Reviews

This lively collection of retellings, drawing on the medieval Welsh texts and written in accessible language, presents many strands of the legendary King Arthur’s story in a way which nine to thirteen year olds in particular would find enjoyable. Bright ink-wash illustrations feature, providing energetic character sketches and tableaux of incidents as well as placing the legends in a supposed historical context. Episodes focus on events from the complex circumstances of Arthur’s birth, emergence from obscurity by drawing the sword from the stone, heroic deeds and the mystery of his death and possible return to save his people from danger – 'to bring honour to his country and to his language'. These individual elements are satisfying in themselves but as they race along they come together to create a vivid tapestry of battles and victories against the Saxons, of quests and bloody pursuits interspersed with codes of honour, Celtic transformations and magic. The main emphasis is on action: the tale of Culhwch’s quest for Olwen, daughter of Ysbaddaden Chief Giant, and the hunting of the marauding Twrch Trwyth by Arthur’s knights is told with energy; the Guinevere and Lancelot thread is omitted. This is a predominantly male world peopled by brave knights and individuals with special skills and abilities which would over-shadow contemporary Marvel comic characters, a vital world particularly attractive to boy readers. The Legends of King Arthur more than merits its place on bookshelves.
*M. Lorna Herbert Egan @ www.gwales.com*