henry, The Great Captains (New York: Random House, 1956.) This
is another sort of Celtic late Roman novel with characters such as
Artos the Bear/Artorius, dux bellorum, Bedwyr, Cie, Medrawt, and
Drostan. An excellent story, but not one for the squeamish.
Troughton, Joanna, Sir Gawain and the loathly damsel (retold and
illustrated by Joanna Troughton. 1st ed. New York : Dutton, 1972).
Adapted from an anonymous fifteenth-century poem, The Weddynge of Sir
Gawen and Dame Ragnell: in order to obtain the answer to a riddle that
will save King Arthur's life, Sir Gawain must marry the ugliest maiden
in the world. Juvenile.
Turner, Roy. King of the Lordless Country. London: Dennis Dobson,
1971.
Turton, Godfrey, The Emperor Arthur, (Garden City, N.Y., Doubleday,
1967). This is another late Roman historical reconstruction. Highly
recommended.
Twain, Mark, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (many
editions).
Vansittart, Peter. Lancelot: A Novel. London: Peter Owen, 1978. Also
Perceval; London: Peter Owen, 1988.
Viney, Jane. The Bright-Helmed One. London: Robert Hale, 1975.
White, Terence Hanbury, The Once and Future King and The Book of
Merlin (Berkley Books, ISBNs: 0-425-06310-0 & 0-425-07282-7,
respectively. Original copyrights in 1939 and 1940). A retelling of
the legend from the earliest stories. More comedic than some of the
other versions. Be warned, The Book of Merlin was published in 1977,
13 years after T.H. White's death and it contradicts and rehashes many
themes and stories from TOFK.
White, T.H. The Sword in the Stone (orig. published in 1938). The
first book in TOFK. This is followed by The Witch in the Wood, The
Ill-Made Knight, and last The Candle in the Wind. All these together
comprise TOFK; the last was never published separately.
Whyte, Jack. Sky Stone. Toronto: Penguin Books, 1992. ISBN
0-14-017050-2. The second book in the series, The Singing Sword has
just been released in hard-cover. He is Canadian and seems to be
taking a stance very similar to Mary Stewart in incorporating Roman
history into the legend.
Williams, Charles. War in Heaven. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans,
1970 (First published in 1930).
Wolf, Joan, The Road to Avalon (Onyx Novels, a subdivision of Penguin
Books.) A romantic retelling, casting familiar characters into
startlingly different relationships.
Woolley, Persia, Child of the Northern Spring, Queen of the Summer
Stars, Guinevere: The Legend in Autumn (Poseidon Press, New York,
London, Toronto, etc.) The story of the life of Guinivere, from her
point of view.
Yolen, Jane, The Dragon's Boy (Harper and Row, New York, 1990).
Children's fiction. Young Arthur meets a dragon and comes to accept
him as a friend and mentor.
Yolen, Jane, Merlin's Booke: Thirteen Stories and Poems about the
Arch-Mage (Berkley Publishing Group, Ace Fantasy, New York, 1986).
Zelazny, Roger. The Courts of Chaos. 1978.
Zelazny, Roger. The Guns of Avalon. 1972.
Zelazny, Roger "The Last Defender of Camelot." In The Last Defender of
Camelot. New York: Pocket Books, 1980, pp. 271-94.
Poetry
Lancelot of the Laik. A Scottish metrical romance, about 1490-1500
A.D. Re-edited from a manuscript in the Cambridge University Library,
with an introd., notes, and glossarial index, by W. W. Skeat. London,
New York, Published for the Early English Text Society by the Oxford
University Press [1965].
Orkneyinga Saga, c1200 (unknown Icelandic Author). The Isles of Orkney
are of course the famed home of Lot, Morgause, Gawain, Mordred, etc.
Arnold, Mathew. Tristram and Iseult.
Beroul. The Romance of Tristan. c1150.
Carley, James P., introduction. Mathew Arnold and William Morris
(Arthurian Poets series, Woodbridge, Suffolk, and Rochester, NY:
Boydell Press 1990, ISBN: 0-85115-544-8). Arnold's "Tristram and
Iseult" is the first modern English retelling of the Tristram legend,
a melancholy interpretation of the theme; Morris' different approach
apparent in the rich sensuality of his "The Defence of Guenevere."
Carley, James P., ed., introduction. A.C. Swinburne (Arthurian Poets
series, ISBN: 0-85115-546-4). Some of Swinburne's most important
poetry recreates the Arthurian legends from a modern perspective.
Includes Tristram of Lyonesse.
Carley, James P., ed., introduction. E.A. Robinson (Arthurian Poets
series, ISBN: 0-85115-545-6). Robinson's Arthurian poems, published
between 1917 and 1927 won him a Pulitzer Prize.
Dodds, David, ed., introduction. Charles William (Arthurian Poets
series, ISBN: 0-88115-291-0). Contains Taliessin through Logres and
The Region of the Summer Stars, as well as twenty-four of William's
earlier poems on Arthurian themes from his collection The Advent of
Galahad (many never published before), and fragments designed to form
a sequel to Region which also appear for the first time.
Geoffrey of Monmouth Vita Merlini [Life of Merlin]. Verse.
Heath-Stubbs. Artorius. A Heroic Poem in Four Books and Eight
Episodes. (London: Enitharmon Press, 1973. ISBN 901111-39-2). Hard to
find.
Hole, Richard, Arthur; or, The northern enchantment (GGJ and J
Robinson, London, 1798). A poetical romance, in seven books.
Lewis. Arthurian Torso. Oxford, 1948. Reprinted.
Lupack, Alan, ed., Arthur, the Greatest King: an Anthology of Modern
Arthurian Poems (forword by Raymond H. Thompson, Garland, New York,
1988).
Lytton, Baron Edward Bulwer, King Arthur (London, Henry Colburn,
1849).
Maynadier, Howard, The Arthur of the English Poets (Boston, New York,
Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1907).
Morris, William. The Defence of Guenevere.
Robinson, Edwin Arlington, "Merlin"(1917), "Lancelot"(1920) and
"Tristram"(1927). Verse retelling of the Arthur legend. The last one
won the 1928 Pulitzer Prize for poetry.
Swinburne, A.C. Tristram of Lyonesse. And others.
Tennyson, Lord Alfred, Idylls of the King (Signet, 1961.)
Williams, Charles. Taliessin Through Logres, The Region of the Summer
Stars (Eerdmans, 1974). Original printings through Oxford University
Press, 1938.
About the Arthurian Poets series: A volume on John Masefield is in
preparation. All the volumes contain the complete Arthurian poetry of
each author; for example, the Charles Williams volume has much
previously unpublished poetry.
Non-fiction and research
"Bulletin of Bibliography" (July-Sept. 1981, 38(3):128-138,149).
Contains an Arthurian bibliography.
Modern language association of America, A bibliography of critical
Arthurian literature (New York City).
Modern Language Association of America. Arthurian Group. A
bibliography of Arthurian critical literature (v.1-2;
1922/29-1930/35, New York).
The Fall of Camelot (by the editors of Time-Life Books, Time-Life
Books, Alexandria, VA [USA], 1986).
Alcock, Leslie, Arthur's Britain (Penguin Press, 1971). Documentary
evidence of King Arthur's historical existence. Alcock has also
published much work concerning archaelogical excavations of
Glastonbury (speculated site of Camelot).
Allen, Philip Schuyler. King Arthur & His Knights A Noble and Joyous
History. A collection of stories based on Malory. Rand Mcnally & Co.
1995 ISBN 1-56619-791-0.
Andronik, Catherine M., Quest for a King: Searching for the Real King
Arthur (Atheneum, New York, 1989). Surveys the legends surrounding
King Arthur and examines the historical evidence behind them.
Ashe, Geoffrey, King Arthur's Avalon: The Story of Glastonbury
(Dutton, New York, 1958, reprinted). Glastonbury is the legendary
Avalon, site of Arthur's grave and source of much fanciful speculation
and scholarly interest. The author reveals Glastonbury's distinctive
character in the dark ages as the meeting place of Saxon and Celt; the
glory of its Abbey as the center of English and medieval civilization;
and the significance of its legends in the mystical theory of the Holy
Grail -- a primary factor in the development of European religious
thought.
Ashe, Geoffrey, From Caesar to Arthur (London: Collins, 1960).
Ashe, Geoffrey, et al, Quest for Arthur's Britain (Granada, London;
Praeger, New York, 1968; reprinted with new introduction in 1987).
Ashe, Geoffrey, King Arthur in Fact and Fiction (NY: Nelson, c.1969,
1971.)
Ashe, Geoffrey, Camelot and the Vision of Albion (London: Heinemann;
NY: St. Martin's, 1971.)
Ashe, Geoffrey, King Arthur in Fact and Legend (first US edition,
Camden, New Jersey/T. Nelson, 1971).
Ashe, Geoffrey, "A certain very ancient book" Speculum April, 1981,
pp.301-323.
Ashe, Geoffrey, Kings and Queens of Early Britain (London: Methuen,
1982.)
Ashe, Geoffrey, Avalonian Quest (London: Methuen, 1982; London:
Collins/Fontana, 1984.)
Ashe, Geoffrey, Guidebook to Arthurian Britain (London: Longman's,
1980; London: Aquarian Press, 1983.)
Ashe, Geoffrey, The Discovery of King Arthur (Guild, London, 1985.
ISBN N/A.) Provides convincing accounts of the historical roots of the
legends and of who the original Arthur actually was.
Ashe, Geoffrey, The Landscape of King Arthur (Webb & Bower, Exeter; M.
Joseph, London, 1987).
Ashe, Geoffrey. The Glastonbury Tor Maze. (Gothic Image, 7 High
Street, Glastonbury, Somerset, 1988) Elsewhere Ashe refers back to
this originally 1977 short work as a source for the Grail ritual. 15
pages with maps.
Ashe, Geoffrey, King Arthur: The Dream of a Golden Age (Thames and
Hudson, London, 1990).
Ashton, Graham, The Realm of King Arthur (Dixon, Newport, Isle of
Wight, 1974).
Baigent, Michael, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln. Holy Blood, Holy
Grail. (Corgi, 1993, ISBN 0-552-12138-X, many reprints.) What it did
was propose a revolutionary theory about what the "San Greal" was (a
deliberate distortion for "Sang Real", the bloodline of Jesus - not
just through lots of hints, such as the obvious reference through
"Fisher King" with the Greek connection of the fish for Jesus, as well
as the "I shall make you fishers of men" phrase in the Gospel, etc -
but also through meticulously detailed research). Not directly about
Arthur, but Arthur's connections with the Holy Grail myths are too
strong to ignore.
Barber, Richard. The Arthurian Legends: An Illustrated Anthology. Here
for the first time is a single volume featuring the power and range of
Arthurian literature from the beginnings to the present day.
Illustrated.
Barber, Richard, Arthur of Albion: an introduction to the Arthurian
Literature and Legends of England (London: Boydell Press, 1961.)
Barber, Richard, The Figure of Arthur (London: Longman's, 1972.) This
title surveys the Arthurian controversy, works over the early sources,
and ends up with Arthur as a modern British national hero.
Barber, Richard, King Arthur; In Legend and History (Boydell Press,
Ipswich, 1973).
Barber, Richard, King Arthur: Hero and Legend (Woodbridge, Suffolk,
and Rochester, NY: Boydell Press 1988, ISBN 0-85115-254-6). Current
version of Arthur of Albion.
Barber, Richard, ed., Arthurian Literature, vols. I-X. Diverse papers
and studies.
Bradley, Michael. Holy Grail Across the Atlantic. 1988. Bradley
carries on where Baigent, et al, leave off. As well as utilizing their
book, he directly cites further details about an apparent conspiracy
to introduce 'clue-books' in famous libraries in France and around
Europe, over many decades. Bradley traces the Holy Grail from 'Before
the Flood' - to Arthur - and from there across the Atlantic, - to Nova
Scotia - (before Columbus), its possible residence in Montreal for
many years, and then supposed return to Europe.
Braswell, Mary Flowers and John Bugge, eds. The Arthurian Tradition.
Essays in Convergence (Tuscaloosa: The University of Alabama Press,
1988. ISBN 0-8173-0347-2).
Brengle, Richard L., ed., Arthur, King of Britain: History, Romance,
Chronicle & Criticism, (Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York, 1964).
With texts in modern English, from Gildas to Malory.
Bromwich, Rachel, ed., The Arthur of the Welsh: the Arthurian Legend
in Medieval Welsh Literature (University of Wales Press, 1991).
Bromwich, Rachel. Trioedd Ynys Predein (University of Wales Press,
1991.) A compilation of several Welsh sources for Medieval and earlier
story information, some dealing with Arthur. In English with the
sources also in Middle Welsh.
Cavendish, Richard. King Arthur & the Grail: The Arthurian Legends and
their Meaning. New York: Taplinger Publishing, 1985.
Chambers, Edmund Kerchever, Arthur of Britain (Barnes and Nobel, New
York, 1964, original copyright 1927).
Clancy, Joseph P., Pendragon: Arthur and his Britain (NY: Praeger,
1971). Examines historical evidence for the existence of King Arthur
and traces the growth of the Arthurian legend from the tenth century
to modern times.
Coghlan, Ronan, The Encyclopaedia of Arthurian Legends (Rockport, MA:
Element, 1991. ISBN 1-85230-199-6.)
Cummins, W.A. King Arthur's Place In Prehistory. Alan Sutton
Publishing, 1992. ISBN 0-7509-0186-1 (hb) 0-7509-0664-2 (pb).
Darrah, John, The Real Camelot: Paganism and the Arthurian Romances
(Thames and Hudson, New York, 1981).
Davies, John Glyn, The Apotheosis of Arthur (Llanfairfechan, N. Wales,
1962). Reprint of a lecture delivered at the University of Uppsala in
1926.
Dickinson, William Howship, King Arthur in Cornwall (Longmans, Green &
Co., London/New York, 1900).
Downing, David C. Planets in Peril: A Critical Study of C. S. Lewis's
Ransom Trilogy. Amherst: U of Massachusetts P, 1992.
Dumezil, Georges, Mythes et dieux des Germains. Connects Arthurian
material with a Scythian heavy cavalry brigade based at Chester from
about 250 to 500. There are some relationships between Scythian and
Arthurian legends.
Dunning, R. W. Arthur the King in the West (NY: St. Martins's, 1988).
This is an argument for a "Cornish" King Arthur.
Entwistle, William James, The Arthurian Legend in the Literatures of
the Spanish Peninsula (JM Den & Sons, New York/London/Toronto, 1925).
Evola, Julius, "The Mystery of the Grail and the Gibelin imperial
concept". Original in Italian; Yvonne Tortat's French translation "Le
Mystere du Graal et l'idee imperiale Gibeline" published by and
available from Editions Traditionnelles (11 Quai St.-Michel, Paris).
This is Evola's integral traditionalist interpretation of the Grail
cycle.
Fife, Graeme, Arthur the King: the Themes behind the Legends (NY:
Sterling Publishing, 1991. ISBN 0-8069-8344-2.) The development of
Arthurian literature including the themes of chivalry, courtly love,
hunting, magic and the Holy Grail. Color, b/w illustrations.
Gardner, Edmund Garratt, The Arthurian Legend in Italian Literature
(JM Dent & Sons, London; EP Dutton & Co, New York, 1930).
Godwin, Malcolm. The Holy Grail. Viking Penguin books, 1994. ISBN
0-670-85128-0.
Goetink, Glenys. Peredur: A Study of Welsh Traditions in the Grail
Legends. Cardiff: U of Wales P, 1975.
Goldberg, Todd. C. Horak, R. Norwood, D. Markestein. The Prince
Valiant Companion. Mountain Home TN: Manuscript Press, 1992. Prince
Valiant is a Sunday newspaper comic strip (not a comic book) which
chronicles the life of a knight of King Arthur's roundtable. The
original full name of the comic strip was "Prince Valiant in the Days
of King Arthur" although the long title is seldom used anymore except
for books reprinting the original stories. The comic was by Harold
Foster and started in 1937, it is considered a masterpiece of comics
by experts and was fairly faithful to Arthurian legend and spirit. It
still runs today in many Sunday papers, syndicated by King Features,
under Foster's successor John Cullen Murphy. The strips have been
reprinted in numerous books and the story has been turned into
animated and live action movies. The book is a history of the strip
and its Arthurian stories.
Goodrich, Norma L., King Arthur (Harper&Row, 1986. ISBN
0-06-097182-7.) Also wrote Merlin (1987), Guinevere (1989), and The
Holy Grail (1990). Goodrich does a number of historical
"reconstructions", trying to piece together the possible events of the
period.
Gordon-Wise, Barbara Ann. The Reclamation of a Queen: Guinevere in
Modern Fantasy. New York, Westport, London: Greenwood P, 1991.
Guenon, Rene, in "Symbols of the sacred Science", Chapters III and IV
on the Grail, XXIV on Arthur and druidism, XLIV on "Lapsit Exillis",
and other occasional references. French original "Symboles de la
Science sacree" published by Gallimard, Paris ISBN 2-07-029752-7.
Guyer, Foster Erwin. Chretien de Troyes: Inventor of the Modern Novel.
New York: Record Press, 1957, 17 - 40.
Hibbert, Christopher, The Search for King Arthur (London, 1972?)
Another one of the survey studies of the legend of Arthur.
Holmes, Urban Tigner. Chretien de Troyes. New York: Twayne Publishers,
1970, 59 - 71.
Hopkins Andrea. Chronicles of King Arthur. Viking Penguin Books 1994.
ISBN 0-670-85232-5.
Jaffray, Robert, King Arthur and the Holy Grail an examination of the
early literature pertaining to the legends of King Arthur and of the
Holy Grail, together with a brief review of the theories relating to
the latter-intended... (New York, G.P. Putnam, 1928).
Jenkins, Elizabeth The Mystery of King Arthur (NY: Coward, McCann &
Geoghegan, Inc., 1975; London: George Rainbird, 1975.) This is a
pictorial coffee book in the best sense of the word. It's the standard
survey through the material with contemporary illustrations ranging
from a photograph of the white horse at Uffington and the late Roman
cataphract from Dura-Europos proceeding through mediaeval
illustrations, many in colour and ending up with the Victorian
paintings of William Morris and Edward Burn Jones.
Jones, Bedwyr Lewis, Arthur Y Cymry, The Welsh Arthur (University of
Wales Press, Cardiff, 1975). It discusses in great detail exactly what
information we have about Arthur, and -- more importantly -- considers
what kind of conclusions can be drawn about the real origins of these
sources.
Jones, William Lewis, King Arthur in History and Legend (Cambridge,
Eng. University Press, 1911, 1914, 1933).
Jung, Emma and Marie-Louise von Franz, The Grail Legend (Sigo Press,
1986. ISBN 0-938434-08-X.)
Karr, Phyllis Ann. The King Arthur Companion. Albany: Chaosium, 1983.
Kittregge, George Lyman, Arthur and Gorlagon (Boston: Ginn and Co.,
1903).
Lacy, Norris J., ed, The Arthurian Encyclopedia (ISBN: 0-85115-253-8).
The first reference book to offer a comprehensive and critical
treatement of Arthurian topics. This work involves over 50 scholars
and contains a wide range of entries in the arts and media; Arthurian
characters; history, legend and archaelogy; themes and motifs; and a
wealth of literature. Illustrated.
Lacy, Norris J. et. al. The New Arthurian Encyclopedia. Hamden, CT:
Garland, 1991. For some reason, this is harder to find than the
earlier version.
Lagorio, Valerie M. and Mildred Leake Day, eds., King Arthur through
the Ages (New York:Garland Pub, 1990). Two volumes: one is almost
exclusively about medieval versions of the legend, the other is
focused on 19th and 20th century versions.
Lampo, Hubert and Pieter Paul Koster, Arthur and the Grail (London:
Sidgwick & Jackson, 1988). Originally published in Dutch under Arthur.
Introduction by Colin Wilson.
Lewis, Charles Bertram. Classical mythology and Arthurian romance; a
study of the sources of Chrestien de Toryes' "Yvain" and other
Arthurian romances, by Charles Bertram Lewis. London, New York [etc.]
Pub. for St. Andrews university by H. Milford, Oxford university
press, 1932.
Lindsay, Jack, Arthur and his times : Britain in the Dark Ages (London
: Frederick Muller, c1958).
Littleton, C. Scott and Linda A. Malcor, From Scythia to Camelot: A
Radical Reassessment of the Legends of King Arthur, the Knights of
the Round Table, and the Holy Grail (Garland Publishing, Inc., New
York & London, 1994). From Dr. Malcor "In this book my co-author and I
argue that the core of the Arthurian and Holy Grail traditions do not
derive from Celtic folklore and mythology, but rather from the
folklore and mythology of the Alans and the Sarmatians,
Northeast-Iranian speaking steppe nomads who invaded Europe in the
final days of the Roman Empire. Although this book contains a complete
scholarly apparatus, we have written it primarily to be enjoyed by the
intelligent lay reader who wants to spend a few evenings taking a new
look at the origins of Arthurian tradition."
Loomis, Richard. The Development of Arthurian Romance. New York:
Norton, 1970.
Loomis, Roger Sherman, Arthurian Tradition and Chretien de Troyes,
(New York, Columbia University Press [1949]).
Loomis, Roger Sherman, Arthurian legends in medieval art (London,
Oxford University Press; New York, Modern Language Association of
America, 1938).
Loomis, Roger Sherman, Arthurian literature in the Middle Ages: a
collaborative history (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1959).
Loomis, Roger Sherman, Celtic myth and Arthurian romance (New York,
Columbia University Press, 1927, reprints).
Loomis, Roger Sherman, Wales and the Arthurian legend (Cardiff,
University of Wales Press, 1956).
Loomis, Roger Sherman, The Grail: from Celtic Myth to Christian Symbol
(Princeton: Princeton U. Press, 1991. ISBN 0-691-02075-2.)
McCarthy, Terrence, An Introduction to Malory (ISBN: 0-85991-325-2).
Malory's approach to his material is discussed, as are his sources,
and his individual contribution; finally, Malory and his book are
placed in their historical context.
Mancoff, Debra, ed. The Arthurian Revival. Essays on Form, Tradition,
and Transformation (New York: Garland Publishing, 1992. ISBN.
0-8153-0060-3.)
Markale, Jean, King Arthur, King Of Kings (translated by Christine
Hauch. London ; New York : Gordon & Cremonesi, 1977). Originally
published as Le roi Arthur et la societe celtique.
Markale, Jean, The Celts. (First English Translation, 1993. Inner
Traditions.) Also by Markale: Mithra-Varuna (1940), Les Mythes Romains
(1942-47), Loki (1948), Les Dieux des Indo-Europe'ens (1952) Les Dieux
des Germains (1959).
Markale, Jean. King of the Celts (Roi Arthur et la socie'te' celtique.
American paperback edition.) (Inner Traditions International, Ltd.,
One Park Street, Rochester, Vermont 05767, 1994.) A cheaper American
edition. Easy reading, with a socialist slant.
Matthews, Caitlin and Marian Green. The Grail Seeker's Companion: to
the Grail Quest in the Aquarian Age. Northamptonshire: Thorsons
Publishing Group, 1986.
Matthews, Caitlin, Arthur and the Sovereignty of Britain : King and
Goddess in the Mabinogion (illustrated by Chesca Potter. London,
England ; New York, N.Y., USA : Arkana, 1989).
Matthews, Caitlin and John. The Arthurian Tarot. Illustrated by
Miranda Grey. Northamptonshire: Thorsons Publishing Group, 1990.
Matthews, Caitlin, The Arthurian Tarot: A Hallowquest Handbook.
Northamptonshire: Thorsons Publishing Group, 1990.
Matthews, Caitlin, Hallowquest: Tarot Magic and the Arthurian
Mysteries. London: HarperCollins, 1990.
Matthews, Caitlin, Taliesin: Shamanism and the Bardic Mysteries in
Britain and Ireland. London: HarperCollins, 1991.
Matthews, Caitlin. The Arthurian Tarot Course: A Quest for All
Seasons. London: HarperCollins, 1993.
Matthews, John, An Arthurian Legend (London: Aquarian Press, 1991.
ISBN 0-85030-909-3.)
Matthews, Caitlin and John, The Arthurian Book of Days (New York :
Macmillan, c1990). Contains Arthurian events related to a particular
point in the year. Illustrated with copies of rare paintings and
illuminations.
Matthews, John, The Elements of the Arthurian Tradition. Who was King
Arthur? What is the Holy Grail? Who were the Fay Women of Arthur's
Court? What is the Fellowship of the Round Table? Who are the Dwellers
in Avalon? Answers these and other questions about the legend of
Arthur.
Matthews, John, The Elements of the Grail Tradition. Here, in vivid
historical detail, Matthews reveals the many facets of the Holy Grail
and its tradition. Includes explanations of the myth of the Fisher
King, the Four Hallows, the "Holiest Earth" of Glastonbury and the
Wasteland.
Matthews, John and Bob Stewart. Warriors of Arthur. Blandford Press.
First published in UK 1987. Paperback edition first published 1989.
detailed picture of culture, weapons and places associated with King
Arthur. ISBN 0-7137-2146-4.
Merriman, James Douglas. The Flower of Kings: A Study of the Arthurian
Legend in England between 1485 and 1835. Lawrence, Manhattan,
Wichita: UP of Kansas, 1973.
Meskys, Edmund R. Ed. The Once and Future Arthur. Center Harbor:
Niekas Publications, 1989.
Millar, Ronald William, Will the real King Arthur please stand up?
(London : Cassell, 1978).
Monell, Charles M., Five hundred years of King Arthur ([Fullerton,
Calif.] : The Patrons of the Library, California State University,
Fullerton, c1987). The text is a lecture by Dr. Monell delivered at
the opening of the King Arthur exhibit at the California State
Library, Sacramento, on July 28, 1985 ... "--p. [3]. The article first
appeared in the July 1985 Bulletin of the California State Library
Foundation.
Morris, John, The age of Arthur; a history of the British Isles from
350 to 650 (New York, Scribner [1973]).
Nitze, William Albert, Arthurian romance and modern poetry and music
(Chicago, Ill., The University of Chicago Press [c1940]).
Phillips, Graham and Martin Keatman, King Arthur: The True Story
(Trafalgar Square, North Pomfret, Vermont 05043 c1994). Recounting the
accounts left by Bede, Gildas, Nennius, and Geoffry of Monmouth.
Tidbits on origins of characters such as Galahad, Lancelot, Percival
and Guinevere. Descriptions of the author's conclusions about the
original Camelot, Arthur's burial place, etc. Good reading.
Phillips, Graham. The Search for the Grail. First published by Century
in the UK 1995. ISBN 071-26-7533-7.
Pickford, Cedric Edward, Rex Last and Christine R. Barker, eds., The
Arthurian Bibliography (Cambridge [Cambridgeshire] : D.S. Brewer ;
Totowa, N.J. : Biblio, -1983).
Ratcliffe, Eric, The Great Arthurian Timeslip (Stevenage and Bungay
[Eng.] : ORE, 1978).
Ravenscroft, Trevor. The Cup of Destiny. An interpretation of
Eschenbach's Parsifal and interesting reading.
Reid, Margaret Jane Cornfute, The Arthurian Legend (Edinburgh [etc.]
Oliver and Boyd [1938]).
Ritson, Joseph, The life of King Arthur: from ancient historians and
authentic documents (London, Payne and Foss [etc.] 1825).
Robinson, Joseph Armitage, Two Glastonbury legends: King Arthur and
St. Joseph of Arimathea (Cambridge [Eng.] The University Press,
1926).
Saklatvala, Beram, Arthur, Roman Britain's Last Champion (Newton
Abbot: David & Charles, 1971.) An unconventional study of King Arthur.
Scherer, Margaret Roseman, About the Round Table, (New York, 1945).
Simpson, Roger, Camelot Revisited: The Athurian Revival and Tennyson,
1800-1849 ISBN: 0-85991-300-7. A study of the interest in Arthurian
literature in the early part of the nineteenth century. There is a
complete bibliography of early 19th-century Arthurian poetry, drama,
and prose fiction together with catalogues of paintings and
illustrated books.
Skene, William Forbes, author; Derek Bryce, ed., Arthur and the
Britons in Wales and Scotland (Lampeter [Wales] : Llanerch
Enterprises, c1988).
Slocum, Sally K. ed. Popular Arthurian Traditions. Bowling Green:
Bowling Green State U, 1992.
Spivak, Charlotte. Merlin's Daughters: Contemporary Women Writers of
Fantasy. Westport: Greenwood P, 1987.
Starr, Nathan Comfort, King Arthur today; the Arthurian legend in
English and American Literature, 1901-1953, (Gainesville, University
of Florida Press 1954).
Stewart, R.J., ed. The Book of Merlyn- Insights from the Merlin
conference. Based on proceedings of London conference held June,
1986. Blandford Press, London. Originally published in hardback in the
UK, 1987. Merlin as the central theme, conference ranged over history,
legend, drama, psychology, story-telling, music, folklore, etc. ISBN
0-7137-2078-6.
Surtees, Scott Frederick, Merlin and Arthur, ([Hertford, S. Austin and
sons, printers], 1871).
Taylor, Beverly and Elisabeth Brewer, The Return of King Arthur (DS
Brewer, Cambridge, 1983.) Contains an extensive bibliography in the
back.
Thompson, Raymond, The Return From Avalon (Greenwood, Westport, 1985).
This is an excellent recent study of modern Arthurian literature.
Tolstoy, Nikolai, The Quest for Merlin (Little, Brown, 1985. ISBN
0-316-85066-7.)
Treharne, R. F. (Reginald Francis), The Glastonbury legends: Joseph of
Arimathea, the Holy Grail and King Arthur, (London, Cresset P.,
1967).
Trevelyan, Marie, The Land of Arthur, its Heroes and Heroines,
(London, J. Hogg [pref. 1895]).
Vinaver, Eugene, King Arthur's sword; or, The making of a medieval
romance, (Manchester, Eng., John Rylands Library and the Manchester
University Press, 1958).
Vinaver, Eugene, Malory ([1st ed.], reprinted with a new preface.
London, Clarendon P., 1970).
Warner, Sylvia Townsend. T. H. White. New York: Viking Press, 1968.
Whitaker, Muriel. The Legends of King Arthur in Art. ISBN
0-85991-306-6. This is a study of works of art inspired by legends of
King Arthur and his knights and produced over a period of nine
centuries in Europe and North America. It covers illuminated
manuscripts, printed books, sculpture, pavements, all paintings, easel
paintings, etc.
Whitehead, John, Guardian of the Grail, a new light on the Arthurian
legend, ([London] Jarrolds [1959]).
Wildman, S. G. The Black Horses, English Inns and King Arthur (London:
John Baker, 1971).
Williams, Charles and C.S. Lewis, Arthurian Torso. Two long essays.
The first, by Williams, is a lengthy history of the development of the
Arthurian legend, discussing the entry of the various great themes
(i.e., courtly love, the Grail, etc.) and how it affected the legend
that had existed to that point. The second, by Lewis, is an
indispensible guide to Williams' own Arthurian poems (cited in the
Poetry section). These essays, along with William's poems, can be
found in trade paperback from Eerdmans' Press, Grand Rapids.
Williams, Gwyn A. Excalibur - The Search for Arthur. Barnes & Noble by
arrangement with BBC Books, 1994 ISBN 1-56619-694-9.
Wood, Michael. In Search of the Dark Ages. (Facts On File
Publications, 1987) The guy who brought you In Search of the Trojan
War does a comfortable job on Arthur with some insights over thirty
pages.
Zaddy, Z. P. Chretien Studies. Glasgow: U of Glasgow P, 1973, 1 - 71.
Medieval and early texts
Gawain and the Grene Knight. Many translations, including one by JRR
Tolkien (Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Clarendon Press, Oxford,
1930).
Lancelot of the Lake. Available in pb from Oxford's "The World's
Classics" series. Anonymous, Arthurian cycle: Lancelot of the Lake,
The Quest of the Holy Grail, and The Death of Arthur. Available in
pb from Penguin. Most later Arthurian texts (especially Mallory) are
based on these, the same way most texts after Chretien derived from
Chretien. The first listed, the "short" or "non-cyclic prose
Lancelot," is a very interesting point in the development of the
legend: Lancelot is not yet involved in the Grail quest (indeed, it is
implied that it has already occurred by the time he comes to King
Arthur's court). The "cycle" is the first (existing) text, or set of
texts, to unite all the fundamental themes of the mythos. Also
available from Penguin is a single volume edition with two long poetic
"morts d'Artu," under the title The Death Of King Arthur. One is in
rhymed verse, the other in alliterative.
The Death of King Arthur. Trans. with an Intro. by James Cable.
London, New York, Victoria, Ontario, Aukland: Penguin Books, 1988.
(Translation of La Mort le Roi Artu).
King Arthur's Death: The Middle English Stanzaic Morte Arthur and
Alliterative Morte Arthure. Ed. Larry D. Benson. Exeter: U of Exeter,
1986. (There are translations of these)
The Mabinogion (many translations.) The Mabinogion is the collection
of Welsh stories and legends, where elements of the Arthurian legend
can be found. These probably form the basis for the legend as we have
it today, though scholars seem to revise their opinions every now and
then.
Blackmore, Sir Richard, An Heroick Poem (London, printed for Awnsham
and John Churchil, 1695). In ten books. Probably out of print.
Chretien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances (Everyman's Library #698).
Various translations. He was a 12th century writer/poet and the single
most improtant influence on the development of the Arthurian mythos:
it was he who linked Lancelot to Guinevere and who introduced the
moral question of their affair (in Lancelot, Or the Knight of the
Cart) and it was quite possibly he who brought the story of the Grail
Quest to Arthur's court (in Perceval).
Chretien de Troyes, Ywain, the Knight of the Lion (Translated by
Robert W. Ackermand and Frederick W. Lock, Unger, New York, 1957, plus
other translations).
Chretien de Troyes, Perceval, The Story of the Grail. (English
translation by Nigel Bryant, ISBN: 0-85991-224-8). The story of the
making of a knight in both worldly and spiritual terms, and the source
of some of the most dramatic and mysterious adventures of romance.
Dass, Nirmal, translator. Avowing of King Arthur. Lanham, MD: UP of
America, 1987. This is pretty strange at the end.
Day, Mildred Leake, translator. De ortu Waluuanii nepotis Arturi. In
The Rise of Gawain, Nephew of Arthur. New York: Garland Publishing,
1984.
Geoffrey of Monmouth (1100-1154), History of the Kings of Britain
(Penguin, 1966. ISBN 0-14-044170-0.) Twelfth century historian.
Monmouth, Geoffrey. Vita Merlini. The life of Merlin. Hunter's library
has a dual language version.
Jones, Prudence, translator. Les Enfances Gauvain. In Appendix 1 of
Gawain: Knight of the Goddess by John Matthews. Wellingborough:
Aquarian Pr, 1990.
Le Clerc, Guillaume. Fergus of Galloway: Knight of Arthur. (Trans.
with an Intro, and notes by D.D.R. Owen. Rutlan: Charles E. Tuttle,
1991)
Malory, Sir Thomas, Le Morte D'Arthur (many editions). The classic
15th century rendition of Arthurian legend according the French
tradition. About where Lancelot in his romantic, very French, form was
added, and where the search for the Grail was put in Christian terms.
Notes: Caxton (1422-1491) edited Morte D'Arthur and changed it quite a
bit in so doing. The original (non-edited-by-Caxton) version is
available from Oxford University Press under the title Malory: Works
(1973). In this edition, there are a number of loosely connected
stories: Caxton conflated some, elided others, and bound the whole
thing together under one theme: Arthur's tragedy. Furthermore, there
are various non-Malory versions of the Morte Arthure and Le Morte
Arthur c.1400 and c.1350 respectively. These were a part of the
impetus behind Malory's later version.
Matarosso, translator, The Quest of the Holy Grail (Penguin, 1969.
ISBN 0-14-044220-0.)
Middleton, Christopher, The famous historie of Chinon of England (to
which is added The assertion of King Arthure, translated by Richard
Robinson from Leland's Assertio inclytissimi Arturii, together with...
London, Pub. for the Early English Text Society by H. Milford, Oxford
University Press, 1925).
Nennius. Historia Brittonum [The History of Britons] c858 orig.
published in Latin. The mention of Ambrosius has a lot of correlation
to what is later attributed by Geoffrey of Monmouth etc. to Merlin's
conception and it is central to Mary Stewart's version.
Sebastian Evans, trans. The High History of the Holy Grail. A
translation of Perlesvaus. Everyman's Library, Lond: JM Dent & Sons,
NY, EP Dutton & Co. 1936. There is likely a more recent translation
done in the 70s.
Stone, Brian, translator. The Alliterative Morte Arthure. In King
Arthur's Death. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1989. Paraphrased by John
Gardner in The Alliterative Morte Arthure. Carbondale: Southern
Illinois UP, 1971.
von dem Turlin, Heinrich. The Crown. Trans. J. W. Thomas. U of
Nebraska P, 1989. Version of the Grail quest, finally translated into
English.
von Strassburg, Gottfried, Tristan (Penguin, 1960. ISBN
0-14-044098-4.)
Wace and Layamon, Arthurian Chronicles, (with an introd. by Lucy Allen
Paton. London ; New York : Dent, Dutton, [1921?]).
Weston, Jessie L. translator. The Awntyrs off Arthure. In Romance,
Vision, and Satire. Boston: 1912.
Wirnt von Grafenberg. Wigalois: The Knight of Fortune's Wheel. Trans.
J. W. Thomas. Lincoln: U of Nebraska P, 1977. Wigalois is Gawain's
son.
Wolfram von Eschenbach, Parsival (Penguin, 1980. ISBN 0-14-044361-4.)
Allows great insight into the mind of Chivalry for those with the
patience. Modern translation of a medieval text.
Periodicals
John, Christopher. Rev. of Excalibur. Ares July, 1981, 21.
John, Christoper, Rev. of Knightriders. Ares July, 1981,
Lambides, Freya Reeves, pub., Avalon to Camelot (Debra N. Mancoff,
ed.) A quarterly journal started in Fall 1983, lasted for four regular
issues to Summer 1984 before the publisher folded. Two more issues
came out, but are not generally available. It had some excellent
articles, and was well illustrated for a non-color production.
Surviving copies may be collector's items.
Arthurian references (fictional)
Barr, Mike and Brian Bolland. Camelot 3000, 1981, DC Comics. 12 issue
limited series later bound into a trade paperback. Rides the fine
lines between clever and stupid, inspired and tacky. Futuristic story
about a reincarnated (and ethnically mixed) Round Table, aliens, etc.
Cherryh, C.J., Port Eternity (DAW Books, New York, c1982). Science
fiction novel with arthurian elements and references.
Coney, Michael Greatrex, Fang, the Gnome. (Signet/New American
Library, ISBN 0-451-15847-4). The main characters are Fang, Nyneve,
Avalona (the non-human who teaches Nyneve) and Merlin (Avalona's son).
Arthurian characters who appear: Tristam and Iseult, Arthur, and
Galahad - with the other characters appearing only in "the Game"
played by Nyneve, Avalona and Merlin. The Game is used to enter an
alternate reality and influence the characters there. Eventually the
other reality merges with that of Earth and the Arthurian story
becomes a reality.
Coney, Michael Greatrex. King of the Scepter'd Isle. New York, London,
Victoria, Ontario, Auckland: Penguin Books, 1990 (Previously published
in hardcover by NAL Books, no date given). The sequel to Fang the
Gnome.
Cooper, Susan, Over Sea, Under Stone, The Dark Is Rising, The Green
Witch, The Grey King, Silver on the Tree. Celtic derived fantasy,
some references to Arthur. While these are "juveniles" they present
good reading for adults as well.
Crow, Donna Fletcher. Glastonbury: The Novel of Christian England.
Wheaton: Good News, 1992. Has only 100 pages or so on Arthur's time.
Seems to be like Sarum - spanning the ages.
Davies, Robertson, The Lyre of Orpheus.
Drake, David, The Dragon Lord, (Berkeley Pub. Group, 1979. ISBN
0-399-12380-6). This is about an Irish soldier fighting in Arthur's
army. All the usual characters are there, fairly prominently, but they
are not the protagonists.
Kay, Guy Gavriel, The Summer Tree, The Wandering Fire and The Darkest
Road. Also known collectively as "The Fionavar Tapestry." Arthur,
Lancelot and Guinevere are, in various forms, called back to assist in
defeating The Unraveller in the one True World, Fionavar. In addition,
the tale is steeped in Celtic mythology and part of the fun is
matching characters back to specific myths and legends.
Knowles, Sir James, The Legends of King Arthur and his Knights,
(London, New York: Warne and Co., 1895).
Laubenthal, Sanders Anne. Excalibur (Ballantine Books, 1973 ISBN
0-345- 25635-23-195). Present day fiction concerning the current
Pendragon, a Welsh archaelogist, searching for Excalibur in Mobile,
Alabama (where legend says Prince Madoc of Wales hid it after Arthur's
final defeat) while another takes a Grail quest at the same time.
Morgan and Morgause oppose them. There is a strong Celtic flavor to
the conflict. Out of print.
Lewis, C.S., That Hideous Strength (part of a three book set). While
it does have much non-Arthurian material, it does deal a good bit with
the line of the Pendragons and one of the characters is the awakened
Merlinus Ambrosius.
Monroe, Douglas. The 21 Lessons of Merlyn.Llewellyn Publications, St.
Paul, MN, 1993 A study in druid magic and lore. It combines a
fictional tale with instructions on various druidic magic techniques.
ISBN 0-87542-496-1.
Saberhagen, Fred. Dominion. Dracula and Merlin have a longstanding
feud that threatens to undermine their resistance to the real source
of trouble -- Nimue. Set in modern day, this book is readable if a bit
ambiguous.
Spenser, Edmund, The Faerie Queene. An excellent work and is Arthurian
at least in some of its sections, and should be comprehensible to
anyone who can read Malory.
Vance, Jack, Suldrun's Garden, The Green Pearl, Madouc (New York :
Berkeley Publishing Group, c1983/c1985/c1989). Collectively known as
the Lyonesse, and the first book is sometimes titled Lyonesse. These
books are written so as to involve themselves in the origin of the
round table and one or two of the knights found in Arthurian legend.
Walton, Evangeline, Prince of Annwn, The Children of Llyr, The Song of
Rhiannon and The Island of the Mighty (Del Rey, 1970). Modern
reworkings of The Mabinogion. Excellently written. May be hard to
find. Recently reissued in large tradeback.
Wagner, Matt. Mage: The Hero Discovered, 1984. Comico Comics. 15 issue
mini-series reprinted into 5 MageBooks. Return of Arthur to present
day. Good story, good artwork. Part one of a projected Trilogy. Wagner
has delayed finishing the other two, tentatively titled The Hero
Defined and The Hero Denied, but rumors talk of a 1995 release.
Wein, Elizabeth. The Winter Prince (Atheneum, 1992). A young adult
novel, told from the point of view of Mordraut (Mordred) about his
love-hate relationship with his father Artos and his half-brother and
sister.
Zelazny, Roger. The Last Defender of Camelot. Anthology. Avon, 1988.
ISBN 0-380-70316-5. Only the title story involves Lancelot and the
Holy Grail; the rest of the book is science fiction.
Celtic fiction
Irish Fairy and Folk Tales (Dorset, 1986. ISBN 0-88029-073-0.)
Alexander, Lloyd, The Book of Three, The Black Cauldron, Castle of
Llyr, Taran Wanderer, The High King. Based on Celtic mythology, these
are excellent "children's" books.
Bedier, Joseph, Romance of Tristan & Iseult (Doubleday Anchor, 1945.)
As retold by Joseph Bedier. Trans. Hilaire Belloc. Completed by Paul
Rosenfeld. New York, Random House, 1965.
Flint, Kenneth C. Riders of the Sidhe, Champions of the Sidhe, ??
which collectively are a retelling of the Irish myth of Lugh Lamfada.
Isle of Destiny (Cuchulain), and Cromm (horror with Celtic
mythology).
Flynn, Casey, The Gods of Ireland (Bantam/Spectra). This is a series
of books which retell the mythic cycle of Irish legends. The
individual books are short and do stand alone, at least the first two
do.
Gantz, Jeffrey, Early Irish Myths and Sagas (Penguin, 1981. ISBN
0-14-044-397-5.)
Garner, Alan. The Owl Service. New York: Ballentine Books, 1981 (First
published: London and Glasgow: William Collins Sons & Company, 1967).
Based on the Welsh tales of Llew Llaw Gyffes.
Humphreys, Emyr, The Taliesin Tradition, (Black Raven, 1983. ISBN
0-85159-002-0.) Boring.
Jackson, Kenneth, A Celtic Miscellany (Penguin, 1951. ISBN
0-14-044247-2.)
Jacobs, Joseph, Celtic Fairy Tales (Dover, 1968. ISBN 0-486-21826-0.)
Llywelyn, Morgan, Red Branch (Ivy Books, Ballantine Books, 1989. ISBN:
0-8041-0591-X. Retells the story of the Irish warrior-hero: Cuchulain,
the Hound of Ulster. Has also written Grania, The Horse Goddess, Lion
of Ireland and Bard.
Paxson, Diana L., The White Raven (Avon Books, 1988). Retelling of the
Tristan/Iseult legend, from the point of view of Iseult's slave/maid.
A pretty, romantic sort of tale. Set in Britain after the collapse of
King Arthur's peace.
Peacock, Thomas Love. The Misfortunes of Elphin (c1829; many
reprints). An irreverent take on the Mabinogion.
Rolleston, T.W., Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race (Constable,
1911. recent reprint, no date. ISBN 0-09-467720-4)
Weston, Jesse L. From Ritual to Romance (Anchor, 1957.) A work on the
grail.
Yeats, Wm. Butler, The Celtic Twilight (Signet, 1962.)
Yeats, Wm. Butler and Lady Gregory, A Treasury of Irish Myth, Legend,
and Folklore (Avenel Books, 1986. ISBN: 0-517-48904-X. Irish tales,
plus the legend of Cuchulain.
Organizations
I'm sure there are more than listed here. Please feel free to let me
know about more.
For another electronic mailing list, try arthurnet at morgan.ucs.mun.ca.
I am not sure of the subscription process, perhaps email to
arthurnet-request at morgan.ucs.mun.ca.
The International Arthurian Society
Hans R. Runte
Department of French
Dalhousie University
Canada
The Camelot Project at Robbins Library, sponsored by the University of
Rochester, is an electronic database of Arthurian texts, images,
bibliographies and basic information. Check it out!
_________________________________________________________________
Arthurian Booklist FAQ
Copyright 1994, 1995 by Cindy Tittle Moore, tittle at zmall.com
PO Box 4188, Irvine CA 92716
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