King Arthur: History & Legend

THE 21 LESSONS OF MERLYN: A Study in Druid Magic & Lore
by Douglas Monroe. Randy Asplund-Faith cover art. B&W illustrations. Condition: NEW 1997 Llewellyn large Trade Paperback, 8th printing. Light tanning to page edges. Content: For those with an inner drive to touch genuine Druidism -- or who are fascinated by the lore of King Arthur -- this book is a welcome adventure into history and magic. Here is a complete introductory course in Celtic Druidism, packaged within the framework of 21 authentic and expanded folk story/lessons that read like a novel. Follow Arthur's apprenticeship from his first encounter with Merlyn. [1 copy available]
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THE AGE OF CHIVALRY: The Illustrated Bulfinch's Mythology
Illustrated by Giovanni Caselli. Condition: NEW remainder 1997 large Macmillan softcover, first printing. Beautiful color illustrations. Content: Divided into 3 sections: Arthur and His Knights; The Mabinogeon; and The Knights of English History. Arthurian and Celtic lore at it's best. lthough "Bulfinch's" has been heralded for more than a century, it has never before been published in so beautiful and accessible a format. Evocative four-color illustrations, many full-page, bring to life key events and characters of these universal tales and sagas. Original footnotes, indices, and Prefaces make the book not only entertaining, but completely authoritative as well. 115 illustrations. [1 copy available]
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ARTHUR KING OF THE BRITONS: From Celtic Hero to Cinema Icon
by Daniel Mersey. B&W illustrations by Deanna Tyson. Condition: NEW 1999 Summersdale(UK) Trade Paperback, first printing. Content: King Arthur is probably the most popular king in British history, and a man whose name is synonymous with courage, chivalry and romanticism. But is he just a myth? Arthur, King of the Britons; Arthur, the medieval legend; Arthur, the Celtic warlord; Arthur of the Pre-Raphaelites and the Arthur of the movies . . . would the real King Arthur please stand up? Mersey explores the many theories and myths surrounding this famous icon in his compelling biography. Questions welcome. [2 copies available]
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ARTHUR THE KING: The Themes Behind The Legends
by Graeme Fife. . Wonderful color plates with B&W photos & drawings. Condition: NEW 1991 Sterling hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: A thorough, lively analysis of the themes of the Arthurian cycle. Because the book started out as the script for a BBC series, the language is sophisticated and witty rather than scholarly. Hence, it is eminently readable. There are frequent Briticisms that should delight Anglophiles and enlighten the uninitiated. Fife discusses courtly love, medieval religion, chivalry, the quest for the Holy Grail, and heraldry with erudition and verve. The text is jam-packed with information, and there are plenty of photographs and colorful illustrations to enliven it, as well as a plethora of appropriate quotes. Researchers will find Arthur the King a book to enjoy even as they learn from it. [1 copy available]
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The ARTHURIAN LEGENDS: An Illustrated Anthology
selected & introduced by Richard Barber. Wonderful color plates with B&W photos & drawings. Condition: Gently pre-read 1985 Dorset Press hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), fourth printing. Light edgewear to DJ corners. No major problems; just pre-read. Content: From Geoffrey of Monmouth to T.H.White here is a sample of Arthurian literature through the centuries. Barber's comments on each selection ids in the understanding of the meaning and magic of Arthur. [2 copies available]
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BELOVED EXILE (Historical Fantasy)
by Parke Godwin. Thomas Canty cover art. Condition: Good+, gently pre-read 1994 AvoNova paperback, first printing. Small edgewear and spine crease. Interior clean & tight with pale, pale tanning to page edges. Content: After the death of Arthur brings the hope of Camelot to an end, Guenevere struggles to keep the kingdom together in the face of traitors and usurpers, until a cruel betrayal condemns her to slavery under a Saxon warlord. Reviewer: "Godwin portrays Guenevere as a powerful woman whose strengths (as is often the case) are also her weaknesses--and her undoing. Godwin's Guinevere is frequently hard to sympathize with, but she isn't hard to understand. I'm impressed with how dramatically (but believably) her character changes and grows between Firelord and this book. Note: Read this book carefully, and you'll notice that a character from Firelord, so minor that she had neither name or dialogue, is crucial to the events and attitudes in Beloved Exile." [1 copy available]
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THE CHRONICLES OF THE ROUND TABLE: Adventure, chivalry and valour from the age of Arthurian legend (Historical Fantasy Anthology)
edited by Mike Ashley. Cover art by Julck Heller. Condition: UNREAD 1997 Carroll & Graf Trade Paperback, first printing. Tiny edge wear. Content: This addition to Ashley's Chronicles series of Arthurian tales comprises 19 new stories, 4 reprints, and an afterword in which Marion Zimmer Bradley and Parke Godwin discuss their own and other Arthurian works. Otherwise, the knights themselves (often the more obscure ones) take center stage in stories mostly based on traditional sources, including: Gereint and the hedge of mist, Sagremor's African origins, Tor's fight with Abbo (Abelleus), Lionel the irrepressible, Bedivere and Vortiporix, Blamor vs. Tristan, Brandiles vs. Gawain, Yder vs. Abbadan the troll, the Brown Knight Without Pity, Villiers the Valiant, Fergus of Galloway, and Pelleas and Nimue. Worth a browse for Arthur's faithful legions. [1 copy available]
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A DICTIONARY OF KING ARTHUR'S KNIGHTS
by Pamela Ryan. Beautiful color plates and cover art by N. C. Wyeth. Condition: NEW 2001 Nautical & Aviation Publishing hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket).first printing. Content: This well-researched dictionary gives brief descriptions of the 281 knights and 70 kings mentioned in Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur. The author explains family relationships and the characters' significance to the legend, and, for many entries, she offers suggested readings. She lists an extensive bibliography and has written a bibliographic essay outlining her research process. This is a niche book, appealing to those readers who are really into Arthurian legends and who may be seeking to untangle the multitude of players found in Malory's classic version of the tale. Reviewer: "A Dictionary Of King Arthur's Knights by author, editor, and Arthurian scholar Pamela Ryan is a compilation of names for people and places derived from both medieval and contemporary sources. There are 281 entries for King Arthur's knights, as well as 70 kings and feudal lords. All are arranged in alphabetical and dictionary-style format that makes looking up obscure names a snap. A Dictionary Of King Arthur's Knights is excellent and highly recommended addition to academic Arthurian Studies reference collections, and an ideal giftbook for any Arthurian enthusiast." Question welcome. [1 copy available]
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THE DISCOVERY OF KING ARTHUR
by Geoffrey Ashe. B&W photo section. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1987 Owl Trade Paperback, second printing. Light edgewear with 2 pale "splash" marks front cover near hinge. Interior clean & tight. Content: Myths, legends, and literary mysteries mix with maps, relics, and historical facts in The Discovery of King Arthur. Scholars, students, and general readers of all ages have wondered-for centuries-about whether Britain was ever really ruled by an Arthur who held court at a place called Camelot. In this book, the distinguished scholar Geoffrey Ashe offers convincing proof that King Arthur not only existed, but was more like the Arthur of legend than historians have previously suspected.In this exciting study, drawing upon myriad sources both literary and historical, Ashe traces the legend of King Arthur to its roots in the twelfth-century chronicles of Geoffrey of Monmouth. He then illustrates that a great deal of Geoffrey's history, which set out ot depict events and persons of fifth-century Britain, was based on fact. After challenging previous assumptions about where Arthur's court and other remnants can be found, Ashe identifies the real King Arthur and provides powerful evidence to support his theory.Riothamus, an actual fifth-century British monarch, is the figure whom Ashe painstakingly identifies. But his study also investigates the histories behind other Arthurian phenomena, such as the key concepts of knighthood and chivalry. Throughout the book, the swep and grandeur of a tumultuous era in British and European history is vividly recounted as Ashe describes the origins and development of the Arthurian legend-a legend that seems to grow ever more enchanting and spellbinding. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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THE ELEMENTS OF THE ARTHURIAN TRADITION
by John Matthews. B&W illustrations. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1993 Element, Inc. small soft cover, reprint. Pale crease bottom front cover with light tanning to page edges. Content: From the intricately woven fabric of Celtic myth and legend come the stories of adventure, magic and romance that are the essence of the Arthurian Tradition. This book answers: Who was King Arthur?; What is the Holy Grail; Who were the Faery Women of Arthur's court?; and What is the Fellowship of the Round Table?. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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EXCALIBUR
text & beautiful color illustrations by Hudson Talbott. Condition: PLEASE READ / UNREAD, but not perfect, 1996 Morrow Junior hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. There is a book plate on the reverse side of the of the loose end page - probably covering a library mark - and a small library stamp bottom of the half-title page. This is an UNSHELVED library book. Interior perfect. Content: Filling in more of the story begun in his King Arthur and the Round Table, Talbott describes Arthur's maturation from an impulsive, glory-seeking boy to a young king, ready to serve others. The pictures are as colorful as the tale. the pictures, composed in a traditional and romantic style, gracefully portray the hero's transition from a pretty, wistful youth to a reverent, confident king. Panoramic spreads of Arthur with his army convey a time-honored spirit of honor and adventure. The distinctly bloody fight scenes and a Lady of the Lake are less than compelling, but Talbott is at his vivid best with animals: rearing horses, eager dogs and a miraculous Questing Beast. The intriguingly misty landscapes lend the classic story an air of mystery. All ages. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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EXCALIBUR [DVD]
by Warner. Movie stills both covers. Condition: First Class Shipping / NEW (shrink-wrapped, security tapes) 1999 Warner DVD release of the great 1981 movie. Remainder cut. Content: This lush retelling of the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is a dark and engrossing tale. Director John Boorman (Emerald Forest) masterfully handles the tale of the mythical sword Excalibur, and its passing from the wizard Merlin to the future king of England. Arthur pulls the famed sword from a stone and is destined to be crowned king. As the king embarks on a passionate love affair with Guenevere, an illegitimate son, and Merlin's designs on power, threaten Arthur's reign. The film is visually stunning and unflinching in its scenes of combat and black magic. Featuring an impressive supporting cast, including early work from the likes of Liam Neeson and Gabriel Byrne, Excalibur is an adaptation of the legend both faithful and bold. 140 minutes. The 1981 movie also stars Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, Nicholas Clay, Cherie Lunghi, Paul Geoffrey, Nicol Williamson, Patrick Stewart, and Katrine Boorman as Igrayne. Wonderful! [2 copies available]
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EXILED FROM CAMELOT
by Cherith Baldry. Cover art by Richard Pace. Condition: NEW 2001 Green Knight Trade Paperback, first printing. Content: Reviewer: "Cherith Baldry's "Exiled From Camelot" is a novel of remarkable characterization and insight, a fresh new look at King Arthur's seneschal and foster brother Sir Kay and a breathtaking odyssey of personal redemption. When Loholt, King Arthur's illegitimate son, arrives at Camelot and quickly worms his way into the Court's favor, only the crude but honorable Kay remains suspicious. And when Loholt is killed, Kay finds himself stripped of title and honor and summarily exiled by his own brother on pain of death. A far-reaching plot unfolds deftly in Baldry's hands, a tale of magic, good and evil, beautiful ladies and despicable villains, highlighted by brilliant and innovative depictions of familiar heroes like Sir Gareth and Sir Gawaine (the latter should perhaps be billed as Kay's co-star in this wonderful saga) and of course Kay himself, who proves to be far more gallant and resourceful than his uncouth reputation would suggest. Masterfully written, featuring exciting battles, convincing dialogue, and plenty of mystery, this is a perfect companion piece to Phyllis A. Karr's classic "The Idylls of the Queen," novel, and one which should be a valuable component to the Arthurian canon for many years to come." [1 copy available]
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EXPLORING KING ARTHUR'S BRITAIN
by Denise Stobie. Beautiful color photos of the sites. Condition: Gently pre-read 1999 Collins & Brown (UK) hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), no printing given. Content: Wonderful color photos and history of the sites associated with King Arthur and the Arthurian legends. Excellent! [1 copy available]
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GAWAIN AND LADY GREEN: A Novel (Young Adult Historical Fiction)
by Anne Eliot Crompton. Bridgeman cover art. Condition: UNREAD 1997 Donald Fine hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Tiny edge wear to DJ top edge with pale "rubbings" back cover (shelf wear rubbing against other books on the shelf). Content: In the two voices of Gawain and Lady Green, this retelling of the Arthurian legend unfolds. Crompton's characters from Merlin's Harp take readers back to the time of Camelot, a place where honor and chivalry are as much a part of life as is breathing for Sir Gawain. Other beliefs, even those of one he has come to love, are betrayed. The book is unique in its presentation of Lady Green as a strong female character, and many teens will identify with the choice she made for love. Differences between the status of men and women in the time of King Arthur are cleverly integrated through the voices of the title characters. Ages: Teens and up. [1 copy available]
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The GUINEVERE series: GUINEVERE; THE CHESSBOARD QUEEN; & GUINEVERE EVERMORE (3 books)
by Sharan Newman. Beautiful cover art - no credit given. Condition: All 3 books are c. early 1980's, all 3 are unread, and all have a few flaws. All are St. Martin's Trade Paperbacks, first printings. Content: Guinevere presents her early life spent in the old religion and old ways. The Chessboard Queen delves into her relationship with King Arthur and Lancelot. Guinevere Evermoe follows her through her affair with Lancelot into her later life. This series was once the most popular King Arthur series ever. It's still good reading. [1 copy available]
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GUENEVERE: Queen of the Summer Country (The First of the Guenevere Novels)
by Rosalind Miles. Cover art by Joel Peter Johnson. B&W maps. Condition: NEW 1999 Crown Publishers Trade Paperback, 6th printing. Tiny, tiny edgewear. Content: This is the first part of a trilogy chronicling the life of Queen Guenevere. Beginning with the young King Arthur who is preparing for the war that will unite Britain, the book recounts the marriage of Guenevere and Arthur, the growth of Arthur's court, and Guenevere's adulterous affair with Lancelot. Although told mainly from Guenevere's point of view, this is a truly epic narrative, encompassing pageantry, political intrigue, war, and the conflict between the old pagan religion and Christianity. At times earthy, sensual, and violent, it is a powerful romantic drama firmly rooted in historical Britain, a modern yet traditional retelling of the stories given definitive form in the first four books of Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur. The characters are grippingly evoked as realistic, living, and breathing human beings rather than simple archetypes, yet the writing is effortlessly lyrical, with the elegant flow of folktale. In emotional depth, Guenevere is comparable to Parke Godwin's fine Arthurian romance, Firelord. For Book 2 see below Knight of Sacred Lake. [2 copies available]
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THE HALLOWED ISLE: THE BOOK OF THE SPEAR (A Novel of King Arthur,
Book 2)
by Diana Paxson. Condition: NEW 1999 Avon EOS Trade Paperback, first printing.Clean, tight, perfect. Content: Part two of a four-part Arthurian saga that focuses on the diverse and conflicting cultural groups occupying fifth-century Britain, this volume tells the story of Oesc, a Saxon warrior whose magical spear opposes Arthur's famous sword. [1 copy available]
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THE HEDGE OF MIST: A Book of the Keltiad (The Tales of Arthur, Volume III)
by Patricia Kennealy-Morrison. Beautiful wrap-around cover art by Thomas Canty. Condition: UNREAD 1996 HarperPrism large hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first edition, first printing. Slight weakness at Title Page. Content: Reviewer: "In this third volume of the Tales of Arthur series, Taliesin Glyndour, chief poet of Keltia, reveals the climax of the epic of Arthur, his sister Morgan, his beloved Gweniver, and the quest for the Graal -- and finally brings his own Triad to triumphant completion. This conclusion the tale of Arthur, King of Kelts, against a backdrop of warriors, druids, space travel and romance. Kennealy-Morrison manages to re-invent Arthur in a manner never before attempted, and does it beautifully. Sweeping prose, poetic descriptions, and heart-wrenching emotion play against a tapestry of stars " [1 copy available]
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THE HIGH KINGS: Arthur's Celtic Ancestors
by Joy Chant. Beautiful color illustrations by George Sharp. Condition: If read, it was gently. Good + 1983 Bantam large hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Interior is perfect, but there is a strip missing from back board - as if something had been stuck there and peeled off. Content: "What a lovely overwiew of Celtic culture. The author alternates between short, intriguing essays on Celtic society and traditions, and actual Celtic stories. The ballance is perfect. The reader is given just enough background to understand each story. By the end of the book, though, a detailed impression of these remarkable people has been woven. The scholarship is never pretentious or dull, and the stories are told with a sensitivity that avoids any awkwardness in dealing with subjects like magic. The stories are products of the Celtic culture and are presented in that context. They appear, not as childish fairy tales, but as rich and vibrant reminders of a culture that thrived in Britain for about a thousand years. [1 copy available]
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THE HOLY GRAIL
by Giles Morgan. B&W maps. Condition: NEW 2005 Chartwell hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first priting. Content: Through its various guises as magic cauldron, cornucopia, and chalice cup, the Holy Grail has remained at the center of popular culture since antiquity. An object of marvel and mystery, it inhabits a place in mythology that has its roots in historical fact. From Celtic mythology to the flowering of the medieval romances, it has in many ways fulfilled its mythical role as a nurturing and regenerative vessel by providing a rich, seemingly perpetual source of interest to writers and artists. Charting the story of the Grail offers a revealing insight into the cultural shift from Celtic paganism to the emergence and domination of Christianity in Western Europe; the influence of Eastern mysticism emerges in the Grail romances as a result of the medieval crusades, with its clash of cultures and subsequent cross-pollination of ideas. Finally, the Grail has come to symbolize the ultimate achievement in the modern mind, and Carl Jung, T.S. Eliot, Richard Wagner, William Blake, and the Pre-Raphaelites are just some of those who have fallen under its enduring spell. Wonderful overview of the Grail. [1 copy available]
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THE IDYLLS OF THE QUEEN
by Phyllis Ann Karr. Beautiful cover art but no credit given. Condition: UNREAD 1985 Berkley paperback edition, first printing. Shelfwear hinge crease with light edgewear and tanning to inside covers and pagae edges. . Content: Karr takes an incident (the murder of Sir Patrise) from Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur and creates an intelligent, complex, and fascinating mystery novel perfect for fans of historical mysteries, of British legends, and of fantasy. Queen Guenevere is giving a dinner to honor King Arthur's knights when one guest, Sir Patrise, falls dead of poison. The dead man's cousin accuses the Queen of murder, and she is taken away, to be held until her trial by combat. If her knight-champion wins, Guenevere will be declared innocent and freed; if he loses, she will be burned to death as a murderer. She is unlikely to survive the trial. Most of Britain's mightiest knights were at the dinner, and therefore cannot fight for the Queen. Her champion and secret lover, the invincible Lancelot, has vanished. And, as Sir Kay realizes, trial by combat determines only is who is the better fighter, not who is guilty. Kay knows the Queen is innocent and an unsuspected murderer is loose in feud-filled Camelot -- a murderer who intended to kill a person or persons other than the obscure knight Patrise, and who is poised to kill again. With the trial only days away, Kay joins with the great knights Gawaine and Gareth and their half-brother, King Arthur's bastard son Mordred, in two quests: to find the missing Lancelot, and to uncover the true murderer.While the setting is Malory's medieval world, where magic works, the author plays fair; she doesn't use magic to solve the mystery. [1 copy available]
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A KEEPER OF WORDS: Legend: The Arthurian Tarot
text & wonderful B&W illustrations by Anna-Marie Ferguson. Condition: UNREAD 1998 Llewellyn Trade Paperback, 4th printing. Tiny edge wear. Content: Anna-Marie Ferguson actually brings something old to the cards: the Arthurian legends. She created images for each of the seventy-eight Tarot cards (you can get her deck that is the focus of this book, Legend: The Arthurian Tarot, separately). Each image is a scene or character from the Arthurian myths. These images (reproduced in the book in black-and-white) can add to your knowledge of the ancient legends as they deepen your interpretive understandings of the Tarot. The book has everything you need: An introduction to Tarot cards; an introduction to the Arthurian legends; and instructions on how to read the cards with three spreads and a sample reading. Then it examines each and every one of the Legend deck images. For each one you will discover the meaning of the card (both upright and reversed) as well as a description of her watercolor painting and the meaning of the symbolism. By learning from the symbolism of the card you will find that your interpretation of the Tarot becomes even better and your appreciation and understanding of the Arthurian legends will grow. If you have an interest in either the Tarot or legends of Camelot and Arthur, this book is a must. Linked together in this book, they can increase not just your knowledge, but your wisdom in both areas. Your Tarot readings will be better, Your understanding of Arthurian symbols and archetypes will be more instinctive, and you will find guidance in the wisdom of these two great spiritual systems. [1 copy available]
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KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS: Selected Tales by Sir Thomas Malory
by Sir Thomas Malory. Edited by Eugene Vinaver. B&W era art work and wood cuts. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1956 Oxford University Press edition, c. 1980 20th printing. Tiny edge wear with light tanning to page edges. Content: First, although there are some useful and interesting tales missing (such as the tale of Sir Lancelot, and the tale of Sir Gareth), most the the truly vital ones are there -- and the death of Arthur is presented in its entirety. Second, Vinaver does modernize the spelling. But you can't modernize the spelling of an archaic word and, since he is NOT writing a translation but providing a modern-spelling edition, he simply standardizes the spelling of the archaic words and provides a gloss on each one. This is much more useful than the banal translations by Keith Barnes and Richard Barber (Legends of Arthur, from Boydell and Brewer). This edition is the best way to get used to Malory's beautiful style without having to figure out Middle English spellings (which isn't really very difficult in Malory's case). It's a well organized book, and makes Malory appealing without compromising on the language -- which is one of Malory's greatest facets. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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KING ARTHUR'S WORLD
by Kevin Crossley-Holland. B&W illustrations by Hemesh Alles. Condition: NEW 2004 Orion (UK) small hardcover & DJ, first printing. Content: Legend, anecdote, historical fact and shadowy speculation - this is the world of King Arthur as it was seen in medieval times when the stories were first written down. A map of Arthur's Britain, the origins of the Round Table, the skills of Merlin and the sorceress Morgan le Fay, all help to create a rich background to the tales themselves. Punctuated with engaging quotations from medieval texts and with highly entertaining lists of places, characters and magical things, the book is full of information about medieval life: about knights, castles, heraldry, troubadours and courtly love, how to joust and win a fair lady, how to be a butler, and what to expect at a banquet (roast swan and peacock pie). Called 'a box of delights' by the TES and 'a fascinating guide to the Arthurian world' by the Guardian, this was first published in 1998 as The King Who Was and Will Be - with color illustraitons. It is now completely repackaged as a charming small hardback with line drawings inspired by medieval woodcuts. Ages 10+. Questions welcome. [2 copies available]
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KING OF THE CELTS: Arthurian Legends and Celtic Tradition
by Jean Markale. Condition: Gently pre-read, IF at all, 1996 Inner Traditions Trade Paperback, third printing. Light shelf wear "ding" top pages. Interior clean & tight. Content: Markale opens with an argumentative introduction about historians' general reluctance to deal with myths and oral traditions. She moves directly into a discussion of how Arthurian lore in the medieval world was comcreated by ardent and undiscriminating propagandists of the courtly nobility who misappropriated Celtic legends and in the process betrayed and ridiculed them. Her survey of Arthurian legendry in Celtic history purports that through such Celtic notions of kingship, especially the king's obligation to the people, his role was clarified as more than one of personal gain or divine right. For serious students of Arthurian legends and history. Questions welcome. [2 copies available]
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THE KNIGHT OF THE SACRED LAKE (Book 2 of the Guenevere Novels)
by Rosalind Miles. Cover art by Joel Peter Johnson. Condition: UNREAD 2000 Three Rivers Press Trade Paperback, first printing. Tiny edgewear. Content: Guenevere appears to lose some of the strength she exhibited in the earlier book as a warrior queen. Her ill-fated love for Lancelot does irreparable damage to her marriage and her commitment to her people and her realm. The plot lags somewhat as the author concentrates on exploring the queen's inner turmoil. Miles is at her best in her treatment of Morgan le Fay, half-sister to Arthur and mother of Mordred, Arthur's bastard son. After being immured in a convent where she was starved and beaten for much of her youth, Morgan is determined to avenge herself on all who have wronged her. The scene of the convent's slow but inevitable destruction is superb, and Mordred is the perfect tool to use against Arthur and Guenevere. As the story ends, Mordred is discovered by Merlin, who has spent years searching Britain for the boy, and returned to Camelot - opening the door to a third novel in this saga. I love these books! [1 copy available]
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LE MORTE D'ARTHUR (Volume 1)
by Sir Thomas Malory. Edited by Janet Cowan. Condition: UNREAD 1986 Penguin paperback, 8th printing. Tiny edge wear with light tanning. Content: Reviewer: "The Penguin edition is based primarily on the 1485 text printed by William Caxton. It is modernized in spelling, but not in grammar. It has a glossary of proper names, and another of archaic words; the most difficult words are generally noted and translated at the foot of the page on which they appear. A small section of notes in each volume deal with some confusing passages, and identify places where Caxton's text has been amended -- usually from the "Winchester Manuscript," now in the British Library, discovered in a safe at Winchester College in 1934, after being mistakenly catalogued under the title of a 1634 printed edition. The manuscript differs from Caxton's text in thousands of places, mostly minor, but some very important." Questions welcome [1 copy available]
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THE LOST BOOKS OF MERLYN: Druid Magic From the Age of Arthur
by Douglas Monroe. B&W photos & drawings illustate. Condition: NEW 2004 Llewellyn large Trade Paperback, fourth printing. Content: Part adventure tale and part grimoire, this book remains true to the Druids' method of wrapping important knowledge in a story. Monroe's tale of the British Celts, their conflict with the Romans, and the last days of King Arthur, recounts the demise of the Druids but reveals the hope of their resurrection today. Coupled with an abundance of spells, charms, and sacred rites, this is more than just a well-written fantasy, more than just a well-stocked spell book. The Lost Books of Merlyn is both teacher and course. Whether you read it as a work of fiction or dig for a deeper meaning, you will hear a voice in these pages speaking to you as Merlyn speaks to the author: "Now, at last, it is your turn to understand what has already been lived, and what may come of it." [408 pages] Questions welcome [1 copy available]
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MALORY: THE MORTE DARTHUR (York Medieval Texts)
edited by D. S. Brewer. Condition: NEW 1996 Northwestern Univ. Trade Paperback, 10th printing. Content: Reviewer: "The essential Arthurian Work. If you're going to read any Arthurian works this is the one to go with. I found this translation very easy to read and quite enjoyable. I've read everything Arthurian from Monmouth to Layamon to The Mabinogion and I always say that even though it's not the oldest of the Arthur Cycle, it is still the most important. Grail lore, adventure, romance, decapitation - what more could you want in a fifteenth century masterpiece? Forget about Chaucer and that other overrated guy Tennyson. Malory puts them both to shame! The only other book that I would put on the same level is T.H.White's The Once and Future King. Questions welcome [1 copy available]
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MERLIN (Fantasy Anthology)
edited by Martin Greenberg. Cover art by Scott Grimando. Condition: NEW 2004 ibooks Trade Paperback, first printing. Content: Merlin is one of the most powerful names in the annals of fantasy, a name to conjure with, a name that is synonymous with Arthur, Morgan le Fay, the Lady of the Lake, Nimue, the Knights of the Round Table, Camelot and Avalon. Was he the greatest of Druids, a true caster of spells, a weaver of tales and legends, a maker of kings, or a tragic hero in his own right? Wonderful fantasy stories by Jane Yolen, Charles de Lint, Andre Norton, Jean Rabe, Lisanne Norman, Michelle West, Tim Waggoner, et al. [384 pages] Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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MERLIN AND THE MAKING OF THE KING (For Children)
retold by Margaret Hodges. Beautiful color borders, DJ, and illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman. Condition: NEW 2004 Holiday House hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), 4th printing. Larger print. Content: This is a straightforward, expertly streamlined retelling of three popular Arthurian legends: "The Sword in the Stone," "Excalibur," and "The Lady of the Lake," based on the Winchester College manuscript of Sir Thomas Malory's work. With its fairly simple vocabulary and succinct style, the lyrical narrative can be enjoyed if read independently or in a group setting. The truly distinguishing feature of this book is Hyman's detailed, colorful acrylic artwork, which works so well at conveying the action of the stories. In keeping with the feel of a medieval illuminated manuscript, each page has an attractive, elaborate border partially painted with gold ink that glows with all the richness of gold leaf. The initial letter of each tale is beautifully embellished, also contributing to the antique style of the book. Pair this with the author and illustrator's Saint George and the Dragon for another exemplary look at British legends, stunningly illustrated. A beautiful gift book for kids. Young Adults will appreciate the book as well as younger kids. Grades 4 and up. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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MERLIN AND WALES: A Magician's Landscape
by Michael Dames. B&W photos, drawings of artifacts, and some color plates. Condition: NEW 2002 Thames & Hudson hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), no printing given. Content: This is a beautiful book! The name of Merlin lives on as powerfully as that of King Arthur himself in tales and place names that span Wales, Cornwall, Cumbria, and Caledonia. Michael Dames shows us here the many aspects of this elusive and mercurial enchanter and sage, at ease in the royal court and in the wilderness, on land and in water. With illustrations of the art and artifacts pertaining to the Merlin legend as well as the author's own evocative photographs of mythic sites, the book guides us through the many versions of the story of Merlin and his sister/lover—from the mysterious boy on Dinas Emrys who aroused the embattled red and white dragons in their hidden pool, to the metaphor of his retreat to the holy land of Bardsey off the coast of Wales. The myths about this most famous of magicians carry Egyptian and Roman traces, and emerge in several languages across the centuries, in oral tales, folk rites, early literatures, and visual symbols. Especially loved by the people of rural Wales, as their folklore shows, Merlin is often subversive, a maverick, and a trespasser. All those entranced by Celtic lore and locations will want to own this book and use it to visit the places that still seem to echo with Merlin's name. 160 illustrations and maps, 22 in color. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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MERLIN: Priest of Nature
by Jean Markale. B&W decorations. Condition: NEW 1995 Inner Traditions Trade Paperback, second printing. Tiny, tiny edgewear. Content: Was Merlin a mythical character or a real person? If he was a real person, when and where did he live? In this provocative survey of all the known literary and historical sources, Jean Markale pieces together a compelling story of who and what Merlin might have been. Combining his investigation of the sources with fragments of Celtic mythology, Druidic culture, and the esoteric tradition, Markale draws an enlightening portrait of the archetypal Wild Man and shaman known as Merlin, who lived in the Lowlands of Scotland late in the sixth century, some fifty years after the reign of King Arthur. In a state of divine madness Merlin sought refuge in the forest, where he inherited the gift of prophecy. With him was his companion, Vivian, an essential element of the Merlin legend. Their sacred clearing in the woods -- described in some legends as an invisible castle of glass or air -- was the site of their ecstatic journey of enlightenment and union with nature. From his place in the Cosmic Tree and outside of time, Merlin the enchanter challenges us to reexamine our way of life. When the Merlin legend resurfaced in the twelth century, his message of the universal brotherhood of all beings and things called out to a rapidly urbanizing society that was losing touch with nature. His warning, which went unheeded, is no less relevant to us today than it was at the dawn of the modern era. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 7.59 + $ 3.19 media shipping. Priority shipping available.

THE MISTS OF AVALON (Miniseries edition) (Ballantine's Reader's Circle)
by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Beautiful Braldt Bralds wrap-around cover art. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1984 Ballantinie huge Trade Paperback, 44th printing. Light edge wear with slight lift to thin cover fore edges. Pale tanning to page edges. Not crisp. Reading Group Guide included. Content: Even readers who don't normally enjoy Arthurian legends will love this version, a retelling from the point of view of the women behind the throne. Morgaine (more commonly known as Morgan Le Fay) and Gwenhwyfar (a Welsh spelling of Guinevere) struggle for power, using Arthur as a way to score points and promote their respective worldviews. The Mists of Avalon's Camelot politics and intrigue take place at a time when Christianity is taking over the island-nation of Britain; Christianity vs. Faery, and God vs. Goddess are dominant themes. Young and old alike will enjoy this magical Arthurian reinvention by science fiction and fantasy veteran Marion Zimmer Bradley. One of the most beloved TV miniseries of all time, this 2001 TNT program was directed by Uli Edel and starred Anjelica Huston, Julianna Margulies, Joan Allen, Caroline Goodall, Samantha Mathis, Edward Atterton, Michael Vartan, Michael Byrne, and Hans Matheson. If you haven't read the book, read it - no matter where you buy it. And if you haven't seen the miniseries, well, where 'ya been? It's one of those must-sees. Questions welcome [1 copy available]
$ 5.50 + $ 3.49 media shipping.

THE MYSTERY OF KING ARTHUR
by Elizabeth Jenkins. Full-page color plates & B& W illustrations. Beautiful production. Condition: Very good + 1990 Dorset Press (London) first thus hardcover & DJ (in mylar cover). No flaws; just gently pre-read. Content: Originally published in 1978 in London. Who was Arthur, this majestic figure shrouded in the mists of early Avalon? Jenkins separates legend and history, presenting at once, the rich literary tradition born of the historical ruler. The text is accompanied by numerous illustrations that present the image of Arthur as interpreted by artists over fourteen centuries. Well worth the read. [1 copy available]
$ 8.29 + $ 3.19 media shipping

PARSIVAL or A KNIGHT'S TALE (Volume 1)
by Richard Monaco. Wrap-around cover art and B&W illustrations by David McCall Johnston. Condition: UNREAD (appears so) 1978 Pocket Books paperback, first printing. Light edgewear with pale tanning to page edges. Binder's glue string down spine. Content: Reviewer: "Bawdy and bloody retelling of the Grail quest. This is the first of a now out of print four volume series based on the Arthurian Grail quest of the hero Parsival. The other three volumes are:The Grail War; The Final Quest; and Blood and Dreams. This first volume follows Parsival from his overprotective mother and his childhood home on his first quest to become a knight at King Arthur's round table. Once he is a knight, he begins his second quest to find the Grail Castle and discover its secret. A parallel story tells of Broaditch, a servant from his mother's castle, who sets out soon after to find Parsival. The two quests compliment each other with short episodic chapters from each telling the tale of the book. The book is not for the squeemish. There is a war and lots of bloodshed. The people are bawdy rather than chivalric, and the sexual relationships are not always consensual. However, it is an exciting and humorous retelling of a medieval tale. " [1 copy available]
$ 8.19 + $ 2.94 media shipping

THE PENDRAGON CHRONICLES: Heroic Fantasy from the Time of King Arthur
edited by Mike Ashley. DJ cover art by Tim Hildebrandt. Condition: UNREAD 1993 Wings Books hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Moderate tanning to page edges. Content: Reviewer: "This is the best anthology of Arthurian fiction I've ever come across. Ashley treats us with every variety of the legend imaginable. First, he draws from pre-Malory sources: a retelling of the last chapter of Geoffrey of Monmouth's History of Britain; "The Lady of the Fountain" from the Mabinogian, an ancient collection of Celtic myths; and the 12th century epic poem Jaufry, which was forgotten for 600 years. He also includes retellings of famous selections from Le Morte D'Arthur, including Steinbeck's take on Sir Balin and the Dolorous Stroke, and Roger Lancelyn Green's somewhat liberal translation of the "Tale of Perceval". And finally there are many modern fantasy stories that treat the Arthuran mythology in turns as comical, idyllic, historical, or romantic. The depictions of Merlin and Arthur vary from author to author depending on the mood and setting, but that is what makes the legend so exciting to study. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in the stories of King Arthur and Camelot." Authors include: John Brunner, Phyllis Karr, Joy Chant, Jane Yolen, John Steinbeck, Ian McDowell, Andre Norton, et al. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 8.39 + $ 3.39 media shipping.

QUEEN OF CAMELOT: Guinevere, The Child Queen and The High Queen - 2 novels in 1 (Arthurian Fiction)
by Nancy McKenzie. Condition: NEW 2002 DelRey Trade Paperback. Small shelfwear to the corner of one interior page corner. Content: Return to a time of legend–the days of Guinevere and Arthur and the glory that was to become Camelot. On the night of Guinevere’s birth, a wise woman declares a prophecy of doom for the child: She will be gwenhwyfar, the white shadow, destined to betray her king, and be herself betrayed. Years pass, and Guinevere becomes a great beauty, riding free across Northern Wales on her beloved horse. She is entranced by the tales of the valorous Arthur, a courageous warrior who seems to Guinevere no mere man, but a legend. Then she finds herself betrothed to that same famous king, a hero who commands her willing devotion. Just as his knights and all his subjects, she falls under Arthur’s spell. At the side of King Arthur, Guinevere reigns strong and true. Yet she soon learns how the dark prophecy will reveal itself. She is unable to conceive. Arthur’s only true heir is Mordred, offspring of a cursed encounter with the witch Morgause. Now Guinevere must make a fateful choice: She decides to raise Mordred, teaching him to be a ruler and to honor Camelot. She will love him like a mother. Mordred will be her greatest joy–and the key to her ultimate downfall. [1 copy available]
$ 6.49 + $ 3.09 media shipping.

ROMANCE AND LEGEND OF CHIVALRY (Myths of the World series)
by A.R. Hope Moncrieff. Beautiful color plate section. 439 pages. Condition: Very gently pre-read 1995 Random House hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Gift inscription i nside front cover with light tanning. Content: Follows the legendary adventures of King Arthur and Charlemagne and the knights of the medieval Age of Chivalry and includes tales of Sir Lancelot and Roland, as well as an analytical essay on the period. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
$ 4.49 + $ 3.29 media shipping.

SIR GAWAIN & THE GREEN KNIGHT
retold by Michael Morpurgo. Beautiful color illustrations by Michael Foreman. Decorated end pages. Condition: NEW 2004 Candlewick Press hardcover (pictorial boards) & DJ (in mylar jacket), third printing. Content: In the vibrant and compelling voice of a storyteller, Morpurgo retells this classic tale. With a lively, page-turning style, he sets the scene as a crude, gigantic stranger rides into King Arthur's hall. Sir Gawain accepts the challenge of the monstrous man and beheads the Green Knight with a single swing of his battle-ax. But then the enchanted knight picks up his severed head and announces that Gawain must, on his honor, meet his dreadful opponent on the next New Year's Day to receive the same blow. Gawain's travels to the Green Chapel at the end of the year, and the temptations he encounters along the way, are the stuff of legend and, like all folklore, are rich in metaphorical meaning about what it means to be human. Morpurgo's sprightly writing brings out all the humor as well as the horror of the original tale, and Foreman's profuse, evocative watercolor-and-pastel illustrations highlight the drama in each scene so that this version can easily be read on two levels–as a rollicking adventure tale or an allegorical saga, depending on the age and inclination of the reader. Morpurgo's version is notable for including every nuance of this complex and compelling tale. Grades 5 - 8+. Questions welcome. [1 copy available]
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SIR GAWAIN AND THE GREEN KNIGHT, PEARL, & SIR ORFEO
by Anonymous. Translation by J.R.R. Tolkien. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1982 Ballantine paperback, third printing. Small edgewear with moderate tanning to interior page edges. Small "spot" on fore edges. Content: It's author is unknown, a poet lost in the rides of time and language. It is a tale as luck and dark as England's medieval forests. And it's language and verse are the rough-hewn and beautiful descendants of antiquity, courtly and wise in their story, sweeping and pwoerful in their adventures. It is a romance interlaced with scenes of the hunt and temptations of the flesh; it is a fairy tale of giant warriors in armor and King Arthur's most noble knight; and it is a rousing adventure of epic enchantment and the destiny of human desires. Tolkien's translation of the fourteenth-century anonymous narrative poem effectively preserves the alliterative verse of the original. That alone makes it a great resource for students, teachers and general readers enjoying this classic. [1 copy available]
$ 3.49 + $ 2.94 media shipping.

THE STORY OF KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS (For Young Adults +)
written and illustrated by Howard Pyle. Detailed & ornate B&W drawings by the Author. Condition: UNREAD, but not perfect, 1965 Dover Books Trade Paperback, no printing given. Light edge wear. Unabridged & unaltered republication. Content: Published in 1903, this book is probably the most comprehensive of the Arthurian legends available in one volume--certainly the most comprehensive for kids. We follow Arthur during his "Sword in the Stone" period, then on to adulthood with a nod at the romantic complications that the play/movie "Camelot" focused on, then later an older Arthur and his followers articulate the legend of the grail. So many kids' books -- this one included -- have been abridged, then dumbed down, and frequently illustated so profusely that they come across more as a kind of black-and-white Classics Comic than the real thing. And rarely does the book jacket or publishing page admit as much! This book transports the older child into a world of magic, knights and ladies. The main focus is King Arthur, but also features Merlin, and some of King Arthurs Knights. This book provides an excellent opportunity to expand an older childs vocabulary as the author has clearly researched and included elements from King Arthur's time. I read this book aloud to my ten year old daughter and we loved the spirit and adventure. Be aware that this book is not "politically correct" (written in 1903!). There are some really wicked women that torment King Arthur and his knights, and the knights themselves are not always "shining" to todays standards." [1 copy available]
$ 4.00 + $ 3.19 media shipping.

TALES FROM KING ARTHUR (Selected Stories)
edited by Andrew Lang. B&W illustrations. Condition: UNREAD 1993 Wordsworth Classics soft cover, no printing given. Tiny edge wear with pale tanning to page edges. Content: In this selection of plays by the master folklorist Andrew Lang, the reader is taken into the romantic world of the gallant Knights of the Round Table and their courageous and chivalrous deeds, fair maidens, castles steeped in history, the quest for the Holy Grail, and the tragic love of King Arthur and Sir Lancelot for Guinevere, and Tristan for Iseult. [1 copy available]
$ 1.49 + $ 2.94 media shipping.

UTHER (The Camulod Chronicles Book 7) (Arthurian Fiction)
by Jack Whyte. Condition: Very Good pre-read 2001 TOR paperback, first printing. Spine crease with tiny edgewear. Interior clean & tight. Content: The seventh book in Jack Whyte's Camulod Chronicles, Uther is a parallel novel to The Eagle's Brood. It fills in some gaps about another major character in the Arthurian legend, Uther Pendragon, who is Merlyn's cousin and King Arthur's father. Uther tells the tale of a young man torn between his love for his adopted Camulod and for the land of his birth, Cambria. Born to be one of the seven Chiefs of the Pendragon federation of Cambria, with the possibility of becoming its king one day, Uther goes from being a carefree boy to a seasoned leader of his people who must wage war to protect his land. Along the way, Uther loses his friendship with Merlyn and falls in love with the wife of his enemy, thereby forging a union that will lead to the birth of Arthur, King of the Britons. [1 copy available]
$ 3.49 + $ 2.94 media shipping.

WARRIORS OF ARTHUR
by John Matthews & Bob Stewart. Color & B&W illustrations by Richard Hook. Condition: Gently pre-read 1988 Blandford Press large hardcover & DJ (in mylar jacket), first printing. Content: Reviewer: "Excellent book - gives plenty of information on the basics of Arthurian myth, on Britain and the Celts under Rome and in the early Dark Ages, and the role the historical Arthur might have played in the wars against the Picts and Saxons. The book also has several rewritten versions of Arthurian legends with their origin pagan Welsh names and themes, such as the 'Beheading Game' that led to the legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and the champion Lugh Strong-Arm who inspired the myth of Sir Launcelot. [It] Also has detailed and colorful artwork to support both the stories and the main text. Highly recommended!" Also covers other Celtic warriors, i.e., Queen Boudicca. [1 copy available]
$ 9.49 + $ 3.49 media shipping.